Arashi, the shining new star of 1999, has been showing us their truly adorable smiles ever since they formed. But what are they really like as normal boys in private, something we don’t get to see? The five of them talk and hold a big debate about their personalities! They also answer 20 questions about their daily lives. You’ll be amazed by their sharp analytical skills, smile at their humorous antics, and most of all, their kindness will warm your heart. Enjoy the real faces of Arashi as your heart pounds!

—Today let’s talk with everyone about each member’s true nature.
Ohno: *Cough cough* (has a coughing fit)
Ninomiya Oh-chan, are you okay? Are you drinking enough water? Oh, but don’t drink anything cold, you’ll get cold.
—Ohno-kun, are you suffering from a cold?
Ohno: Yeah… I caught one riding the train today… And now I have an eel bone stuck in my throat… This is the worst day ever (laughs).
—So, let’s start by talking about this unlucky Ohno. What kind of person is Ohno?
Matsumoto: He’s not feeling well today but he’s a great guy (lol)
Aiba: Hahaha, perfect. (laughs)
Sakurai: He often says funny things on TV, but actually he’s even more out there in everyday life. But sometimes he succumbs to the pressure of those around him saying, “Ohno-kun says funny things,” and he gets depressed by himself. “People definitely think I’m weird…”
Matsumoto: That’s his catchphrase.
Aiba: Yeah, he gets depressed a lot.
Sakurai: The other day on Music Station, they asked “How are people reacting to your debut?” and Ohno-kun probably meant to say, “The neighborhood kids say all sorts of things,” but he ended up saying, “The neighborhood kids are cute.” (laughs).
Matsumoto: That was kind of funny (laughs).
Sakurai: Ohno-kun wasn’t doing it on purpose, but he just couldn’t seem to figure it out himself, and you could see that he was having trouble sometimes. Moments where he felt bad that he couldn’t keep up with the expectations of those around him.
Ninomiya: Leave him alone (laughs).
—According to reader feedback, people say you look like someone who says they aren’t thinking about anything but in reality they are thinking a lot.
Ohno: (dazed) Me ???
Matsumoto: You’re thinking, but you don’t speak up much. Because you don’t like to interfere with others. You just talk to yourself.
Ninomiya: That’s why Ohno-kun is so cool. (looking at Ohno) Right?
Ohno: (calmly) There are times when I’m thinking about stuff.
Aiba: Ohno-kun is so cool~!
Ohno: (furthermore) There are also times where it’s ok not to think about stuff or I don’t care.
Matsumoto: That’s cool too!
Ohno: (and even furthermore) There are also times when even though I think about stuff, I don’t say anything.
Aiba: Oh dear, are you lost in thought? (lol)
Matsumoto: Ohno-kun is great. If only there was such a wonderful man!
Sakurai: There aren’t many left.
Aiba: He’s so kind~
Sakurai: That’s right, and a unique person.

—Now, let’s talk about Sakurai-kun. You’re preparing for school exams, so I heard you even study at hotels during the night when traveling.
Ninomiya: I’ve never seen it! (laughs)
Matsumoto: He does, he does. Welp, let’s move onto the next one! (lol)
(Sakurai-kun pouts and pretends to sulk)
Matsumoto: You want us to say more? (lol)
(Sakurai-kun nods)
Aiba: Sho-kun is, hmmm. From my perspective, he’s the person that brings all 5 of us together. On the surface he might come off as “I don’t do that” but that’s just how cool of a guy he is.
Ninomiya: That’s so true. He gets mad a lot. Ah, sorry (lol). He keeps an eye on everything around him. Keeps his composure. Very considerate… (in a high-pitched voice) He’s awesome~! (lol)
Matsumoto: It’s because he has a younger brother.
Aiba: I have a younger brother too!
Matsumoto: Feeling competitive? (lol)
Ninomiya: He’s a reliable older brother!
Sakurai: I’m glad~ you praised me so much. (lol)
Matsumoto: (to Ohno-kun, who is in a daze with his cold) Please, say something good about Sho-kun.
Ohno: Something good?
Sakurai: No, let’s talk about the bad stuff.
Ohno: I can’t quite grasp it. Sometimes at first you get carried away. And after that you get pretty down.
Sakurai: That’s true (bitter smile).
Ninomiya: Oh, by the way, there was a rumor in the past that my sister and Sho-kun were dating. (laughs)
Matsumoto: But you haven’t even met, right? Nino’s older sister.
Sakurai: Yeah. Wait, maybe we did once. But I don’t really remember her face (lol).

—Now, to Ninomiya-kun. You used to be cool but a lot of people are saying that you’ve really brightened up since you joined Arashi.
Sakurai: I think the cool thing is something that Hiromi said on “8 Ji Da J” and it became established. He’s always been bright.
Ohno: I don’t really know (lol). We didn’t really have any contact, besides on the phone.
Ninomiya: (smugly) But you still have my photo, right?
Ohno: Yeah, of course.
(Everyone bursts out laughing)
Ninomiya: Umm, I was just kidding (laughs).
—Also, people say that you look like someone who would look good wearing Kasuri.
Ninomiya: That’s because I’m in Arashi!
Matsumoto: Hey, aren’t you going to shave your head again?
Aiba: The shaved head was cool~
Ninomiya: But if I shave my head fans will send me hats. It was no joke. When I had a shaved head I would wrap a towel around it.
Ohno: On top of that, it was a Doraemon towel (lol)
Ninomiya: I got sent an insane amount of hats. One of the boxes said “Hats” on the receipt and when I opened it, it was full of hats (lol).
Sakurai: Personally, I want him to move away from a Japanese style.
Matsumoto: Personally, I want him to go for the Japanese style.
Aiba: I think Japanese style would be good too. But either is good.
Ohno: Well, anything is possible, right? (lol).

—Next, Matsumoto-kun, you’ve been called “Turtle” ever since your flying stunt performance at the opening ceremony of the World Cup Volleyball. Why?
Sakurai: I think it’s better if Matsumoto talks about that himself instead of us.
Matsumoto: I have no idea. I was flying as hard as I could, but when they saw me everyone burst out laughing.
Sakurai: Matsumoto often has strange movements, and this time he happened to look like a turtle. Maybe it’s because he’s extremely flexible, he can fit compactly into things, like on chairs and stuff.
Ninomiya: It’s a strange, inhuman movement (laughs).
—Who was the first person to give you the nickname?
Sakurai: Johnny-san. We also kind of thought he looked like something but we didn’t have a way of putting it. It was our company president that described it perfectly (lol).
Aiba: “Oh, it’s a turtle!” (laughs)
—Do you like it, Matsujun?
Matsumoto: I’m not sure (lol). But I’m really happy that I was able to make Johnny-san laugh.
Sakurai: He totally laughed (lol).
(Everyone bursts out laughing)
—You’re like everyone’s mascot, Matsujun (lol).
Aiba: I want to put it on a bag (lol)
Sakurai: If you put it on your bag it feels like it will bite the strap and run away, like a little devil.
Aiba: Totally (lol).
Matsumoto: Wait a second. There’s no other topic besides me being a turtle?
Aiba: It ends with a turtle joke (laughs).
Sakurai: Well you’re basically the person everyone loves and teases.
Matsumoto: I appreciate it.
Ninomiya: It’s a suitable character for you. It seems that way, or at least it has been that way.
Aiba: He hasn’t said he doesn’t like it.
Matsumoto: I don’t dislike it.
Ohno: Well, within reason (lol).

—Finally, let’s talk about Aiba-kun. Is “Super Idol Aiba-chan” still alive and well in everyone’s eyes?
Sakurai: Well, about that. Recently there has been some rather un-super idol behavior….
Aiba (startled) What, what?
Matsumoto: That’s true, lately he hasn’t been waving at fans as much.
Aiba: (frantic) I’m waving like crazy~!
Sakurai: (pressing) But Aiba-kun, do you want to remain a super idol?
Aiba: Maybe it’s about time I free myself…
Ohno: Even super idols have it tough, don’t they?
Sakurai: From what I’ve seen so far, Aiba-chan didn’t declare it himself, it was more like he was elevated by those around him, so I always wondered if it must have been difficult for him. But recently, I think he’s become a Plus Alpha while still retaining his super idol-like qualities.
—Aiba-kun is the only one in Arashi with type AB blood, everyone else has type A blood.
Sakurai: To me, it seems strange that all four of us are type A.
Matsumoto: I don’t think type A can encompass this diverse set of personalities.
Ninomiya: There’s no way that Oh-chan is type A.
Ohno: I’m type A. What type do I seem like?
Matsumoto: AB, learning more toward B type.
Sakurai: Matsujun seems like a B type.
Matsumoto: I’m A type (making a very serious face)
Sakurai: I know that, but it just doesn’t seem to suit you (pretending to cry)
Aiba: It’s ok, don’t cry ♡ (lol)
—What about Aiba-kun’s private life?
Sakurai: This guy is funny.
Matsumoto: If I had to rank it, Ohno-kun would be 1st and Aiba would be 2nd.
Sakurai: Ohno-kun sometimes makes intentional jokes but Aiba-chan is very natural.
Ninomiya: In Ohno’s case he has the right timing, but in Aiba-chan’s case he forces the timing and people get annoyed and respond with “Ah, ok”.
Sakurai: If we’re not careful it will come off as unskilled, so we have to keep an eye out. When Aiba and Ohno are at the center of attention we have to follow and protect them.
Ohno: I guess you’re right, you have to protect (lol) It all comes down to protecting.
Aiba: I’m grateful that you’re protecting me (laughs).
Matsumoto: I mean, I’m not sure if we’re protecting you…
Ninomiya: I wonder… I think it’s more like we want to convey the good things to everyone.
Sakurai: On TV and stuff, Me, Nino and Matsujun talk well so at first glance you might think we’re the nucleus of the group. But these two are the ones that add the punchline. The five of us are always on equal footing but you could say that the two of them are at the core of the group.
Ninomiya: It wouldn’t work without a punchline. Right, Oh-chan?
Ohno: Oh?
Aiba: Leave it to us to go with the flow.
Matsumoto: I like that (lol).

Q: What was the first thing you did when you woke up this morning?
Aiba: I woke up at 7:50 and left the hotel at 7:52. I was in Hiroshima for work, so I jumped on the Shinkansen (lol).
Matsumoto: I woke up at 6, went back to sleep until 7, and then got ready for school.
Ninomiya: I woke up at 10 and brushed my teeth.
Ohno: I got up, went to the bathroom, came back, sat at the kotatsu and went back to sleep.
Sakurai: I woke up at 7am, washed my face, brushed my teeth and went to school. Then I had some hot kakesoba noodles at the school cafeteria.

Q: What did you wear to sleep last night?
Aiba: T-shirt and black underwear.
Matsumoto: Jersey. A regular blue one.
Ninomiya: A purple short sleeved t-shirt and black boxers. Kya~
Ohno: Pajamas. They’re green and the fabric is thick so they’re super warm.
Sakurai: The blue jersey I got when I entered Johnny’s.

Q: Which do you prefer, a futon or a bed?
Aiba: Futon. It’s comfortable and easy to sleep on. But at home I’ve always had a bed. You have to lay out or fold the futon yourself so it’s too much of a pain (lol).
Matsumoto: My bed. The floor is especially cold in winter and it can easily make my stomach hurt, so I try not to get cold.
Ninomiya: Futon. My room is too small to fit a bed, so I’ve always only used futons.
Ohno: I like both. But at home I prefer a bed.
Sakurai: At our house, we have beds, but I prefer futons. When I stay at a ryokan, sleeping with the smell of tatami mats is the best.

Q: When is the most relaxing part of your day and what do you do?
Aiba: Before going to sleep, when I get into bed.
Matsumoto: When I get home, go to my room, put away my things, take off my coat and sit down. I feel a sigh of relief.
Ninomiya: After I get home in the time before I sleep. When I’m playing Playstation.
Ohno: After coming home and taking a bath, all that’s left is to go to sleep and I like to daydream for a bit beforehand.
Sakurai: Early evening when I get in the company car for work. I have school so I’m always the last person to get picked up. That moment when I see everyone’s faces.

Q: What is the first thing you wash when you take a bath? Also what kind of vibe do your baths have?
Aiba: I start with my left hand and use soap, not body shampoo. There’s something special about soap where the letters have been worn down and disappeared (lol).
Matsumoto: First, shampoo. Then, I get in the bathtub. That way helps me relieve my fatigue.
Ninomiya: Teeth (lol). 15 minutes in winter. 10 minutes in summer. I usually just take a shower.
Ohno: I start by washing my left arm. I often take showers. I can get out after about 10 minutes.
Sakurai: Head. I need about 30-40 minutes. I get in the tub and wash my hair twice.

Q: How many siblings do you have?
Aiba: I have one younger brother who is in sixth grade.
Matsumoto: One older sister in her third year of high school, that’s all.
Ninomiya: I have an older sister who is two years older than me.
Ohno: My sister is 20 years old, a two year difference.
Sakurai: I have a sister who is 5 years younger than me and a brother who is 13 years younger than me. They are so far apart. It’s almost like I gave birth to them. They’re cute (lol).

Q: What does your family call you?
Aiba: [Masaki]
Matsumoto: [Jun]
Ninomiya: [NenNen] [Oi] [Son]
Ohno: [Satoshi]
Sakurai: [Sho]

Q: Do you have any pets?
Aiba: I have three dogs. Two of them are Yorkshire terriers, Uran and Hime. The other one is a Great Pyrenees named Atom.
Matsumoto: For my family, I’m the pet (lol).
Ninomiya: I have a Shiba Inu named Haru. She’s been alive for 10 years so she’s basically a grandma. She’s had 13 offspring.
Ohno: I don’t have any.
Sakurai: I don’t have any.

Q: Do you clean your own room?
Aiba: I organize my own stuff, but my parents usually do the cleaning.
Matsumoto: I do a little bit of cleaning, but just here and there. My parents do all the detailed work. Her highness, my mom (lol).
Ninomiya: I don’t. When I do it it’s super careless and messy. Nobody would be able to get in (lol).
Ohno: Now my parents do it for me. I used to do it myself. In the past, I didn’t just clean my room, but helped every day with the living room and stuff.
Sakurai: I don’t. I came home the other day and I was shocked to find my room all tidied up. I guess my mom did it for me.

Q: Indoor person or outdoor person?
Aiba: Indoor. I play with my dog.
Matsumoto: On my days off, I like to go shopping, karaoke, I like being outside.
Ninomiya. Outdoor. If I had a long vacation I’d like to go on a trip to Kochi City.
Ohno: Um room, I’m a room person. On my days off I like to relax at home.
Sakurai: Lately, indoor. I play with my younger brother and hang out on the computer.

Q: What’s everything you bring when you stay overnight for work?
Aiba: Underwear. Socks. T-shirt. Lotion. Walkman. Ah, and manga.
Matsumoto: T-shirt. Underwear. Socks. Jersey. Shampoo. Face wash. Toothpaste. Vitamins. Walkman…I guess.
Ninomiya: Underwear. Socks. If it’s going to be a week or long term then I’d bring my guitar too.
Ohno: Walkman. Underwear. Socks. Lotion. That’s it.
Sakurai: T-shirt. Undewear. Lotion. Hair treatment. Walkman.

Q: What is most important to you right now?
Aiba: The people around me are important, and my 3 dogs (lol).
Matsumoto: The people around me. The fans, family, friends, staff, I suppose.
Ninomiya: I have an answer. Until I turn 20, I want to value my own thoughts over other people’s opinions.
Ohno: Myself.
Sakurai: My time. I hardly have any time off these days, so I want to make the most of that time I have.

Q: When you have something to tell someone, what’s the best way to do it?
Aiba: If anything, I’d rather meet them in person and tell them.
Matsumoto: I’d say it when I meet someone in person.
Ninomiya: A short message on your cell phone.
Ohno: Either in person or on the phone.
Sakurai: A letter. It feels like that’s the best way to express yourself clearly.

Q: What’s a current event that interests you?
Aiba: I’m worried about the ozone layer. It’s a problem if the air becomes polluted (laughs).
Matsumoto: What kind of picture will appear on the 2,000 yen bill?
Ninomiya: Will Kudou and Etou join The Giants? (*asked in late November)
Ohno: Nothing at the moment. A bit ago I was curious about Nostradamus’ prophecy that the Earth would be destroyed.
Sakurai: The Y2K problem. There may be power outages or water shortages.

Q: What is your favorite book lately?
Aiba: Sakura Momoko’s “Momo no Kanzume” was interesting.
Matsumoto: “Reading Medicine.” Weekly Bunshun Essay. It’s a collection of these ideas compiled into a book, and it contains tips for everyday life.
Ninomiya: I’ve liked the samurai manga “Vagabond” since a long time ago. Also, “Ichi the Killer” or “Neighbor no. 13”
Ohno: I don’t read many books, but I read “Neighbor No. 13” yesterday.
Sakurai: A non-fiction book called “Inside Prison.” It describes the lives of various people in prison. The chapter on juvenile detention centers was particularly memorable.

Q: Who are your favorite musicians and songs right now?
Aiba: Chara’s album. I don’t know the title, but I always listen to it before going to bed.
Matsumoto: I like the CD by J Soul Brothers with the cactus on the cover.
Ninomiya: I don’t have any right now. I used to love an indie band called ドレックスクリューム. They’re not active anymore.　(Note: I couldn’t find any info on this band, did Nino make it up LOL)
Ohno: I don’t know much about musicians. I used to like stuff like “SAY YES” or drama theme songs and I would often sing them in the bath (laughs).
Sakurai: I like Will Smith’s album “Willenium“.

Q: What’s the thing you want most right now?
Aiba: It’s not exactly a thing, but maybe it would be nice to take some time to relax at a hot spring.
Matsumoto: A body that can get by without sleep for two or three days.
Ninomiya: I guess time to think. My schedule is packed right now, so I tend to let time get the best of me.
Ohno: I guess it’s time to recharge and think alone.
Sakurai: The thing I want most is time off. I want to go to a southern island and just relax.

Q: What is your eye prescription?
Aiba: 1.0 on both sides.
Matsumoto: The right one is 0.2 and the left one is 0.3. I only wear glasses when I study at school.
Ninomiya: Both my left and right eyes are 0.7. I usually use the naked eye, but when I get tired I wear glasses.
Ohno: My right is 1.0. My left is pretty bad. I see everything with my right eye. I think it’s genetic. My dad has it too.
Sakurai: Right is 1.5, left is 1.2.

Q: If you hadn’t joined Johnny’s Entertainment, what would you be doing now?
Aiba: Just going to high school like normal.
Matsumoto: I might have been going to Koshien Stadium by now, and also going to Shibuya and other places like any other high school student would.
Ninomiya: I think I would have gone to film school and studied the production side.
Ohno: After graduating from high school, I would probably be feeling a bit down (aimless) because I couldn’t find a job or anything.
Sakurai: A normal high school student. Probably studying for entrance exams.

Q: If you were to win 100 million yen in the lottery at the end of the year, what would you do?
Aiba: I would have a blast. I’d move to London and build a house there.
Matsumoto: I would save 50 million yen, buy a car with 20 million yen, and use the remaining money to buy some everyday items.
Ninomiya: I’d make a drama. The casting would be lavish and extravagant, thanks to the power of money (laughs).
Ohno: I don’t want anything, so I’d give it all to my family. “You can use it however you like.”
Sakurai: First I’d buy a car for 20 million yen, and then buy some land in Italy. I have a friend who lives there.