16 posts from November 2008

Today I was watching Arashi Around Asia footage. Watching JET STORM makes me both happy and sad. A lot what they said was,

"I had no idea we had so many fans here..."

or

"I didn't expect this much of a ruckus coming out here..."

While I initially think, "Wow I'm so glad they got to see that they are loved in other countries." It frustrates me too.

I'm a realistic person. I know this will not send Arashi skipping to America to play a concert. I know that it took years for Arashi to even outreach to Korea. It's going to take time for us too.

I'm willing to wait.

However, what the Korean fans had to have did and that I believe we need to do is spread the word of Arashi.

Share their music with others. Build the fan base.

After doing the e-mail campaign, I am happy because a great amount of e-mails were sent indeed. However, in all reality the amount of fans in Asia trumps America.

I don't think that in itself is enough to make Arashi's coming here impossible. However, we have to understand that even if Arashi were to say, "I want to perform in America!" If the Jimushou doesn't see a profitable market, I doubt they will.

Essentially, for something of the caliber of moving a Johnny's Entertainment show ALL the way here to the Americas but to have a scattered hundred come -- that could be crippling financially speaking.

Which is why I honestly think spreading the name of Arashi to others so that their fanbase grows is probably one of the most helpful things we can do at the present time.

With this all stated -- I am working hard at another idea. I don't have a stop button, I know. I'm sorry if you're one of the people I told that I'd calm down but, doing this isn't tiring per say. I love it. So, I hope you'll all have me again while I dish something new up. <3

Hello hello! Gomen! I was late with this today. T_T

So! My e-mail today was to the birthday boy...

Satocchi!

Bwaha, rather, Satoshi~ So, I thought, "Alright. ARASHI DISCOVERY's format is...quiz questions. I wanna suggest a question!"

I've heard other episodes where he'd read listener's suggested questions. Then I thought, "Erm. But what can I suggest and give facts about?!"

Then I remember how lately on Himitsu no Arashi-chan has been doing viral videos! I love the format! Then I thought - YouTube! That'd be kinda interesting.

So, I explained how I loved HnA as of late and how it's, "like watching YouTube with Arashi!" Then I mentioned all these neat little facts about YT - like how there is estimated over 8 million videos avaliable to watch. Crazy, right!

The  question I suggested basically was like, "What's the name of the popular video site..." or something or other.

Then I guess he'd be like,

1. ユーチューブ (YouTube) 2. ユーグッド (YouGood) 3. ユー大野 (YouOhno)

I don't know - he's creative. I hope he reads it! Haha.

Hey Hey Hey! Today is day TWO.

I began writing my letter to Shoibito. It's in English, save for a few lines that I wrote in Japanese because they are quotes from Japanese citizens who saw me at the Arashi concert. So in the context, the original language is dare I say, funnier. XD

I wrote my e-mail to JunJun but I added a line and I'm like terrified that it's not right, even though the rest is. I guess since I already wrote, "Please excuse my weird Japanese!" I shouldn't fret but...I am fretting!

To Jun, I at first kind of thought, "What can I ask him that probably tons of fans haven't already asked?!" Even though I'm sure someone has asked him the question I chose, I don't know the answer so I asked anyways.

I explained to him in my e-mail how my Japanese teacher tells me, "You speak Japanese like a boy!" Then I explained why I do - I learned a lot of my casual Japanese from television and music. Then I explained that I learn most of it from Arashi! XD

So my question was, "In Jun's opinion, are tomboys bad?" That's the literal translation but essentially I just want to know Jun's opinions of tomboys. One guy told me some men like their women assertive. ._. ジュンジュンは？！

SO. We'll see. Bwaha, I wont change. I've been told that girls speaking the more 男っぽい日本語 (boy like Japanese) around other females is fine. I just can't be like, おいお前、何やってんだ？！ (Hey you, what the hell are you doing!) around other males.

...なんでやねん！! (That's Osaka-ben.)

Hello fellow fan girls and fan boys! The madness has started! I like madness.

So here's how I'm personally going about mailing for the campaign! Each day of the week I'm sending one e-mail (so I don't overload myself) and then on Friday, I will mail all my handwritten letters~

I've gotten a few submissions already (Fast!) and I'm logging it all so I can report to you guys how much we ended up sending~

So I e-mailed my first letter at around midnight today to...

Nino-chan!

It was my first time e-mailing Nino and so I was like, "What should I say?!"

I told him a little about myself and mentioned seeing them for the first time this year and how much fun I had. Then I talked to him about magic -- because we have tons of magicians in Las Vegas! I asked him who his favorite magician was.

That was the jist of it! Super simple~ I translated it to Japanese the best I could and then had it proofread. It was ready by midnight. I was really excited when I mailed it off.

Then today I am starting on my handwritten letter to...

Sho-chan!

Since I can't e-mail Sho, I want to make absolutely sure that I get a handwritten letter done for him! I'm creating the stationary for all the letters so they are a bit unique. His will have a boombox and a microphone on it. :D It'll be red too, most likely~ So wish me luck!

I will return tomorrow with my progress~ You all keep up the extra hard work. Love you all! Avoid paper cuts, please! It's not that drastic!

Arashi Around America Campaign

Hello, fandom! Today is the final rest day before our week of campaigning for AAA: Arashi Around America.

Between the time of my resurrecting the idea along with building and promoting the web page until now, I have gotten so many replies of support and so I'd like to say thank you firstly. Secondly, I just want to share my thoughts and feelings on this campaign and perhaps shed a little light on what I think may occur and how we should continue for this cause.

I want to bring numbers to your attention from the start.

Check out the web page's home page and look at the counter. At the time of my typing this, there have been exactly 6,626 visitors.

I wont use that total because anytime the page is refreshed, the number rises. So, I'll use a stagnant AND significantly lower number; Just give you an idea of the impact even a few fans can make.

Let's use the number 300.

Hypothetically speaking, we have 300 visitors who all plan on participating.

These 300 visitors all plan to send 1 e-mail to ALL 4 members.

300 multiplied by 4?

That is 1,200 e-mails alone!

Now I can't precisely decipher how many of those 6,000+ visitors aren't just from refreshing and second/third time visitors. However, I am sure we have had at least 200+ Unique Visitors. With that stated, this can lead to so much! Even a low number like 300 in comparison to the 6,000+ views this site has had can equal to a large amount of e-mails! The sheer fact of that gives me a lot of hope for our being recognized.

This leads me to the second point of promotion.

I am so proud because you, my friends and fellow fans have been so pleasantly helpful for this all. It's greatly appreciated and I don't want you to feel as though since the campaign is starting tomorrow that you have to stop promoting it.

Throughout the week, it doesn't matter when you begin – if you want to help out, do the best you can! For those who kindly linked the banners in your blogs or web pages – Thank You. For those who graciously took the time out to create and donate link banners – Thank You. It's all very touching to me and highly appreciated!

Thirdly and my last serious point is Have Fun with this!

This time, the very idea of this all is for fans to share their reasons with Arashi of why you support them so much and why you want to see them perform here! Do not make writing your e-mail a life or death situation. Just speak with your heart and let your genuine emotions flow through your writing. Hope and believe that even with the language barrier, your heartfelt messages with reach them.

Once you send that e-mail, let it go. Don't worry, don't stress! I believe in due time we will be rewarded for our efforts! It's all for fun though so stay happy and motivated during this week!

If you still aren't familiar as to what the Arashi Around America 2009 E-mail Campaign is, please visit the site. :)

"Clarification Post."

Everyone understands the reasoning for it, correct?
To promote the idea of Arashi possibly performing in America for their 10th Anniversary.

Does everyone understand the time frame reasoning?
The reason why a five-day campaign has been suggested is so that a significant amount of activity can be recognized.

While varied e-mails will cause a ripple, a full-on assault time will cause a much bigger effect. I believe it will be an effect big enough to gain notice or even a mention of the American fans.

That is the first step to our goal = recognition. We can't do that alone, we have to work as a unit of fans for something of the sort.

These are the two points that felt the need to restate. This post's other purpose is to stand as a "Question Board" of sorts. If you have any questions, suggestions, comments - please let me know. I'm here to help. :)

I saw the images at this blog. I'm sure better scans will be around like...tomorrow. Haha.

O_O

I don't know HOW to react. No, I do.

My first reaction was,

"BWAHAHA secret treasure!"

So I had to close the tab and reload it after I stopped laughing. Then I was okay and looked at the scans. It was sort of like,

"Awww....cute.....wait WHY DOES HE LOOK DEAD?!" in regards to picture #5.

Then I look again.

"HE'S BOUND BY THE WRISTS! THIS IS SOME CRAZY S&M PHOTO SHOOT!!!"

So then! I realized how this is a moment to be noted in history because it's Jun being submissive! Write that down in a calendar or something.

Then in picture #8, it all kind of came to like make sense -- the whole. Fetish deal.

Then image #10, bath tub?! Was he like, drowned?! Or is it, "Obligatory pretty boy in water" shot?

In Conclusion:
Even though AnAn had motto nakey Jun, CUT had a new Jun that none of us could have ever imagined without fanfiction -- SUBMISSIVE JUN!

Therefore CUT trumps AnAn AND I will be iconing Hi-Res scans in commemoration of this day.

I am truly moved but slightly terrified that the page has had over 6,000 hits already!

I only built it five or so days ago. When I last checked -- only two days ago, it was at around 270.

What happened? Did someone do the dirty work for me? Haha, I still haven't gotten a chance to promote on LiveJournal. Kinda scared, honestly. Don't ask why. XD

I'm glad though, really! Thank You All Very Much. :)

In two more days (This Tuesday) the forms will be operational.

Please feel free to visit the site for the e-mail campaign if you have not already and please spread the word to others! Thank you.

(Also, important fanmeet post coming tonight hopefully. ^.^)