...and the world goes spinning out of control...

onlythepresent — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:26:37 GMT

I'm probably a really weird person. I'm at work right now even though I have bronchitis and a fairly high fever to pay tuition for school. I don't go to classes when I feel like this for fear of infecting everyone but I'll go to my place of work, the library none the less, and probably contaminate everything around me? I make no sense even to myself. Also the reasons I should not work weekends is because when I do I work nine hour shifts so if I miss one day I'm what we like to call screwed.

Fun times.

onlythepresent — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 13:25:18 GMT

Oh dear... I'm so sorry I haven't posted in forever. I feel terrible but school eats my soul. I've been trying to keep up with all of my fandoms which has resulted in me being terribly behind in all of them. @.@

The internet on campus does not like my school-issued laptop. It despises it really. So while I might have read your posts and the like and attempted to comment it very rarely actually goes through. So I apologize if I seem like I'm behind on commenting to you all.

Anyway, I'm at work right now and just finished watching the vs. Arashi with the Freeter Ie Wo Kau and I have to admit it was amazing. This might be the Nino fan in me talking but I feel like Nino has done a lot recently in terms of t.v. shows and movies and promotions and the like and and let me tell you, I love it.

I love how smiley Nino was to be on his own show as the guest. You can tell he had an absolute blast with it really. I have to say though I love it I kind of wonder how much time Arashi has had to together as a group this year. It seems like they've all done individual projects throughout this year and quiet a few of them.

onlythepresent — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:15:03 GMT

I can't believe I haven't posted since July. Ridiculous I'm normally more on top of it than this.

So I started up college again the last week of August. I'm so thrilled to be back. Of course college has it's fair share of downsides and the like but the upsides so greatly outnumber them at the moment that I'm just beside myself with happiness.

I'm starting my job at library on Thursday when I have my final interview with manager to get my work schedule all straightened out and everything. I still need to start searching for a second job on campus to try and help pay off more of my tuition than I already am.

On the downside I have no money so I don't have half of my text books. I also have a pay as you go phone that has no money on it and no money to add back on to it. The internet here is on the fritz and hates everyone on campus and as I am typing this has apparently decided to not work anymore.

I'm a bit behind on Arashi stuff, listened to the new album, read a few con reports, watched the Arashi no Shiyagare with TOKIO's Joushima and Taichi which I adored, and saw the new pv and making of, but other than that haven't seen anything in while.

So the other day I started reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series which was fun. It's a lot more interesting than I expected it to be. I think it's my mythology freak coming out though.

I seriously forgot about this...

onlythepresent — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:23:17 GMT

I can't believe that I forgot that Sho was going to be in a doctor movie.

I can't believe that tumblr had to remind me.

I blame Kimura Takuya drama, and MatsuJun new drama, and Nino movies for taking all of my attention.

Those darn J-dramas that I have apparently started to watch RAW! Never mind the fact that I know rudimentary Japanese at best. Never mind the fact that all I can tell about what's happening is very basic stuff. Never mind that when I don't know the language I find myself looking at things like "oh look their pants match how cute.".

Nino's Quotes Page

onlythepresent — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:14:34 GMT

It's Nino's Birthday! Like anyone that likes Arashi didn't already know that...

I've been putting together some of Nino's more serious interview quotes. Some of which will have no meaning to you but they were for a fic I was working on so they might seem a bit strange.

There are links back to the translation of the full article for anyone who feels the need to read the entire thing.

So onto the quotes.

10,000 Word interview

I don't like being noticed by someone because of something happening. When I think about it, wouldn't that be really troublesome?

To say I hadn't given up despite training (baseball) being tough, it was because if I was asked "Why are you giving up?" and caused a bit of a disturbance, it would probably be very troublesome.

So she suddenly wanted to take pictures of me. Not really understanding what was going on, I just randomly made a face and let her take my picture, I remember that incident even now. And it was that picture that completely changed my life.

These questions, to ask a child that they had met for the first time, what on earth were these people thinking? For a very long time after that, I always found magazine interviews to be headache-inducing.

The first time I got fan mail was about half a year after I started working. I remember clearly, because at the time I was so happy about it. I was the last one out of those who joined in the same period to get fan mail.

It wasn't so much as me wanting to be cast in a stageplay; I just wanted to be chosen. Because my record was full of failures. Anyhow, it's just too pathetic.

To perform a stageplay, you need to completely understand the inner workings of the character in order to accomplish it, and I failed by far; all I did was go on the stage and yell.

That was probably the first time in my life I felt I had to follow through and complete my job well. In that instant, a sense of responsibility to actively strive upwards finally budded in my heart.

In December of 1999, I would end all the work that I had here, and then go to America. I had everything decided, and even saved up the money to do it.

When we got back to Japan, I'll have to face the reality of everything. People constantly asked me during interview, "Having become a member of Arashi how do you feel?" My response is always "Very Happy!".

To be able to debut is not an easy thing to do, and since I've already come this far, then I should do it well enough to have our sempai's think highly of us, and have no qualms about attracting the attention of our kouhai either.

After shaking hands with 80,000 fans, words like "I should quit" were not things that I could say out loud.

If the group consisted of different members back then, perhaps I really wouldn't have made it to this day.

And in my own heart, I cried sincere encouragements to Arashi as well, "Arashi is really awesome! So great!" With regards to the point of how to make ourselves be more like "Arashi", even though everyone was at a loss a lot, and put a lot of consideration into it in my opinion, when the five of us gather to talk like this, that itself is already the embodiment of "Arashi". Compared to a definite answer to "What on Earth is Arashi like?" something like this makes me a million times happier. At that time I thought, from here on out Arashi will no longer be a wrong direction I had taken.

When we released our third single, I gradually began to understand: the music I want to make was completely different from the direction that Arashi's music was heading.

Although I was singing my own songs like that, I didn't reveal who I am at all.

The filming of Ao no Hono-o took place in summer 2002.

Although the me at this point basically hasn't changed my "bad at interacting with others" nature, I've never felt that I'm living in this world on my own.

Because, if it wasn't for the Volleyball World Cup, it's possible that there wouldn't be a group called Arashi. Even now I still feel a keen gratitude for it. I also feel happy to be able to think like this, this is probably the embodiment of Arashi's qualities too.

More 03.10

I've never had a complex about being an idol. I think it's more the people on the outside watching that have the impression that "this is what an idol is" and to what degree.

At the very least, I'm aware of the fact that I'm offered parts because of being in Arashi, so to have that ignored and be coined an acting performer is missing the point.

I'll do things to the most of my ability, and leave it up to everyone else how that's to be judged and interpreted.

Realistically, I can't think that we'll keep on like this. I mean right now is the season of Arashi. And seasons are something that come to an end.

Since the beginning when we saw a chance we wouldn't think "There will be another." we strongly believed "There might not be a second chance." And so I want to treat everything that comes my way as something important.

More 04.10

Well, but it's true that a person's personality comes through naturally in concordance to what clothes they chose. I really loved Sho's double parka.

So sometimes I go to work in my pajamas.

I like to listen to music while analyzing it, thinking "What is it about this that captured the fans hearts?"

Everyone listens to the same song but I think the ways we listen may be different.
I think both music written for self-expression and music steeped in the entertainment world is valid.

More 05.10

Image; it’s a strange thing, isn’t it? I think it’s interesting how different some people are from their image. Recently, a stranger surprised me by saying ‘You’re a really talkative/eloquent person, aren’t you?’ I have that kind of image?

The waiting time during the filming was completely spent talking (laughs). The waiting time for the movie was really long. There would be a few hours spent preparing, then finally they’d call a one-cut shot. In the longer periods of time, the best thing would be to talk animatedly in the waiting room to keep the energy high. It was thanks to the time we were first introduced to the staff and our co-stars that we just naturally eventually got to know each other.

When it comes to actually meeting someone, there are many people who differ from their image, aren’t there? Like Nishikido (Ryo) seems somewhat shy but actually he’s reputed to be quite blunt [once you get to know him] – as for me, that’s not the case at all; the relationship just naturally progresses as you see me now. For that guy, somehow the face he shows to others and his image are good; for me, just being a good guy regardless is important. So look closely at yourself first.

An image is just an image after all. That is, generally the true nature of a person is by no means the so-called role they fall into, though that’s just my own opinion.

In a word… ‘an idiot’, maybe? I think that the ones that get stuck with ‘that guy’s such an idiot’ are the strongest, in a sense. It’s because they’re not burdened by worrying about their circumstances. That kind of guy really has a one-track mind and seems like a total idiot; nobody would be able to find his inner thoughts.

Though for me, whether I’m contradictory or clear comes from wanting to say something and speaking freely. For example in acting theory, it’s great if there’s someone reciting lines; but at the same time if it doesn’t make sense then it’s just an empty theory. If it’s structured with the actors entering the stage for the first time in the middle of the performance, would such a theory work?... and so on. I’ll think it, then I’ll absolutely say it (laughs).

For me, even while acting a role, when things feel out of place and the usual lines aren’t changed, I’ll ‘break’ (laughs). Everyone has their pet peeves after all. Though recently, I’m seriously trying to live with it; I’m even saying the lines according to the script. Well, I’ve grown up a little, haven’t I? (laughs)

More 06.10

Well it's more that I want children than I want to be married. (Smiling) I started feeling that way when Inohara-kun had his child. The moment I heard I wanted to send a present, so I sent a text. "Is it a Princess? Or is it a Lord?" And he sent me back a picture of him holding the baby, and it was so cute! The child was obviously cute, but so was Inohara's smile. (Smiling) Ah, he's really a father, I thought. A smile like that can only be brought about by really living the experience.

When something big happens, it's the people whose memories and experiences come back to them who are able to tough it out.

Rather than running recklessly overseas, there's value in remaining in Japan.

For me, marriage will probably be difficult. I mean, when there's someone I love, I won't be contacting them, and I can't give them my attention. The order of importance of things in my heart changes, but as for my work, it will always stand at the top. If I get married my partner will be the greatest victim of that.

More 07.10

That deep emotion was inside me. I just thought it wasn't necessary to show it

When I would get home from school, the people who worked at the factory would play with me. But I really don't have any memory of being spoiled.

Your parents are your parents your entire life.

As for me, I'll only spend time with people that I get along with, or even if we don't understand each other, people I care about.

A deep person gets lost deep inside their own thoughts, and then ends up forgetting what the hell they were talking about.

More 11.09

People put forth the effort to come, and there's nothing that makes me happier. Concerts are like the vegetables we've grown in our one-and-only family garden, you see. And for that to be recognized, and to spread, makes me happier than anything.

I only gathered together the words that the other members sent me. But I thought of some things myself, too. I wanted to make it something that the more you listen, the more you discover, that when you sing and when you look at it, it hits you. One thing I definitely wanted to put in was "We'll be five, forever here." With the five of us standing onstage and singing that line, I thought that people would be moved beyond reason. Because we've always been five, right? Not six. (smiling)

We've talked together about work since long ago. We've had serious meetings about things like, "Where does Arashi go from here? What's the color of the group?" but I would say, "Isn't this unimportant?" If you specially decide such things, then you can lose out on other opportunities, and also, how such things are interpreted is up to the person experiencing it. I think that we all gradually began to realize that there wasn't a need to talk about those things.

The five of us don't change. We've been influenced a lot from the outside, and so certainly we've grown, but that doesn't mean our essence has changed. Sho-kun becoming a news caster is really just something he's always wanted to do turning to reality. And with Leader's exhibition and Aiba's variety shows, it's something they've been doing from the start, so I don't think that's a change from the inside. And it's because we really don't change that we've been able to build that sort of a relationship, I think. I haven't changed at all, either. And it's not that I can't, it's that I don't want to. If I couldn't change, I'd be much older right now than I am (smiling).

I believe in "progress without change". For the sake of their work and for love, people want to advance and so they'll struggle to change, but I don't think that's something you can say is necessarily correct.

Since we've had the intention of never changing, nowadays, when people tell us, "We can't get a hold of Arashi tickets," we don't know what to feel. It's like, but there used to be so many left over. (smiling) The years keep passing, but we've been serious from the start. We didn't change through the bad times nor the clumsy, nor when we were on small stages or large ones, we just did what we could do at the time to the best of our ability... I think that's what Arashi is. For so many kinds of people to discover us, and watch over us even as they think we're idiots makes me really happy. And that can be experienced the best during concerts.

More 10.09

It's really no different than normal, he says nonchalantly. Whether or not I'm busy, that's not something the people who are watching care about. From the beginning, it seems like my feelings and my expressions haven't been in agreement. (smiling) Though in reality I'll be happy, people will tell me I don't look it.

My hips have started to hurt. They say, "You move too much." (smiling) But even if I'm told that, it can't be helped, because I have to keep going. My hips have always been weak. Maybe it's because I've been doing back flips since I was little, but since my teens I've had nerve pain in my hip bone. Stress may also be a reason for the pain. But there's no point in dwelling. You just get more stressed if you're pondering on whether or not it's stress. (smiling) If you're in pain, you just have to fix it.

When I had lymphangitis it was so bad that even having the air conditioner directed at my arm was painful. I went directly from the hospital where I'd been admitted to Yokohama Arena. If I think about it now, it's quite the story. (smiling) Such things as pain, uncertainty, and hate, even if I have negative emotions I don't brood, or express it. Even if I hate the person next to me I can talk to them naturally, and I generally don't get nervous, or depressed. Whether that's my original personality or one I've absorbed, I'm not sure...

Things like goals, results, and evaluations, I don't want to be living life searching for those answers. Like with Arashi, we did think in the past that we would like to give a concert in Tokyo Dome, but we didn't aim for that and work every day for that single purpose. There were things like small places and local television shows at that time, and we just enjoyed what was there in front of us, and I think it all linked up to our present.

More 08.09

When I don't care about something I forget it. (smiles) Lately my memory has been suspect. I was confident before, though. During my Junior days, I remembered all my seniors' songs and dances and the structure of their concerts, and I could remember my scripts right off the bat, but lately I can't. That's not a matter of getting rusty though, I think it's motivation. Like with scripts, it's not that I can't remember them, it's probably that I'm doing things so as not to remember them...

Before that drama began I expected it to be a turning point, and it turned out I was right. Up until then I would be very precise with my preparations so that the filming would be dealt with swiftly, but I've stopped with those preparations for the most part. At the time I'd been away from dramas for over a year, only focusing on magic. I did wonder if it would be okay after so long, but when I read the script I was overcome with ideas all at once. I realized I was better than before at quickly and deeply understanding that world. When I'm doing dramas back to back, I have more of an intuition about the set, but I think I was still the best at reading into the script. (smiling)

When I was a child I was good at making paper into three-dimensional forms. Since around the age of 13, they started giving me the opportunities to do stage plays and movies and dramas... And you know, I really think that if you do it just like the way it's written, you can't personify things well. It's the same as if you take a cutout of an actress to the hairdresser, and you just do the precise same cut, how it won't even come close to the image. Everyone has their own face and their own personality after all. (smiling) Even if you memorize the explanation of folding paper by rote, it won't help. What's important is how you interpret it, and how your image of it grows.

Even if there's explicit instruction in the script like "Become enraged here," it's still something where the timing changes depending on the atmosphere of the set and the flow, and if I act just as is decided when they say "Because of X, cry," as I'm doing it the world we're creating becomes shallower. Things become the most interesting if the actor chooses for themselves the way things will be acted, and it depends on who's doing the acting.

I mean, don't you think that what you choose depends on that person's personality and life? Not just with a performer. Whether or not you eat breakfast this morning, or you don't. Whether you take a shower, or get in the bath. Whether you say something, or you don't. From the small things to the large, every day, that person is shaped in the middle of countless choices they make. That's why if you perform just the way the script tells you to, it's boring for the person acting and for the viewer. If you're acting while thinking, "I definitely want this to be a hit," or "I want the director to like me," and treat it like an equation, that's fine, but I think I'm a little different. That's why, like with "Door to Door," I've worked together that team with for so many years that they know me well, and they let me do things freely.

More 07.09

What I really wanted to say was that I don't go through my relationships imagining my partner cheating on me.

Even if it's slightly off, as long as the essence of myself is there, I think it's probably okay.

People's impressions aren't something you make for yourself are they. I was probably labeled "eternally 17" because I did a lot of student roles, but it's not something I was personally attempting to present to people.

There days I don't dislike dancing or singing. Though it's not as if I'm like them, or am good at them.

More 06.09

Right now, work that's not on a stage is interesting to me. Varieties are fun because the instantaneous back and forth is interesting, I think. Even though you have a vague idea of how things will go, you're not sure what will happen and you feel like you're more able to listen to the person talking and to have more fun.

Whether at work, or my personal life, at some point or other that (tsukkomi) became my role.
"Nino don't be prideful and do many different jobs. There will be a time to come soon when everyone will cross the boundaries of genre and do all kinds of work." (Ikariya Chousuke (Namida wo Fuite co-star)) said. Those words will probably be with me forever.

Harry Potter periodically eats my soul every summer

onlythepresent — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 02:00:25 GMT

Now I know no one on my f-list is a Harry Potter fan, or at least active in the Harry Potter fandom, but I need to post about this so deal with it.

I was first introduced to Harry Potter in the summer of 1999, by my older brother who had in turn been introduced by a friend and so on a so forth. And let me tell you something, it got me good. It was a few weeks before the third Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, came out and I spent those few weeks craving more.

It was such a magical world, not unlike other books that at the time were favorites (like the Narnia series and Alice in Wonderland), but they were the first books that I read as they were coming out, and partly because of that I grew to love them even more. The first time I read the Prisoner of Azkaban was at baseball game. I finished the book before the game was over and I remember begging my mom to let me go home because it was too noisy at the ball game to properly think about what had been happening in the books.

Summer ended and I went back to school telling all my friends about this new series I had read. By the end of the year everyone in my class had read the Harry Potter books and they all had some sort of opinion of them. The next summer came around and I had learned that I was going to be transferring schools the next year. I reread the first three books and read the fourth book. I was all prepared for another year of talking to my classmates about the wonders of Harry Potter.

My new school was one of the schools that had banned Harry Potter from the school library. I was shocked. I had been counting on talking to classmates about Harry Potter but all of sudden that wasn't allowed. I didn't understand the reasoning behind it at all. Harry Potter wasn't allowed in the school library but other books like The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe were? How was that fair? So I took to the internet instead, because even mentioning Harry Potter in some teachers hearing at our school was enough to warrant a detention.

Harry Potter flung me into the world of fanfiction. I'd read it before that, there had been some Power Rangers fanfiction I had read when I was really young, but I had never wanted to write fanfiction before Harry Potter. The first fanfiction I ever posted was absolutely horrible. It had no plot, no direction, the characterization was completely off, and I wrote what at the time was a fairly popular pairing, Draco/Ginny. I have since taken that story off of fanfiction.net partially because after a year or two not updating it I got tired of it and partially because when I reread it I cringed in embarrassment.

Eventually, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix came out in the summer of 2003. Order of Phoenix was the last Harry Potter book I fully enjoyed. Part of this was because after Order of the Phoenix I became involved in shipping wars and prat of it was because by the time Half blood Prince came out I was in High school and I had become a bit of cynic at the time.

I wasn't all that active in the shipping wars or anything. I knew they existed but I was sure that at least one of my ships would end up happening in the end so I never really bothered to look at other shippers points and reasoning. My ships came out of the original pairing I wrote. Many of the Draco/Ginny fanfics of the day had side pairings of Harry/Hermione and Ron/Luna. The very thought of Hermione/Ron never even crossed my mind, besides in Golden trio threesome.

You see Hermione and Ron's relationship reminded me a bit of a relationship I had with this one guy in my class. He thought I was a teacher's pet, I thought he was a class clown, we only ever really talked because our names were right next to each other in the alphabet so he always sat next to me. We would tease each other and fight with each other and we never once went out or anything. Sure we cared about each other because after four/ five years of sitting next to each other in class you're use to them and get a bit worried when their sick and everything but it never went past that.

By this point the movies had started coming out, and my friends and I went to the midnight releases. Sometimes we dressed up, sometimes we didn't, but we had loads of fun every time we went. All of us were big fans of the books and we had fun sitting in the theater pointing out whenever they skipped something or changed something.

When Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince came out I was shocked. To me the Harry Potter I knew had left. In it's place was something that reminded me of a bad fanfiction I had once read. What with all the chest monsters, cheating, "special" lessons, attacking birds, and the like. I really only read the book once. I'm fine with it now and kind of want to reread it because I haven't read it since. What really upset me was the interview that came out afterward. Anyone that was still in Harry Potter fandom at the time knows what I'm talking about. This interview.

Delusional. This word became the Ron/Hermione shippers anthem. It followed Harry/ Hermione shippers everywhere. Years later I told one of my best friends that I was, and still am, a Harry/Hermione shipper and her only question for me was "You're not one of those delusional ones are you?". She is a Harry/Draco shipper and even though she never once stepped foot into the Het side of fandom she still knew the term that was used for us.

Ridiculous. After years of being in fandom I have heard strange theories out there. Crookshanks is actually Dumbledore, Dumbledore is actually Ron come back from the future, Snape is a vampire who secretly feed off of Slytherines, James drugged Lily with love potions to make her marry him, Frank and Alice Longbottom are just faking it and they aren't really crazy. And we're the delusional ones. Wonderful.

Fine I got over it after a while. I was ready for the next book, took solace in the fact that there was no way the next book could be as bad. Man was I wrong. Harry Potter and the ~~Extended Camping Trip~~ Deathly Hallows took the cake in books I disliked. Harry never once stopped to think about a plan to find the Horcroxes, Remus was ridiculed a coward for wanting to help Harry out (even though or maybe even because it meant leaving his wife and kid) during a time of war, Harry manages to kill Voldemort but still keep his hands clean, there was a crapilouge that answered no questions at all. Let's just say I prefer the fanfic versions of this book. But again I've only ever read it once and I should probably give it another try.

So what I meant to convey in this is that I have been in Harry Potter fandom for eleven years now. I've tried to leave it before because some of the shit that goes down in fandom is bat-shit insane, but it never works. Harry Potter helped me mature. I use to judge movies based off books according to the source material and now I know to judge them as completely separate things. I use to care if my ship won out in the end and now I know even if canon says no not gonna happen there will still be fic anyway.

Seriously guys I'm gone for like three days and this is what happens

onlythepresent — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:29:19 GMT

Nino gets into a minor car accident that is only newsworthy because he's a celebrity. And apparently all of Arashi is suspended from driving for the rest of the year.
Arashi is releasing a new album which I have been wanting since like last February.
With the new Album comes a new concert.
Newest Doctor who episode is amazing
I had 580 entries to go through on my friends list. Seriously you guys. Apparently I need to stop joining new communities.

Trying to cap Ryuusei no Kizuna is gonna make my fingers fall off or something

onlythepresent — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 01:42:38 GMT

Fifteen minutes into the first episode of Ryuusei no Kizuna and I already had 365 screencaps. I weeded them down to 53. So here are screencaps of the first 15 minutes of Ryuusei no Kizuna.

So pretty! Oh before I forget credits to SARS fansubs as this is their video file.

I love everyone in this cast. The mother is amazing and I only grow to love her more as more is revealed about her.

Normally I tend to skip through the flashback sections since they make me cry but these kids are such wonderful actors I want to see more of them (wonders if they've been in anything else recently).

Seriously she is so cute!

All the family together, for the last time ever.

Who asks their 10-12 year old son if their looking at porn magazines and then lets them be on their way? Oh right Koichi's dad apparently.

Man I wish I had something like that conveniently under my window when I was young. All I had was a twelve foot drop.

I have two older brothers and Shii reminds me a lot of how I was when I was young. Just wait you'll see why.

This so totally always works on them. A+ Strategy young Shii. She has learned well.

I think I love it when there's a chain of people piled up on each others shoulders. It is amazing. And kind of hard to see this small so click the picture it will be bigger.

All three of the Ariake 3. So cute. I like the shadows in this cap.

I would totally get bored within five minutes of getting whatever it was I complained about too.

And then I would fall asleep and be made fun of when I woke up later on by my brothers.

This opening makes me so happy. It has beautiful days playing and it has all the pretty actors and actresses and I just love it.

I love the Layering on this thing. It's a wonderful wonderful thing indeed.

Um... I totally use to put on make-up like young!Shii did. Also Toda Erika is beautiful and I love her.

Sorry young!Taisuke you're barely even there. I should probably pause the video instead of capping while i'm watching it.

Yay! Koichi and young!Koichi. I am easy to please obviously. Look everyone Nino is eating!

Umm here's where it becomes apparent that I had to cut some caps. There were a lot from the opening that were blurry and just too dark or something so not everyone has the same amount of caps. Sorry. Also Taisuke is wearing lip balm.

I really like the lighting in this it's kind of wonderful.

Missing Nino cap? I don't know what you're talking about. Okay I do. SO I capped Nino too late and got him when it was transitioning over to Ryo so the cap was discarded. On the other hand look at the pretty in this picture. I applaud you casting director.

I think I'm just amused because it looks like Nino has a hamburger by his head but it's really Hayashi Rice. Oh well.

I don't think I realized before this opening that there are guys out there who can pull off this shade of pink. I am impressed.

Such a cute little girl. Yes pretty much anytime young !Shii is on screen I will call her cute or be like OMG she's like I was when I was young.

I really dislike having the credits in front of her face. Oh well. Look at all those sponsors. I'm assuming that's why there are a whole lot of company names there.

Three Shot!

Young! Three Shot

I think I like this three shot best, so far at least.

I know this is dark and kind of hard to see but I think this is one of my favorite images in the entire drama so...

The detective. I kind of like that this is how we first meet him. His body language looks likes he's completely just given up.

Banana Man! Guy. I love him. He was pretty hilarious in Tokyo Friend Park II when the cast was on. I kind of feel like he doesn't really play a big part in the story though which is kind of a shame.

This is such an unnecessary cap but i can't bring myself to delete it because it's Nino and he looks so pretty.

George! I love George and I love how much he looks after the Ariake siblings. They needed someone and I'm glad he was there at least.

Oh Taisuke asking the important questions always.

His face amuses me.

It's such a pretty restaurant. I would totally want to go there since it's seems pretty inviting.

Umm this cap is also unnecessary but it's Ryo. And I'm beginning to think that this might be the reason for a lot of the caps on here. Including ones of Toda Erika who sadly is not in the first fifteen minutes besides the opening.

Lol Koichi I already loved you. Also George's face in the next cap is glorious.

They bicker like this a lot and I love it.

So I couldn't decide between this one and the next cap, so I decided to put in both.

So serious Koichi.

...Lalalala what do you mean unnecessary cap?

I love his hair in this I feel as if it acts just along with him.

You want me to compliment you on something too? Fine you don't have dead eyes unlike Yamapi.

Or maybe you do?

Nope definitely not. Also I love how everyone has a bit of a smile except for Koichi because it's time to tease Koichi.

Lol. First time I heard of cellphones was 1999. So that's 11 years now. I haven't dated any girls since then either don't worry Koichi.

Only? Also this means he hasn't dated any girls since at least high school maybe middle school depending on how old he is. He has to be in his twenties though because Nino does not have the face of a 30 year old.

That's an AV right? So my only question is why exactly would he suffer when watching that? I don't understand. Well I do if it means what I think it means but I kind of doubt it.

And he pockets the dvd.

And makes sad looking faces at George for making fun of him for it.

You know I've never had curry but adding chocolate to it does not sound appealing at all.

I love the face Banana man guy is making. I should probably learn his name at some point.

Total Number of caps: 53
Number of caps with Nino in them: 19
Number of caps with Ryo in them: 20
Number of completely superficial caps I had trouble not commenting kfdljags'lajs on: 35
Number of caps needing more Toda Erika: ALL

I will probably put up more tomorrow. And I might get past half an hour. Possibly. I think Toda Erika shows up in these next fifteen minutes so maybe not.

onlythepresent — Fri, 28 May 2010 13:23:32 GMT

I'm sure everyone has already heard about Jun's new drama.

My only question is if this means we get Jun on SmapxSmap because if so that would be amazing since I was just day dreaming about seeing that since I started watching Smap stuff back in April.

Also I love the actress so much (even though I've only seen her in Pride) and she's Nino idol which is giving everyone giggles. It's gonna be a fun season next season.

My Drama List

onlythepresent — Wed, 05 May 2010 08:48:47 GMT

~COMPLETED~

1 Litre of Tears- You would think this drama's title would have warned me for how sad it was going to be but I had no idea I would cry as much as I did.

Black and White- The only Taiwan Drama on the list. I really enjoyed it. The big bad was kind of obvious but that's sort of what makes it fun. Plus it is way to easy to ship everyone in this drama.

Bloody Monday- I liked this but then I read the manga, and I have to to say I enjoy the manga better. I'm still waiting on all the subs for the second season.

Boss- I have to say that this is one of my favorite dramas. I've watched it enough times by now that I can have it on in the background and recognize the scene just from what their saying and since I know pretty much no Japanese I think that says something. I want another season of this show so much.

Buzzer Beat- This was a drama I watched when I was bored, and I was surprised at how much I liked it. The two pairings in this are one of the few drama pairings I actually agree with.

Gokusen- If you know me as an Arashi fan you have this drama to thank for it. Oh MatsuJun how do you bait me?

Haikei, Chichiue-sama- I first watched this back when I was binging on Nino dramas. It's a sweet drama that you have to marathon or else you'll get a bit bored.

Hero- Umm... I don't think words can express my love for this drama. Go watch it. It has Kimutaku in it and the drama pairing is ridiculously cute.

Keitai Sousakan 7- How do I explain this drama without making it seem lame? It's a drama about cellphones that are highly advanced. So much so they become little walking machines that fight crime with their buddies. Falls under the "it's better than it sounds" category.

Kimi wa Petto- I have to say if there's one thing this drama did well it was making us root for their pairing, because when my friend and I watched this together the moment the other guy came on screen we were both like "I don't like him"

Kisarazu Cat's Eye- I have to say I usually don't like Sho's acting but I think he did very well here. This drama might have possibly cemented my love for Okada. Strange how that works.

Koshonin- Umm... I love strong female characters, and you know when their physically strong too it's just a plus. I'm still waiting for subs on the second season, I might end up giving in eventually and watch it raw just to see more of Usagi.

Kurosagi- While I like this show it's one of the ones that I've only watched once and am fine with that. But for Yamapi fans you should watch it. Horikita Maki fans should watch it too.

Liar Game- I began to watch this originally for Toda Erika and continued to watch it for Matsuda Shota. And this show has cemented in me that I should probably be resigned to liking the manga better than the drama.

Long Vacation- How to explain my love for this drama? Really it's a KimuTaku romance drama. I feel as if I have no need for more explanation.

Mageraenai Onna- This drama has solidified my love of threesomes. Umm... that's totally not the point of the drama but it's an amazing drama with very real feeling characters. Just make sure you watch past the first episode.

Maou- So this is one of those dramas where everyone dies and I love it and ever since I watched it I haven't been able to marathon it again. Watch it!

Mr. Brain- Feel like watching a light fluffy drama that makes you not have to think since they piece everything together for you? Watch this.

Nobuta Wo Produce- This drama has so much gay in it, and it lured me into asian dramas. I will always love it. And I have youtube to thank for it.

Nodame Cantabile- This was my first jdrama and I will always love it. It's based off a manga that I use to read and it's fantastic. If you don't like classical music before you watch this you will afterward.

Pride- If my flailing over Long Vacation above didn't clue you in already to the fact that I love KimuTaku dramas then let me tell you. I love KimuTaku dramas. This one being my favorite, so far.

Ryuusei no Kizuna- Ariake three! The three siblings in this are so sweet and I love their relationship and the ending is a bit of a twist. This drama cemented my love for Nishikido Ryo and Toda Erika. I'd already loved Nino by then.

Saigo no Yakusoku- Arashi drama! I was spoiled for this before I watched it but I still loved it anyway, plus if you watch it twice things that you don't notice on the first viewing stand out at you.

Stand Up!!- Suzuki Ann! Ninomiya Kazunari! Yamapi! Becky! Oguri Shun! Narimiya Hiroki! If these names can't compel you to watch this drama then watch it because of the friendship between the characters.

Triple- The only K-drama on the list. It's about a girl who ice skates and goes to her step-brother's house to go for training from a world famous coach, who happens to be her step brother's ex-wife, but she doesn't know about that. It's interesting if for no other reason then you get to hear people rampage on and on about step siblings. (not in the drama but some of the fans)

The Quiz Show- Umm it's wonderful and I love it. The acting is wonderful, the story is original, and the twist is twisty.

The Quiz Show II- Yoko <3 This drama made me so happy. Sho's acting was decent but Yoko's was rather wonderful. Plus it ties in to the previous series.

Tokyo DOGS- Oguri Shun and Mizushima Hiro bickering is a wonderful wonderful thing. And the actress who plays Yuki is a lot of fun too.

Triangle- The first time I saw a Smap drama that wasn't Kimu Taku. It was good. I'm use to everyone getting out alive in the end in cop dramas unless an actor or actress quits and then they're killed off for normally no reason, but this time I'm positive it was all planned out. It was so good at the end. It is a bit slow paced for a while though.

Unfair- If you ever see me rave over Shinohara Ryoko or Eita this drama is why. I've watched a lot of cop shows in my life but this might just be my favorite. I cried my eyes out when I watched it, which is strange because normally I don't cry over stuff. But this drama does so well at establishing the relationships between the characters that by the end you're crying about all the shit that happened to them. Make sure you watch the last episode all the way through including the ending credits since they're different than normal. Just don't watch the movie, I consider it an abomination. The special is okay though.

Uta no Onii-san- Ohno in a drama as a character who sings every episode. I approve. Also my little sister who roles her eyes at all things Japanese likes this show too so...

Yamada Taro Monogatari- My first Nino drama! With Sho! This is rather hilarious but don't expect things like plot and character development.

Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge- My favorite manga was made into a drama! And I supported it from the get go. Mainly because the main actor was Kame and umm I kind of adore his acting. Also I like it as a stand alone sort of thing.

Yasashii Jikan- Another one of Nino's humanistic drama's and to be honest I like this one a lot more then Haikei, Chichiue-sama. It delves into the father-son bond which is fantastic.

~CURRENTLY WATCHING~

Abunai Houkago- Nino drama! waiting for the subs to finish.

Gakko ja Oshierarenai!- Haven't actually started watching it but it's on my external wiating to be watched so it'll be done soon.

Handoku!!!- I am waiting for the newer subs to finish if for no other reason then the episodes being properly divided.

Kaibutsu-kun- still ongoing in Japan. Need to watch the most recent episode.

Kamen Rider Kabuto- It's a long long show that I've only seen one episode of but have the entire series on my external.

Kami no Shizuku- The wine drama. I watched the first ...6... episodes I think. And then I skipped to the last five minutes of the last episode. So I haven't actually finished the drama.

Massugu no Otoko- Waiting for subs on this one

Minami-kun no Koibito- Watched the first four episodes. And I skipped to the end but I'm planning on watching it all the way through.

My Boss, My Hero- Haven't finished the first episode yet...

One Pound Gospel- Haven't finished the first episode yet...

Sapuri- Watched the first episode

Tatta Hitotsu no Koi- Watched most of the first episode

Tokujo Kabachi!!- Horikita Maki is wonderful. And I'm waiting for stormy to finish their subs.

Trick- Umm...this is three seasons long and I've watched four episodes of it I think

~DROPPED~

Hana Yori Dango- Never liked the manga and I've never managed to get past the first episode of the drama so I gave up.

Orthos no Inu- Apparently Taki freaks me out more then I knew. Plus I didn't like the story...

Yes I am back

onlythepresent — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 02:25:51 GMT

Okay I completely fail at posting this. Yes I'm back, have been for a week now >.<

My aunt ended up dying, in her sleep thankfully, and the funeral was on Friday. Today would have been her birthday.

Any who I'm going to stop this depressing stuff now.

Real life stuff aka why I won't be on livejournal for an undisclosed amount of time

onlythepresent — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 02:15:38 GMT

So on Wednesday I'm going up to St. Louis, MO, my hometown, because my aunt is the hospital and all indications say that she's probably dying. She currently is using an oxygen mask to breath and it's going to be removed tomorrow, plus she doesn't want life support so no one knows how she's going to fair. At this point they aren't even sure if she's conscious or not, seeing as how today she spent the entire day with her eyes closed.

I won't be bringing my laptop since it's on the fritz anyway and does not travel well, also even if I did we'll be staying in a motel that most likely won't have internet access.

I'll be back after either the funeral or if she gets better. Until then I will be in Missouri.

Truth parody

onlythepresent — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:38:55 GMT

Apparently I have watched this parody so many times that now anytime Truth starts up on my playlist I think of this. I can't even feel ashamed for this either.

Since when have I known all of the Kanjani8, News, V6, Tokio, SMAP, and KAT-TUN guys by name?

onlythepresent — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:30:15 GMT

Really guys this is ridiculous. When I first got into Arashi I had no idea that I was going to fall into six other bands because of them too. This is just outright unfair.

At least I can take solace in the fact that the only person I recognize from Hey!Say!Jump! is Chinen. It's weird though because I should be fine with H!S!J! because the oldest of the group is like five months older than me or something, since if i remember correctly he was born in December of '89. I think the reason why I can't deal with it is the youngest of the group is a year older than my little brother. It makes it a little weird for me to watch them. (Also I normally don't want to deal with them until they're fully cemented as a group and everything and for some odd reason I just don't see that yet).

At least I know what I have to blame for my pain. J-drama's. That's what started this whole thing. In fact, that's what started my whole Arashi obsession. For KAT-TUN and News I have Nobuta wo Produce to blame. For Kanjani8 I have Ryuusei no Kizuna and The Quiz Show 2 to blame. For V6 I have Kisarazu Cat's Eye to blame. For Tokio, well okay I don't have J-Dramas to blame for the but if I felt like it I could say that Handoku to blame, but Tokio is so awesome that i would have fallen for them regardless. For SMAP I have Long Vacation and Pride and Mr. Brain to blame. (Yes they are all Kimura Takuya dramas how very kind of you to notice)

So in case you all were wondering what I'd been up to recently you could say that I was binging on J-dramas and learning all about other Johnny's groups. (I refuse to go anywhere near Tackey and Tsubasa though because Tackey creeps me out)

onlythepresent — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:36:57 GMT

OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!!

MY BROTHER IS AMAZING!!!

HE IS PAYING THE DEBT TO MY COLLEGE!!!

THIS MEANS I CAN GO BACK TO COLLEGE NEXT YEAR!!

Sorry for spamming today.

Gantz rant that you can totally skip

onlythepresent — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:37:33 GMT

Normally I ignore people's comments on posts in fandom because really what is there to gain from arguing with people. You arguing with them is more likely to make them feel as if they are right. No matter how well put together your argument is there will still be people who don't listen to what you have to say. It's always been like that and will continue being like that for quiet some time.

That being said I feel the need to address some people's concerns over Gantz becoming a live action movie. There are people that are saying that they don't like the themes of the story because it mainly concerns violence and sex. I have to tell you that when I first started reading Gantz back in 2007 I would have agreed with you. In fact, the reason why I stopped reading it after a while was because it seemed like the plot was going no where. I thought for sure that it was just going to be an obscenely long manga about blood and guts and gore and I pretty much forgot about it until it was announced that Nino was going to be in the live action adaptation. I recognized the name but had mostly forgotten what it was about.

I started to reread it determined to read it all the way through until the most current chapter. I was surprised to find that the character I disliked the most when I first read it, the main character of the story, actually started developing. He had originally reminded me of some kids in my high school, the ones who liked to pretend to that they were tough and take out their worries and anger at life in general on other people, but he started to evolve afterwards. Gradually he managed to fall in love and began to question what he was doing in life.

Finally the manga started to portray some themes that were more than just blood and gore and sex. It began to pose a question, if given the chance would you A) stay for more violence and get 1) a better weapon then before, 2) a person revived from the dead or B) save yourself by leaving the "game". At first I thought for sure that the main character would choose to save himself by leaving the game but slowly and surely he began to care for the others who were playing the game and began to become a leader. The only choice he ever made was to revive people.

So it annoys me when when people say that this movie is going to be just another action movie with no real plot to it and what not because that is just not true.

Another thing that keeps coming up in conversations with people is that there is rape in the manga. Yes, there is an ATTEMPTED rape but no it's not by one of the main characters. In fact, the person who attempts the rape dies fairly quickly. The thing about the rape is people are trying to call others disgusting for reading the manga and are trying to imply that people think rape is alright.

That is not the case at all. I hate to break it to you guys but rape does happen. It is ugly and makes the person it happens to feel like shit and like they did something to deserve it. But it happens in real life. Just because you read something that has rape in or even watch something that has rape in it does not mean that you in any way shape or form advocate it. I use to watch Law and Order SVU all the time and that has a rape practically every episode. Does that mean that because I use to watch I'm a horrible person that advocates rape? No. As for if they should keep the rape in the movie or not it depends on what audience their going for. If they are indeed trying to make so the entire family can watch it then it is almost certain that it won't be in there or it won't be actually shown but maybe heard.

So over-all people yes Gantz is filled with a lot of violence, and yes the main character is a bit of a pervert and has sex a few times within the manga, but that does not mean that there isn't a story to be told here.

Also: lesson for me, stop reading arama's comments they only piss me off.

I got bored.

onlythepresent — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:27:20 GMT

G no Arashi episode 5 (AKA let me show you my Nino bias)

onlythepresent — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 07:19:11 GMT

Is it a bad thing that I don't remember why I took the first screencap that shows up in my picspam? Yes? I rather thought so...

Guys this is the reason why I shouldn't have days in between when I capped the episode and when I comment on it. I have no idea why I took some of these caps though I do have the suspicion that the my reason was something like "the pretty told me to do it". O.o

Ah right screencap I remember! This guy was a cleanliness freak. He won't touch door handles, drink with straws provided at restaurants, eat with silverware given to him and the like...

These are his own personal chop sticks that he carries with him.

You know I seem to remember using this as a reason to use straws in restaurants because you never know if the sides of the cup where everyone drinks from have been fully sanitized or not. First time I made this argument I was ten. I was a weird kid.

This kind of threw me. I always thought it was MatsuJun...and I still think it is I think they mean more in the way of eating what other people have eaten and drinking what other people drunk. Because apparently at this point it was still an issue for him, but they only mention the whole drinking thing being an issue. I understand. I went through all of high school refusing to drink other people's drinks because I didn't want mono.

Next is a circle of friends that decided hey we like smoked food lets make a club out of it and try and figure out what tastes good smoked and what doesn't.

Some of that stuff there looks pretty iffy to me.

Considering the face MJ is giving his food here I rater think he agrees with me.

Apparently smoked banana does not taste all that wonderful. Who would have figured? Oh right...me.

Ohno once again demonstrates that he no longer has taste buds so to speak of.

But considering that he makes this face after he's finished saying that I'm not quiet so sure I believe him. Why do I get the feeling that this originally started out as a joke but he's said it so much that he himself believes it now. X.X

This little man is the topic of today's episode...

He is a UFO photographer. And like any UFO photographer his photos and videos are sketchy at best.

Also apparently Doctor Who is wrong Aliens don't have their own language, they all speak Japanese. Wonderful logic there.

*Reigns in sarcasm* These are the pictures that the aliens sent to him for him to draw.

They ask him about how often the UFO's respond to his call. He says about 90% of the time.

Arashi remains skeptical.

His wife remains skeptical. X.X But apparently his grandchildren believe.

So this is a failed. *waves* Hi failed host person. He apparently lives off of 5000 yen a week. Which is ridiculous.

You know originally I was going to say something about how with his face and attitude no wonder why he was a failed host but then I saw Ohno's face on the box in the bottom and it hit me that if Ohno ever had decided to be a host, like he apparently was thinking of when he first joined Arashi, this would be the result. And now I can't stop laughing at this image.

MatsuJun's DoS side shows itself and we get full on body giggles in compensation.

...I like it when he's happy. Oh the irony of having been baited by Gokusen...

I have to say though that I never thought I would see the failed host make an appearance this early on in Arashi's career. I love it.

So they decide that they're going to go support the UFO photographer. Aiba decides that he wants to take along the member that will make the most "childish reactions". Just remember that this is your own fault Aiba when I spend the entire picspam focused on Nino...

I love that Ohno pushes Nino away when he tries to hide from Aiba. Nino however looks as if he feels betrayed. You know I wonder how much of their life is filled with travel. It seems like an obscene amount.

By the time the get there Nino seems to be in a bad mood. His emo hair is apparently coming in handy here.

What do you mean I was supposed to have a reason for taking the caps. I'm sure I did at the time but I'm pretty sure my reason was something like the reason for the first two caps in this spam. >.>

>.<

XD

I find the photographer's drawing ability questionable.

Okay question time: Does anyone else get strangely reminded of SpongeBob Square Pant's Pineapple from this picture or is it just me?

Nino ever so helpfully points out that the UFO photographer says that one of the UFO's is actually a witch. Apparently I need to stop watching Doctor Who because I find myself thinking "it could happen. It happened to Shakespeare after all."

So apparently the aliens contact him and tell him where they're going to be.

And he uses this bell to summon them.

So apparently the aliens fly through this hoop. I...kind of doubt that though.

I think Nino shares my doubts here.

Oh right...Aiba is in this episode too. Sorry for ignoring you Aiba.

The boys express their doubt that there will be any actual UFOs in this episode. Even Aiba ends up agreeing.

So they go bother his co-workers to see if anyone believes him.

And it's revealed that his success rate isn't 90% but rather that he manages to film them every now and then.

Apparently no one at his job believes him.

A lot of fellow UFO believers gather with him. One that apparently drove a spaceship before.

Another one (or was it the same person?) that encountered aliens on Jupiter. And they apparently used a machine to copy his clothing.

Apparently this is another way to summon UFOs.

Nino ever so helpfully points out that so far all the alien relics have been Japanese style. Can you taste his cynicism?

So they had this device that was was supposed to make juice taste sweeter. And you know I think I've seen one of those before and they were doing it the wrong way so the taste doesn't change. But when Aiba tells Nino this he is told to just say it does.

So he does. X.X

They also have a song that they composed to summon the aliens.

Nino clearly thinks they're all insane.

Aiba agrees.

In the end at least one person is won over by their efforts and she thinks she saw a UFO.

So they check the footage and well you can only really see it when it's in motion but there is something barely visible flying out there.

onlythepresent — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:50:10 GMT

lol, my screencapping tendencies are getting the worst of me.

7,976 Screen caps of Odoroki 6. I need to cut those down. All together they are 3.03 G, that's more than the actual video file.

I wonder if I can get it down to a thousand.... We'll see.

G no Arashi Episode 4: The actor with 20 years of experience but still fails.

onlythepresent — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:21:00 GMT

So it's been a while since the last one of these. *is sheepish* I can only claim that Christmas vacation killed me. It would have been fine if it was only a week but I was with my family family for three weeks. I love them and all but after a week I remember why I like living in a different state then they do. Then I got back and my laptop charger broke on the plane ride, and it's really weird using my mom's computer for something like this but I was bored so here you are.

This G no Arashi starts off with the four choices in who to choose. There's Nino's Choice: a failed ranger team.

And when I say failed I mean even the little kids criticize them and they're apparently kicked in the behind and pinched. Nino helpfully points out that some of this might be because there's only three of them, everyone who's anyone knows ranger teams have to have five people. Aiba wants to fix their costumes, and I'm too busy giggling at the rangers fail to care that they're probably trying to teach people something important.

Sho wants to support a minor sport. You know I kind of wish that they would have done this one because how awesome would that be? It would be the beginnings to their minor sports theme, but sadly Kin ball (this minor sport) is not chosen. And it looks so fun.

Arashi agrees with me. But they also say that it should go to a show that was apparently airing at around the same time that focused on sports.

Ohno wants to support a failed actor. They ask him to give his best act and he gives a wrestling match spectator. This probably says something about him in terms of ability.

I don't even remember what Ohno's comment was I just thought that him picking his nose and them catching him was just really funny considering that AnS episode where they have him teach a guest how to pick your nose on tv without getting caught, and he's totally obvious about it.

Aiba wants to support...himself? Well no, not really but rather A no Arashi. He wants his corner back. As fun as I think this would be, sorry Aiba wrong show. Will you cheer up if I tell you that you still get to wreck mayhem and havoc on this show anyway?

It is a sad day when his lab coat is in the garbage.

So they decide on who to support and they end up choosing the failed actor, which I'm pretty sure you figured out by the title of this entry.

He has videos of all his performances. Apparently he's been in over 3000 things and quiet a few of them are well known drama series and such.

Guys I kind of miss videos. They were my childhood really, well those and laser discs. My parents still have my laser discs of all the disney movies...not that we still have a player for it...

Anyway back to the show. They show a few the instances where he's in something and they're all really short. The first one he's on screen for like two seconds.

Same with this one...

Ohno asks what I had been wondering. It really does seem like he gets a very small amount of screen time.

Earlier Sho had been complaining that finding him in the clips he was in was harder that finding waldo. So naturally he gets all excited when he finds him in the next clip.

So yes he actually had a line in this one, it was one word "Taichou". Apparently he gets speaking roles every so often. But they're never very long.

So they talk to his mom about her thoughts on his job and she says she wants him to quit. I get the feeling that she's not too thrilled about him having this job. I guess I understand I mean after twenty years at his job he still has nothing to show for it.

So since he's decided to quit they decide to make a movie with him as a lead (note: by movie I mean it's about as long as movie trailers are...)

They bring in the director of Pikan'chi to help with it. I knew I recognized him from somewhere...

He wants to see the guys acting ability so he has him pretend to be chased and killed by Jason. Sho plays Jason. Sho's method for acting as Jason: running after the guy screaming "I'm Jason".

The guy's acting: "It's Jason!" gets hit, lies down and closes his eyes... I can see there is some work to do on his part...

You know I would make another joke about his acting not looking good and all but I feel as if I've been fairly mean to him already...

Oh yes, so Sho and Ohno are part of this "movie" Sho is Ohno's mom and Ohno is a high school student who failed his college entrance exam... I see no acting on Sho's part.

This cap is mostly here because I suddenly thought, "wow they do look alike". I think it's that they both have their eyes closed...

So he plays a passionate teacher. Who has broken glasses? I don't get it.

So at some point in the conversation on his phone he says something about getting back to eating his chicken... guys he was eating instant noodles...maybe it was chicken flavor?

Mama!Sho tells student!Ohno to stop contemplating suicide and get down here or else he gets no eel tonight. Why do I feel like this would work on Ohno in real life?

Sho gets to have the "humorous" lines in this "movie"...I like quotation marks too much don't I?

Beginning of Sho's fun faces.

You know I think he makes this face a lot but the curly wig kind of cracks me up a lot.

Ohno's eyes were glowing. It had to be capped.

Ohno looks so incredulous here. And thus the episode ends.

onlythepresent — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:14:05 GMT

Guys my laptop charger has broken so I have to use my mom's computer for now. This means do not expect picspams from me right now.

I'm totally failing at the whole keeping to a schedule thing aren't I?

onlythepresent — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:21:17 GMT

Okay I'm officially back in Texas.

Christmas with the family was crazy but that what happens when all seven of us are in the same room. Seriously the entire time I was there it was like one big insult fest. Something about my family that you should know...we insult each other for grins and giggles, and no one gets upset by it...normally. It was kind of strange to see them all again. It's like how after a while you forget why you avoid them then you get together once a year and within an hour you remember why.

Anyway apologies. I failed at commenting and posting when I was in Georgia and Florida. The weekly G no Arashi should be up in tomorrow. (I'm hoping to get a couple up to make up for it.)

New Years Resolution: Pay off last year at college and work out a way to go back to Leo without my father's help.

G no Arashi episode 3 (aka MatsuJun and Nino are dorks and I love them for it)

onlythepresent — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:21:27 GMT

So this episode starts off with Aiba talking about his wisdom teeth coming in. And this totally makes me wonder if I'm abnormal seeing as how mine came in when I was fourteen and and I didn't have to get them taken out or anything.

Ohno has one coming in too and this does not help me believe that I'm normal... I mean this is 2005 so they're all in their early 20's here.

So Ohno wants to support someone who supposedly snores loudly. Dude her snoring is not that loud. My mom's is much louder. You can hear it across the apartment. As a matter of fact I can hear it right now even.

MatsuJun wants to support a theme park that hardly ever gets any visitors.

The reason for this is obviously because their theme is the afterlife. And the whole tour only takes ten minutes. I kind of don't blame people for not going.

Nino wants to support a 42 year-old who wants to confess to someone he has been friends with for twelve years.

Aiba wants to support a black man who can't dance. I admit I kind of wanted them to support this guy too.

Though that probably has more to do with the fact that I look a lot like him when I attempt to dance...

So they decide on the 42 year-old who wants to confess. And who do they send on this mission? Nino and MatsuJun that's who. And if I remember certain episodes correctly this isn't the first time they make this totally awesome decision.

So they go to his house and are totally already being little shits and hiding so he can't see who is at the door.

His room is really cluttered with figurines and manga and posters and you know if they weren't all of girls in mini skirts I would want that collection. But this room makes me really happy that my room looks nothing like this.

Somewhere in my capping I realized I didn't have one of what he looked like. Nino thinks his hair style is cute. I worry about Nino.

So they ask what this girl looks like. He doesn't have a photo of her or anything so he resorts to drawing her. And he's pretty damn good at it too. Note: Ohno this is how girls are drawn not that special drawing of yours that we saw in AnS.

So they ask if he's ever tried to confess his feelings to her before. And he says he wrote a song. So they have him sing it. And Nino asks him if he can laugh. And he agrees.

The song seems to have killed Nino.

So they bring in tutors to help him with his confession. And you know if this show were anything like their shows now they would have had Sho as his tutor. I kind of mourn the fact that this did not happen.

...This is only here because I'm in awe of how neat Nino's handwriting is. Seriously at the best of times my hand writing is just legible, on a dry erase board the size is either too big or too small or both. So this is my I'm envious of your skillz cap.

They make him talk to some high school girls and he does fairly well once he relaxes.

Then they take him out to get new clothes. His reaction after trying on said new clothes: "I look pretty good in anything don't I?" I agree with Nino, I would be pretty annoyed.

MatsuJun agrees too.

This is what he looks like afterwards. And I have to say I don't like the slicked back look on him. Throw a scar on his face and I'll call him Yakuza. Anyway they go up to the rooftop to await his friend so he can confess.

He confesses and is totally sweet but unfortunately she turns him down.

This is who he confessed to. MatsuJun asked her why she turned him down and she said that they've been friends for twelve years and she can't see him as anything else. Guys I totally understand how this would be an issue.

So they send him off with a cheer about how rejection doesn't mean the end and it's really sweet but I didn't cap it.

onlythepresent — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:33:29 GMT

So new layout and default user pic (finally got around to making that shit).

G no Arashi should be up tomorrow. Would have been up yesterday but a wire on the breaker came off and left half the apartment without electricity. The half with my room and the heater and the stove and the bathrooms. Not cool, but very cold.

Tomorrow dinner with mom and brother than Friday leaving for Georgia to go see rest of family.

G no Arashi episode 2 aka the beaten boxer

onlythepresent — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:03:48 GMT

Alright and so G no Arashi begins again. I had never seen this episode before, which is weird since I thought I watched most of G no Arashi, but apparently I watched from like 20 onwards or something. so these next few weeks will be interesting to actually see these things for the first time.

So this episode is about a pro boxer who has never won a match his entire career, and when I first read the summary of it I thought I wasn't going to like it because it seems like there could be alot wrong with this episode, but luckily Arashi stepped it up and did not disappoint me!

The episode begins with this proclamation and I kind of wonder when they decided this? Was it last episode and I already forgot? I remember them talking about but it having no resolution. Weird.

So Sho asks leader if there's anything he wants them to support him for since he's doing a stage play. And in typical Leader fashion he responds that the rehearsals are tough. Which prompts Sho to claim that Leader just is not cut out for stage plays. (I beg to differ)

So they begin to go through their choices of who to support. Up first is a sweet elderly couple who run a tofu shop that always gets hit by cars. This seems like it would be really troublesome. (We're ignoring my crippling fear of car crashes for a moment) If nothing else it would be a pain in the ass to repair all the time not to mention what would happen to the people in the car.

To try and warn people that their shop is there they put up a sign (as seen above) and you know I think if nothing else that sign would distract me even more.

Next up is a magician who fails at magic tricks. I kind of love Ohno's reaction upon seeing his face he says, "that's a face of mistakes." Seriously people think Ohno isn't mean at all, Lies people all lies.

They ask him to demonstrate a trick and before he even finishes the introduction to the trick he's messing up. (The arrow is pointing to the ball that he's suppose to be hiding but you can totally see in his hand.)

This cracks everyone up that he is so fail. And Nino, the one who wanted to support him, says never mind we don't have to support him. I mean if the guy can fail at the most basic of magic tricks that my little brother can do then he's kind of hopeless. Also I love that it was Nino that wanted to support him, I mean I'm sure the staff picked it out and everything but it just amuses me.

So next up is a poodle who looks to be around 5'4". And seriously guys how is it possible that that thing got so big? It's as big as my dog and my dog is a rotweillier/ german shepard mix. They just say to let to dog outside and I have to agree. I mean with a dog that size the only thing you have to worry about is like if bear tries to attack it or something.

Next is a sumo wrestler who has no one to practice with in her sumo club because of differences in size. I think they would normally support her but she's also apparently the Japanese sumo wrestling champion for twelve years running so they're not too worried about her.

So finally we get to the one they'll be supporting this episode. The fail boxer whose inspiration is an anime character.

Okay so maybe this is just me but I don't understand why you would break up with someone just because they keep losing their matches. It doesn't make any sense to me. I can only hope that his losing wasn't the actual reason for his break up because that would piss me off.

So Aiba thinks he looks weak and that even he could beat this guy. Oh Aiba you will eat your words you will.

Okay so they send Aiba and Sho to go support the boxer. And you know this part was kind of hilarious because of the hand motions they do and it makes me remember that Aiba is guaranteed to crack me up.

And yet again Aiba thinks he can beat the pro boxer.

So this is the owner of the gym and Sho is impressed by his body. ...I could change that to make it sound less creepy but where's the fun in that?

So they go in to meet the boxer whose name is Ito Tsuyoshi. Sho asks him a few questions and Aiba punches him in the face. And then says see he didn't even dodge.

So apparently the poor guy gets butterflies in his stomach before every match. He says that if he weren't so nervous he would be able to win.

\

Aiba still thinks he can win and asks for a fight. Meanwhile Sho senses Aiba's defeat before it happens.

Even Aiba begins to wonder about this decision after he gets tsuyoshi to punch him.

So before the match starts they show Aiba battling various animals, mostly kangaroos, and in all of the clips he's running away and guess what he's doing here? You got it running away.

So the boxer wins which is good otherwise I would be really embarrassed for him. Anyway they finally decide to bring in some outside help. A world champion boxer that I totally can't remember's name.

So he asks Tsuyoshi what he thinks his main reason for losing is and Tsuyoshi blames it on his stomachaches. I don't know that seems like a very third grade approach to it all if you ask me.

So the coach guy that they brought in has him exercise a little in front of him to see what all is wrong with his training that he can fix. Then the coach asks about his stamina and he flat out says that he has none. Which is a bit of a problem. So the coach says he should run every morning. And he says he will.

SO they decide to bring in some other boxers who have been on a losing streak and Sho calls them the "repeated loss boxers." Which is no worse then the tone deaf guys.

AIba thinks it's rude of Sho to call them that but Sho ignores him about it.

There's five guys there and between all of them they have 25 losses, 1 draw, and 1 win. Guys this kind of depresses me I don't know about you.

So they ask one guy who he looks up to in the boxing world and he says another anime character so Aiba being the wonderful person that he is is like hey it's a correlation. And Sho just laughs and says that there is no correlation.

So they decide to make him spar against another boxer. Look at the size difference between these two would you? They're in the same weight class and yet the other one looks like he could break tsuyoshi into pieces. This goes back to what the coach said when he first saw tsuyoshi. That he doesn't have the body to be a boxer.

So they spar and tsuyoshi loses which the coach says is because he's too passionate about boxing and gets really nervous during a match, which he himself has said before so I'm willing to believe it.

So they end the episode cheering for tsuyoshi who has a match coming up soon. And since I was really curious about whether or not he won his next match I went to google to go and see and lo an behold he did. It's the November 30th 2005 match. Which I thought was really kind of cool.

SO I need to talk about the music for G no Arashi I forgot that the staff had like an obsession with Green day or something. They use it all the time it's kind of funny actually.