Arashi & Horikita Maki to host NHK’s Kouhaku 2012

On October 16th it was revealed that Horikita Maki (24) and popular group Arashi have been appointed as hosts of 63rd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, to be broadcasted in New Years’ Eve.

This is the 3rd time for Arashi to host Kouhaku since 2010 and the first time for Horikita. After receiving positive reviews for her heroine portrayal in morning drama “Ume-chan Sensei” which ended on September 29th with an average rating of 20.7%. The first time in nine years since a morning drama achieves more than 20% ratings.

After yet another fulfilling year in Arashi’s musical career it was only natural for them to host this ceremony. Horikita has already worked in the past with some members of Arashi like, Sakurai Sho (30), Ninomiya Kazunari (29) and Matsumoto Jun (29).

via jenewsdaily

Arashi to release special compilation album “Ura Ara Mania”, tracklist of 62 songs revealed

Arashi is holding their concert “AraFes” at Tokyo National Stadium for the fifth time this year and will be trying out some new ideas for their concert, including performing a repertoire voted by fans and doing away with back-up dancers.

To commemorate “AraFes”, Arashi is releasing a special compilation album titled “Ura Ara Mania” comprising 62 songs, 49 of which are coupling B-sides. Besides the coupling B-sides, the album also includes rare songs that are difficult to obtain, popular concert melodies and hidden songs.  It’s described as an album that can be enjoyed by both fans who will and will not be attending “AraFes”. The tracklist was released recently and can be viewed below!

Requests for pre-order can be made on the dedicated J-storm homepage from 8/16 13:00 to 8/23 24:00, and the album will be delivered during “AraFes” between 9/20-9/21.

The album costs 6000 yen and can only be bought through the J-storm homepage. Also, each person may only make one purchase and deliveries will be made to Japanese addresses.

===

Special Compilation Album <Ura Ara Mania>

Sketch
Re(mark)able
Green
ALL or NOTHING
DANGAN-LINER
Sawarenai
Ai to Yuuki to Cherry Pie
Deep na Bouken
helpless
On Sunday
Yasei wo Shiritai
Allergy
Kokoro Chirari
Fuyu no Nioi
Kimi ga Iinda
Koigokoro
Gorimuchu
Hey Hey Lovin’ You
Te Tsunagou
Ichioku no Hoshi
Futari no Kinenbi
Harukaze Sneaker
NA!NA!NA!
Kiss Kara Hajimeyou
Natsu no Owari ni Omou Koto
Itsumademo
Fight Song
Di-Li-Li
Future
Still…
Snowflake
Fuyu wo Dakishimete
How to fly
Smile
Boku ga Boku no Subete
Wasurerarenai
ToBiRa
season
Tokei Jikake no Umbrella
Super Fresh
Yurase, Ima wo
Mou Ippo
Spiral
over
Time Capsule
STORY
maboroshi
Ano hi no Merry Christmas
ever
Boom Boom
Kienu Omoi
together, forever
Utakata
wanna be…
How Can I Love
Tsuite Oide
Futari no Katachi
Hitori Janaisa
Mezashita Mirai E
Kimi ga Iru Kara
Hanabi
voice

Source: J-storm via tokyohive

Arashi's Satoshi Ohno Collaborative Design T-Shirts Becomes Huge Seller

It was earlier reported that Arashi's Satoshi Ohno have collaborated with designer Yoshimoto Nara for the 24 Hr TV "Love Saves the World" chari-t-shirts. The said annual charity event have chosen Arashi as their main host for the 3rd time.

The future-themed t-shirts have sold 596,203 in just a month and a half. They have surpassed the 2008 record with 458,306 shirts. Furthermore, at the rate of 2,000 t-shirts sold each day, the Nara-Ohno collaboration might even surpass 600,000 sales.

The front design of the t-shirts represent a child whose huge eyes was painted with the word "future" (未来); it also has a sprout on its head that represents "a new beginning". Lastly, the "future" word at the back was written by Ohno.

jpopasia

Arashi’s Ohno Satoshi chosen as navigator for NHK Disney documentary

On July 27, it was announced that Arashi’s Ohno Satoshi (31) would serve as the navigator for theNHK documentary “Subete wa Yume o Todokeru tame ni ~Walt Disney Souzou no Kiseki~,” which will air on August 22 at 10 PM.

Incidentally, this falls close to the end of the 110^th birthday anniversary of Walt Disney, the genius creator of the popular Mickey Mouse character and the founder of the company.

Ohno, who is deeply knowledgeable about fine arts news, such as film and art exhibition openings, traveled to various locations to visit places such as Disneyland in Los Angeles.  He expressed his excitement, “In an empty Disneyland, I monopolized time with Mickey!  Sorry~.”

tokyohive

Arashi Dominates Only★Star's "Ideal Summer Boyfriend Ranking" 2012

In the latest issue of Oricon's Only★Star Magazine, they polled their female readers as to who they think is the ideal summer boyfriend depending on the situation. The poll was divided in 8 categories wherein Arashi's Sho Sakuraiand Satoshi Ohno got 1st place in two categories each. Furthermore, artists who ranked 1st in other categories, are: Fukuyama Masaharu, Mukai Osamu, Mokomichi Hayami, and Aiba Masaki.

Satoshi Ohno ranked first place in two categories: "boyfriend you want to go to beach together" and "boyfriend you want to go camping together". Ohno's famous love for fishing is the reason why he got the top spot.

Next is Aiba Masaki who ranked 1st place in "boyfriend you want to go to zoo together" category because of his love for animals that evident in "Shimura Zoo" TV show.

Furthermore, Sho Sakurai also ranked 1st place in two categories for: "boyfriend you want to go to work with" and "boyfriend you want to study/learn with". Sakurai have always been viewed as an intellect, and some female readers also commented that they delusion an office romance with Sakurai.

Lastly, other 1st placers in other categories, are: Fukuyama Masaharu for "boyfriend you want to ask for an advise"; Mukai Osamu for "boyfriend you want to chill at home together"; and Mokomichi Hayami with "boyfriend you want to cook meals together".

jpopasia

Arashi holding ‘AraFes’ concerts at National Stadium in 2012 & 2013

Johnny & Associates announced on July 20th that Arashi will be holding its concert at the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on September 20th and 21st. Arashi has held its concerts at the National Stadium for the last 5 years since 2008. It’s confirmed that the 2013 concert will also be held at the venue before it closes for a large-scale renovation in preparation for a bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.

“AraFes” meaning “Arashi’s Festival” is the theme for this and next year’s concerts. The concert repertoire will be centered around a list of songs voted for by fans on Johnny’s official homepage. This is the first time that fans requests are incorporated into the concert and the idea came from Arashi members themselves.

Aiba Masaki (29) from Arashi commented, “Since National Olympic Stadium will be having a large-scale renovation after two years, we want to do something different for these last concerts held there. We want to hold a concert that is Arashi’s ‘Best of Best’. ”

Concerts of Johnny’s Jimusho usually feature large numbers of back-up dancers from Johnny’s Jr, but it’s revealed that this concert will have just the five Arashi members performing for the audience.

Aiba, Ohno Satoshi (31) and Matsumoto Jun (28) were in New York at the end of June, gathering ideas for their live concert from attending shows like Broadway musicals and Cirque Du Soleil’s Zarkana. Aiba remarked, “We want to leverage what we have learned and create a live stage that’s completely different than before.”

Fans may make their song requests online on  Johnny & Associate official website starting from 12pm July 21st to 6pm July 31st (JST).

Tokyohive