Like everyone's been saying, Arashi feels a lot more real when they mess up. I think that's how it is for every person, though. It's our imperfections that make us interesting and human. I'm a big English Lit geek, so I think about how the best characters in every single classic novel are the imperfect ones. I mean, how amazing is Cal from East of Eden? He's amazing BECAUSE he is imperfect. And that's why Arashi becomes real to us, because we think "wow, they make mistakes just like we do".

But I have to say, if I ever say Arashi in person, I imagine it would feel unreal because it's not like I would normally meet someone like that. But I can totally imagine them as real people and meeting people like them.

I've actually never really thought of something like this but when i read this post i was like whoa they are so real. To me I think after watching the mago mago arashi the part where the five was in the boat race. Totally touched my heart and it showed how close they were.

out of all idol n artists that i know of, arashi is the most real to me (except jun but lately he has shed off that idol persona off-stage bit by bit). of course there's this image of idol when they performing on stage but when they're off-stage, they juz like normal person. they're sleepy in the morning, captain still rides train when going to places, nino is actually an otaku (except he doesn't dress like one), sho is hopeless in sports except soccer, masaki is juz masaki (i have this feeling he's a lot more calm n reserve off the camera) n jun is a nerd. these all are juz examples. but it's these little things that makes them real to me. i can talk bout this for a very long time.

the point is arashi makes mistake n they're not afraid to admit it. it's like they want their fans to see them as real person n not juz a great idol. their friendship is totally genuine esp after i saw masaki read that letter in 24 jikan terebi.

I totally agree with all you guys!

indayze wrote:

But yes, their imperfections make me think: "They're so normal. Why are they so popular again? Oh, cause they're freakishly good looking."

Yeah, I know, I love their veriety shows because they act like dorks and goof-balls (lovable ones, though! <3) and it's like, they're all really like the guys "Next door" that you talk to, and they're freggin' hilarious on top of everything else. It's true, they all make mistakes, but they fess up on camera, and they don't care, they laugh about it. They're just so human sometimes... you know? Except for the extreme hotness factor, and all! XD

And I love how they're best friends, and they genuinely care about one another, even if they're doing outside projects and what-not. Like Jun's song La Familia. I mean, like, look at Aiba's letter to the whole group. Usually something like that would be hush-hush here in the States, imho. Something covered by the paparazzi press (think lindsay lohan's rehab...), but they're out with it, and he showed his feeling in front of everyone, and in front of his bandmates and friends. and they all started crying... (well, except Nino and Sho, but still! they were moved too, I'm sure).

And on top of everything, they ARE great entertainers. They can sing, dance, act, hold a crowd... if I met them, I'd be like, "Whoa..." but I think I could get that they're human, too, you know? Just cause they show it!

Well to some point, everyone of us don't act our real selves even with friends. So no matter how much these guys show their baka side on screen, I think there's still a limit to how real their TV personalities. But then again, since they're basically always acting as idols, maybe their supposedly engineered idol personality has already meshed with their own true personality, blurring the lines between them. So maybe these guys are actually pretty real after all. XD

I mean, like someone said about Kat-Tun, I feel this distance about them because they're too.... orderly, too perfect. And NEWS as well, they don't seem that close to me. Unlike Arashi members, who are like the closest friends, and the way they act when they're together reminds me of my own self with my friends. So often times, I see myself in them. Like, man, that's exactly what I would do with my buddies - something like that. So yeah, I really enjoy watching their variety shows where they're being themselves, or at least they're trying to be themselves.

And Nino, he even made a blunder in the Berlinale press con embarassing himself on international cameras. That was simply warm. It makes him human just like us. And the Shukudai-kun episode where these 2 girls were fangirling Nino, and he looked seriously pissed off at one time and I was like totally shocked because an idol shouldn't be like that! But there he was, showing his annoyance and all. I actually felt bad for the girls, even if it's in their image to be baka like that. ><

So I dunno, I guess this guys are pretty real to me. They may not even notice how real they are on TV. XD I was a big fan of NEWS before, and love K-T a lot too, but this kind of warm feeling I get from Arashi is a first.

Arashi is NOT REAL.

It is created by this Factory that manufactures Eye- Candy Boys with unbelievable packages...

But Sho, Aiba, Jun, Ohno and Nino ARE REAL. I think they are the most real people that I have seen on TV yet, and that is saying something as the guys are so saturated by the media. They are so normal sometimes you get to say they're too normal to be real.

And I think that's what makes Arashi Effective Entertainers coz they never mask anything. What you see is what you get is such a cliche but I think it perfectly describes them.

It still amazes me how this guys are still grounded despite the fact that they are soooo famous....

They're very real to me, if I'm understanding the question right haha. Maybe it's because I've seen them being such big dorks, that they remind me a lot of my friends. Or maybe it's from reading their jwebs and interviews. They're a lot like us, aren't they? They're not like American idols, the kind of people who can easily fork out 100000000 (and who knows how many more zeroes) on a designer shirt or shoe. They don't earn much (I'm very sad about this but...), maybe they earn even less than us?! Although this applies to all the other Johnny boys as well lol.

Because of all the things I have seen and heard of Arashi, whether they're true or not, I have already put them on this level of surreal.
I do not know them personally, nor do they know me, so we do not have mutual respect for each other. Unlike the kind from meeting someone and befriending them.
This kind of circumstance is very unique in that is one-sided. One sided in the sense that I know of their birthdays, likes, dislikes, performances, etc, and do they know my name?
I've romanticised them and made them very untouchable, which, in a sense they are (being both idols and from another country).
So if I ever meet them, though I feel a definite affinity with them (having seen their highs and lows), for them it would be like meeting a complete stranger.
If that day comes, I hope I can do my best to realize they are just regular guys meeting a regular girl who appreciates them.

Whenever I think of this question I always tell myself "Well of course they're real people, they have faults just like the rest of us, etc." but at the same time it's kinda surreal because they're entertainers and so we, the fans, can get info on them that they can't on us.
I'm a relatively new fan to Arashi, so I'm not 100% sure about their interviews and stuff; but from what I've seen, they look pretty normal to me :3

For me Arashi is Real. Even though sometimes they are supposed to look like they live in a completely different world.
But they're also a human who can make mistakes sometimes!

Just watch Aiba's letter which is so touching, Sho's family background but he still got scared with little thing, Nino with his "A-List" Hollywood title but still play video games all the time and Pranked other members, Riida with his funny expression doesn't act like a leader at all and MatsuJun who doesn't talk much but do cares about other members.

Arashi is so Alive!

Well for me, Arashi are celebrities..in another country..so not much. But that's why I love their variety shows, when they act like dorks, look stupid, and go out on the streets just like everyone else. Makes them feel ALOT more real to me. :] ♥

But how real are they to you?
i suppose very real indeed. i (don't really want to) understand that they are real people after all. they have their ups and downs. they probably have their loves [SOB and its now me] and probably cant/wont ever tell other people about it because they are IDOLS.

i also dont think i ever want to meet them in real life and be able to communicate with them [i dont speak japanese, as much as i wish i do]. i've created for myself this image of their perfection and i'm deathly afraid that if i meet them, i'll find out that they arent as perfect, humorous, or kind as i thought them to be...and my bubble of perfection and adoration will be popped. [/code]