for me... for they seem very real. even though i've only seen them on my computer screen and even though they're on a different continent some times they seem more real than the celebrities here. but i dunno how it would be meeting them, but i think it's totally possible, you know. last summer i met someone famous and it was such a happy day. but it is kinda hard t beieve that such wonderful people are real and i'm sure there's so much that we don't know about them. I would love to meet them or even just see them and that would be the best and confirm how real they are.

its crazy to think that the members of arashi are ACTUAL people. because most of the time they seem like a figment of my imagination (a very HOT figment of my imagination )...like it never registered to me that they are real people.

i think the time where it dawned on me that they were real was when matsumoto-san went to LA, california (and i live in cali) so i thought "OMG i can actually go and SEE this guy IN PERSON!!!" *this was followed by lots and lots of flailing and crying*. [sadly i wasnt able to go in the end ...but im thoroughly happy that matsumoto-san came to the US!!]

the day ohno-san comes to the US (or any other member for that matter...hey why not all of them!) i will diieeee. ^_^

Well...I think that they are real in the sense that they exist, but unreal in the sense that they don't exist in my life? (Doesn't make sense...)

I suppose I should start with that I've never met any of them nor have I gone to any of their concerts.

To meet them...I probably would make a fool out of myself (sadly) because I'd be too nervous or overwhelmed. Sure I bet they are real in the sense that they have real problems and physically exist, but they don't play a role in my life (in that I can't see them in real life and they don't interact back).

Also, you only see one side of them. No matter how dorky or awesome they are, and how much you think you know them, this is their show business side. I haven't delved much into the mass archive of Arashi videos, but I don't think I've seen them get angry for real or frustrated or sad or whatever. Kinda 2-D in that sense. So...

Though I definitely agree they are more real than American celebrities because you can see their reactions to different situations (one of my favorite is humiliation (as opposed to aloofness? [Expressing fail]).

They're unreally real. ;

to me.. they are as real as they can get in the show business. sorry if im repeating what others had posted.. gomen gomen

the reason why i preferred arashi to kattun or any other group is that, their closeness with each other are very realistic, albeit what they portray themselves might be a bit superficial (they have to sell themselves to the public..) but their relationship ARE real. its what we see happening within friends.

whether or not they are close enough to be considered as best friends might be questioned, but they are at ease with each other.

they often criticized each other (sometimes rather harshly) but i think they would make amends the moment the camera is off.

and to sum up everything, they are real. and what we as the fans perceived their personality to be, only differs by a fraction compared to their personality in reality.

because lets face it, its showbiz. they tend to distort the reality

Umm, yeah I basically see them as SUPER HOT SUPER KAWAII UNATTAINABLE -- but .. still human beings (: ..

If I see them in concerts, I would most likely like jump around trying to get [riida!s] attention lols :9. But yeah, sometimes i feel Arashi's like close to their fans, they give an image of being the super kakoii boy-next-door, you know? They don't really give an image of being super elite, don't-talk-to-me-I'm-too-cool-for-you kind of thing, well xD!! Except for Jun-kun.. But he's pretty nice to his fans, ne :9..

I'm sure if you approach them and talk to them, they'd talk to you back. If Johnny-san lets them =[]=, that is.

They're pretty real to me in the sense that they're not hiding their true natures. To be in the public eye as much as they are and to have a "front" would be difficult to keep up with after all these years. I love that fact that even though they are so famous (and getting much more so) they're still able to be goofy and dorky with each other as well as serious when they need to be. I love the dynamic of their relationships and how well they all mesh. They truly seem to be a group of friends. Because of their bangumis and other shows, I sometimes forget that they don't just hang out with each other all the time--they have other friends they do things with, just like we have different groups of friends that we do certain things with...

to me they are real..
they're not all "the boy-next-door" type but they are pretty real.

especially Ohno. xD he's the "boy-next-door" type xD
my definition of real: is someone who is down-to-earth. not reaching over the top but still has high standards. someone who is content and happy without the excess things in life.
in Oh-chan's case, he has high standards but still not over the top (you know what i mean?) Ohno's very content without excess things in life.. like he doesnt want MORE MORE MORE because he's not satisfied. he's the type of person who; if u give him a delicious bowl of ramnen, he'll treat it as a jewel. xD and that's what i love about him, he is very simple too ne? if u look at his clothes? he's not like Matsujun whose a total fashionista .. his look is always casual and comfortable. xD and he has good taste too.. or should i say his mom has good taste xD ahah

at first without seeing them in the shows that they have and only in concerts. they seem surreal!

and then as you start to watch them in all those shows. they turn out to be these five guys that love to hang out with each other. they love each other. despite what jun said! i know you love ohno ok jun! ... anyways, they have this wonderful friendship. i love that about them. they dont act superior. they are so humble. they have been singing for such a long time. and still they are so down to earth. like the fame has not gotten to them. i love that!

i love them! i love watching them! they bring out their true selves!

The reason for me to love Arashi the most is that they are sooooo real, not that kind of perfect idols, princes charmings. They act just like human being, I can see them being angry, tired, having facial hairs, panda eyes...
But that makes my problem, i can't even imagine ... what if I could meet them in person, and they are not like the ones I know at all, that would be a shock, disaster to me.

they are real and that makes i love them even more... i dont really get the question, but as far as i understand, i think they are real and true, not being hypocrite or pretend to be what they are now... i'm sure they are who they show they are... maybe sometimes they dont really show it, but seriously, you cannot pretend to be someone for a long time, can u???

I think they are very real. They are not like other celebrities who are two-faced and act all nice in front of the camera, but when they have nothing to promote they would do a complete 360. I think if I ever met Arashi, they would be the same people we see, funny goofy and kind.

these guys are pretty freakin' real. i agree w/ everyone who gained a feel for their personalities just by watching their [large amount of] shows. i can't seem to resist comparing American celebrities to those of other countries because we rarely get a glimpse into the casual personalities of American celebs as i've seen [with Arashi]. when i first started fandom, i had such a vague understanding of what Arashi was all about. when i started watching the shows they host, each member's personality was developing for me. eventually i came to the conclusion that these men are "just people" who eat sleep and work, but with passion for what they do :P

that's honestly hard for me to think for celebs here in America, b/c we usually see them specializing in one area (models are models, singers are singers, actors are actors, hosts are hosts)

... stuff like this makes me believe i wasn't meant to be born and raised in the U.S. LOL.

@ Niji: i totally agree with you. if i met Arashi, i'd also see them as normally goofy people with blood in their veins. hehe

They are as real as their reality shows. You can really see their natural character. I salute those staff for coming up with shows like "Mago Mago Arashi" and "HnA Childminders". They really let the fans see the natural behavior of the boys.

Niji_naiz wrote:

I think they are very real. They are not like other celebrities who are two-faced and act all nice in front of the camera, but when they have nothing to promote they would do a complete 360. I think if I ever met Arashi, they would be the same people we see, funny goofy and kind.

So true! Unlike most celebs here and abroad, they're not afraid to look like dorks and do stupid things (coz most celebs always tried their hardest to look poised and cool). Hence, all the more reason why many people like them. It's not just their talent and skills, but their being real.