in other words...

This is an update blog for say_it_again, my translations journal over on Livejournal. I have been translating since 2005 and received my JLPT N1 certification in March 2011. I will be posting mostly links to Arashi-related translations here, though I also do other Johnny's groups on occasion. Please check out the masterpost or head over to LJ to check out all the past translations that I've done!

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Mine - 11/2002

Words cannot express how much I love this old magazine interview from 15 years ago (!). I learned new things that I had never heard before, and learned more details about the things I already knew. I just couldn't resist translating in order to share with more people. 

Click on the link below for the full interview with a long blurb from the writer and thoughts from all five members!

But these boys whom you can find anywhere are trying their hardest to make their dreams come true, and that earnestness is palpable.

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Aiba - MORE - 07/2017

Preview Click on the link below to read Aiba's latest interview from MORE, a wonderful piece that showcases the way he has matured and how he views many things, from work to the world around him, from Arashi to himself. You won't regret it! It's in my nature to overdo things to begin with. 

[sayitagain-trans]

Love So Sweet - an Arashi magazine cover directory

Hi everyone, this isn’t at all related to translations but I figured it would be a waste not to share with everyone else. 

For the past few weeks, I’ve been working on an online library of sorts to document all the magazine covers that Arashi has graced, be it solo or as a group. This was originally meant to keep track of my own ridiculously large collection, but the more I worked on it the more I wanted to involve other people to make it as comprehensive as possible. 

http://lovesosweet.net/

(Note: I recommend browsing the site on your computer or tablet, phone layout is a bit cramped and it’s harder to browse the galleries!)

There's currently over 1200 covers listed at the moment but it’s still far from complete. That’s where you guys come in! If you notice that my website is lacking a few magazine covers that you own, please send me an email (you can find my contact info on the site) with the photos and I’ll update the website with credits to you.

If you have any other questions, feel free to shoot me an Ask here on Tumblr or email me. Thanks, and I hope this is of help to anyone looking to buy more awesome magazines with their faves on the cover. :)

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] RO69 - Japonism DVD review

There was a review of the Japonism DVD making the rounds on Twitter that I really enjoyed and decided to translate. The review came from a Japanese website with a predominant interest in rock music and I enjoyed the fact that it focused a lot more on the production side of things.

Enjoy, and feel free to share your own thoughts on the concert!

There is no denying that Arashi are super idols who shine on the enormous stage in a packed Tokyo Dome before 55,000 people, yet at the same time they are also super craftsmen who aided in the creation of that enormous stage.

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Nino - MORE - 08/2016

I really liked this latest issue of Nino's It column and decided to translate it. Sometimes Nino can be very frank about his thoughts, especially towards things you would normally expect him to be blase and vague about. In this one, he talked about the hypothetical situation of somebody leaving Arashi. KAT-TUN was also mentioned. Enjoy, and feel free to share your thoughts! If I were to quit, that would be like biting the hand that feeds me.

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Aiba - TV Guide PLUS vol. 22 - Spring 2016

Here we have an interview with the producer for Aiba Manabu! I always love hearing what the staff they work with have to say about the members and this is no different, especially considering Aiba Manabu is my favourite solo program of the group. It's also really interesting to see how he says some very similar things to what the Shiyagare director for Aiba's segment had said previously.

Feel free to leave a comment with your own thoughts. Enjoy!

Now that I think about it, never once has Aiba-kun ever told us he can't do it, or that it's impossible.

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] TV Life - Arashi ni Shiyagare inside scoop - 2/13-26/2016 (Nino)

Here's the part on Nino with the director in charge of his Arashi ni Shiyagare segment! Reading these made me feel like they're very well matched with their respective directors. Read on for the praise that gets heaped upon Nino this time!

Ninomiya-san has very good instincts, and he's the type who doesn't need cue cards where people usually would need them.

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] TV Life - Arashi ni Shiyagare inside scoop - 2/13-26/2016 (Aiba)

Translated the first of a series in TV Life where each director in charge of the five members' segments in Arashi ni Shiyagare speak out and offer some behind the scenes scoop. Nino's is up next, but that will have to wait for tomorrow.

Read on to find out what Aiba's director in charge has to say about him and his segment!

Even though "Aiba Japan" ceased to become a form of investigation somewhere along the way, I feel like it's okay to deviate as long as it's interesting (laugh)

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Potato - Nino x Aiba - 07/1998

This crosstalk is really old but it was simply too cute not to translate. Read on to find out what chibi Aiba and Nino bickered about, a rare display of monetary generosity from Nino, and more!

You're saying that now but you lose to me a lot, don't you?

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] ARASHI LIVE TOUR 2015 Japonism - Q&As

So little time, so much to do! Taking advantage of the fact that I don’t have work this weekend to do some translating. First up are all of the member Q&As from the latest tour pamphlet. They each took turns answering the same questions (some with atypical answers), so I hope you enjoy!

Will try to get started on the group crosstalk tomorrow.

Aiba: Everything that passes through our filter turns out Arashi-like, I think.

Jun:  What I wanted to do was come up with a new form of participation for our audience despite being confined to their seats.

Nino:  I mean, we don’t even really know if those historical figures actually exist, you know?

Ohno:  Everyone has a different expression on their face, but it all comes together.

Sho:  We were being completely serious with it you know, us middle-aged adults (laugh).

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Ohno - FREESTYLE II Member Crosstalk (2/2) + Message to members

Here is the second half of the member crosstalk from the FREESTYLE II artbook, where they revealed Aiba's and Sho's drawings and wrapped up with their thoughts about the exhibit and their attempt at drawing Ohno again after so many years. I also included Ohno's own message to the other members after seeing what they drew as a bonus.

I don't care if they don't even put it up, I just want Leader to have a look at it... that's how I feel.

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Nino - MORE - 09/2015

One more for the road before I head off to sleep. Took a break from Ohno's artbook and decided to translate this instead. It's hard to describe what exactly this was about, but he offered some interesting analogies and food for thought. Enjoy!

If I'm not thinking about looking good to other people, and I'm not trying to do things that I know are impossible, I won't get nervous.

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Ohno - FREESTYLE II Member Crosstalk (1/2)

Just got my copy of FREESTYLE II today and decided to translate the two interviews in it. One is with Ohno on his own, and one is with the other four members because they drew sketches of him again to celebrate the launch of his second art exhibit. Instead of leaving messages for him, they did a long crosstalk together and saw what each other drew. 

This is the first half, with the reveal of Jun's and Nino's drawings. I'll try and get the second half up soon and then get started on Ohno's (which is 14 (!) pages long compared to 6 pages between four people). In the meantime, enjoy!

It's... it's the first time I ever put that much effort into drawing something.

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Aozora no shita, kimi no tonari single - Uraaratalk 2015 (3/3)

Sorry for the lateness! Been swamped with work and life stuff so I didn't get the chance to sit down and finish the rest of the Uraaratalk until now. They spent most of this discussing who in Arashi would be the most feminine and then ranked themselves as per a fan's request. According to some fan tweets, they recorded this talk after VSA filming so it was around 12 or 1 at night, hence the mentions of it being late towards the end and their general wacky behavior.

Hope you've enjoyed the entire talk!  You can find links to previous parts in the post.

S: Why are we deciding on who's the most feminine out of the group? (laugh)

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Aozora no shita, kimi no tonari single - Uraaratalk 2015 (2/3)

Here is the second of three parts of their 39-minute talk that was included in the regular edition of their latest single!

You can find a link to the first part in the post in case you missed it. Enjoy!

O: I thought, "When the heck are you going to let us take a break?"

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Aozora no shita, kimi no tonari single - Uraaratalk 2015 (1/3)

Here is the first part of three for their 39-minute long talk from the normal edition of their latest single! This part is mostly some dorky self-introductions and answering a couple of questions submitted by fans.

The other parts should be up soon, hopefully over the next couple of days. In the meantime, please enjoy!

O: Eh? Would I even be working if I had everything I wanted!?

[sayitagain-trans]

[trans] Documentary of "BLAST in Hawaii" DVD

Here is the translation for entire Disc 2 from their latest concert DVD! I will not be subbing it, but there will be a subbing team (or two, or more?) that will be using my transcript.

Enjoy!

Part 1: After 15 years, you're going to buy a boat?

Part 2: “Because of Arashi" is the reason for our existence.