This needs to be here

I do think I'm very funny. Even if nobody appreciates it.

@музыка: Kim Jaejoong - Insa

@темы: NEWS., crack

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Death of a Character

It was cruel and pointless and so so sudden. I have no idea when exactly The Good Wife got to my head. It was just work but as the second part of the season started suddenly it became something more.

I don't think I was ever so upset about a death of a character before. I don't know why. I didn't even like him before but Ep 14 gave a brand new perspective and somehow I got the bad case of feels. I never liked Peter in the first place but now I really understand how disappointed people were when Alicia came back to him. He's disgusting. Now everything just seems so wrong. Just when they finally made up after 6 months and you'd think they could become friends again.... this is awful.

It's the first time I finished an episode in 3 days. The inevitable feeling of doom was killing me.

Goodbye, Will.

@темы: series

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So I'm translating my episode, the damned 15th one and then I see this:

Dubeck: Did you discuss it with Will Gardner, too?
Alicia: No.
Dubeck (on/os): Really? Because you were observed meeting with Will Gardner yesterday, Tuesday the 15th, at the criminal courthouse.

What the actual fuck? I mean it's like they are talking TODAY. The episode was aired March 23 but the only Tuesday the 15th this year was in April, yesterday. Why are you doing this to me, writers? My feels....

I'm about 2/3 through and my heart will soon be broken.

Edit 10/06: Now they say the shooting was on March 20 which makes sense relating to the broadcast date but March 20 was Thursday, not Wednesday.

@темы: work, match

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Lately I can't listen to my past fandom bands for some reason. It was fine awhile ago, dunno what went wrong. I really feel all the emotional baggage that comes with each of them. But I'm glad I have bands that I love not tainted by the fandoms. I have been listening to Mansun these past few days and god I love them so much.

@музыка: Mansun - Church Of The Drive Thru Elvis

@темы: snapshot

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So today my Mum was like "Don't you think you're too much into NEWS? Maybe you should take it easy?" And I got so upset and told her how when I was like 8 we moved and the cable TV there had Cartoon Network and that became my first fandom. I was crazy about it, I watched it as much as I was allowed. I figured out schedule and had everything written down, like which shows were on on which days. I would get up early to catch morning cartoons, I made tons of drawings with all the characters, I memorized all the intro texts and such and every wrote them down. And all the while I knew 0 English. And she tells me to take it easy?

I was very depressed when Cartoon Network got cut some 2 years later but as I went to middle school I got into an intermediate English group and suddenly it turned out I could read full simple texts and understand everything spoken.

@темы: myself

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NEWS 10th Anniversary in Tokyo Dome

This took me awhile to write and I waited for Blu-ray video to make screens but it's finally done. This is the first time I decided to download the Blu-ray. It was partly because they didn't upload the full DVD but mostly because I saw some Blu-ray screens and it got me. Seeing Tegoshi up close, he's not sweating, he's sparkling like a fucking diamond that he is, I swear...

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Production

The concert must have been very challenging to produce. The DVD version of it lasts about 3 hours but they cut down a good portion of it so I can't even begin to express my admiration for the boys. Unfortunately they actually cut the part I was really looking forward to. I mean the whole talk part in the middle where they made fun of each other's photos and gave up their personal items. They'd shown a tiny teaser of it at the end but that was ever crueler. But anyway, the concert felt very solid. It didn't have too many special effects, nothing too pompous and they didn't even fly this time but I think that wasn't needed. There was a very special atmosphere of mutual affection and understanding between the band and the audience and that is something you can't achieve through any kind of production.


Setlist

Since this is an Anniversary concert I kinda expected a more varied setlist composed mostly of hit singles. However, they basically did that in 2012 tour so it would have been a little boring to follow on that. Instead they based the setlist on the last tour's. But I guess that makes sense since they need to go forward, not only rely on their past success. Actually, I was initially hoping the setlist wouldn't be based on the last album since I didn't really like it but I guess I forgot that concerts make songs sound different and they may get x2 better live which thankfully was the case. I mean Koi Matsuri really rocked while Pokopon Pekorya was plain adorable.

'Liar' was quite a surprise. It's one of the few old songs that they never performed that I like. If next time they do "Lady Spider" I'm gonna be thrilled. The acoustic set was also quite a treat. The old songs got a completely new life, especially 2nin/130000000 no Kiseki. The new rendition of Taiyou no Namida was also interesting.

And then there was Ai Kotoba~ I can't say it's an awesome song, it actually sounds pretty awkward if you don't know any Japanese but like Share it has a special meaning. I don't think anyone has ever written a more touching song for their fans. The lyrics are very complex and it's amazing, all the little codes they managed to fit into it, stuff like Shige's '986' days and 4awase and Massu's Tezutette totte.


Costumes

I think the costumes were good. Overall I guess I liked them a little less than the 2012 ones but Massu certainly did a great job. I think NEWS always looked classier than other bands but it's really awesome that they actually have their own designer. All of them were interesting but I quite liked the black and white ones, simple but really elegant.

Performance

I think in this concert you can really feel that the bond between the members grew stronger. Their voices sound kind of more whole, complete, especially on the new songs. I think Greedier is a good example of that. Their dancing has also become more synchronized but it felt like it was a natural process rather than the result of rehearsing. I really think you can see the improvement in terms of voices. Especially KoyaShige's. They may not be great singers but their singing is pretty stable and there were hardly any notable fails. You can also see how the members have grown, became more confident both in themselves and each other. As Tegoshi said it's especially evident in Shige and I'll be damned it there wasn't a hell of a lot of green lightsticks out there.

Also I have to admire the boys' endurance. No matter how uplifting experience it was it must have been exhausting but they did their best until the very end. There were some notable slip-ups like Shige messing up the lyrics in Koi no ABO and Koyama forgetting he was supposed to sing in Weeeek, not to mention Tegoshi's solo fail but I don't really see these things as something bad, they actually makes things a little more fun. I think they lipsynched the Besame Mucho but it was so smooth I wouldn't blame them if they did. I mean it was a 4-hour concert. The solos are a different matter though.

Solos

Now we're talking! I did my best to avoid spoiling the solos but I did hear Massu's song. Basically, I wasn't expecting much this time but I was pleasantly surprised. By everyone, really. I mean I didn't really like Koyama's song but I think I like it more than all of his previous solos. Massu's solos are always similar but this time it was a different type of dance song. Although it's so synthesized I couldn't even recognize his voice it sounds fresh. However, I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't live, you know. There weren't any back-flips and stuff so I would really prefer for him to sing it. Same with Shige. I think Dreamcatcher is really interesting and I liked the performance overall but I have mixed feelings because of the lip-synching. And then there was Tegoshi. Even though he messed up the lyrics from the start nobody could actually hold it against him and I think this performance was the most powerful out of all his solo stages. I actually listened to the album version later and it wasn't half as impressive as the live one. While Tegoshi always had a big advantage with his voice I think all of his solo songs were kinda corny but this one was different. It was a little raw, emotional and had an actual plot and I really think Tegoshi managed to get the feeling through. I also have to say that his rockish persona looked so similar to Hyde's. His facial expressions, gestures and such. Just sayin'.


Overall it's a great concert. It made me admire NEWS even more. There were many spoilers that kinda ruined some surprises for me but I still enjoyed it a lot. Actually I can hardly complain about the concert itself. What I am dissatisfied with are the things that didn't make it into the DVD. But I guess you can't have everything.

Last tour was a statement but this tour was a celebration and the anniversary concert was a culmination of it. Since I'm very new to NEWS I almost felt like it was something not meant for me to see, something intimate just for the band and their precious fans to share. But I'm happy I was allowed to see it. Watching this concert really made me think once again NEWS confirmed that there's nothing lacking. They have risen from the ashes, they were reborn and they're the strong NEWS, the unified NEWS the best NEWS.

Extras:

Truth be told, I expected more from the 3rd Disk. First of all, I don't like the way they just mixed the tour digest and the extra video together into one 2-hour pile. Secondly, I'm kinda appalled they didn't include the part where Tegoshi made Shige drop his pants and other epic moments that were captured in photos. There was the foot massage/onstage kama sutra but overall there wasn't much fanservice sadly.

As for the trip, it was fun but it was called a 2-day/1 night trip and we only saw Day 1 of it. I was so looking forward to them going to bed and waking up part. The J-mission part wasn't that fun to me. But it was fun watching the adorable sleepy Tegomass babies struggling to stay awake.

I mean I'm very happy with the concert and the whole DVD set just that I didn't see many of the things I was expecting to see.


PS: I was going to submit this post for the SG contest as it is but the limit for the comment at LJ is about 4300 words so I had to cut it down by 1/3 but the funny thing is it was an interesting experience, almost like peeling an onion and in the end I guess the whole review only improved, it became more concise, sharp anf up to the point. Well, either way now I've truly done my best and I'll be damned if I don't get that picture. Or the album. But let's keep calm and see.

@музыка: Tegoshi Yuya - Lovin' U

@темы: NEWS., Concerts

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I don't know if it's normal to cry so much while writing your own story. And it's not like anyone's dying and it's not tragic at all just me and my stupid emotions. It's just emotions taking me over...

@музыка: Destiny's Child - Emotions

@темы: fanfix

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Dreamcatcher

My 10ve post is missing illustrations as I wait for my Blue-ray rip to finish downloading but I'll say this now. I'm in love with Dreamcatcher. It's so soothing and I love the imagery.

It's very predictable, really. It's smooth and greasy and something only he could pull off and he used his cards well. I'd probably love the song x2 if it wasn't for the 'sexy lady' but most of the English in it seems to make sense. I can't even be bothered by all the jellyfish and stuff. Actually, this really made me remember Yoochun and his gingerbreadman's vitality. The style, the rapping, the dancing, the grease... it seems so familiar.

It's really strange he didn't sing it live but maybe that's good because I'm so fucked as it is.

@темы: Shige is my spirit animal

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Slept for 10 hours agian today. But hey, at least the dreams were pretty good. It was mostly about some summer camp and me trying to get good grades in language and literature but when I tried to roll it back I remembered another one, a short dream that was earlier. Which was basically Shou and Tora making out. I dunno where it was and stuff, I just remember Shou looking really in love and happy and they just kept kissing. A little late for this but I won't complain. I might come back to them, but not now, not now.

@темы: Dreams, ToraxShou

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I was not ready for this. *cries*

#OTP feels #new mags always catch me off guard #I hate you #Tegoshige

@музыка: Erasure - Lay All Your Love On Me

@темы: TegoShige

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Ok, now I need to set out a plan. First of all I have to finish within a week:

- The Koyama post and finally be done with the project.

- THe DVD post! I have to finish it until April 12 and submit it for the contest. That should help with the motivation.

After I do that I'll start shredding the new DVDs, work on the fanvideo and devote some time to the fics.

@темы: post-it note

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It's a little sad, really, how lately I don't really feel anything towards Alice Nine or JYJ. Then again I remember my feelings have always been ever-changing. Especially with Jae - there were times when I adored him and then there were times when I almost disliked him. And lately it's the latter. I really don't like the way he took. It's kinda funny considering I always wanted him to do rock but in the end I prefer good pop over bad rock. But it's not just the boring solo album, that wasn't much of a surprise - it's rather his general image, the way he holds himself. He's so full of himself and it seems like he doesn't even want to be in a band anymore since he wants all the attention for himself. Yoochun has devoted himself to acting completely and while it's his right to decide what he wants it's sad that he doesn't let people his wonderful voice. That and he does look like a hobo. And Junsu... I have nothing bad to say about him. He's always been working hard and he can't do it any other way. It's just that I never really liked him enough to follow him specifically. Junsu has enormous talent but little sense so his solo albums are a terrible waste.

I guess in the end I feel cheated. I remember Jae's tears at the Tokyo dome Thanksgiving but I'm afraid they have forgotten all about that. I thought about that when I watched NEWS' 10 Anniversary DVD. NEWS are completely and utterly devoted to their fans because they feel like they owe them big time but, you know, 4 years ago I thought that about JYJ and yet the last time I've seen their concert it was vulgar, boring and often half-assed (well, apart from Junsu). It's like once they felt solid ground and steady support they forgot about 'working harder' and settled on 'good enough'. They've been promising to release an album for like 2 years now but they keep delaying it every time and honestly I just can't see it happen anymore. I feel mildly disappointed but I guess nothing can disappoint me quite like TVXQ did so I'll live.

Whew. I was keeping this to myself but it had to be written. I guess I've finally reached an age where I don't feel personally responsible for the bands I like and if they suck I'll say they suck. It's just really liberating you know.

@темы: JYJ, Jaejoong

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嫌だ

I mean I'm glad that I got my main series back and all but now I have to work again... It's just so hard to motivate myself. I don't earn enough to buy something stupidly expensive and I have no idea what I want that I actually can afford. This sucks.

@темы: bitching, work

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It just really hurts, you know. When someone opens the door for you but then slams it in your face.

@темы: one-liner

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In a desperate attempt to find new doors or at least windows I conducted a grand search.

I did go through over 1000 names. Of course I didn't watch all of them, I used certain criteria. I was mostly interested in local diaries or at least someone with similar interests and age. But only about a half write their location, many don't have a diary, or have an empty diary or abandoned it long ago. Or closed, yeah. And sometimes I skipped just looking at an icon. I skipped everyone with YamaPi or Homin. Not because I hate them but rather than it implies something about the owner so we probably won't get on well.

In the process I confirmed my suspicions: If it's NEWS that means: 60% Pi, 25% Ryo and maybe 7& Tegoshi. While if it's KAT-TUN it's 95% Amake and 5% Ueda. If it's TVXQ then it's 70% Jaejoong and 30% Homin. I dunno, it's just so boring. And a little stinging.

End result: nothing. I knew the chance was slim so I regret nothing. It is pretty sad though.

@темы: fandom

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NEWS: Kato Shigeaki

* Name: Kato Shigeaki (加藤成亮 => 加藤シゲアキ
* Nickname: Shige, Sensei (members started calling him that when he published his first book)
* Birthday: 1987.7.11
* Zodiac sign: Cancer
* Blood Type: A
* Birthplace: Hiroshima
* Education: Aoyama Gakuin (Middle School to University)
* Siblings: None
* Height: 175cm
* Weight: ~60kg
* Band colour: Green

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Childhood

Kato Shigeaki was born in Hiroshima in summer 1987. The baby's name was chosen through stroke count. Apparently the kanji in "Shigeaki" are hard to read correctly which is partly the reason why later in life he simplified the writing of his name by abandoning the kanji. Apparently as a baby Shigeaki didn't cry much and was well-behaved. Right after he was born the Kato family moved to Osaka.



According to his parents little Shigeaki learned to walk and talk early. As he entered kindergarten he also learned a great new skill - kissing. He say he would kiss all the kids around him without discrimination even though he didn't have anyone he liked in particular.

In elementary Shigeaki became a rascal. Or so he claims. He often participated in milk drinking contests and laughing contests and did other "stupid things". However, after grade 3 the Kato family moved to Tokyo. He was able to get into a good school though he says is was probably just luck. It seems like at that time many of his future interests budded. In grade 5 during the art lesson the children were asked to imitate Katsushika Hokusai's ukiyo-e masterpiece "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" and Shigeaki got a special award for it. In grade 6 he used his father's typewriter to write stories. Also at the end of grade 6 Shigeaki got really interested in photography. He took lots of pictures at various events and organized them, it was a big success and a crowning glory of elementary school.

There were also other, less successful activities. From around the second half of kindergarten Shigeaki was practicing Shorinji Kempo. At first the place he went to was too strict and he didn't like it but later his family moved and the new place was nice so he got green belt faster than anyone else in his group. But they moved again and there wasn't any dojo near so he's given up on it. He also tried to learn piano in kindergarten because he wanted to play the popular songs but for of course he was made to play classics so he got bored with it very soon. Yet he didn't have the will to say he didn't want it and only stopped playing by grade 6. He says he was really bad at it though, even after 8 years.

Shige always had good relationship with his parents. He says he could talk to his mother about anything, they never had any secrets from each other. He really respects his father and talks with him a lot too. Shige claims he didn't cause his parents any trouble and his rebellious age lasted for a few days so his parents probably didn't even notice.


Entering JE and NEWS

Shigeaki liked SMAP so in fourth grade of elementary school with the help of his Mum he sent his resume to Johnny's Jimusho. Apparently he didn't really expect to be accepted and the answer didn't come. But two years later, as he came home from school his mother told him that Johnny's Jimusho had called and invited him to an audition the next day.

Shigeaki came well-prepared. He'd read somewhere that Johnny personally attends all auditions but most kids don't know who he is. At some point he introduces himself and watches the kids reaction, he doesn't like it when kids change their attitude when he reveals himself. When Shige came to an audition and Johnny introduced himself he did his best to hide his excitement. We'll never know if his strategy worked but at any rate out of the 50 kids who came to the audition that day only 2 passed and Kato was one of them.



Thus Shigeaki entered the agency in April 1999 at the age of 11. His career was developing fast and soon he appeared on TV shows was allowed to hold a microphone. He also backdanced for his senpai and appeared in Arashi's debut PV in the same year. However, at the time he was in grade 6 which meant the middle school entrance exams were approaching. Realizing his job was reducing his learning time and affected his chances of getting into a good school he did something pretty bold - called Johnny and asked for a delay which Johnny okayed. Shige says since he missed out on studying he was only able to get into his second choice school but it was still a very prestigious one. After he was accepted he went back to Johnnys after about a half-year break.

2001 was a good year for Kato Shigeaki. First of all, early in the year Koyama Keiichiro joined Johnnys and was immediately paired up with Kato. This was the beginning of a lifetime friendship and partnership. Also along with Masuda he was casted in a popular school drama "3 nen B gumi Kinpachi Sensei" though his character had more significance.

Kato was put in several temporary units but in Autumn 2001 Koichi Domoto participated in a project for a TV show where he had to produce a Johnny's Jr. group with 6 members and Shige became one of them. The group was named J-Support, later renamed K.K.Kity. Keiichiro Koyama became the leader since he was the oldest while Shige became the vice-leader for obvious reasons. The group was quite privileged, they backdanced for Kinki Kids and Koichi even wrote a song for them which they performed at Kinki Kids' Tokyo Dome concert and at TV shows.

K.K.Kity. and K.K.K.



While initially the members were on more or less equal terms, later on half of them became main vocalists while the other half mainly danced. The former half - K.K.K. (Koyama, Kato, Kusano) was becoming more and more privileged. In January 2003 the three of them became a part of permanent cast of the kids' show called Ya-Ya-yah. Obviously they had less attention than Ya-Ya-yah members but it still was a weekly show and they also got to perform on Music Station even before debut.

K.K.K. with Ya-Ya-yah on Music Station 2003.06.06



Basically, you can say everything was going well for Kato Shigeaki. He thought of himself as an 'elite'. His best friend was the leader, Kusano was a great singer and dancer and the three of them got along and functioned well. So when in September 2003 K.K.K. were included in NEWS he thought he'd nailed it. However, the reality was more harsh.

NEWS originally had 9 members. Most of the spotlight went to YamaPi, then there were Nishikido and Uchi who already got some recognition through Kanjani8 while Koyama established himself as an MC. There was also this new kid Tegoshi who barely entered the agency but was great at singing. All of a sudden Shige felt like he wasn't very elite anymore, that maybe all of his achievements up until then were mere luck. The first year was really hard. Shige felt like a dead weight and wondered if he should quit. The band wasn't doing very well too. In 3 years it lost 3 members and was temporarily suspended. This became a turning point for Kato and for the band. While NEWS didn't exist, Tegoshi and Masuda debuted as Tegomass, Yamashita Tomohisa went solo, while Nishikido performed with Kanjani8. Shige and Koyama felt stranded. Up until then the K.K.K. stuck together but without Kusano Hironori they didn't have the vocals skills or confidence to do anything as a duo. But it was also the time for the members to realize that the band is important to them and perhaps nobody felt it more than Shige. He accepted the fact that he was one of the least popular members but he loved his job and he loved NEWS and those feelings were stronger so he wanted to continue no matter what.

"Hey, Massu, how come even the little shit is ahead of us? I don't feel very elite anymore. Massu? Great, he's next to YamaPi now and I'm in the third row. Alone T_T."



Shige knew he didn't have Tegoshi's vocals, Masuda's dancing skills or Koyama's prowess at MCs. That's why he decided he should concentrate on things only he could do. He got a column in a magazine where he wrote essays on various topics and realized people were interested. Later when he got really interested in professional photography he also got a page in Wink Up where he could show some of his photographs and write about them. He's been doing that for more than 5 years now. Apart from that the band's popularity was on the rise and the teamwork between the members also improved a lot. However, Shige came to be seen as a sloppy and comical character and he was often bullied by other members. Of course it was just fooling around but it didn't exactly help to raise his already low popularity.

In 2011 NEWS had almost no activities as a band. Shige was restless. He came to the agency trying to figure out what he could do as Kato Shigeaki. But he didn't just want to promote himself, he wanted to do something for NEWS, something only he could do. In the end it was decided that he should write a novel. He was given a two-month deadline so he shunned himself inside his apartment and wrote. However, shortly before the book's announcement two memebers left the band, the band's future was uncertain and once again Shige felt lost. Tegomass could still continue to perform as a duo but he was afraid he would never get to sing and stand on stage again. Even Koyama had a job as a newscaster. But thankfully all four members wanted to keep continuing as NEWS and began to plan their return with a newfound passion.

Shige's book came out in early 2012 and was quite a success. Thus Kato Shigeaki became the first man in Johnnys to release a novel. He also decided to change the writing of his name to katakana. Partly so everyone would be able to read it and partly to mark his intent to open a new page on his career and become a better person.

Kato Shigeaki and his 1st novel, "Pink and Grey"



Later that year NEWS made a comeback as four and Shige couldn't be happier. It felt like a new beginning and he faced the future with a newfound confidence. Finally all his efforts paid off and his popularity began to rise. Well, that and the fact that he keeps getting hotter by the day. He was now able to show new sides of himself finally shedding his ever-aloof awkward character. Well, mostly.

Shige likes appearing in dramas and plays, loves working on his books and have individual activities but he still says NEWS is his everything.


Career&Hobbies

Shige has a gazillion hobbies. Like, seriously. He loves fishing and photography and cooking and even gardening. He also plays guitar. Not to mention he's a legit novelist. But let's not get ahead of things.

Shige plays guitar and composes. He wrote music and lyrics to almost all of his solo songs as well as some of his fellow members' songs. The sad thing is though that some of those songs like Over (sung by Tegoshi) or Road (sung by YamaPi) aren't even listed anywhere as if they never existed. Shige can't compete with Tegoshi's vocals or Masuda's dancing but his solo songs make up for it with a special atmosphere, his individuality shines through.

At the time when Shige debuted he'd set out a big aim - that by the time he turns 25 he's going to appear in a prime-time drama. He even told himself that if that doesn't happen, he'll quit. In the end he turned 25 and didn't make it. But he didn't quit either. However, Shige got to appear in quite a lot of dramas and films having the most acting experience among the members. In 2008 he staged a one-man show "Konnan Yattte Mimashita" which consisted of 20 short stories which he had written himself and since 2009 he also participated in various stage plays.



Shige loves art and has a great taste for it. He reads a lot, watches a lot of films and likes to visit museums. Lately he's really into ukiyo-e so he's been buying some famous works and hung them in his place.

Shige loved to write from an early age. Even as a child he made up stories and wrote them down. The strange thing is he claims his language grades were really bad. His Japanese teachers must have been quite surprised. In the Winter of 2005 Shige began to write in his blog on J-web and saw that response was good. Then he got a column in a magazine to write his essays and around 2008 he decided it would be good to try and write a novel one day. He got the opportunity in 2011 while the band was on hiatus and has been releasing one book a year since then. He draws inspiration from his own experience and other people's as well as books and films. He says one day he wants to see his own section in bookstores.

Shige's 3 novels in a bookstore. Still a long way to go to fill up a section.



But Shige isn't only artistic, he's actually very skilled with his hands. He says it must be hereditary since his grandmother was a beautician, his aunt is an illustrator and his mother gave up her job to make hats.

Shige really likes fishing. He also knows how to fillet and cook fish once it's caught. While he says fish is his speciality he can cook a lot more than that. Lately he's been growing some herbs on his veranda. Also his friend from the country has been sending him lots of plums every year and at first he made liquor but since he doesn't drink much he began to pickle the plums (umeboshi).

Another one of Shige's passions is photography. He owns many cameras and even a dark room. While he began to be interested in it since grade 6 it really took off around 2006 when he brought his first professional camera. Since then he's been getting better at it and he got his own corner in Wink Up called PhotoShigenic. He also likes taking pictures on stage during NEWS concerts.

Shige isn't really what you'd call athletic. He's an indoors type and isn't good with team sports especially involving a ball which came as quite a disadvantage since NEWS had a very sportsy image right from the start. But he does enjoy less competitive activities such as jogging or snowboarding. Like other members he goes to the gym and recently began to practice pilates.

These are just the most prominent of Shige's interests and there are many more. For example, he used to collect cacti and since he loves flowers says he wants to learn flower arranging someday. During a 2009 tour he was charged with coordinating the stage outfits which he managed pretty well. He also used to do some of his members' hair, Tegoshi's especially.


Personality

The first thing anyone says when asked about Shige is that he's smart. But rather than that I think he's someone you can actually call an intellectual. He reads a lot and he really enjoys learning. He knows a lot but he doesn't flaunt it. Shige is resourceful and at meetings he's usually the one to offer most ideas. He's got a Law degree too even if he claims he had chosen it just because it sounds cool.

Another thing everyone knows about Shige is that he's mature. If you look at the old videos especially you'll notice it. Not only did Shige look older than Tegomass (which he still does) he also acted older. His interests and hobbies are not very characteristic of his age and he seems to get along with older people. He always seemed as old as Koyama while Tegoshi used to call him Aniki despite the fact that he's only 4 months younger. He himself says he always seems to look about 3 years older than he really is. It also happens that many of his characters in films and dramas are several years older.

While maturity seems like a good thing other members often complain that he's like a grandpa - too serious, grumpy and gets tired easily. But that's just teasing. In reality they say he's very sensible, level-headed and can always look at things objectively so they may ask him for advice. And sometimes Shige remembers he's actually as young as Tegoshi and joins him to pulls some pranks on Koyama.



Shige is quite individualistic but unlike Massu he tries to express it through his performance and activities rather than looks. He always wanted to stand out and be noticed and if you look at pre-debut videos he often said that he wanted to get a chance to show his personal appeal and things like that. By the way, Shige is left-handed and proud of it even though he often bitches about how inconvenient it is. Well, Shige generally bitches a lot. But, you know, with Shige I don't find it annoying, more like endearing. He sometimes may sound harsh when talking to Koyama or Tegoshi but that's just his way of showing his love. Both of them say that if NEWS were a family Shige would be the father, the strict but loving type. He's actually pretty shy too.

While being skillful Shige is also quite clumsy, he often loses or breaks things. However, the members say Shige is very reliable and always keeps his promises.



Shige is smart and capable but he really lacks self-confidence. Though he was always striving to prove his worth and receive acclaim he also admits that he actually hated himself for a long time. But instead of giving up he used this feeling of being inferior and it became something that drove him forwards and made him work harder. He's constantly trying to improve whether it's singing or acting or keeping in shape. In the last couple of years he's been steadily building up the confidence but he is still very self-critical. Sometimes he's very hard on himself but this also gave way to some excellent sarcastic humour.

If Tegoshi Yuya became known as the ultimate idol Shige is often seen as the opposite - an unlikely idol who makes pickled plums and isn't keen on fanservice. He might never get that popular but that's ok. Because he's found his own way and there will always be those who love his honesty, wit and dedication.

@темы: NEWS., Shige is my spirit animal

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Rookie Blue, S5

I just submitted episode 13 which is the season's final. I only did the last 5 episodes but it's more than enough to get emotionally involved. It's a decent show, I'd say and more than anything I'm just thankful it's pretty much safe, nothing disturbing really. Then again I don't even see it as a police drama, it's more of a soap opera. It should have been called "Young hot interracial policemen". It's really hard to keep up with who's been dating who. But the main reason why I don't like it is the main heroine, Andy. I mean I seldom hate characters so much, everything about her just pisses me off, I just can't stand her guts but of course there 3 cool guys who are head over heels in love with her. Basically, the only couple I like is Gail and Holly.

The last episode was really annoying and it just didn't make sense. Everyone is heartbroken and two officers are hanging between life and death. Way to go with a cliffhanger.

Season 5 will start on July 17. You bastards.

@музыка: Alt-J - Tessellate

@темы: work, series

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They would always break before but this time they wouldn't break at all. In the end I cut them down myself. Partly because it was getting really inconvenient, but mostly because they were freaking me out. My head isn't very good lately.

@темы: myself, snapshot

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В последнее время всё никак не могу выкинуть из головы мысль о том, что хочется всех от себя отписать. А, может, и самой от всех отписаться. Каждый день по-привычке листаю ленту почти не останавливая взгляд и думаю, что, наверно, точно так же проматываютт и мои посты, не отписываются из вежливости. Даже если иногда не пролистывают, всё равно сказать нечего а значит в этом нет смысла. Более месяца с последнего комментария. В конце концов, дневник и не предназначается для чьего-либо чтения. Глупо и по-детски, знаю, но как бы я не была одинока, я по-прежнему чертовски эгоцентрична. Не хочу ни для кого быть персонажем 45-го плана. Знаю, что бежать больше некуда, что мостов больше не осталось, знаю, но все никак не могу остановиться.

@темы: diary, musings

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Lip-synch

Another sad thing is my recent realization about lip-synching. It's stupid, really. I remember many years ago when I just got into this someone told me there is no such thing in Japan, that it's forbidden and I believed it. And well, I mostly watched rock bands and they probably never really lip-synch. And of course there was THSK who did it in Korean but never in Japan. Even if the choreography was really fucking hard they still sang live and they did it well. I guess that's one of the reasons why Japan (and I) loved them so much. But just recently with NEWS I noticed Massu's solos sound so strangely perfect but it only took Remedy to finally get it. And I felt so fucking naive that I haven't realized this before and I probably missed a lot of other songs too. And I tried to tell myself that it's ok, that it's no big deal but in the end I still feel so disappointed and cheated somehow. I know next time I'm going to listen to every song paranoically trying to figure out if it's live or not.

Then again I recently watched this Best Artist 2009 and yes, NEWS were bad in it but then there was KAT-TUN and god, they were so awful I could hardly believe it. I just don't know anymore.

@темы: J-Pop