The PIKANCHI movies are very near and dear to my heart. I think they fully encompass everything I adore about ARASHI and are just some well-made and creative works. The director, Tsutsumi Yukihiko, has got to be my favorite in terms of Japanese media in this vein. There have been a few things that show the more unique side of our 5 man crew, but this movie goes all in! It’s really the first time we get insight into their full power as entertainers and talented artists. Yes, we have seen their singing and dancing and some of their acting, but in this series Arashi is pushed to delve further. Dive deeper.

This is one of the first things I would probably show someone just getting into Arashi, along with their early variety shows, because I feel it really pulls you into their ability to entertain and convey different emotions. The characters in this series are just absolute fun. Every member does such a great job embodying their person, and I feel especially for Jun and Sho these characters are outside of the normal self they usually portray so it’s impressive to watch! I also love that Aiba is set as the narrator and sort of center of the group—it’s always refreshing to see him take the lead.

A lot of early Arashi media contains coming of age stories, which makes sense because that’s exactly what they themselves were going through (and probably a lot of their fans). I feel it’s very comfy and touching to tell these types of stories—young people learning about the world is usually relatable to most people when it’s done well. We can all relate to that period once we reached the end of high school and had to choose our path, where we encounter changes with our friends and family or felt a bit lost.

The silliness in this movie is such a vibe, from the scenarios to the editing, you are just transported to a special place. I like that they also included some serious topics (as usual Arashi tackles the hard situations head on). This movie might make you emotional behind cover of comedy when you least expect it. All the little nuanced aspects become increasingly more fun the more times you watch it.

That being said, this series might not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s fast paced and there are some unique editing choices (like the still-image montage scenes, which can make me feel dizzy). I still think this is a really well made film and always appreciate it as an example of creativity. And if you’re an Arashi fan, it’s a great way to see them work as a group in a new way (the volleyball show V no Arashi kind of showed this, but I feel this film is 100x better). It has a great soundtrack and all the non-Arashi characters are super fun too. I’ll always cherish this piece of art.