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Rin in Japanland
03 July 2009 @ 09:15 pm
Well I'm in the new place. It's a bit of a shoebox but a nice one. There are some things I really want to do with it to make more space. Will think about it on the weekend.

Now for a little fun.

Here's a pic, add a phrase to it! )
 
 
FEELING: awake
HEARING: SMAP - "bura bura sasete"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
28 June 2009 @ 09:39 pm
I spent most of this annoyingly rainy Sunday carting some of my stuff all the way to my new apartment. Well it isn't really all the way I guess. I bought a daily bus ticket because I thought it would be cheap and I could make many runs. Well no. The morning started off well enough and I got all my fragile kitchen stuff to the new place. Then on the way back all the buses disappeared. I waited at one bus stop for 20 minutes. No bus - but it was an obscure bus and I thought it'd be a miracle if it came anyway. So I went to the bus stop on the main road. I know those buses - they're ones I catch all the time. Now it was pouring rain and I had no umbrella and I was stuck at this bus stop for 30 MINUTES! One bus didn't show up at all and when the other one did it was spilling out people who were desperately trying to keep dry.

While I had been waiting, an elderly lady was kind enough to give me her umbrella because she had a spare one. It actually helped me dry up. So I squeeze into this bus with my suitcase and I barely fit but at least I do fit and everyone's fairly comfortable.

A few stops later, the bus pulls up again and lets more people on! Hell knows why! And then he was trying to tell this old man that there was another bus coming straight after (because the old man most definitely couldn't fit on this bus!) He turned around and told that to the people still waiting for a bus. Then the door could barely close because of this old geezer. Then he decided to SIT ON MY SUITCASE which I was try to hold up out of the door's way! FUCK, OLD MAN!

Finally get off that bus and I bought a heap of train tickets because I thought catching the train may be quicker on the way back instead of waiting for buses. Well at least the tickets will come in handy even if I don't use them today. This time on my way there (the shopping centers smack bang next to the station are flooded with people! Great for sales I guess but couldn't they at least have garbage bins???) my suitcase's wheels are starting to break down. I mean it is a twenty minute walk to the station and then I walk when I get there.

Managed to get there without hassle and a little dryer, though the poor suitcase is now lying retired there. Felt so weird thought. For the first time in YEARS I was running around without any bags - just the things I need in my pockets! This time, for a laugh, I think I'll go buy something to munch as I sit and "wait" for the Mystery Bus. I end up having to run for it before it can drive from the stop! Miracle or what!? I love catching new buses and checking out new places. It was fun.

Then it stopped at a part of the station where a local bus also does. I hopped on this bus but it was weird and my ticket wouldn't work. I just paid and got it over with. On the way, the driver must have heard people in the back bitching about the lateness of buses on rainy days because he sorta snapped back, "There was a severe traffic jam that took us 30 minutes to get through."

All I can say is, as much as I appreciate being closer to Tokyo now, I really miss Fukuoka. It was such a nice and uncrowded city where everything just ran. Yokohama is full of aging, grumpy, frantic, snail-paced (or just a weird mix of all of the above) people. It makes getting things done, and moving about very hard. :(

Well I packed some more to finish my evening but my knuckles are bruised now so I'm taking easy for the rest of the evening.


AND FINALLY...

I CAN'T BELIEVE I MISSED UTABAN x ARASHI! TT_____TT I'm so busy I don't even know what my fandom is up to!
 
 
HEARING: The creepy sounds that play during USO Japan's Ghost Photos segment! Mooohhhh
 
 
Rin in Japanland
14 June 2009 @ 04:01 pm
I'm gathering up the fans' most favorite live performances from every Arashi concert DVD I can possibly find. From there the suggestions will be turned into a poll where online fans can vote for their favorite. Once the results are in I will make a tribute Top Ten video to share with all. I'll be using several sites to get as many fan opinions as I possibly can and I'll update this post as suggestions are added. If the performance you like is already here, please don't post only to say it again for it is already going to be in the poll.

When you reply, please post your top three fave performances from official Arashi concert DVDs. There are often concert tours which reuse classic songs so please specify which DVD/concert your fave performance of the song is from.

Here is the list in alphabetical order by song title. Please DO NOT CHOOSE SONGS FROM THIS LIST! If you have songs to ADD, comment below! Thank you!

A.RA.SHI (AAA 2006, in Korea)
A.RA.SHI (AAA 2006, in Taiwan)
A.RA.SHI (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
a Day in Our Life (AAA in DOME)
a Day in Our Life
 (Iza, Now! 2004 Tour)
Anti Anti (Iza, Now! 2004 Tour)
Arashi no Mae no Shizukesa (Iza, Now! 2004 Tour)
Be with you (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
Blue (AAA 2006, in Taiwan)
Blue (AAA in Dome)
COOL & SOUL (AAA 2006, in Taiwan)
COOL & SOUL (DOME '07 ver.) (AAA In Dome)
Cry For You (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
Everybody Zenshin (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
Eyes with delight (Iza, Now! 2004 Tour, Aiba's angle)
Fight Song (AAA 2006, in Taiwan)
Fight Song (AAA 2008)
Fight Song (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
Friendship (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007, Aiba Masaki solo)
Gori Muchuu (AAA 2008)
Hadashi No Mirai (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
Happiness (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
Hello Goodbye (AAA 2008, Aiba Masaki solo)
Himitsu (AAA in DOME, Ninomiya Kazunari solo)
Hip Pop Boogie (AAA 2008, Sakurai Sho solo)
Ichioku no Hoshi (AAA 2008)
Kansha Kangeki Ame Arashi (AAA 2006, in Taiwan)
Kansha Kangeki Ame Arashi (AAA In Dome)
Kaze (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
Kaze no mukou e (AAA 2008)
Kimi wa Sukoshi mo Warukunai (Iza, Now! 2004 Tour)
La familia (Iza, Now! 2004 Tour, Matsumoto Jun solo)
La Tormenta (AAA in DOME)
La Tormenta (AAA 2008)
La Tormenta (ONE 2005)
La Tormenta Chapter II (How's It Going 2003)
Love Situation (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
na na na (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
Nemuranai Karada (Iza, Now! 2004 Tour)
Niji (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007, Ninomiya Kazunari solo)
Niji (AAA 2008, Ninomiya Kazunari solo)
Oh Yeah (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
One Love (AAA 2008)
PIKA*NCHI (AAA 2006, in Taiwan)
PIKA**NCHI Double (Iza, Now! 2004 Tour)
Rain (AAA in DOME)
Re(mark)able (AAA 2008)
Right Back to You (AAA 2006, in Taiwan)
Right Back to You (Iza, Now! 2004 Tour)
Sirius (AAA 2008)
Step and Go (AAA 2008)
Still... (AAA 2008)
Subarashiki Sekai (AAA 2008)
Take Me Far Away (AAA 2008, Ohno Satoshi solo)
Te Agero (How's It Going 2003)
Tell me what you wanna be? (AAA 2008, Matsumoto Jun solo)
Tochuu Gesha (Iza, Now! 2004 Tour)
TOP SECRET (Iza, Now! 2004 Tour, Ohno Satoshi solo)
Touch Me Now (Summer Concert 2003 How's it going, Sakurai Sho solo)
Truth (AAA 2008)
Unti Unti (AAA 2006, in Taiwan, Sakurai Sho solo)
WAVE (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
We can make it! (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
Yabai-Yabai-Yabai (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007, Matsumoto Jun solo)
Yes? No? (Arashic - Live 2005 One Summer Tour)
Yes? No? (ONE 2005)
Yes? No? (Time - Kotoba no Chikara 2007)
Yokaze (How's It Going 2003)

Which Arashi visual spectacular will make it to number one!? You be the judge!
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FEELING: curious
HEARING: Arashi - "Yes? No?"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
13 June 2009 @ 10:32 pm
Because this is one of the things that really brightened my day!

You Know What's Bullshit Episode 11 - DVDs (again)

I'm feeling better. Thanks to all who were worried about me! I love you all, even if we don't get to chat so much anymore!

 
 
FEELING: amused
HEARING: globe - "Stop! In The Name Of Love"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
12 June 2009 @ 11:35 am
Emailed to self at 8am this morning:

A mobile update!

I'm dead to the world today. I went to hula hoop class with my friend last night in Shinjuku. I can do it now, barely, but I can. We left at 6pm and got home at 12am simply because it was that far away. I don't drink, I don't party - is it so wrong for me to do hula with a friend?

I hate my current work assignment. It's an hour or so trip from home, I stay long after I'm supposed to go home (unpaid) because I don't have proper time to make materials, I sleep four hours a day and through the weekend, and I'm carrying shit between schools every day. I have a cold now but it's one more day and I'm scared to take it off. Besides, I'd let a lot of people down if I did.

I want to work at ONE school a week or go back to private English schools.

Last week I taught the 2nd graders at School B. There were four teachers for each class. The worst class had FIVE and still ended in a row/brawl.

Yesterday I taught first graders at School C - a mini school with 1/4 the students. At the end of their FIRST lesson, they could say, "My name is -. Nice to meet you." AND were copying the letters of their names I had written under what each child was drawing. THEN we sang our ABCs. These children were amazing and by the end of the day I was teaching them all how to make origami frogs.

I still wanna quit - this job is still so full of shit - but I need the summer holidays so I can show my dad Japan. Maybe I should go for a teaching license. I don't want to but I don't know how else to get out of this rut AND survive.

I want to cry. I want to just collapse and shut down. :,(

Update, 11:40am:


I was practically sent home after doing only one class. I'm going to slowly munch some sandwiches and watch a vid before falling asleep.

Hugs to all.
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FEELING: sick
HEARING: ....
 
 
Rin in Japanland
This "Big Brother Meme" proudly stolen from [info]berniechan

You've won the chance to spend time in the lap of luxury but you have to invite nine buddies (not family) to come share it with you. Who's coming?
  1. Rin (me)
  2. Bernie
  3. Kos
  4. Laura
  5. Sat
  6. Ray (a uni girlfriend of mine)
  7. Chris (Ray's boyfriend)
  8. Pengin
  9. Jadey
  10. Auryn
These nine people you just picked are now stuck in this GORGEOUS house with you for a whole year. There is no leaving the house at all until the year is completely up (don't worry - food and entertainment can be ordered in!) If you had to choose a person for every question below, write down which person it would be.

The Housemates Enter )</div>Awww I think we all do except for Chris, the only man in the house!
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FEELING: amused
HEARING: Hey! Say! JUMP - "Ultra Music Power"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
02 June 2009 @ 11:53 pm
It's been a full year since this happened. I re-watched the tape of the episode of NEWS ZERO he appeared on exactly one year ago today. It made me cry all over again. On the night it happened I was lying in bed in my apartment still recovering a month after I had fractured a bone in my right leg. I was in bed, in my home, taking time off work for A MONTH.

Sho was on national television pretending his broken thumb was nothing and his right side didn't hurt like hell within A DAY of falling off stage and being rushed to hospital. Even watching his segment again today, I still have no idea what he was actually talking about - I'm too busy being gobsmacked by the way he soldiered on. What's even more amazing is that band-mate Aiba splits his pants during a concert and it's all over the morning entertainment news. Sho breaks his thumb and there isn't even a peep about it for another two weeks. It just doesn't happen like that around here - someone went so far as to keep the media quiet about Sho's little accident. So he soldiers on then hides it completely from the fans - they can't be concerned if they don't know anything.

It was this event that made Sho Sakurai more than just an idol to me. It made him someone I truly look up to - someone I wish I could be more like.

To commemorate, I made a sign board. I want to look at it as a reminder that even while I'm being such a lazy ass, there are people like Sho out there who are giving it their all every day.



There are too many events that commemorate the end of something - a terrible tragedy, a fateful day. I want to make this day my own special day of celebration, a day when someone far away taught me what it really means to do one's best. I need to try harder, like Sho-chan!
 
 
FEELING: thankful
HEARING: Sakurai Sho - "Hip Pop Boogie"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
31 May 2009 @ 11:03 am
Banner thanks to [info]berniechan 
 
TT______TT

I love Kamiyama - I love his character, I love his angst, I love the actor who plays him, I love his funky outfits and wind-blown hairstyle, I love the stupid way he dances during Dream Chance...

I've always felt sorry for him but never have I cried with him like I did in this episode.

Cut for possible spoilers... )

Banner thanks to [info]berniechan 
 
 
 
 
FEELING: sad
HEARING: Arashi - "Remembering Tomorrow"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
28 May 2009 @ 08:14 pm
Living in Japan and enjoying its little daily pleasures really is a dream come true for me and I owe it all to that four letter word which I'm sure many of us need more of;

W-O-R-K.

You thought I was going to say "Luck", didn't you? I admit that I am beyond lucky to have the wonderfully supportive and forever patient father I do. Whenever I said I wanted to do something, my father would always give me a huge shove in that direction and not let me go back on my word. Then he would stand at the sidelines and cheer me on. The first time I came to Japan was no different.

However, I'm here now on my own will and am I working my butt off to keep myself here. It is tearing me apart to teach absolutely gorgeous and absolutely hilarious children yet not be able to properly communicate with them. I love to teach - well no, that's wrong, I love to take responsibility, pass on knowledge I have earned and help support the younger generations. I can't do that right now. I'm stuck shoving English down their throats - and I've become extremely jealous of all those teachers around me who can do it.

Teaching is not something I want to do forever though - I think I should save my need to nurture and protective nature for when I have children of my own. My real goal is to work as a translator in a TV station - NTV to be exact. I wish to follow in the footsteps of the person whom I now call my hero, my inspiration. He is someone I admire deeply, and not just for his good looks - if he were a woman I would still wish the same. In any case, my dream is to be a translator, and maybe even a voice actor on the side - I've already started studying for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test again.

"Yeah but you can join fan clubs, and buy cool merchandise, and go to concerts. You even get their CDs cheap."

Comes with the territory, and is a reward for five years of extreme Japanese language learning.

(Excuse me, people I love. I'm about to get nasty.)

From now on every desperate soul who really has no idea other than the above statement is going to be instantly redirected to this message. Yes, that's right, you're a bunch of pesky tele-marketers who I'm feeding to the answering machine. I've seriously had enough of your shit. Introducing yourself so you can beg concert tickets or merchandise out of me...

"I can pay you back on the day."


What am I supposed to eat in the meantime?

"I understand if you don't want to do it. I hope we can still be friends."

No. I'm not making any friends with, let alone doing favors for, people who introduce themselves by saying, "Hi, I noticed you live in Japan. Think you could help me out?"

Yeah well I noticed you live in Whoop-Whoopland, and I'm planning on going there next week. Think you could set me up? That's okay, I don't mind sleeping in your bed...

You think I'm being extreme? If I buy YOU concert tickets, where am I supposed to sit? There are often limits on tickets you can buy and it's the luck of the draw if you get seats on the day you want, if you even get tickets at all. Hell, I'm probably WORKING on the days YOU want to go.

So no, I'm not buying tickets for the 100s of international "Me and my friend"-s who haven't done enough research, enough planning, or simply haven't saved enough to foot the bill of corrupt ticket sellers. (I have young friends overseas who sacrifice everything to do just that - I don't wanna hear your excuse.) I'm not buying merchandise, magazines or shop photos simply because 100s of "poor me"s have no idea what the fuck they're actually asking of me. Just try stepping foot in Japan for about a month. Can't do that? Well I have enough trouble doing it as it is without helping some selfish, inconsiderate stranger.

Now I can see certain people going on a huge guilt trip. Firstly, if I've spoken to you many times before I did you a favor then it's cool and it's because I love you. Secondly, if you're getting this message straight after you've "introduced yourself" or after only talking with me a few times, don't bother sending "Sorry" messages. I never want to hear from you again.

Sorry to be so harsh but I've been asked so many times now that it has just come to this.

End of discussion.
Tags:
 
 
HEARING: Arashi - "Remembering Tomorrow"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
Friends: Please excuse the spam.

ARASHI FLAIL MEME! )
Tags:
 
 
FEELING: amused
HEARING: Arashi - "Happiness"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
17 May 2009 @ 07:10 pm
TT___TT I want to put this on my blog sooo much but LJ doesn't allow Javascript!

Click for ZERO goodness! (Click the little speaker to turn on the sound - it even plays the ZERO theme!!!! KYAAAA!)

 
 
FEELING: sad
HEARING: NEWS ZERO theme (ZERO~)
 
 
Rin in Japanland
09 May 2009 @ 08:28 pm
O.O

Ghostly Swing Haunts Playground


If that's a practical joke, then that's just not funny...

Taught English using Pokemon in class yesterday! That was fun and the teachers seemed to love my teaching style. Actually teachers seem to love me in general. I really wonder why when all I'm doing is my job. I used a couple of CD-Roms to print out some nice colorful flash cards. It was way past home time but I was enjoying myself and it was saving me time in the long run. When I asked the head teacher where I could laminate stuff she asked me to give it to her and head home. I showed her the stuff and she was like "Wow you used the CD-Roms I gave you! The last teacher wouldn't touch them." I said, "Yeah and look at the limited, undefinable resources he left us with." She seemed so happy with me. Does this mean I'm the only AET who is actually doing their job? Odd....Well anyway if it's fun and easy for me, then it is for the kids too.

In other news, I'm sure many of us know by now how much I love dinosaurs (though I haven't been able to fully play my Jurassic Park building game yet). Guess what! Now I'm fascinated by their direct predecessors and sister genus groups, including dinosauromorphs like Lagosuchus and arguably the earliest dinosaur, Herrerasaurus. I mean, look at the skull on that thing! The odd joint for its lower jaw meant it could move its lower jaw back and forth. However, looking at these types of creatures means learning a whole heap of new words. Because they're not simply this or simply that (since they're between evolutionary stages), they're defined by very specific characteristics or lack thereof most especially in their skulls, hips, and ankles. It gets really confusing. @_@

And then there's this! Archaeopteryx is clearly the defining link between dinosaurs and birds yet it appeared during the Jurassic, long before other dinosaurs that are said to have evolved into birds (such as Utahraptor and Tyrannosaurus). How is that a link then? Doesn't that mean that it is more of a branch, that birds branched from certain dinosaurs? I'm so confused and I feel left behind.

To wrap things up I believe there is a science behind everything. Of course there is a science behind dinosaurs but I also believe there is a science behind ghosts. Okay this isn't to prove whether or not something exists (human faith is a type of science that makes anything exist anyway), but to understand how it exists, whether it be physically or metaphysically. I'm not saying "Oh my goodness, you fools God and spirits so don't exist!" I don't believe in that whatsoever. I'm not even interested in questioning it.

What I'm interested in is the boundaries of it, and what defines it (if it can be defined.) An example of this is: In Japanese I've seen and read about many ghost accounts. In these accounts human, baby, animal, and even 'emotion' ghosts have been touched upon. Does this mean ghosts are limited to things we are currently familiar with? Why are there no dinosaur ghosts in museums where real fossils are held? There are even accounts. What about fish ghosts? If it is only in the human mind then why is it so limited? And why is it I can't see ghosts (especially dinosaur ghosts) when I really want to?

*hugs*

Humanity is a science in itself.

 
 
FEELING: nerdy
HEARING: Weird Science!
 
 
Rin in Japanland
03 May 2009 @ 11:05 pm
Time for a MEME!!! )

Tags:
 
 
FEELING: cheerful
HEARING: Arashi - "RIGHT BACK TO YOU"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
26 April 2009 @ 08:56 pm
YAY for:

=) Sparkly scrolling marquee on my homepage - watch out for tidbits that sum up my current mood!
=) Sim City Jurassic Park style - this game should be in my mail box pretty soon. Making the ultimate JP should relieve some stress. Pity I can't feed the dinos people sprites resembling certain people.
=) TURF WARS! - Be a dino and beat up other dinos Mortal Kombat style! The graphics are amazing for a little flash game!
=) Public holiday this Wednesday
=) Kamiyama <3 - That boy is just toooo adorable. Sho-chan just had to play such a kidnapable psycho cutey!

BOO for:

x( Crazy Moon - the music completely drowns out Arashi's gorgeous voices. And if you ask me, it sounds like something a Johnny's Jr. might be funking it up to.
x( Arashi being on Utaban for all of five minutes with little more than one line each. WTF! If they've got nothing for Arashi to do anymore then don't have them on. They're busy people....busy fishing and learning new magic tricks.
x( Lack of artistic talent - I tried drawing MC-Kamiyama back-to-back with his White Room self like that frame from the English Sailor Moon opening with one of those funky bubble walls between them. I give up. No patience and no talent for art.
 
 
FEELING: annoyed
HEARING: Arashi - "Beautiful days"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
24 April 2009 @ 06:58 am
I'm still not 100% but it's last day and I need to make stuff or I'll be really stressed. I've pretty much lost my voice too.


Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, my fave yellow member of SMAP, was arrested yesterday for lying naked in a park. He was very drunk and screaming nonsense, but that's not why he was arrested. Johnny's says he will be banned from all public activity until further notice.


How is it that the police here ignore stalker cases and run from yakuza, yet pounce on puny naked men in parks? The house of "Criminal Kusanagi" (title now in official media use) was even searched. Turned up nothing though.


Secondly we cannot deny the remote possibility that this was set up. What better way to knock SMAP off top and make more room for Arashi etc? I have no proof but...


I think that's why the fic SAAC is so strong. Kossy covers our underlying fears in a humorous way.


Please be careful, Sho-chan and Arashi.
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WHEREABOUTS: Yokohama
FEELING: annoyed and suspicious
HEARING: dream - music is my thing
 
 
Rin in Japanland
23 April 2009 @ 01:48 pm
38.7 deg C

My normal is 35 to 36. Heading home now thanks to the people at Sch K. (Head trainer: *insert sceptical tone* Just make sure you hand in a sick form. It IS half a day off. - Yeah yeah.)

Two notes. Kept worrying about unfinished lesson materials so I got next to no sleep last night. (Stress much?)

This morning an older lady approached me waving newspaper clippings and thanking me. She then gave them to me. They were about the Sydney gold medal of peace...

Thirdly, my poor throat is on its way out just from daily teaching. My voice is precious as I want to be a voice actor one day. Help?
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WHEREABOUTS: Yokohama
HEARING: ....
 
 
Rin in Japanland
20 April 2009 @ 11:04 pm
I sleep-taught in the wee hours of the morning, I just know it. I tried to sleep but I obviously had things on my mind because I remember waking in my bedroom, pretending to be teaching the kids (in my room) then lying back down to sleep only to hear the accusing voices of other teachers who couldn't believe that I would actually sleep during a lesson! >.< I did this like three times - I semi-remember it, but also know I was deep enough to be really imagining the children and voices.

EDIT: This thanks to the wonderful [info]berniechan!



There's just something about pretty boys in distress that I can't resist! Way too adorable! <3 *_____*
 
 
FEELING: tired
HEARING: mihimaru GT - "diverge"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
Let me be honest. I love Sho Sakurai (well dah!) I love quiz shows and game shows more than what people consider very good drama series (unless it's really, really good.) I don't like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire because a) the home viewer seems to know more correct answers than the contestant and b) basically it's just a staring contest. I didn't like (actually I barely watched) the first episode of Jun-hime's Smile because I found it boring (I actually find the concept of the series quite offensive but we'll save that discussion for another day.)

The Quiz Show (2009) is an unbelievable mixture of drama and live quiz show. The first epsiode starts with Sho dressed in white and walled up like he's quite a few cards short of a full deck. A man in black walks in and escorts this mysterious mop-haired nutcase barefoot down a long hall. Cut to scenes of a washed-up musician storming off because he can't get a gig in Japan's biggest venue. He's stopped before a huge poster for a TV show called "The Quiz Show" which features the aforementioned nutter in a tux with funky hair and a rather annoying smirk on his face. The person who stopped the musician (dressed like a butler of sorts, and one of the men who escorted the nutter away in the beginning) hands the musician a formal invitation to this "Quiz Show". With a promise that his wildest dreams will be granted if he passes the quiz, the musician thinks, "Sure, why not." What he didn't expect was to not only know the answer to each and every question, but that each question held an answer he wanted no one else to ever know.

This drama is oddly intense. You really do forget you're watching a drama. Even the commerical breaks line up! Although it's done in the annoying "Millionaire-style" this show is anything but a staring contest. MC-Kamiyama ("the nutter") is extremely whimsical, flamboyant, cunning, annoying, accusing, pouty, sarcastic, rude, sometimes even gives the answers, and has a smirk you just want to slap right off his face. I don't know whether to love him or lock him back in that white room he came from. He is however a very loyal pet to show director Honma (Mr. Man-in-black) and I love how serious he becomes when he is obeying orders from his "master".

The only really, really negative comment I have about this show, is the theme song. It's not bad. I do like the slower pace compared with the upbeat mode of recent Arashi hits. I am really happy that it's not just another truth/Believe remake, but it may take a moment to grow on me. Oh well, hopefully we'll have a full opening title next week to help us appreciate the song a little more.

I know this is a short and blunt review (I may edit it later) but there is little more that I can say about "The Quiz Show" that hasn't been said. Lovers of Japanese tv dramas may find it slow, repetitive and boring, while lovers of quiz shows and Sho-chan will be hooked! This drama is experimental, twisted, and gripping. Watch it, and you'll know what I mean. At least watch the first ep because Sho-chan screaming in a white room is just priceless!

PS. I need an MC-Kamiyama icon real bad! XDDD
 
 
FEELING: amused
HEARING: Arashi - "Beautiful days"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
19 April 2009 @ 07:04 am
Wow, thank you everyone for your thoughts and for your patience. It seems people want to see Aiba in everything from serious drama/movie projects, horror/suspense drama roles, and comedy pieces, to a solo concert, anime voice acting roles, and even as a bubbly guest with a dark secret on Sho's new drama The Quiz Show (I mention that one because I really liked that idea.) Overall though, I think many of us just want to see him happy doing what he wants to do. Nothing can compare to that gorgeous smile ne! ^____^

Well then it's time to draw winners. If you can't see the video, I'm really sorry about that (because I'm such a star and everyone should be able to see me). However, I will be contacting competition winners the moment after I've made this post, so check your lj inbox for messages. Finally, all comments have been screened just to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy the vid.

Have fun, and I'll see you all again next time for my latest review....


 
 
FEELING: happy
HEARING: Arashi - "Kansha Kangeki Ame Arashi"
 
 
Rin in Japanland
13 April 2009 @ 10:46 pm
I should really be asleep but it's Arashi night! Can't sleep!

I should possibly post something more worthwhile but not for the second, so here is my current life in point form. If it doesn't make sense, I'm really sorry!

- Sharks - if you watch Jaws backwards, it's a film above a massive shark throwing people up until they have to make a beach!
- Dinosaurs - seriously what the hell did a T.Rex eat? Raptors you could kind of see as pack hunters, but what the hell kind of life-style kept the big-headed, forelimb-challenged T.Rex going?
- Dreams about Arashi and most especially Sho-chan telling me to do my best! <3 (Even shook hands!!!)
- Going to the Tokyo Museum of Science and History this weekend! YAAAAY!
- Quiz Sho starts this Saturday! YAAAAAY, Sho-chan!!! (And he has nice long hair again!)
- Fanfiction - Aiba-chan a dinosaur genius thanks to weird dreams and Ohno's drawing skills? Domyoji x Mimura? Sakuraiba stargazing? <3
- I'm trying to learn hula hoop! Hopefully the kids at school can teach me....if they'll ever get off their unicycles. >.>

Now for some awesome pics (not mine):


"Aw nice sharky! That the spot?"


"I so know what you did last night."
(LOVE the hair! Wish I was his stylist because I'd love doing that to his hair every time he came on set! <3)

5 MORE DAYS TIL QUIZ SHO!!! <3
 
 
FEELING: amused
HEARING: Arashi - "truth"