help: fanmail language?

[hardpressed.livejournal.com]

So, audience0killer's recent post got me to thinking...so I have a question for those who can speak Japanese~
If one were to say, send a birthday card to a certain Arashi member for his upcoming bday...what would be a rule of thumb for keigo use or whatever? I would really prefer not to use it since I kind of suck at it, (plus there's no need to create extra distance if I'm already across the ocean, right?^^) but are there any birthday-related sentiments that would come across as rude or insulting if not phrased in keigo? Other than that I was planning on using desu/masu form, does that seem appropriate in terms of addressing an idol? [I'm just curious because in the letters fatured in junstyle I've heard a smattering of a couple levels of politeness, so I'm not sure and don't want to come off as a jerk.] Thank you so much for your help everyone!!

I know this is just on the very edge of relevance to this community here, but since it is about fanmail I was hoping it would count. If not, delete away and you have my apologies.

Comments

[honooko.livejournal.com]

Because you are presumably female, young (his age or younger) and a total stranger to him, desu/masu is the way to go. That's actually pretty polite as far as keigo goes nowadays; the super-formal stuff sounds awkward when coming from a young woman outside of a work environment. Oh, and just as and added thing; I would refer to them as 'family name-kun' for the younger three, and 'family name-san' for the older two. Even the nicknames can come off a bit personal when said by a total stranger.

Good for you on checking this!

[hardpressed.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I really appreciate this ~ I'll definitely keep it in mind while writing. And thanks for the name advice^^ Now I just have to think of what I really want to say...:3

[fruitlolita.livejournal.com]

yea i agree that desu-masu is the level of keigo to use.
plus, i think messing up at keigo is better than correctly using informal because then it instead of maybe being insulting it's like "aww, what a cute little gaijin" XD