(no subject)

[steelthorns.livejournal.com]

 I see and hear a lot of horror stories about other bands on their fandoms, be they American, Japanese, or (especially) Korean bands. Fans who hate new members, fans who hate certain members, fans who attack other fans - it's craziness all around.

Now I don't know about the Japanese fanbase, but you guys are six ways to awesome. I've seen know bashing of Ohno from this so-called scandal; just concern and a lot of laughter over how silly he looks while drunk. I've seen very little 'so-and-so sucks' and a whole lot of love, no matter what band member you like best.

So I have to wonder, what, in your mind, makes Arashi fandom different? Is it the crack rainbows? The members? The crazy things they do? What makes you guys so cool, seriously?

 Edit: I usually try to reply to everyone to be sure they know I've read what they posted, but there's just so many replies, wow. @_@ I really appreciate how much feedback you guys have given me, even if I can't reply to everybody!

Comments

[coathangerwings.livejournal.com]

i think most arashi fans take their cue from arashi themselves. the guys are such a peaceful group (for the most part) that their fandom behaving otherwise just doesn't compute.

and, of course, there's always the crack. ;)

[thefrug.livejournal.com]

to me, they just seem really outgoing and they all have their own individuality which I really like. I was into boy bands when they were the big thing in the US and I never got this kind of feeling from them. You can really see that not only do they enjoy their work with Arashi and their own projects...but they all support each other in their own projects. Like Jun giving Riida boosts of confidence when Maou was starting and Sho being at the Letters from Iwo Jima premiere to support Nino. They just have a great bond which I don't with other groups or bands for that matter.

And the rainbows.
<3
Shan

[loller-pop.livejournal.com]

"Fans who had new members, fans who hate certain members, fans who attack other fans - it's craziness all around."

I know what you mean!! Just the other Day a HUGE Fight broke out at this one comm!! NOt Naming!! But I checked your user info and you're part of that comm too!! XD Are you talking about something similar to that!! XD

[arashic0804.livejournal.com]

arashi is diff from others boyband as i c them as a humble group despite their popularity and their success esp this year(2008 is really their year)..and the relationship between the members made me like them most coz i think they act more like a brothers and family to each other instead of co-workers..and thats made them different...its hard to hate one of the member...hehe..and which group do more baka things together compare to this group and enjoyed being a baka..XD

[manonpikamishi.livejournal.com]

If anything, it's probably because the guys have a stronger relationship, so the fans get along better with one another too. The fans will usually be attracted to the group that most appeals to them...so the group that is most like themselves?

[hakka-candy.livejournal.com]

Arashi's so amazingly good-natured that you just can't help but be the same. The shiny rainbows and sparklies are a plus. :D

[mee-goreng.livejournal.com]

Arashi is a tight group.

The crack and rainbows are bonus of course.

(http://photobucket.com)
"We are Arashi!" ♥

Above all, we, fans are very supportive of them.

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

simple.

Arashi's bond rubs off on us.

Plus they put a whole new spin to 'friendly competition' in the fact that they are not competing. You can see how, instead of outdoing one another, they unite to support each other instead. In short, they lend their strength to each other.

Ohno said it best: "We are best with 5 of us."

And us fans take our cue from them. :)

[violomana.livejournal.com]

I agree with all of the above. ^^

It also helps that Arashi can make fun of themselves A LOT and know when they're being completely ridiculous. Which in turn, allows us to make fun of them. I notice that most of the time Arashi fandom icons and things are full of good humour rather than sex-appeal, cuteness, and whatnot.

Besides, it's hard to get much hate around with so many rainbows being spouted in your face. xD

[patziepiva.livejournal.com]

I agree with what you said.
If i wasn't wrong, i think Jun said once that if Arashi were animals, they would be those who eat only vegetable as they are not harmful to others. I think most of us fans take that cue as well.

and yes, not to mention the raibows :)

[spikiegirl.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with everyone but I wanna add that it may also have to do with the fact that Arashi debuted 9 years ago (yes time flies so quickly) so the fans grew up, they are more mature and don't feel the need to "fight" between each other or to bash any member, that's what makes this fandom so peaceful and even if a new fan only like one member at the beginning, I think that after watching all kind of Arashi's stuff they can only grow to like the rest of the band ... that's the power of Arashi XDD

Oh and I know how are korean fandoms, it's pretty scary sometimes but I'd rather stay out of all the mess and simply enjoy the music and videos ^____^

[violomana.livejournal.com]

lol, it has been a while, hasn't it? For me, 3 years. And I'm sure there are others who have been around longer.

[kamelli.livejournal.com]

it's definitely all about the LOVE!!! not from fangirls, but from arashi themselves...though the love from the fans makes it more reachable (meaning that I can join them)...I'm actually a fan of another JE band (clue:*points at my icon*) earlier but I somewhat realized that I just loved a specific person there (clue again:*points at my icon*) and the other members as a bonus...but with arashi...I just love them all!!!Sometimes, I can't choose who I like more from arashi...Because I love it the most when they are together and not just individuals...I hope I explained the love with this...

[bigmow.livejournal.com]

I've been looking around in alot of fandoms, and Arashi is the one I like the best. Because I am usally a pretty calm, but cracky person who hates when alot of drama is caused, and things like fights, I don't really go there, if I don't have to. And in my concern, fights in the fandom aren't necessary.
And according to me, The arashi fandom is pretty calm, but cracky.
So I'd have to agree with Manonpikamishi. "The fans will usually be attracted to the group that most appeals to them...so the group that is most like themselves?"

This is what I feel. Since we all know how Arashi are. :D Just lovely. You always want to be a little like your idols, right? You like the qualities of your idols, otherwise you wouldn't admire them. :D

[mee-goreng.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry i have little to say, hence the picture...

All i know is that (from my observation) Arashi is different because they're who they're. They don't try too hard. They're natural but fans love them. I don't know how to put this but they are who they are. Like they're not superficial or something....

[zedstar.livejournal.com]

As everyone has been saying, we take the cues from Arashi themselves. While when you look at stuff they were doing when they first debuted you can see that they weren't really that close, they've become very close.

What attracted me to them was entirely their silliness, how they have that affection for each other and tease each other at the same time. While I know that most people have their favourites, and some people don't really like one member, I think the fact that Arashi value every member so much makes it really hard to really dislike a part of them. It's like it would be offensive to the rest of Arashi (at least, that's how I feel about if I said "oh I wish x would leave, the band would be so much better!") They also all have their own strengths and weaknesses, which they're all aware of. ^_^

It's really hard to be negative towards anything that's just so positive.

[zedstar.livejournal.com]

Oh- I should say that I think this is more for the foreign fans of Arashi. At the concerts, I just find a LOT of the girls there really bitchy towards other fans. Some are nice and awesome, but considering how BITCHY the fans were to me at the last concert- AUGH. However, the first two fans I met (in 2006 at Arashic Cool and Soul concert) they were LOVELY.

I think the Japanese fans often tend to think of other fans as being competition.

[coathangerwings.livejournal.com]

exactly. =) i think that no matter what kind of scandal arashi gets into (as long as they're within ethical reason -- i draw the line at murder), we all can get over it precisely because we, arashi and fans, can look back, see how absurd the whole thing was, and laugh at ourselves.

...hopefully.

[violomana.livejournal.com]

I think your icon captures this sentiment quite well. :D
(unless I'm mistaking a snotting Sho-kun for someone else... ><')

*remains hopeful*

[violomana.livejournal.com]

I totally understand. My bf says the same thing. The reason why Arashi is the only JE group he's ever come to like (despite the sparklies) is because "they don't try to be cool." Which, of course, says something about what kind of audience they're attracting. :)

Arashi au naturel. Nothing more, nothing less. :P

[spikiegirl.livejournal.com]

Yes almost 4 years for me ^^ Arashi is really addicting, you can't quit even after years XDD

[rachie241282.livejournal.com]

This fandom was a totally different fandom I've been into years ago! Actually though I'm still a very new fan (about 9 months) of arashi, they make me come back for more all the time! They have this very boyish, next door boys feeling which I can't seem to find in any other je groups.

They boys teach us values, teach us friendship. They are natural in front of cameras, they don't try to compete with any of their members for fame or popularity and I really love how humble they really are. True or untrue, from what I observed from watching tons and tons of arashi's videos, I feel their strong bond in friendship. That's probably why Johnny-san values this group so much and wants to protect them from the ugly side of entertainment world. I heard johnny-san gave them a reward for being some united group. :DDDDD

I was getting naggy up there. LOL

[rockthecliche.livejournal.com]

I might be the only one that's sort of different, but idk, concerning fandoms over bands and stuff, I don't see a lot of that hate in the American bandoms that I'm in. but I think it DOES have a lot to do with the fact that they - and Arashi - put themselves in a light that makes it so difficult to hate, because you have five wonderfully different guys with an amazing bond! and I think what makes them different is that you can tell they actually LIKE each other; bands, be it boybands or regular bands, always fall apart at the seams when there's member in-fighting, and fans can really zone in on that and we're an impressionable lot. there isn't going to be loyalty if the members can't even, first and foremost, be loyal to each other.

but anyhow, Korean fans are terrifying. it's why I dropped out of Korean fandoms a looong time ago; now I just stick to my FBE/Decaydance and Arashi and it's so much happier! idk how people in Korean fandoms do it. D: and sorry about all the edits, my mind is clearly not up for srs fandom bzns at 7 AM, esp not after spending all day at Warped Tour yesterday. @_@

[2dong2woon.livejournal.com]

ahh it's cute that they think of each other as competitions. i guess even the slimmest of chance is still chance.lol

we seem to be having a ridiculous pat-ourselves-in-the-back-for-being-an-awesome-fandom-fest all across the boards today. that said, i really am glad the general concensus are non-judgemental. the most people get mad is at the fact oh-chan wasn't more discrete in his adventures.

[zedstar.livejournal.com]

the most people get mad is at the fact oh-chan wasn't more discrete in his adventures. So true. >_<" It cracks me up, because I expect them all to have private adventures in their own lives. I'm just going "You've got to be sneaky about these things!" It's kind of like they're sneaking out from curfew or something.

I think that perhaps everyone's going on about how good we are as fans is a little overboard, but at the same time, it does make me happy that we are pretty supportive of the boys. I get annoyed with people who don't really trust what they're supposed to be supporting (be that whatever fandom or interest they have). ^_^