choa501

That MS performance left me without tears. It was so bittersweet. I was incredibly happy when I read that. I feel like in recent months, I've come to see Ueda with a new found respect. People often dismiss him as cold and awkward but these past interviews I've been reading of him and his attitude throughout the whole ordeal with Junno have given me a completely different perspective of his actual persona. I feel the same way. There are days when I'm okay and days when I feel like I won't get through this hiatus but I wanna see what the guys can do outside of the group, especially music-wise.

I can't believe people didn't like Koki's tweet. I thought it was sweet that he and Jin acknowledged their time as KAT-TUN members. I hope one day they all meet even if it's in private and reminisce about the old days. If it was really Kame who came up with this idea, then I'm afraid I feel exactly the way you do. I don't think it's the wisest decision and perhaps that's the selfish fan in me speaking, but I can't also blame Kame for wanting a break, especially because he's been the one facing the media and fans every single time a member has left or messed up. Also, I think when I heard about the hiatus and how Nakamaru hadn't agreed to it right away I was thinking of NEWS and how they said people kept telling them to just disband. But it's a relief to know the company isn't pressuring the guys. This episode is gonna haunt me till the end of time tbh. I don't think I've ever seen the guys look this broken on TV.

That's so true. I remember reading a rumor that said the ideal age for marriage among Johnny's was 40. I don't know how true that is but for Junno to give up his entire career l'm guessing he had to feel cornered. Yes! I think the best way to enjoy KAT-TUN and their music is by watching their live performances and that's also why SCP worked so well for them. I keep thinking of how happy the guys were when they got the show and also when TameTabi was upgraded to a regular show. It seemed like they were finally back on track, and reading those interviews I got the feeling that they were determined to keep going despite Taguchi's withdrawal but now I gotta wonder, when Maru said that he did not agree with the hiatus did that mean they were coerced into taking it? MTE. No matter what, the guys had been looking forward to their anniversary and to see it turn out like this, it's gotta hurt. That shot at the end of the last performance was heartbreaking for me to watch because they all have this look of frustration on their faces. I wanna be optimistic and think that this is all gonna work out for the guys but I can't help worrying. I really, really, really hope Ueda gets more activities handed to him. I think he can do fairly well as an actor and/or soloist.

I just read JunMaruDa's 10k interviews and I was expecting Junno to say he wanted to change career paths because the idol job became too much for him to handle but instead he kept talking about how much the group means to him and how he loves the feeling of performing in front of fans. I'm sorry but this only makes his decision harder to understand and I can see why the remaining members were/are so confused. When he says he needs to leave to mature or smth along those lines I can only think that he wants to settle down and have a family but if that is really the reason, I'll never forgive JE for not making it easier for their idols to get married. And watching the last SCP episode afterwards was even more heartbreaking. It also made me realize once more how much untapped potential KAT-TUN has. It now seems like a total waste to have them pause activities and even more to see everything they've worked so hard to rebuild crumbling down to pieces and being taken away from them. I gotta wonder if JE will even try to get them individual jobs once the hiatus comes into effect considering that they've been pretty lazy with KAT-TUN in recent years, especially when it comes to Ueda.

This is great! I'm gonna share the link with friends. Also, this is totally unrelated but I just realized you like dong bang too. :D

I did watch Platina Data but completely forgot about it, that's how much of an image it left on me lol. I'll check out Kuruma. LMAO. No matter how many years pass Sho is still the same old captain failboat. These outfits and the stage are making me think of Wild At Heart. I can't wait to see the performance and I hope we won't have to wait till the DVD comes out to hear it live. /crosses fingers

I have a feeling we're all gonna need a box of tissue when the Greatest Journey PV comes out. Yeah, someone said that have too much pressure on them atm because even if any of them were to get caught dating for example the media would write it as another scandal/blow but being on hiatus may allow them to delete and restart. -EDIT- It seems like they're discussing whether Gatsuun will continue or not after April ->http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160216-00000536-sanspo-ent Also, Hyphens have started writing to NHK to ask for Nakamaru to take over as the SCP MC. I'm so proud of this fandom rn. ->https://twitter.com/katauena/status/699432003653906432

This is unfortunately true, but I totally agree with you. I think Ueda could do well if he decides to get more acting gigs and release music as a soloist. The acting can help him promote himself with non fans, and we all know he can compose so this is the time for management to give him a much needed push and have him release his own work and organize his own concert. I'm praying JE does the guys justice for once because the way they've been handling KAT-TUN leaves much to be desired. LOL. I feel like this is the biggest problem with KAT-TUN. Everyone has what it takes to do at least decently as a soloist, but from everything I have seen and read in the last few months I feel like none of the 3 remaining members wants to give up on the group but rather they're scared sh** will happen again and their apologies will become empty words. I'm thinking that's the real reason they agreed to this hiatus to let things cool down. Because it seems like someone gave the guys the brilliant idea to do it or at least that's what I understood from all the clips I watched yesterday. I wish we could rewind to early 2015 and stay there. T^T Ugh. I'm seriously getting frustrated by all the people saying this is the end when the guys themselves said it wasn't. I mean, unless I get a company statement saying otherwise I'm choosing to believe in what they said. I really, really hope they get to keep Tametabi because it's such a great show. It would be too cruel to take everything away from them, tbh. Yeeeeeeessssssss and when Kame and Ueda release their solo stuff they can stop by and have a duet or a collab with him. Someone needs to make this happen please. I initially saw only the hashtag as well, but then I saw them commenting about "reserving" Unlock and a few mentioned the possibility of getting the best album. I saw a few other similar comments from non fans too and it was so heartwarming. I was planning on getting the Unlock bundle set from Yesasia but I'm gonna see if I can find someone who can buy it from me in Japan.

Congrats to Nino although I haven't watched anything by him since Freeter. I'm a terrible stan I know. That's really interesting. I was watching the clips of the PV preview and it was hilarious to see the reaction of commentators and newscasters once they heard who the composers were. Also, call me weird but I have a feeling FL is gonna follow the same pattern as Sakura and get lots of love from the general public. Hahaha. I wonder if they are going to acknowledge how awkward they are around each other. There was even a thread about it on 2chan or girlschannel I can't remember. XD

I just saw the clip and I'm even more confused. I wonder if it was management who suggested they take a break because thinking back, for every thread that I've seen about Yamaneko or the new single there have been a dozen more of gossip articles written about KAT-TUN and Junno since he announced his retirement. They say any press is good press but not when it's overshadowing the group's activities. Also, I've seen a lot of SMAP fans tweeting their support to KAT-TUN and Hyphens and they've also started to pre-order Unlock. I thought it was a really touching and sweet gesture on their part and I almost wish int'l Hyphens could get together just like we did for DOA and Kissx3 to buy our copies through fans in Japan so our sales could get counted towards Oricon as well. Maybe it wouldn't get rid of the hiatus, but at least it would show management that there is still interest in KAT-TUN. They said they're still unsure as to what will happen to Tametabi. As for SCP, I guess it could go to Nakamaru? I mean, Kokubun used to host it alone in the past. It'll be such a waste if they take it away from KAT-TUN though. /sighs

I honestly didn't see this coming at all and even though I wanna blame someone I don't want to target Junno because in the end this isn't just about him but also about Jin and Koki and every bad thing that has happened to KAT-TUN since they debuted. I think my biggest concern right now is that unlike Maru and Kame, Ueda doesn't have much to fall back on. There is also nothing that can ensure us this hiatus won't last a lifetime or that somewhere along the way they'll decide they're better off working separately. I don't know. I just have so many conflicting feelings because it seems a little too late to start building individual fanbases and I don't know how interested I would be in hearing solo works from any of them. I've always liked them as a group but as soloists? I don't know. I guess we can only hope for the best. Maybe exploring new paths and growing as individual artists, newscasters, singers, actors or whatever they choose to focus on will ultimately give the group the balance they've been trying to find for so long...

I'm seriously scared we won't get to listen to any of these songs at least once. I hope they surprise us and do like a mini live on SCP with the tracks from Tragedy and Unlock before Junno leaves. Like you said, considering everything that has happened and how the promo for this single was almost nonexistent I think that's a good number for the first day. I can't remember what they did for In Fact, but for DoA I recall them adding the new year special edition that had the countdown recordings a few weeks (I think?) before the release date. I'm hoping they didn't bother much with this single because they're gonna focus on promoting the hell out of Unlock instead. I'm really excited for the b-sides on that single. I'm praying they get to perform the b-sides on SCP, especially Twilight. I just feel like it would be so much more raw and enchanting if we saw the guys singing it live. Also, this is a recurring thought of mine but I feel like people don't give KAT-TUN enough credit for their beautiful harmonies and falsettos. They've really come a long way.

Right? Someone on twitter said it was Yamashita and Takeuchi who approached Arashi about writing a song for them. If it's true then I'm shocked and proud lol. It's a sound that really suits Arashi in my opinion. What kind of sorcery is this?????? I am giddy yet nervous about watching this because knowing Sakumoto this could be an awkward talk or a really surprising one. :DD

I'm so excited they're getting to do a dome tour. It's finally starting to feel like a 10th year anniversary! Me too!! Feathers is my ultimate favorite track on the single and Tokyo Starry is quite fun, but Twilight just made me all sad and depressed. Junno sounded especially beautiful in it and it just made me realize how much I'm gonna miss his voice. T__________T

I had no idea Yamashita Tatsuro had written a new song for Arashi!!! This is like a dream come true. Everyone sounds beautiful and thank the Lord for Ohno's solo lines because they killed me. Aiba and Nino sound nice as well but the Sakumoto lines were the ones that stuck out the most to me. I don't know, maybe it's because it's not that usual for them to share lines but but I really like how they sound together. And Neen!!! I know people don't consider him the best dancer in Arashi but my eyes are automatically drawn to him every time I see Arashi dance, and that hands in our pockets choreo is a new fave even though it seems quite simple. Sorry for rambling I'm just overwhelmed by how much I love the song and that PV preview. It'll be interesting to see the full PV so I can find out what's up with Toma and his gal.

Can anyone recommend me any male singers with low pitched voices? I would prefer ballad singers, but I'm open to listening to other genres as well just not metal. Thanks.     I think best of albums are the best way to familiarize yourself with specific singers so maybe you should try looking for his "Singles Best" and "Singles B-Side Best" albums. Also, since you mentioned one of his covers it would be a good idea for you to check out his covers series. Each of his cover albums is called Vocalist. Or you could start with his "Vocalist & Ballade Best."   As for song recommendations, I like:   [spoiler] Kimi Wo Tsurete https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS43canPWy4 I Love You https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_HgfBN4iYQ Endless Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB7IGuifp8k Taiyou Ga Ippai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKCbrSIbg3c Sukiyaki Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6a7Z22uOKo [/spoiler]

OMG!!! So many new songs. I'm really excited about the album. Hopefully it will be worth the wait.

I feel like I just ruined it for everyone lol. Me too! I was picturing black flags everywhere with a cool silver logo in the middle but this was completely different from anything I could have imagined. XD

Honestly. I was expecting better since their group logo is super cool. This one just makes me think of traffic signs lol.

Is anyone subbing this drama or planning to do it? I watched the first episode and it looked promising but I can't for the life of me find subs for it.

OMG The guys look soooo hwaaaat. This is my fave CD cover so far and yaaaaas to their company getting them a tie in with a drama. I can't wait to hear the preview. And a new album in February wow I guess they're gonna be real busy at the beginning of next year. I can't complain. XD

The camera work was messy and didn't let me appreciate the choreography in full but I'm still glad GENE was invited to FNS. Maybe next time they'll sing one of their own songs as well.

This is brand new information to me lol. I was under the impression that they had a decently sized fanbase in Taiwan and that's why LDH saw it convenient to send them there, but if most of the atendees at the concert were EXPG students and Japanese fans then I can't help being concerned. Maybe it would be a good idea have the boys appear on local shows and maybe hold free lives like merutsubame was saying prior to the actual tour. That would at least put them out there and who knows maybe some people will be curious enough to check them out.

Definitely and it doesn't hurt that all the guys in GENE are easy to like. LOL. I can see how he's like a plushie. This might sound weird but every time I see him I feel like he's huggable. XD Everyone seems to love AWY. I'm glad that GENE don't stick to just one type of music because that makes them appeal to more people. Some of us like the slow songs, others the uptempo ones. There's something for everyone. I'm so happy to hear that!!! We'll be getting plenty of new songs that they can perform on their tour. I'm gonna have to start saving for that album + DVD lol. Revolver is really good! I think I've watched the live performance more than a dozen times. It's probably my favorite GENE performance to date. I'm a bit worried about them coming to the West. I mean, if they come they'll probably perform in small venues but will they be able to fill them?

Thank you for welcoming me! Yes! That's exactly how I see it. Yuta can be very shy and sweet and sometimes he will even look like he's in his own world but the moment the music starts playing he turns into a completely different person. Omg, I'm so glad you're also a Hayato fan. I used to think I was the only person who liked him but these days I see more Hayato fans and it makes me super happy lol. This boy gives me so much life. He looks like a koala, behaves like a grandpa and dances like a machine. He was sooo good in Revolver. Everyone was. That live performance left me craving for more intense dance tracks from GENE. LOOOOL. I'm the opposite of you. I don't like songs like NLYG or AWY. If it's slow songs then I prefer if they sound like Echo or LMF but for the last month I've praying for them to release another Hot Shot, Animal or Revolver. XD I'm so happy for the boys!!!! I hope we'll get lots of new tracks on the album so they can perform them at their tour and even if the world tour ends up being just an Asia tour I hope it includes more than 3 countries. This is the perfect opportunity for the boys to expand their fanbase so they should visist as many countries as possible. Omg, I'm so excited!!! XD