It's about children - Arashi's Believe / Kumori nochi Kaisei

If Arashi seemed active in 2008, they'd only get more so this year since they've reached their 10th year anniversary in 2009. The first single they released this year carries two theme songs, one for Sakurai Sho's Yattaman and the other for Ohno Satoshi's Uta no Onii-san.

Yattaman is a movie for the family and long time anime/manga fans, acted by a star studded cast and based on a hugely popular manga series of the same name, it's a movie you won't want to miss.
Uta no Onii-san is a comedy drama series about a jobless young man becoming the "dictator" of a children's TV program. From a jobless bloke to a star and a dictator to a successful host, this is a story about dreams and a lot of gag.

Because of the two shows' association with children, the songs are both fast paced with a fizzy pop feel and memorable melodies that you can hum to.


While the songs are wonderful as standalone works they are even more interesting when you associate them with their respective drama or film. It's hard to classify what kind of artist Arashi, or the Johnny boys, at large, are, since they are required to dance, sing, model, act and do acrobats.

These boys are chosen at a young age during an audition and is put into a school designed especially to train them to enter the world of entertainment in the Johnny's way. There are times when I could not help but think that they are the male version of Takarazuka (especially after seeing clips of the boys doing stage plays).

Each member of Arashi specialize in something, the leader Ohno Satoshi in dancing, Sakurai Shou in writing lyrics, Aiba Masaki in sports (and constant mistakes in reading, talking, etc), Ninomiya Kazunari in writing music and Sakurai Jun in his dramas.

Although its mambers have acted in various roles, e.g. the sinister lawyer in Maou, the rich boy Doumeiji in Hanayori Dango and are no longer the youngest group under Johnny's entertainment (there are Hey! Say! Jump! and the Johnny's Juniors), they always give off a whiff of youth that is easy on the eyes and the ears.

Wine, Roses and Kat-Tun - One Drop

"One Drop is Kat-Tun's Valentine gift to all their fans. As the theme song for Kamenashi Kazuya's new drama Kami no Shizuku, the song is an up beat rock tune that portrays the group's youth and vitality.

Kami no Shizuku originates from a manga of the same title and tells a story about men competing for the ownership of a connoisseur's red wine collection as well as his legendary bottle of Kami no Shizuku - God's drink (God's Drop creates some very un-appealing images).

Through wine, the drama portrays humanity, from jealousy between people of the same industry to the relationship between family members. Start acquiring a taste for the beverage through One Drop now."


A romantic dinner date consist of candlelight and of course, wine. And what is better than such a dinner is a whole drama or manga series focused on the beverage. In fact, wine stores has been putting the series on display and on sale as it helps them expand their client base.

From decanting wine to using poems to describe its scent and taste, this manga teaches people enough about the drink to fully enjoy it and gives them some knowledge as to impress their friends and dates.

Its not too late to start cramming, be prepared to appear knowledgeable, for your date might be an avid follower of the manga or the show.

The song is fun and energetic and watching the Johnny boys dance is always an amusing affair. You might need to be 18 or 21 to start learning about wine (most people start their wine education with their first sip, unlike Shizuku, the hero), but you can be at any to enjoy One Drop.

Available products:

One Drop (CD+DVD version)
One Drop (Standard version)
One Drop (First Press version)