3 posts tagged “matsujun”

SHOBANWA! Destini here~ So I was reading both the article about MatsuJun (also know as The MatsuJun) and the interview of The MatsuJun, both done by the Asia Pacific Arts at UCLA.

Ladies. Get used to him being called Jun Matsumoto. XD

Interesting points, ahoy!

APA: Your Arashi colleague Kazunari Ninomiya[1] has worked with Clint Eastwood on Letters from Iwo Jima. Are you interested in working in Hollywood as well?

JM: If I can. [laughter] I'm really honored to be here today and have the opportunity to see how people react to the film. There's nothing decided right now, but it'd be great to have more chances like today where the film can be screened for new audiences like here in America.

---

APA: Arashi is approaching their 10th Anniversary as a group - do you guys have big plans? Will Arashi be doing any international concerts anytime soon -- like say, America?

JM: Well, I haven't had much time to think about a 10th anniversary as 10 years have passed really quickly for us, but I know that's because of the fans and staff around us who've supported us. I don't know how we five will celebrate the occasion, but I want to express our gratitude to as many people as possible.
Regarding acting, like I said before, I'd like to continue to do movies that interest me and talk to more interesting people above all else. For that, I know I'll have to try to improve my abilities – whether that be singing, dancing, acting, speaking – I know I have to continuously try to improve myself. I'm doing so many things right now I tell you, I don't have much time.

---

APA: You've recently shot two movies back to back, and have been busy with new television shows, including the continuing Arashi no Shukudai-kun, and an upcoming dome concert with your other members of Arashi. When do you find time to rest?

JM: I was talking to some people from a Japanese TV station here in Hollywood, and I was really surprised. In Hollywood, you make movies that you assume will be shown around the world. I don't have much experience with that feeling. I had assumed I was making Japanese entertainment in Japan for Japanese people, but with the Internet, it's now being seen everywhere, much like movies. The fact that we can see Japanese variety shows here in the U.S. made me realize just how large the world had become. When I receive email or letters from people here in America, like this last time when I was in Las Vegas and got a letter saying, "When are you guys gonna have an American concert?," it made me realize that there is an audience for us here too, and makes me hope that one day we can hold a concert here in America or appear in international films. If Hidden Fortress can screen here in the future, I hope many people can see it.

---

APA: Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans in America?

JM: Thank you for supporting us despite our being on a tiny island country across the ocean. It truly makes me feel happy.

---
[1]: It's weird to see KAZUNARI NINOMIYA. I'm like, Call him Nino please....XD

YOU'VE BEEN INVITED... |
Hello, operatives! You've been invited to be a part of the Arashi Secret Agency: Fan Division at the University of Southern California's movie premiere of Hidden Fortress: The Last Princess!

YOUR MISSION? |
Spot the Arashian! - In order recognize other fans, we've thought of a simple accessory you can wear so we can spot each other out!
Bandanna/handkerchief around your left wrist - Any color's fine! (Favorite Arashi member's color, perhaps? :D)
Ribbon Necklace/choker - Same deal, wear whatever kind you'd like!

Find MatsuJun's 'himitsu' in Hidden Fortress. - Fans will be arriving as early as 8AM to line up and gather for this special night! The goal is to have as many Arashians sitting together as possible so we can enjoy the film as a collective! (This, of course, applies to those who are already planning on traveling to USC for the event. We cannot promise admission or anything of that nature.)

SPECIAL PERK! |
Arashi Secret Agency badge - Just like the badges as seen in Himitsu no Arashi-chan, we'll be making personalized badges for all our agents! E-mail Destini (dakedohappy[at]gmail[.]com) before April 23rd to include any image of your choice on your badge! (pre-made, basically). Here is what the badge template looks like: click here for the image! (Still in the works!)

More information about the badges are at the end of this post!

Stormy Night Party - Ever wished you could hang out with a bunch of like-minded fangirls and watch Arashi media for hours and hours?! Well your wish may just come true! After the film premiere and catered reception, we'll be chilling at the Vagabond Inn (across the street from USC - minutes away!) for the night to have some fun and flail about the awesome that is Arashi until dawn! More details (instructions/maps) are below!

FURTHER INFORMATION |
If you are interested in having your badge pre-made, e-mail Destini with the following before April 23rd, 2008.

Email Subject: USC Fan Meetup Badge Form
Name: (Nickname/Internet Alias is fine)
ID Number: (any twelve digit number string in this format: 0000-00000000)
Gender: (Male or Female)
Hometown: (Where You Live)
Signature: (Optional, if you are able to scan your handwritten signature.)
Agent numbers will be chosen as I recieve applications so no need to request a particular number.

If you are interested in joining us for the Stormy Night Party, helpful links are below!

Vagabond Inn Los Angeles (USC)
3101 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90007

Map to/from Vagabond Inn: Use Google Maps for directions there!
Also at least four of us who are staying at the hotel will be there for those who will walking there with us afterwards. If you do plan on attending and will not have a ride there, we'd strongly suggest you walk with the group for safety reasons.

General Links
Los Angeles Premiere of Toho's HIDDEN FORTRESS: THE LAST PRINCESS
Norris/Frank Sinatra Theatre
University of Southern California

Let me start by saying that this day was both the best and worst of the two days. I still get knots in my stomach thinking about it. The only was I can think of organizing this efficiently without forgetting too much is by breaking it into bullets. I'll embellish the important parts.

Morning

• The night before, we made new signs. One was a SD Doumyouji, making a chu face and it had a talk bubble that said "Bukkoroshite yaru! <3", which means “I am going to beat you until you die.” A phrase Tsukasa uses towards Makino a lot...all out of love of course. The second had yet another SD Doumyouji and said one of his dorky English 'puns,' "HA HA HA HA 'you know'!" Third was of Tsukushi and she had a cute *faito!* expression, and it said "Ganbare!!" Last was a "Arienai Itsuno" banner.
• We went about the same time as Tuesday, 8AM. Met up with Saki-chan @ Soompi, A.K.A. Sam. Tiffany A.K.A. Hamstaball @ Soompi/LJ showed up a little later and a few others we had met. We then ate and rapped about everything that had already happened/we had hoped would happen. Etc. You know,  fangirling.
• Around 11:30, we went downstairs for the filming. They were filming a scene where Tsukasa and Tsukushi walk through the casino and right to a Blackjack table, where Naohito Fujiki's character and Shigeru are sitting. Some dialogue was said, didn't catch it.
• At one point, MatsuJun and Inoue-san were learning to play Blackjack or generally sitting there, not sure. Inoue-san spotted our signs and read them all, and then like poked MatsuJun to read them and they both laughed! It was so great! :D I turned away though 'cause he was looking at me. O_O

Afternoon

• There was another scene where Doumyouji had to jump over the Roulette table in the 'fictional' High Limit section. We were all excited! Like, "Ooo~ Action!" We partly thought it'd be funny if he fell once though. >.< Gomen nasai, MatsuJun!
• Ran through the scene a few times...not too much happened. At this one point, we all once again partook in amazing Doumyouji-shaped cookies! They were Matsu-mazing.
• An Extra came up to us, and showed me an Arashi single. I go, "WTF I WANT IT!!!!!" Hes all, "You guys listen to them?" I'm like, "Well YAH. We love Arashi! You know, A.RA.SHI?" Then we all start singing A.RA.SHI in unison and stop at the same point randomly. Guy's like "Ok..." and walks away. We saw him imitating us to his fellow Extras. XD
• Someone brought the Arashigoto photobook, which I excitedly flipped through and fangirled over Sakurai-kun. (I'm a Sho fan by the way. A horribly biased Sho fan. Ok, not all that. :D)
• We were moved out of our original area, to another side completely because of a huge crane the were filming with. Then we were getting crap for being under 21 and near a bar. They suggested that we sit in the adjacent cafe and watch from there. They also said "DON'T LOOK INTO THE CAMERA!" and some people still kind of did. XD
  
• After a few more takes...more talking to the American staff/giving them 'appropriate nicknames' it was breaktime for us and the actors/crew.
• We went to our break area...by the movie theaters and chilled. Once that was done, we went back down to see if they found somewhere for us to watch the filming. Someone then told us that MatsuJun himself said, "He doesn't want to see any of his fans for the rest of the day..." we were all kind of like, "uh...okay..." and went back up. After trying to not cry over that or up and leaving, we decided to go back and see if things had lightened up. I believed that MatsuJun wasn't that crude. Not to mention that these casino shots were said to be very essential and with 20+ eyes on you that aren't per say 'supposed' to be there, I can see him becoming a tad distracted. Also, he may have had to spoken English and that's a task in itself. I mean, if I was a Japanese celeb and thought that my works didn't get past where I lived, and then showed up to a place like America and say 30+ faces, there's no way I couldn't be a bit pleased. So, the mystery of MatsuJun's all-of-a-sudden rashness is solved eventually.
• We went back down about...an hour later? Asked Lady Security what was up. She said she had found a place for us to watch the filming! We were all nice and excited and walked up there. She told everyone, "DO NOT TAKE PICTURES, ESPECIALLY WITH FLASH..." but none at all. As a JE fan, you should know this already was most of our thoughts. It was still happening though. Regardless, we hadn't gotten settled and sat there for more then 5 minutes before some TRUE GENIUS TOOK A PHOTO WITH FLASH FOR THAT MATTER. They spotted it from downstairs and ran up to tell us we had to leave. I was at my limit because first, the so-called comment from MatsuJun, then we thought for almost 2-3 hours that we wouldn't be able to watch anymore. After which were were hyped up about seeing it once again, and from an amazing view at that. To only have it ripped away from us. I cried, shouted a bit, threw something too. I didn't care. Seriously, how many chances do common American JE fans have to see idols? How many chances do even common Japanese JE fans have? You don't just randomly spot them in Japan! It's not that simple.

Night

• With that said, we just stuck it out. We all decided to write a letter of apology to the Cast/Crew/Staff. We didn't want them nor MatsuJun to think poorly of his Western fans. After that, the group that stuck around all got buddy buddy and we were laughing, and enjoying ourselves after a while. One of the Orleans workers had been kindly relaying information back and forth to us. We found out that Jun would be doing a chase scene through some slot machines right where we were! There was no sign that we were in the way either so they didn't kick us out.
  
• While we hung around, we found out that it wasn't MatsuJun, but his manager who had been spewing all this nonsense. The, "I'm pissed off fans are still even here!" and "I don't want to see anymore fans for the rest of the day." I was extremely relived to had heard that. People also reported that MatsuJun seemed content, had been smiling a bit, and was still accepting gifts and notes from fans. Now would someone angry accept a gift from you? I doubt it.
• We watched the chase through the slot machines. Fairly unexciting in itself, but this group didn't think we'd see him again. So it was good enough. Then, the nice worker who had told been telling us what was up w/ the filming lead us back out the the Valet Entrance. Told us, "They said you guys can watch the filming out here and to act like you own the place!" We all freaked out and were really happy. While going outside, we walked RIGHT by MatsuJun and he didn't scowl or looked pissed about us exiting. So we watched and all. Sadly, I had to run t the bathroom and by the time I got back, it was over. -_- I heard I didn't miss anything, but I was still pissed. They then told me they gave the letter to Director-san himself! I was like, "Eh? I MISSED IT?!" It bothered me but I'm glad HE got it because then the rest of the staff all read it as well. They were who we wanted to apologize to so that went well.
• So filming was done for the night and at the Orleans in general. We walked around a bit, watched them tear stuff down...walked by the Private Party room and heard MatsuJun RAN to his car. XD Then we walked by where the 'fictional' High Limit sector was. Saw the prop High Limit signs and asked the techs, "Do you guys need those signs?" He goes, "I didn't see anything!" It took us a second, but then we were like, "OOOOH!!!" grabbed the signs, and left. >.<