news_jpop | NEWS news (week of May 20)

Sorashige Book (May 20)
- Shige commented on how the Epcotia tour finished in Saitama and said he’d like to read some messages regarding the tour.
- The first letter was from a listener who went to the tour in Fukuoka and Hiroshima. It was their first NEWS concert in 5 years, they were a bit worried about whether it was ok for them to go after so long and curious about what kind of concerts NEWS are doing now. However once they stepped into the venue their worries dissipated and they were amazed by the concert and had a lot of fun. Their friend who came with them also said that NEWS was way more cooler than the had thought before. They said that they were looking forward to what else NEWS has planned for their 15th year and that they’d keep following them.
  
  Shige said that they probably made some announcements at the concert the day that the radio was airing. He said that NEWS has a lot of fun things planned and mentioned Inochi no Uta and his drama. He said that they’re working so much this year it’ll make you think ‘Seriously??’. He said that there’s still a lot more to come.
- ♪ Epcotia ♪
- The next letter was from a listener who wrote in about the album ‘Bunriha no Natsu’ by Obukuro Nariaki and produced by Utada Hikaru and asked him to share his favorite song from it.
  
  Shige said that he had been looking forward to this release.He talked about Obukuro and the album for awhile, praising his use of language. He said that he couldn’t decide what song to pick because there are so many that he likes but he played the song ‘Kadode’ in the end because he felt that it suited him the most. Rather than a recommendation this time, he picked his favorite.
- The next letter was from a listener who said that they were unfortunately unable to go to Epcotia this year, but is getting excited just from hearing about it from those who went. They said that they heard that the dancing is more intense this time and asked him to share anything that was different from usual this tour.
  
  Shige said talked about how this time is the first time they’ve done a 360° stage since their 10th anniversary. He said that a good thing about that kind of stage is that no matter where you watch from it feels close, but a demerit is that it limits how you can play around with the visuals. He said he was in charge of the screens for this tour too, and usually you change the background there to create different views. And you have to show the member’s faces on screen so everyone can see them, and he has to decide when to show the lyrics.
  
  He also was in charge of the parts with the aliens, which was a bit different. He said that with 360° stages, there’s a tendency for everything to become clustered in the center and it was important to think of how to break free from that and create a variety of scenes throughout the concert.
  
  He said that he also thinks that it’s important to think about how to let the audience enjoy their movements, it’s not enough to just think that it’s fine to see them up close. This is how it ended up being after meeting and hearing everyone’s opinions.
  
  Shige said that he’s glad that he started going to the gym more frequently since the concert ended up having a lot of dancing. He said that epcotia has a lot of difference, but also a lot of carry over from Neverland, he thinks that those who watch Neverland first will probably notice small details in Epcotia and in enjoy it more. It’s a concert so he hopes people can just simply enjoy it without thinking too much.
- The next message was from male fan. He said that he’s currently in junior high school and that he’s been Shige’s fan since he went to his first NEWS concert as a kindergartener. (S: Thank you) He said that he went to Epcotia and was embarrassed to notice that there were no other guys his age around. He said that he loves and always enjoy’s NEWS’ concerts but he thinks that the members are probably happier then cute girls come rather than guys so he wonders if he should stay home. (S: That’s not true! I’m really really happy when guys come.) He asked if NEWS would ever do a guys-only concert because he would definitely go. He also wanted to know what the first concert Shige ever went to was.
  
  Shige said that it was probably a Johnny’s concert. He said that he understood the listener’s feelings, at that age you’re hitting puberty and it can be lonely and tough to be the only guy. He said that he wants him to keep coming to concerts. Though he understands why the listener wants a guys only concert, thinking of how all the women who couldn’t come would feel- if it were the other way around he wouldn’t like it. He said that it’d be good if all the female fans could be considerate to the male fans. Create an atmosphere where it’s easy for people to come to regardless of gender. He promised the listener that they would do their best to become a group that is loved by men and told him to come to their concert again next year, they’d be waiting.
- The next letter was from a listener who said that they’re a preschool teacher, and are in a pinch. They’re not good at music, but this year they were put in charge of music, so they’re practicing and learning from those around them so they can master them and teach them to the children. They said that Shige has tried a lot of new things like writing scripts and rakugo lately, so they want to follow his example. However, they’ve been feeling down because they can’t do it. They wanted to know if Shige’s ever felt this way and how to overcome it.
  
  Shige said that he wants to say that he only ever feels that way, though he’s the type to enjoy it. He said that he thinks it’s difficult to try things you’re not good at, but that unexpectedly he things they can do it. He said that there are a lot of things he can’t do, and things he only became able to do after turning 30. Such as athletic things and idol things like singing and dancing. He thinks that the most important thing when learning to do something you can’t is to enjoy it. He thinks that the teacher doing their best will come through to the students, and to those around them like their coworkers and sempai. When they’re at their breakpoint it’s ok to take a break, and repeated that it’s important to have fun. When you really can’t do it it’s ok to run away, it’s ok to say that you can’t do it. If it’s something you have to do, all you can do is do your best.
- ♪ Happy Ending ♪

Kchan NEWS (May 22)
- The guest this week was Massu.
- They commented on how the tour was over and the announcements of the 15th anniversary concerts and Blue single. They talked about how they’re afraid of the heat, and how it’s the same time of year as when they played at Hotto Motto, but that Ajinomoto Stadium can fit a lot of fans. Koyama commented on how Massu might come up with new costumes, and Massu said that he already is and has had meetings about it. Koyama said that the members have been telling Massu what kind of costumes they want.
  
  Koyama also congratulated Massu on his play, and Massu said they’ve started having meetings for it and how it’s somewhere between a musical and a play. Massu said which songs he wanted to do was left totally up to him and he’ll do them with completely new choreography.
- ♪ Epcotia ♪
- The first letter was from a listener who went to the Neverland exhibit, she said she was surprised to see that their feet were much bigger than she thought. She was also surprised how Massu said that he would stay up until 5am thinking about costumes, and wanted to know when he slept when he’s working on costumes.
  
  Massu said that he works on the costumes for a few hours after their dance and singing rehearsals finish. Koyama said he’ll get messages from Massu at 4am asking him ‘Koyama, what do you think of this?’ from while Massu was at the costumer’s office in a meeting. Massu said that part of it is he wants to show them how late his working, Koyama said he really does notice and thanked him for working that hard. They said that they were happy that the Neverland exhibit has started without a hitch.
  
  Massu said that doing one again this year would be difficult, but suggested a NEWS exhibit for their 20 anniversary where they could show the members’ personal items or things they used in concert. They joked that they could have a display of Koyama’s underwear with a sign that said his name and ‘These are the underwear that were taken by Tegoshi’.
- The next message was from a listener who said that their friends boyfriend, despite having a girlfriend went on an overnight trip with a female coworker. (M: That’s no good) The boyfriend said that since she’s a friend, he doesn’t see her as a woman. (M: Out of line! K: How rude) The listener said that they can’t really understand male female friendships. Do they think that men and women can be friends?
  
  K: Out of line!
  
  M: Out of line!
  
  Massu said that the boyfriend isn’t thinking of or being kind to his girlfriend, so it’s not good. Koyama said that he’d never think of don’t that and they said they felt bad for the girlfriend. Massu said it might be ok if the girlfriend said it was ok, and Koyama said that the boyfriend should consider that even if she said it’s ok she might be feeling differently.
  
  They said that they believe that men and women can be friends, but there’s no need to do a two person overnight trip together. It’s fine if they go out to want to go out to eat, or go on a trip with the girlfriend included.
- The next letter was from a listener who said that like Massu they joined the basketball club at school. They have practice both before and after school so they get really sleepy in class. They wanted to know if Massu and Koyama ever got sleepy in class, and what they did. They also wanted to know about Massu’s basketball practices.
  
  Massu said that he was in basketball practice when he was in junior high school, and only had practice after school. Koyama asked if he had played in games, and Massu said he had because there was only 5 people on the team. Massu said that when he got sleepy in class, he slept and Koyama said he did too then the teacher would get mad at him. They told the listeners that it’s bad to sleep in class, but sometimes you can’t help it. Massu said that it’s part of youth. There was a period when he put club before everything. They commented on how girls in basketball club are the most popular in junior high. They told her to be careful not to sleep in class.
- ♪ Hoshi ni Negai wo ♪
- The last letter was from a listener who asked them if they’re the type to keep their eyes open or close them when they’re getting their hair washed at a salon and the stylist covers their eyes with a cloth.
  
  Massu said that he doesn’t like how if you close your eyes as their putting it on, if you open them again while the cloth is still over your eyes your eyelashes hit the cloth. Koyama asked Massu if he’s the kind of person that has them put the cloth on his face, and he said that he is. Koyama said that he doesn’t and keeps his eyes open. Massu commented that that must be awkward and said that he keeps his eyes half open.
  
  Koyama asked Massu if his shampoo hasn’t been disappearing quicker than usual during the tour. Massu said that venues will have 4 or sometimes 6 shower rooms if it’s a big place, and how he noticed that it seemed like someone must have been using his, though it’s fine. Koyama said that Massu brings his own shampoo, conditioner and body wash all from the brand. Massu said that he had noticed that they were running low faster than usual, and Koyama admitted that he had been helping himself to more than 3 pumps worth of Massu’s products. Massu protested that 2 pumps is enough to be more than enough. Koyama said that he had shampooed twice and Massu exclaimed that that amounted to 6 pumps. Koyama said that he was admitting this now because the tour had ended.
- At the end the promoted Shige’s drama and that the others were appearing too. Massu said that he had started meetings for it. They commented on how this is a going to be a busy time for Massu.
- They also said that there is going to be a special project to shuffle the corners on Johnny’s shows that air on reccomen and that the details are available online. Kchan NEWS will be doing the following corners: Kis-My-Ft2 Kisumai Radio - ‘Nikaido Takahashi no Atesaki Gekijo’, Sexy Zone QR Zone - ‘Jibun dattara Nan toiu Zone’, Kinki Kids Donna Mon ya! ‘Koichi no Do-S de Advice’ & ‘Owakare Short Poem’, and Hey! Say!JUMP! Hey!Say!7UltraJUMP - ‘Hey!Say! Words’.