for that special inspiration

[perfectlyimperfect]

It took me quite a while to come up with what to put on that special post for my favorite Arashi member. I could do what I did last year, which was a graphic, a birthday banner; but then again that’s not really my specialty to begin with. (I might even come up with the exact same banner. XD) Then it narrowed down into three – all of which had already been done last year (not that I stalked all the LJs in here, lol) – a list, a poem, or a letter.

And have I told you that as I type this, two consecutive Nino songs just played: Niji and his version of Orion? LOL. A-Anyway! XD

Consequently, Cindy (maiisaki) had this post about Nino singing Yume (a-and stopping halfway through ;_____;) and about what could be the real reason Gimmick Game was written. Here was the comment I made in her post (I hope it’s okay to post this, Cin ♥):

... I'm always weak for sad!Nino in whatever form – song, performance or even just his aura – and well, actually I was a bit hesitant to listen to this. I can't describe it. ...I guess it's just hard for me to witness him suffering like that, for a lack of a better term.

I love this kind of posts, where fans really think of Nino as someone more than just a sarcastic and snarky little brat. aatash's post about Nino's views on being cheated on, I just never replied on that (because I'm way behind), but for me, in a way, I do understand him. Perhaps it displays how much he wants a person to be there for him – that he's even willing to tolerate cheating as long as she tells him. (But yes, I despise that girl, whoever she is, that cheated on him. Just not right to hurt such a vulnerable heart.)

And maybe this is why I love him so much. I feel that we have the same views, hopes and dreams about love, but we just approach it differently. In my instance, I'm the optimistic type – I always take it as a chance to be happy, whoever the person may be (I'm not as picky as I seem to be). With Nino, I believe, he's the type to search for the perfect person, and if anyone passes beyond his external roughness and hits the right spot in him, he falls really hard for that person. Which really aches my heart even more by just thinking about it.

... THIS I believe is what makes him human. He's not perfect, and he's looking for a person who can make him feel that he is.

And that was the first time I ever, ever talked about my ichiban in that way online. I mean, I don’t even get sappy like that about him in my journal posts. XD;;

I guess it’s safe to say that that comment was my inspiration for this, and regardless whether someone else does the exact same thing or not, I hope I can make Nino proud with this. :)

---

Ninomiya Kazunari is my favorite Arashi member for several reasons. He may not be your perfect idol or your ideal guy – he might not even be the most likable member of Arashi – but he is someone that has reached that level of likability for me. It’s not that the other members lack what he has; it’s just that, I think I can definitely relate to him more than I could with the others – even if I actually deem Sakurai Sho as my eternal twin and/or soulmate. LOL.

Firstly, Nino is an all-around guy. He can venture into sports, music, hosting, acting in drama, movies and stage plays, and still excel at all of those. We all know that, and yet we accept his occasional failures. (I’m not going deep into that, well, because of accuracy of facts and whatnot. :P) He even excels at being an idol, especially that it is said that idols should be able to read the atmosphere and to know what fans want their idols to do for them *coughfanservicecough*.

Speaking of being an all-around guy, I notice that whatever it is that Nino is assigned to do, he puts his best effort in it. Be it singing, dancing, acting, you know that he is a hardworking guy, despite the fact that charms alone can carry him. (There’s an inside joke between my friend and me about this – Nino can get away with anything because of the so-called “charms” – and because charms are naturally so powerful, he could even attribute his success to charms more than to his real abilities. XD It’s just a joke though.) And what makes him truly unique is that – he actually admitted this at one point – he utilizes negativity towards him and his agency as his motivation to work harder. I’ve heard of ‘bad publicity is still publicity’, but actually using it to your advantage – in this case, even internally – is really quite hard to do, right?

But I certainly learned that from him, believe it or not.


Physically – let me be less serious for a while here XD – Nino has been different in that aspect for me as well. Being known in the fandom as eternally seventeen (or twelve, take your pick), he is the type, ironically, to be subtly (if not only partly) concerned about his image. He doesn’t really care about make-up and clothing, as long as it makes him comfortable. And he still looks amazing. (Although, I must admit, the boy is actually exerting effort in that department recently – if you know what I mean. ;> ) A-Also, well. As far as being idol is concerned, yes, Nino knows what his fans want. Take Gimmick Game as an example: (NECK NECK NECK *_____*) I-I don’t know if he’s been aware of this “asset” for a very long time or just recently, but regardless, the fact that he knows says a lot about him.

(Because talking about fanservice, Jun – the way that he is at concerts – I don’t know if that has a same effect to all of his fans. Because, if I’m being honest, a-and no offense, Jenny, Jo and I always do sympathetic facepalms at that. *bricked and then shot*)

M-Moving on! XD;; This might go to physical aspects as well; and I think I may come as pretty biased on this part (obviously I don’t care), but I love the timbre of Nino’s voice. Ever since, I’ve always liked guys (celebrities, to be specific lol) who have that high pitch in their voices, so this actually doesn’t come as a surprise to me. However, Nino is still different for me, because there are two particular characteristics about his voice that I really, really adore (and gush about every time I have the chance XD): *that* vibrato – whatever you call it – and his ability to harmonize.

The first one is quite hard to explain (although when Jenny and I gush talk about it, we don’t really need words for that), but, it’s that tone which if prolonged, produces that unique vibration. And it always, always sends shivers down my spine for some reason.

The second one, well, is never really acknowledged (I don’t notice it at least), but it’s one of my most favorite characteristics of our dear birthday boy. And if you’ve been reading my journal for quite some time now, you probably already know that I’m a sucker for good, good harmonies. *o* I actually call Nino “the great back-up [singer]” in Filipino, usually just to tease him, but it’s really more of a term of endearment towards him. :3 The fact that he could blend well (if he chooses to XD) with the others – listen to Sakura Sake, Flashback and WISH for starters – is also why he captures my heart just like that. (And yes, I still believe that he and Ohno should have a single together or something; they’re still my favorite combination in songs. :D)

Among others, physically, that are worth mentioning: those expressive, glassy eyes (*melts*); those pudgy (lol) Hamburger hands; and those flaily arms, which sometimes ruins and/or enhances his dance moves, the ones that supposedly exhibit how manly he can be. (No sarcasm intended, really.) :Db


Secondly, Nino has never been afraid to voice out everything, even on National Television. He spouts witty and sarcastic comments here and there, often towards another member, or sometimes even towards a guest. It’s actually what sets him apart among the others – maybe except for Jun (but he’s actually a lot less uptight now lol) – but nevertheless, it also displays how much he doesn’t care for one bit about how other people might think towards him.

That, actually and honestly, appeals to me. I don’t know why, but sarcasm in general is just my cup of tea – maybe it’s how you can tell someone off without being too frank or too straight-forward. XD And Nino seems just to perfect that, somehow.

And then there’s this notion that the snarky image he constantly displays is a cover-up. A cover-up of his real thoughts, of his real feelings, of his real identity. I agree that Nino can be the most detached person in Arashi emotionally; you know, he’d rather keep the anger or the sadness to himself rather than show it to *anyone*. But of course, I have to point out as well that I do think it’s his way of diverting attention away from his personal life – Nino is a private person after all – but don’t you think it’s a bit hard to fake that kind of personality for years?

I’d like to think that what Nino is on TV is a real person in his own right, even if I just see him in the four corners of my computer screen. Being the evil little bastard that he normally is, he is just hiding a particular aspect of his life by showing predominantly the other. That’s why I think Nino is the perfect Gemini. He is able to show two sides and still become the same person everyone can identify.

Speaking of private lives, I’m not really going into about it too much (I might get bricked for real this time XD), but I guess I have to talk about Nino’s attitude towards it, or to put it more simply, what I think Nino is really like in that aspect. Like most fans, I believe Nino is quite the romantic type. At first he might come of as uninterested, but have you noticed those “Oshiete Arashi” segments from AnS? (I wish they could bring that back, if only to embarrass our boys by making them do love confessions. XD) He actually pulled off some of the nicest answers. And well, I even noticed that Nino seemed to have the most buzz about love life (correct me if I’m wrong :P) – ironically as private as he is – which again, might be because he’s cared the least about it being public.

Then again, this side of Nino that fans rarely get to see is shown by Nino himself in another way: songs. I actually admire Nino for expressing himself through music, especially that I’m a big fan of singer/songwriters. As a struggling writer myself, I might be able to shed some (only “some” okay XD) light on how he uses this approach. Generally, the easiest emotion to write about is pain. (Hello Nicole (twistedhalo04)! We just talked about this recently, lol.) As shown in songs like Kako (Konseki) and Gimmick Game, some beautiful – not to mention complicated, as the case mainly in GG – words and phrases are part of those songs. Not that I’m actually fluent in the language, but having a small grasp and some help with translations, I-I think you get my drift. :P Nevertheless, we are quite aware that pain has always been an instrument in the creation of Nino’s songs.

Though, there are times that I wonder whether some of the situations described in Nino’s songs are actually exaggerated. Personally, I do that with my poems sometimes. BUT I’m not accusing him of anything – it’s just that maybe, he likes to make things more complicated by exaggerating some parts, thus resulting to more pain.

(And yes, aside from being a complete hopeless romantic, I strongly believe Nino is also a closet masochist. :Dv)


So, we know that Nino best expresses himself through writing and music. But isn’t quite admirable as well that Nino can be as obsessive as the rest of us? XD

Finally, I love that Nino has very good sense of humor – quite surprising for someone as “emo” as he is – and a true geek/dork at heart. I have never been against his obsessions, whether be it gaming or magic, because firstly, I’m also quite the game freak. I don’t play as much as he does (which is sad D: ), but I know how it can get very addicting; and well, because I completely understand obsessions and/or addictions in general. (Just think of all my fandoms!) XD

I’m not going to delve into that much anymore though; Nino’s fans have already had enough of that. ROFL.


Obviously, as you can see with this entire entry, I can talk about Mr. Hollywood here all day and I would still have some opinion left that I could keep to myself. I guess, that’s just how complex Nino is as a person. I’m definitely not saying that everyone else is relatively simple – we’ve all got our own issues, lol – but Nino’s complexity is way up there if you ask me. And sometimes, he himself likes to complicate it a bit more. (I-I think it’s just the sadist in him. XD) So that’s Nino for you, guys.


Seriously, as a fan, I could only wish for a time to talk with him, more than anything else. He wouldn’t like that (I know XD), but at least to hear things straight from him would be a surreal experience for me, I’m sure. Oh Nino.


And as an end note – my favorite parts of my other comments to maiisaki’s post:

Gimmick Game is actually a different case for me. It's a staple Nino song, not because it's supposed to be a ballad, but because that's how exactly Nino writes. I'm quite surprised that he lets songs like this to hit mainstream – perhaps mainly just to confuse us fangirls of what he's really like – because it shows a different side of him. I still believe he's very smart to make up an upbeat song though. He satisfies his pain, and at the same time, his fangirls who get what they want from him. orz

AND.

That is what the fangirls are wishing for this boy. It's very considerate of him though to be good at hiding his feelings – a part of me is attributing that to his being an idol – like he doesn't want fans worrying about him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NINOMIYA KAZUNARI.

I wish for you whatever you are wishing for yourself, and that you may find your true happiness. You have found the right people to be with, though, and you’re very lucky to have them. I’m sure with them, everything else will be easy enough to get through. Have the best ride towards the future, YOUR future. ;)

♥ ♥ ♥

Comments

[kitsie-chan.livejournal.com]

Because talking about fanservice, Jun – the way that he is at concerts – I don’t know if that has a same effect to all of his fans. Because, if I’m being honest, a-and no offense, Jenny, Jo and I always do sympathetic facepalms at that.
RAWWR. xD I know Jun tries too hard sometimes, but thats what makes him soooo adorably likable for me. :P

Nino's sarcasm is legendary. xD He does it anywhere, everywhere, no matter who is it or what his saying. xD

And Nino's songs are sometimes so ad to the point of heartbreaking, yet he can make me smile each time I watched Himitsu. His version of Yume, the one where he c-cries halfway *dies* almost made me sob like a baby. Poor Nino should never ever have to face that kinda pain. I wana murder the little b!tch who did it to him, and then decapitate her and throw her to the dogs. Rawr.

Argh. If I didn't already am head over heels for my darling Junji, Nino might just be my ichiban. As it is his been my niiban for two weeks already, ever since I wrote that Ohmiya fic with Gimmick Game background.>.

[perfectlyimperfect]

S-Sorry, I just had to be honest for a while. But I love Jun that way anyway, so please don't brick me? LOL. ♥

Nino's sarcasm is legendary.
Must be exactly why I liked him right away. :Db

Well, in the first place Himitsu's not really one of his compositions. :D Although, you have to admit, the song still fits a bit of his personality -- the hopeless romantic side. :P But you're definitely right, especially the last part. Karma would be a bitch to her, I'm sure. >:D

Hee. I might actually mean to turn people into liking Nino even more if not already with what I wrote over here. ♥

PS. Which performance of Step and Go is that icon again? :3

[kitsie-chan.livejournal.com]

:P

The song DOES fit his personality actually. If I didn't know he didn't write it, I'd totally think he did cause its just so... Nino-ish. And Karma BETTER be a bitch to her, or I'll decapitate whomever it is myself. :P

I forgot. But it looks so sweet<333 I found it somewhere, thepicture. *shot*

[perfectlyimperfect]

I like Himitsu for its meaning, really. It's about unrequited, pining kind of love, but then it's sooo hopeful. Anyway! XD Haha, I love your feisty attitude, lady. 8D ♥ Well, if they're still together (you'll never know), she'll die of guilt anyway. Either way, actually. Ohoho~

C-Can I have the pic? I have something else here, but I strongly believe it's from the same perf. :D

[kitsie-chan.livejournal.com]

She'll die at my hands. Rawr. :P

Omo! Our pictures match! Here's mine.
http://images.asianfanatics.net/gallery/albums/Japanese-Male/Arashi/f3dc9358964a71fc9c82049c.jpg

Now I'm dying to know which perf is it from. Matsumiya looks so l-loving. <333

[perfectlyimperfect]

LOL, I love how at my version of the picture, Nino is looking at Jun and at yours, Jun is looking at Nino. XD

I know, I want to know it too! I've been wanting to for a looong time now actually. Oh well, I can ask in my next entry or something. :P

[hakka-candy.livejournal.com]

Geez, woman. I don't know if I have more to add, since you've already said it all. ;D -- Wait! Nevermind, seems this became pretty epic after all! ^^;;

With Nino, I believe, he's the type to search for the perfect person, and if anyone passes beyond his external roughness and hits the right spot in him, he falls really hard for that person.
This absolutely gets me too. I'm hoping he does find that someone someday that could return it just as much.

In all honesty, when you started with 'charms,' I couldn't get those Taro moments out of my head because it really is like that (minus the sparkles/flowers and swooning). There's a certain quality to this guy who is able to read the atmosphere and it's noticeable. His Jounetsu Tairiku special was definitely a real eye-opener. No one could ever doubt how serious he is towards work after watching that. And also what you mentioned, how he's aware of what people say about him and how he uses it to his advantage. There may still be many things hidden, but he doesn't intend to hide anything. I think if he is asked, he would tell. For an idol, he is so real, it's scary. Yet it draws people toward him like you and me. But of course, these are just my own speculations. I obviously don't really know him but he is definitely "complex," if I borrow Nicole's and your word. ^^

Physically: A-haha. You know I am so with you on everything. |D;; Pheromones -- he has them.

His voice. Despite the fact that he has such a unique voice, he blends so well. He may not have a vibrato like Ohno's (which is oh-so-gorgeous), but when his voice wavers it sends chills down my spine too. And you can tell he tries so hard and it goes straight to the heart. And sometimes I wish Arashi's songs contained more harmonies just because I know they are so capable of it. And I'm not talking five-way harmonies like Boyz II Men because that would be crazy but less unison would be awesome. XD But then, I know I'd still adore Arashi's music either way.

Nino is capable of so many emotions (maybe even every emotion possible) which makes me think maybe that's why in fiction, he tends to be the protagonist. It's easier to write someone who can range from emo, or adorably giddy, or even bitchy. XD So expressive.

*cough* I could go on but then I'd just be spitting your entire entry back at you. Right back to you! Oh god, I am so bad. I love you so much, for being you, the Nino fan you are, and for writing this massive work that I wasn't sure how I was going to go about replying to but miraculously here I am. LOL. &hearts

So what's the plan for his 27th birthday? *shot*

[perfectlyimperfect]

Haha, look who's talking here. *ducks bricks* I-I kind of expected to have a lot of epic comments, especially that this is admittedly a pretty epic post. XDb

EXACTLY with you on the charms + Taro thing. Nobody realizes how serious he is with work -- he might seem as someone who'd only rather go home and play his games -- but really, he loves what he does as an entertainer. And I think his being "real" (as you say ;> ) differentiates him from other idols. I guess, with all the ~*mystery*~ surrounding him, he's still able to shed a significant part of his personality and still keep something to himself. Although, I think the last one's part of his job more than anything else. :/

I literally LOL'd on pheromones. XDD He knows how to make the ladies swoon, eh?

Despite the fact that he has such a unique voice, he blends so well.
LOL, you put it way better than I did. |D;; And I agree with Arashi doing harmonies. What's lovable with Arashi is that they *all* have such unique and individualistic voices and yet when they sing together, they sound as one. Which is puzzlingly amazing when you think about it.

Aside from Jun's, I agree that Nino's perspective is one of the easiest persons (in Arashi) to write. Maybe it's that expressiveness. I actually have a hard time with Sho for some reason. |D

Aww thanks Betty ♥ And I love YOU and your long comments, and because you dealt with my foolishness of writing so much of an epic. ILU ILU ILU ♥♥♥♥♥

I HAVE NO IDEA D: I'M DOOMED *creeps back in her hole*

[twistedhalo04.livejournal.com]

Woman that was long. hahahaha

Closet Masochist. Yes we love our closet masochist. hehe

[perfectlyimperfect]

I know. But I warned you didn't I? LOL.

He's the perfect Gemini indeed. And we love that double personality yes we do. XD

[twistedhalo04.livejournal.com]

True you did warn me. I just wasn't prepared. LOL

[maiisaki.livejournal.com]

Woman, woman, woman, seriously this is epic. Epic epic epic. It's amazing that I've completely read everything you typed in this post, and I've made sure I didn't miss a single word. And I've lost everything I want to tell you ;_____; xD I mean, you've had everything explained perfectly, well-written and. And. I'm just... *chuckles*

...Betty was right. When she said she was typing an epic comment in this post. I knew right away that this post would be epic as well ;) And sorry for this late comment, I had your post bookmarked before I went to bed, but I need to spare a special time for a special post like this that needs a special comment from me. And I end up being incoherent ;_______;

Nino. Nino and again, Nino. If only I were not this head over heels (oh yes, that phrase. Too bad someone's already used it in her comment 8D) with the Miracle Boy, I'd completely fall for him. And it's dangerously close, honestly :) The fact that one's creation can hold up so many emotions, so many untold stories, so many meanings behind the lyrics is amazing. The fact that one can hide so many emotions, feelings, for years is fascinating. And I just, give up to this feeling, and admit that I'm hopelessly weak for him.

Now the most thing I want at this moment is that JE decides to release that freaking long-awaited Dream A-Live DVD so I can make you a neck!touching icon from Gimmick Game performance :D And we can always go back to this memorable day when you finally write about your idol this way, just by looking at the icon :)

*hugs Jess* Happy belated Neen's day :)

[perfectlyimperfect]

I'm amazed you read *everything*! XD Aw, thank you, that means so much to me when you say that. ♥

No problem with being late (look at my reply for instance XD) and being incoherent. :D *hugs* ♥ I know I'd say pretty much "AGREED" if I read this from somebody else's post. Ahahaha. *hides*

Well, like I said, maybe some of his lyrics are exaggerated for beauty, or mystery, or even just such a Nino-like way. But of course, experience has a lot on those words, I bet. Nevertheless I love him either way, especially for having enough courage to let those emotions through across fans, listeners. I-I lost my train of thought a-and I can't stop staring at your icon *o*.

Oh man, I sooooo badly want Dream A-Live concert to be released. I'd pay double if I have to. Seriously. D: A-Although, I don't mind a GG icon from a fancam :3 *shot*

*hugs Cin back* ♥♥♥