In recent variety shows, we can see that Aiba-chan is unstoppable. Although he said that he don't really wish to say too much about his effort made below the screen, but we got him to say out how he felt in his heart this time.

Hard to find your position when you're alone
I didn't say a word for the first episode of 「Tensai! Shimura Doubutsuen」. In the studio, I can't find a right opportunity to communicate with the rest of the hosts/guests(eg. Shimura). I will think "Ah, I want to speak up" but I just couldn't do it. There were times when I just merely said a sentence throughout the entire recording.

Actually I felt very upset back then and was feeling down for quite a while. The staffs told me "you must try to speak up more". I replied "hai" but in my heart I was thinking "I also want to say more things too....."

After that, the solution I thought of was OUTDOOR FILMING. Since I couldn't say much things in the studio, I will work extra hard when I am doing outdoor shows. So I kept on pleading the staffs to let me go for outdoor hosting, at last they agreed and I was very happy. Initially, I thought they will only let me go for once. I didn't expect it will turn out to be a segment in 「Tensai! Shimura Doubutsuen」. Of course, I will continue to work hard and regardless of tigers or kangaroos, I'm not afraid of you! (laughs)

I got more familiar with the show from the outdoor filming and so, in the studio, I had more things to say. But I think there are still room for improvement.

It's hard to find your position from scratch especially when I'm alone in a brand new environment. I got to know this fact through this show and managed to learn alot of new things too. In order to continue with this job, the bottomline is to do my best even in this situation. Thus, it's not time for me to say hard but to make the show more exciting and interesting. This is why they find me to take part in this show.


Making our 5 individual characteristic more prominent
Now, everyone's role in Arashi is very obvious. It isn't like this in the beginning.

When we were holding our very first concert, we even practised on talking techniques. It's because we don't have the confidence to talk continously for 30 mins, but we soon forgot that we were practising and some even ran out of the room...... It's really in a mess (laughs). After that during the concert, we talked for 40 mins. Just thinking about it made us very happy and we were laughing that "We are talking~!"

the 5 of us have different personality. So much so as we have different personalities, but just presenting what I am to people will be so boring. We need to think of how to work together and make OUR characteristics more prominent and sometimes might need to exaggarate that particular section. We thought about this at that time but how to practically apply it, we don't know..

When Arashi just debuted, we were always been scolded by the management staffs. "Why aren't you guys talking!?" We knew this fault of ours and so felt quite upset. The moment 'Arashi' is been scolded, 5 of us will be very depressed (laughs). This kind of situation had happened during the 5 years.


To be in the limelight only for that period after debut
I remember very clearly during 2002 HERE WE GO Tour Concert, the 5 of us will hang out together everyday to discuss on the future development of ARASHI. We talked about that all the way to the morning. We just slept for 1 hour and off to the concert we go. Sugoii ne~ Partially we are still quite young then, I think we are really feeling very insecured at that time.

Being in the limelight during the debut period because we are 「Johnny's New Debut Group」 but the subsequent one two years if we don't have proven ourselves, we will be going downhills.

I feel that SMAP did very well in this aspect. Each member always challenging to new things. Of course, other seniors are the same too.

ARASHI too, 「wants to challenge something that no one had done it before」, our thoughts and feeling about this are very intense, thus it's not just saying "Oh, they are good" and end of the story.


Telling the staffs about his own opinions for the first time
I love ARASHI. ARASHI is my life. Alot of things happened throughout the past 5 years that made me realise that I really love ARASHI.

I wrote a letter to the members in 「24HR TV」. I used up 2 notebooks. From the start, I wrote things that happened during the 5 years in point form, just on this I used up 1 book. After that, elaborating on all those points into paragraphs was another book. While I was writing, I recalled many events and I almost end up writing in tears.

Those 2 notebooks must not be seen/read by anybody. Actually I am quite a shy person, for example this kind of interview where I need to say out things about myself, I'll be at a loss.

But because of this, I can think again what I can do for ARASHI.

Previously in 「嵐の技ありっ」 (Fuji TV, Every Saturday 1200hrs), I expressed my opinion to the staffs for the first time. I said "Please take this into consideration" and told them my opinion. I had told them what I feel to make this show more interesting, something which I had never thought about in the past.

In 「Dの嵐」 (NTV, Every Wednesday 0046hrs), I was given 「Aの嵐」. Maybe that played a major element. When I was doing that segment, I felt that it was so exciting. It also allows me to say out what I want to say, let me do what I want to do. Before that, I was searching for a way on how to present 「相葉ちゃん」 and because I can express freely in 「Aの嵐」、 I felt that I'm really being myself and 「相葉ちゃん」 can be convey in this manner.

But it's still not enough, henceforth I think I'll continue to seek for [相葉ちゃん].


For the perfect 10th year thus it's very important now
Time flies, 5 years had passed already, will our 10th year come that fast too? Is it that the 5 of us saying 「Although alot of things had happen but 10th year will be here soon」?

But what can be confirm now is how our 10th year will be like depends on the level of efforts put in. So it's very important now. If we think along this path, 10th year anniversary is a huge possibility.

In order to welcome the perfect 10th year, we can't be staying in ARASHI only. I learn alot of things when I'm out working alone. I believe everyone(ARASHI) is the same, bringing in what they had learned outside into ARASHI. This is also for the good of ARASHI.

To cherish all our fans now is natural. In addition, I want to let people other than our fans to know ARASHI. Therefore, 「24HR TV」 was important to us. Because of that program, poeple from different social levels get to know us and they even say hello to us on streets.

Today, the obaachan from the おそば屋(soba) was saying to me "You are one of the ARASHI member right? Please come again next time!" I was so happy when I heard that and replied "I'll come again tomorrow!" Once I stepped out of the shop, I remembered tomorrow's schedule and shouted "I might not be able to come tomorrow!"

I hope to challenge new things in the future and make good use of all those opportunities, no matter I'm alone or 5 of us together. I want to act in more dramas and my target now is to become 「The #1 Idol that you want to hug」! (laughs)

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