At long last, the word is out about ARASHI's upcoming 25th anniversary in November this year.
BUT...I have to admit that it's somewhat disappointing.
As a longtime fan, I was expecting more. Perhaps some new content or something which had never been released before if a new concert tour or TV appearance is not going to happen in the near future? On the other hand, it was almost a given that nothing special could possibly happen on the anniversary date given that Ohno looks like he's still not done with his "extended summer vacation" and that Matsujun will be away in London for his play in November. As such, I was more of the opinion that the date would pass by "quietly".
After all, ARASHI is incomplete if anyone is absent.
Thus, when I saw the news two days ago that ARASHI was doing something for their 25th anniversary, I was hopeful. However, after reading the details of the announcement, it made me wonder about a few things.
Too much rehashing of the old stuff
Frankly speaking, I am not sure why they are releasing their old concert DVDs in Blu-ray format. I can't speak for others but I would assume most ARASHI fans would have bought these concert DVDs in the past although perhaps not everything in the list. Unless you own a Blu-ray player, you are missing some titles from this list and/or there are some premiums or freebies to be given with these "new" releases, chances are that fans would not bite the bait this time.
Likewise, I wonder about the screening of the 5x10 concert in cinemas and the re-release of the 5x20 album in Dolby Atmos on streaming platforms. Are these really what the fans want?
While new concerts or appearances by the ARASHI of today might not be possible at this stage, perhaps it might be worth considering tapping on previously un-released content like compilation of selected episodes from their past variety shows or behind-the-scenes footage from their concerts or group activities (those not seen in the Netflix documentary). At least, there's something "new" to look forward to.
Is it enough to keep the fanclub membership base from eroding further?
Following ARASHI's hiatus, their fanclub is still in operation which was estimated to have as many as 3 million members at its peak. Although the group did mention before they were pondering about whether it was right to keep the fanclub running when they were not active as a group, the decision was made to continue as a result of fans' feedback. Most of the fanclub members are said to have kept paying the JPY 4,000 annual fee to maintain their memberships with the hope that ARASHI will be back one day and they can continue enjoying perks like having a higher chance of being able to purchase the concert tickets. Then again, as the wait for ARASHI's return dragged longer with no clear end in sight, it would have been natural that some people would drop out of the fanclub over the years.
If you look at the various initiatives under the 25th anniversary project, the only things where fanclub members get exclusive access and priority are the 5x10 screenings and the purchase of the picture book respectively. However, will it be enough to stop the outflow of people not renewing their fanclub memberships? Will it entice people who left the fanclub to come back for these? And will it get anyone new to join for the sake of getting these things?
While I do appreciate that at least something is being done, how people feel about this can be quite varied. These initiatives may seem like an effort to continue ARASHI's outreach and connection to the fanbase but honestly speaking, I think that it is high time to give a more definite answer on the group's future direction. For me at least, it's not as if I will stop supporting ARASHI members even if the hiatus is permanent and they never return as a group. And since I'm not a paying fanclub member, it doesn't bother me over whether the fanclub continues or not. However, the people who are still paying annual fees may want to make a more informed decision on whether to continue especially since there have been complaints that the membership perks are no longer as worthwhile as before. After all, you are looking at a huge sum of money that goes to the agency every year thanks to this fanclub.
Are these really what ARASHI wanted to give to the fans or a plot by the agency to earn money from the fans?
This is just my personal opinion but the direction of this 25th anniversary project feels somewhat off compared to what ARASHI was doing from the time they announced their upcoming hiatus to the last day of their group activities. I remember being surprised and pleased by the initiatives back then which really felt like they wanted to do things which would make the fans happy even if these did not bring in big bucks. This time round, I can't help but feel that the agency really wants to milk money from the fans. Looking around at comments online, I'm definitely not alone in feeling this way.
The fishy thing is, I don't seem to see any reference to this 25th anniversary project from the ARASHI members themselves on their social media accounts. Is there a reason why? Or are they not fully convinced of the effectiveness or value of this project to the fans so that's why they aren't "promoting" it? Which leads me to guess that ARASHI's intentions might not be in sync with what the agency wants so there seems to be a disconnect somehow.
While I do not wish ill on the progress or outcome of this project, I for one would not be dishing out any money this time and will probably celebrate the occasion in my own way come 3 November.
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