C no Arashi Ep 26 (i.e. why I love this group)

[barbosa2007]

What can I say, I think this is an episode that every fan should watch.

For the newer Arashi fans, this series might be unfamiliar to you. C no Arashi, abbreivated from Claim no Arashi, was a humbling series in which the Arashi members dealt with various claims (complaints) that people filed against companies or organizations. In fact, some of you might downright dislike it due to the nature of the show. The boys are scolded, sometimes threatened, insulted and lose their patience. I myself found it difficult to watch them swallowing all the abuse. However, episode 26 of C no Arashi was a gem to me, for the reasons which I will elaborate on below. 

Synopsis: The episode starts off with Sho saying that they have received complaints. However, these weren’t the usual complaints that were directed at companies or organizations, but at the Arashi members themselves! Having been claim handlers for about 20 odd episodes now, they undergo a review of how they have fared so far. At the end, a video of the worse claim handler is shown. (No surprises on who that is.)

C no Arashi was filmed during the days when Arashi wasn’t as popular as they are now. Therefore, as the members dealt with the ire of the public, you could see authentic reactions as they handled complaints. There was also a customer service instructor called Sasaki-san, who was on set to review their claim handling. Sasaki-san pointed out the boys’ mistakes in a good natured manner. It was also refreshing to see him frankly telling Matsujun off for his bad attitude. Jun was able to take the chastisement like a man, too. 

After his lesson on customer service, Sasaki ends off with the following message. Somehow I felt that his parting words helped shaped the boys into who they are today. Here’s an approximate translation below: 

In human relations, there are thoughts and feelings which can’t be put into words. If you only handle claims for the sake of making this program a success, then I don’t think it will benefit you much. However, if you all truly treat this as a chance to grow personally, and handle the claims with all your heart, even if it’s just one at a time, I think this program will truly be great.

Sasaki's message summarizes why I love this group so much. There is just a lot of heart in the things that they do. I know some things are scripted by TV producers, but at the end of the day, the boys genuinely want to make things work, and they're willing to give of their best to the fans.

To me, that exemplifies the spirit of service.

Comments

[opensoulx.livejournal.com]

I really want to watch C, D and G no Arashi! Too bad taijiproject is kinda inactive right now. I wish I got to know Arashi way earlier :(

Thanks for the synopsis though; I don't think I can handle Arashi getting scolded though >

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

I think they really rocketed to fame with Jun's Hanadan in 2007, so that's when they got a lot more fans. It's quite refreshing to see them young and green like this, really.

In one scene, Ohno was actually on his knees apologizing. It was very humbling to see him do that.

I'm pretty sure JE wouldn't let Sexy Zone or HSJ do that now. :S

[lilischka.livejournal.com]

First of all: I usually do not leave comments and stuff, preferring to remain fairly inactive in the fandom, as I am really busy with work and my dissertation - and I do not like doing things half-way ;)
But having followed Arashi for about ten years, since their Pikanchi days (when my japanese teacher used movies and tv shows as means to get me into the language...good days...) I loved that you mentioned C no Arashi. That show (or really any other show before the early Shukudai-kun stuff) probably helped a lot to shape the band dynamics and the members' characters - though they all make me feel very protective of them. And C no Arashi can be so frustrating, with all that scolding and awkward, tiny and not very polished teenage!Arashi in the middle.

Thanks for all the time and effort you put into translating - I know how hard that can be. And your translations are extremely well done!

Back to my mostly inactive status now, though I might be back for more "insightful" comments ;)

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your comment! I think the value of C no Arashi lies not in the show's content, but in how it really helped the members to grow. It also felt a bit like reality TV to me, since they can't really anticipate how claimants were going to react. A lot of the things they do just seem so scripted nowadays.

Personally, I felt like smacking the guy who got Ohno to kneel and apologize, but that act did reinforce the idea of humility in them, so I think it's something to be treasured.

It's so great that your Japanese teacher used movies and TV shows. I certainly don't remember mine showing such interesting things, although she was a good teacher. *grumbles a bit*

By the way, I'll no longer be posting translations to this LJ, but it'll be housed at my new community, transitions101. Just in case you were interested. >_

[ann0510.livejournal.com]

I have watched Arashi's older shows except for C no Arashi. I have only seen a few clippings from C no Arashi.
There is a stark difference between their older shows like C,D,G no Arshi, Shukudai-kun, Mago Mago Arashi and their shows today. I loved Arashi interacting with the common man; and their late night shows, where they were up to crazy antics.
I personally loved Mago Mago Arashi and was sad it ended; but, had my hope up when I saw Childminder on HNA, but that too was short lived.

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

I think the difference also lies in the time slots and lengths of Arashi's older shows. They typically aired at non-prime time slots, so perhaps producers had more freedom on what they could do.

MMA was great, but it was probably too time consuming since members had to travel to distant provinces. I wish they could do it as part of HnA or even Shiyagare.

[yuui1010.livejournal.com]

I could cry n feel angry when I watched several ep which made them depressed n frustrated. I mean, several of the claims/jobs handed to them were really really ridiculous. Maybe it's okay for a real claim agent, but they're not, they're just instantly n spontanously trained.
And I remember, I watched them nearly cried too or felt like crying (from what I saw in TV).

However, maybe those 'hard work' that made them as they are now. Being understand to each other n to people. Being respectful. Being caring not only to members, johnnys's staff, also staffs from TV shows. Being humble that everything has steps to overcome.

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

Yeah, some of the C no Arashi clips are pretty hard to watch and not feel angry. It's not even their fault that the complaint occurred in the first place, but I think it helped them to empathize with the common man, and really, just grow up as people.

They really worked hard to get to where they are today!

[caramelo5.livejournal.com]

you are right! the way the boys do their work is amazing, everything with them is nice, amazing and i thihnk they can do cause they have a hard start, so they become closer to each other to achieve the dream they are already live,
i hope i could watch all this older shows some day, but with the few i saw i wanna say they don´t look to much differents from now, their personalities, i mean, that make me love them so much for always be the same and remain humilities.

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

I agree! In this episode of CnA, Aiba is still his natural self and Ohno has a marvellous sense of comedic timing! Some things don't change with age...

[helenmaldon.livejournal.com]

Your comment made me feel nostalgic thinking about C no Arashi, watching the young, unpolished Arashi (which is somehow still the Arashi we're familiar with today!) is always interesting ^^ Although that show can be frustrating (or just ridiculous), I agree that it seems like one of those projects that helped them develop a sense of humbleness and empathy when they were growing up. Arashi + the C/D/G/AnS staff is amazing : )

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

I agree that the staff is amazing~ Shiyagare seems bland in comparison, doesn't it? I actually think that some of the more interesting segments are from "Encounters with the Unknown"! NTV needs to get their act together~

[purple-pe.livejournal.com]

C no Arashi can be very frustrating indeed! especially when Oh-chan has to kneel down and when some oji-san throws money at Nino,,,*those are the one that i remember the most*

But what makes it interesting are we got to see how they handle complaints, how they learn to communicate better and as you say, help them to grow.

And yeah Kudos for C/D/G/Shukudai staffs! they're truly full of creativity,,,

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I think that the staff can get away with doing certain things because it's late night TV. Man, I miss having Arashi on late night TV.

[purple-pe.livejournal.com]

I feel you,,,maybe lots of Arashi's fans think alike,,,that's why I pray and hope that somebody will sub Arashi's old show like Waza-ari or Nama Arashi,,,maybe it can be your next project? ;p

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

There are a few Waza-ari episodes out there... You can check them out HERE.

[kanojokhj.livejournal.com]

I watched all/almost the C, D and G no Arashi and I loved them !!!!!I mean I love Himitsu, Anis and VS but ... those old programs where GOLD !!!!!!!!!! REALLY!!!! I watched them all in two weeks ...moreless... I miss their own Openings with Oh-chan doing sth weird and the rest of the members fooling around! From C no A I remember the ep where Ohno got scolded by a man to the point that he had to bow and cried.

ahhh Thanks, you made me remember all that !!

[boutux.livejournal.com]

i did not know arashi then either and i can't find c no arashi anywhere. but i can see what u're saying about the members passion for anything they are doing and if it was borne out of their reviewer's words then i am glad. they have worked really hard for their success.