To be able to understand the real value of Arashi is to watch one of their live concerts. For days after that, you will keep on thinking about it. Even if you have the ability to express yourself through music, there has not been anyone who can convey their thoughts through their music like these guiys. Even for people who do not like acts from Johnny’s Jimusho, for just once, this is something that you have to watch.

The concert started when the silhouettes of the five of them in their suits appeared out of the darkness of the stage amidst the screaming, right after the countdown on the digital clock on the big screen.  Looking down, I saw Sakurai Sho start on his rap of Kitto Daijyoubu. The next second, a flash of light streaked across the stage and with an explosion, the 150 minute long concert started. For the first part of the concert, they raced through up-tempo songs like Sakura Sake and Lucky Man and Matsumoto’s voice could be heard, yelling "More! More!" through the music, urging the fans into a higher state of excitement.

Aiba and Sakurai sang the catching song, “itsuka no summer”, albeit in a different version from the original and this was followed on by Ninomiya’s  Caramel Song. This year, there were no solos, but instead the concept was that the members would from smaller groups to perform the songs.

In the middle of the concert, from Matsumoto’s “Tell me why” (where he was accompanied with Nino playing the guitar) to Ohno’s lead song “Ready To Fly”, (where he had a dancing competition with the other members) it was all worth watching.

The long MC was followed by the ballad Silver Ring, and after that, followed by the most interesting part of the concert:  It started with images of the maps taken from the jacket of their newest CD album, Arashic, projected on the giant screens, which then led into the song Cool and Soul. 

This title of this song makes up part of their tour title and indeed, it was a special song. There would probably be some who believe that this song tells their story, and there are some who believe that this is what Arashi is bursting to say about their future.  To Arashi, there is a story behind all this.

From then, like an avalanche, the songs, “I want Somebody”, “Yes? No” and other hit songs kept coming, and the whole concert ended with “Wish”.

This was followed by the encore songs which ended with Pikaanchi Double. 

“Follow us, don’t get left behind!” was the call that Arashi made to their fans; as they prepared to make their first foray overseas. They were all fired up for that challenge as they showed the will and the confidence to take on Asia.

They didn’t have to worry, for their fans have grown and matured with them. The Arashi live, therefore, was really fantastic. .