On Vox: Happy Anniversary, Sho Sakurai.

Hello, hello. Today is Sho’s 13^th Anniversary in Johnny’s Jimusho. Well, it was yesterday technically but you get the point.

I’m not at my own computer so I can’t do a picture spam. Besides I promise there will be about 50 of those sprawled all over your neighborhood pages. I’m not against pictures but you know. As a hardcore Sho ichibanner, I just want to do something different so. I will just write about it instead of showing pictures or making graphics.

I do remember things like the exact moment I knew I really wanted to follow and support Sho’s career, the first time I was brought to tears by something that involved him, the first thing of his I saw that make me laugh uncontrollably. I think these moments that I’ve had with such strong emotions and are tied together with Sho have left a lasting impression in me.  You’d think I’d know him personally and I know I don’t, but at lot of times I feel that I’m looking at the Sho way past the good looks and esteemed educational career. I believe I’m a fan of a ‘different Sho’ than a lot of others. I’m not trying to be insulting or stand on a higher pedestal. However, I know my reasons for liking Sho and I do honestly think they differ from others in a ton of cases.

I like Sho’s infamous anger issues. I like the fact that he used to be a bit of a jealous person. I like all the times he messes up. It makes him human! He’s one of the most human to me – even amongst the flesh and bone I see walking past me every day. Even as a Johnny, he still amazes me with an ability to stand out in a company of essentially “perfect men” because he’s the complete opposite. Sho Sakurai is not perfect and he never will be – and that’s why I love him. I wrote a speech about Sho once and I ended it with this,

“Moreover, Sho truly cares about his friends. I want to become this type of person in my later life as well. With that, I know I can say with full confidence that I will strongly support Sho Sakurai for as long as I feasibly can.”

This has nothing to do with being in love with Sho. I’m going to be real and say that it is hard to fall in love with someone you’ve never met. Nevertheless I can say with the utmost confidence that I do love Sho Sakurai with all my being. He is one of the examples of what I want to become as a student, a worker, and a friend. He’s broken boundaries that he probably didn’t even imagine possible. He’s become such a strong presence in his country with all the opportunities he’s been given and it’s truly a blessing to see him not abusing the gifts he’s been given.

For the longest, I think that I kind of lost hope in human beings (let alone boys) so Arashi as a whole has really reminded me that there are truly wonderful people in existence. I’ve met some of the greatest friends. I’ve met amazing fellow fans. I’ve been exposed to so much. I’ve been given so many chances to help spread the name of International Arashi fandom all the way to Japan and back. I will still fight that battle to get our favorite boy-band out here too. Arashi for some people is a group of five young men. For some it’s a carbon-copy of contrived pop music. For some, they are just “pretty men” or generally “talentless.” For some Arashi is a nice group to listen to sometimes.

However for me, Arashi…Arashi is like a lifestyle, you know? We follow their careers. Wish for their well-being. Some need Arashi’s music to continue into the new day. Some need to see their ichiban’s smile to carry on. Some need to read their words to be inspired. Arashi really have caused a storm in so many of our lives and has washed away any sort of ache or hurt we once though would never subside. Arashi did that for me many a time and to this day, I know if I am feeling like I need to be shaken alive again, I can turn to them.

I know we International fans really are touched by Arashi. It is more than just being a fangirl. They are a huge part of our lives. Think about the support and sweat we’d pour into any cause if we knew someone or something was trying to come against Arashi. We saw it during this summer even. Don’t mess with our men, right? Haha.

Originally posted on chesto.vox.com