Old Memories

I was re-watching the 2004 24-hour TV segments of each of the members. Ohno's always seems to get me the most. To refresh your memory if you don't remember, it's the one where a group of 11 deaf high schoolers wanted to dance. So Ohno took on the task of helping them out, teaching them the dance steps, and just getting to know them.

Near the end, they were still kind of fumbling up and having a hard time remembering the dance moves, so Ohno ended up extending them 11 tickets for their upcoming concert in Osaka. While there, he ended up giving them their group "sign" to try to reach them and let them know that he's thinking of them.

Afterwards, I guess they all ended up sending him mail to his phone, and one of the girls said this:

"I always blamed all my problems on my hearing loss until I started to hate myself and lost my enjoyment for living. But when I watched Arashi's concert, even though I couldn't hear it, I enjoyed music for the first time."

This really touched me. Although I'm not deaf, and haven't experienced anything close to that, I feel that with Arashi's music it was kind of the first time that I was able to really enjoy it. And then seeing their concerts was a whole different story.

It really did give me slight misty eyes. I am so thankful that they are able to make not just myself, but other people -- even deaf people enjoy music, because just listening to the music isn't the only part of it, you know? There's so much more to it, and thoroughly enjoying it is the most important and best part.

And then seeing Ohno crying like a little baby at the end, so proud of them that he's completely speechless, didn't help matters.

I love that Arashi and their fans can move me so much :)