A Begginer's Guide To: Kazoku Game
I bring you yet another Stalker's Guide. This time around, it's for Arashi's not-so-much-of-a-leader:
This man, with what almost seems like multiple personalities, has grasped many hearts. If you've ever seen an Arashi variety show, you'd see how unmotivated Ohno seems, sometimes picking his nose, spacing out, and even falling asleep. What surprises many is the fact that he is able to change completely when asked to.
Even though he is the leader of the group, he is nothing like it and is, in fact, bullied by most of his members. Now 32 years old, Ohno will surely bring out many more surprises. (Marriage? New drama? Movie?) When he is under pressure, as in a game or asked for the impossible, Ohno suddenly becomes a leader, a reliable leader, and what is even more shocking is that he rarely fails at anything.
He also has this weird habit of all of a sudden increasing his tension. For example, looking bored 10 minutes...
and the next minute he starts smiling like crazy and doing the weirdest things.
When I first started watching Arashi variety shows, to be honest, Ohno seemed to be the most dull, boring, and unpleasant to the eye. That though is because I had yet to see his charms.
Once he is on the stage, he is a completely different person. He is not Ohno, but a singer. He excels in singing and dancing and is the best one in singing and dancing within Arashi. Yet when the whole group is dancing together, he dances with less "force" as he does in his solos. He does not do this because he is selfish, but contrast to many other groups where one member is the main dancer and always dances in the middle, he explains that he does so that he doesn't stand out, because Arashi is one. Just how sweet is this old man!!
Not only is he good at dancing and singing, he is also good at acting!
Maou - The Vengeful Lawyer
This was the drama that Ohno's acting amazed many. While some watched this for Ikuta Toma, and ended up falling for Ohno, others started watching this drama from Ohno, and ended up falling for Ikuta Toma. Ohno plays the role of Naruse Ryo, a lawyer who holds many secrets, and is an angel in disguise. While Ikuta Toma plays Serizawa Naoto, an outgoing police officer who is very just, and is the source of Naruse Ryo's twisted personality.
I normally don't watch many serious dramas, but this one is just breathtaking. I have watched this more than twice, and I am still basically biting my nails about everything.
Uta no Onii-san - Unmotivated Brat
I remember watching this in one sitting. It was just that good. Here Ohno plays the role of Yano Kenta, an unemployed man who has no desires whatsoever. While going to an interview, he mistakenly goes into another room and is hired. In contrast to the job he was planning to have though, he is hired for a children's show, along with Kanjani 8's Maruyama Ryuhei, playing Saitou Mamoru, who is very energetic about his job.
Kenta is the complete opposite of Naruse Ryo, so in this drama we are able to see another side of Ohno. And he's wearing jeans in almost every episode. Ohno + jeans = :Q_
For some reason this drama is very underrated, but it is in fact a Japanese drama that I'd be willing to rewatch, at least for the sake of a good laugh.
(Biggest GPOY of this drama)Kaibutsu-kun - The Monster learning about humans
This character is somewhat like Kenta, from Uta no Onii-san. Ohno plays the role of Kaibutsu-kun, a Prince of the land of monsters. As he is very spoiled, his father, the King, sends him to the human world to learn more about "life". With his three subordinates and two kids, Kaibutsu-kun keeps on learning important moral lessons day by day.
In the end, he keep on changing with the help of the kids he is constantly with. This became a huge hit in Japan, and I can honestly see why. This drama is most likely to appeal to kids, but it is equally enjoyable for teenagers and adults.
Mou Yuukai Nante Shinai - The Naive
This is not a drama like the rest, but a special. Ohno plays a naive guy who used to wish he was a hero, Tarui Shotaro. This is a very light and funny story. Shotaro is suddenly asked by a yakuza daughter Hanazono Erika, Aragaki Yui, to kidnap her.
Just from this short briefing you can already imagine how messed up this is, yet it is also entertaining. Besides, this role is also similar with those that Ohno has had before, of course with the exception of Maou.
Kagi no Kakatta Heya - Geek
I'm sure most of you know of this drama already. If not, this should definitely be on your "Plan to Watch" list. Enomoto Kei, played by Ohno, is an extreme geek with door locks, and an introvert, not because he doesn't like talking, but because he doesn't talk if he has nothing to say. Despite his serious character, he is also a bit of a dork, having funny and unexpected moments, where you can't help but laugh as he is completely serious.
He is constantly asked for help to figure out the mysteries of sealed rooms. He will just figure out how the murder came to happen because of the sealed room, and leave the rest of mystery to others, as he doesn't really care about anything else.
I myself do not like mystery dramas that much since they are mostly episodic, but even if some of the cases were episodic, it still captured my completely, week by week as each episode aired. Do not miss out on this fun drama!
As a game, in every drama the members of Arashi has acted in, a member will have a drama after the one that he cameo's on.
Maou- Ninomiya
Uta no Onii-san- Sakurai Sho
Maou- Ninomiya
Uta no Onii-san- Sakurai Sho
Kaibutsu-kun- Matsujun
Mou Yuukai Nante Shinai- Sakurai Sho
Though this has recently stopped :(
Mou Yuukai Nante Shinai- Sakurai Sho
Though this has recently stopped :(
If you can, check out some of his other dramas/movies:
As I mentioned before, be sure to check out his performances:
-Rain (2005) not HQ
Eight years ago, and it is still one of my favorite Japanese songs. The dance was choreographed by Ohno himself.
-Rain (2005) not HQ
Eight years ago, and it is still one of my favorite Japanese songs. The dance was choreographed by Ohno himself.
-Top Secret (2007)
Another oldie but good. My second favorite song by Ohno. The dance moves are also great.
-Take Me Faraway (2008)
Even though in this one, he doesn't dance much, oh my God, just listen to his singing and his high notes. I think this one really shows how he is not lip-syncing and is actually singing live. Of course, in all the rest he is singing live but since he is not dancing so much in this one, you can really concentrate on his voice.
-Shizuka na Yoru Ni (2011) not HQ
This is another slow song, yet it is still as epic as it can be.
-Hung Up On (2012)
This song is Ohno's solo with Sakurai Sho's (fellow Arashi member) rap. As per usual, the song includes around a minute of music for Ohno to dance. 2012 and this man just keeps on dancing the same as he was in 2005.
-Rain (2012)
After 7 years, Ohno performs this song again! You could just imagine how excited I was. When I was watching it, it felt like I was watching the 25 year old Ohno once again. His moves were spot on and as good as those in 2005. I am kind of glad he didn't have backup dancers and instead it was Arashi dancing in the screens.
-Take Me Faraway (2008)
Even though in this one, he doesn't dance much, oh my God, just listen to his singing and his high notes. I think this one really shows how he is not lip-syncing and is actually singing live. Of course, in all the rest he is singing live but since he is not dancing so much in this one, you can really concentrate on his voice.
-Shizuka na Yoru Ni (2011) not HQ
This is another slow song, yet it is still as epic as it can be.
-Hung Up On (2012)
This song is Ohno's solo with Sakurai Sho's (fellow Arashi member) rap. As per usual, the song includes around a minute of music for Ohno to dance. 2012 and this man just keeps on dancing the same as he was in 2005.
-Rain (2012)
After 7 years, Ohno performs this song again! You could just imagine how excited I was. When I was watching it, it felt like I was watching the 25 year old Ohno once again. His moves were spot on and as good as those in 2005. I am kind of glad he didn't have backup dancers and instead it was Arashi dancing in the screens.
If there is an actor or an actress that is worthy of a Stalker's Guide in your opinion, and you have watched enough dramas of his/hers to prove it, please contact Elisabetta about it.
