Japan isn't just the land of Totoro and matcha but of.... *drumrolls* the boy band, Arashi. 

Well, given their status (fifteen years since debut and they are still as famous as ever), meeting them at random and/or getting to score a ticket (when you are not a Japanese native) to one of their shows is almost impossible. But going to Japan and taking pictures of every Arashi promo/stuff that we see is very much possible. And so, we took the chance to do it!

READY?

Here we go!

You are my SOUL! SOUL! 

いつもすぐそばにある

ゆずれないよ　誰もじゃまできない

体中に風を集めて　巻きおこせ

A・RA・SHI　A・RA・SHI for dream

LASTLY, the best one yet:

Tsukushi Makino vibing. #hanayoridango #domyoujiditoname #wherenayou

A post shared by April Ann (@aprilskelter) on Feb 19, 2018 at 3:03am PST

In our defense, we did not see the "Don't take pictures" sign on some of the places that we've been to (especially in the Shibuya stretch) before taking them. *facepalm*

すみません. ごめんなさい(or not). *winks*

April x

Documenting the whole Japan trip in one single blog post will take so many characters and be so awful long and since I cannot get to summarizing everything yet (still reeling from the fact that one of our dream travels has actually happened), I decided to put it up bit by bit. This post  is especially all about my favourite food to consume in the world: MATCHA!

Matcha is made by grinding young tea leaves and is said to have more nutrients as you are having the tea leaves instead of having just the extracts from its leaves (from a normal green tea). It is packed with antioxidants, boosts metabolism and burns calories. Matcha also:

(1) Enhances mood and aids in concentration
(2) Calms the mind and relaxes the body
(3) Prevents disease
(4) Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar

I'm making up for the long time that I have not been posting with short blurbs like this one (also, while drafting a proper blogpost recap of our Japan trip last month. A filler, kind of). It has been a year since I got my current baby pet cat (last March 3rd) and I think it is but proper to dedicate one for him!

Happy birthday slash anniversary, my baby Jon Snowbell! x

I like cats because they are low maintenance pets, occasionally cuddly, moody but they can generally fend for themselves. Jon is named by apparently a Game of Thrones character. He's got the Bell in his name in reference to my previous baby Ginger Bell (run free, my dearest) whom died of old age in 2016, days before I am scheduled to go back to the home country from a quick stay in Singapore. (The saddest thing.) But I have Jon now so, I'm doing well.

Seeing CNBLUE for the very first time caps off my concert enthusiast life on a high note in 2017: it's everything I have ever wanted and more.

And...that fact is what's making it quite surprising that I have procrastinated with this update that it has already overlapped Jung Yonghwa's military enlistment (he's already enlisted last March 5th) but better late than never, right? I am just so glad and I still can't believe that it has happened(!), that I was able to see all them for the first time and probably the last at least for a couple of years since the other three might enlist soon, too. (I look forward to seeing Kang Minhyuk in his Manila fan meet sometime this coming May, though).

I think it is necessary to reiterate how they are one of those few Korean acts that I actually listen to, own merch and physical CDs. It's not that I am not into the Korean music scene because I enjoy listening to anything (I've been listening to BTS because of my mate, too, see), but I guess you could say that I find their music special among others. So many things have happened since I've made a BOICE/CNBLUE appreciation post (you could read it here) and looking back, I could confirm now that they are it for me and I don't regret getting into their music.

So, the concert. It's everything. They've exceeded all expectations and they gave it their all (given that it is also the last stop of the Between Us tour). I was so hyped since they've started the night with Radio that I didn't realise that it was the Korean version and I was singing the Japanese one.


Fun fact: It is actually Radio (and Go Your Way) that has made me decide to give them a listen, which is weird because a good starter would be I'm a Loner or Intuition or Can't Stop but that's just me haha. It's from the Wave album, a Japanese release.

They all have that certain glow, an end of the tour glow, probably and it is so infectious. How to stay fresh like Kang Minhyuk, though? My baby.

I mean, look at him? (I am whipped AF, I know. The maknae line, Minhyuk along with Jungshin makes me suffer the most... but in a good way.)

KANG MIN-HYUK PARIN MGA MAMSH HAHAHAHA pic.twitter.com/TkAh5kEX7v

— April Ann (@AprilDeGuzman) December 9, 2017

Seeing them with my friends is also the highlight of the night. (Dianne being one of those whom I know have supported them from the start and she's also one of the reasons why I got kind of hooked) Good music and fangirling is even better when shared, eh? We even went to Gabe Norwood's restaurant prior to watching the concert and that's like hitting two fandoms/faves in one go. Time well spent.

#CNBlue #BetweenUsInManila levels/classifications by your girls (ahhhh last night’s been really fun, thanks to you) LODI level: Jung Yong-hwa Kilig pero wag pahalata level: Lee Jong-hyun How to remain fresh after two hours level: Kang Min-hyuk Pagod but no no no level: Lee Jung-shin Hagardo versoza na ako pero nagsusumigaw na pula parin ang lips level: GG22 / GG23 from Maybelline’s mars Gigi Hadid Collection #ZaynBakaNaman

A post shared by April Ann (@aprilskelter) on Dec 10, 2017 at 4:54am PST

They've also come in so prepared with all their Tagalog banters, and Yonghwa took it to another level: the LODI level.

WHOEVER TAUGHT @JYHeffect PETMALU AND LODI I DON’T KNOW IF I SHOULD CURSE YOU OR THANK YOU, BUT THIS WILL DEFINITELY HAUNT ME IN MY DREAMS TONIGHT.

We had so much fun!! You’re the ultimate LODI Yong-hwa, that’s for sure haha #CNBLUE #BetweenUsInMANILA @ime_ph @philconcerts pic.twitter.com/ZB2a0jIYPj

— April Ann (@AprilDeGuzman) December 9, 2017

Only you, Yonghwa. Only you.

With the energy and performance level to match that of Bruno Mars (I am not even exaggerating), they are so good at hyping the crowd up (see Coffee Shop + Cinderella fancam below, credit to the rightful owner, you're a legend!)) but I am most impressed with Royal Rumble. I didn't even like it that much on record but Yonghwa makes it so.... (add whatever good adjective that you could think of, I'm lost for words) when performed live? I don't know, man. I don't know anymore.

Royal Rumble isn’t a fave but THEM GUNS (AND THAT VOICE) Daaaaamn Yong-hwa #BetweenUsInMANILA pic.twitter.com/p2LpysGYRX

— April Ann (@AprilDeGuzman) December 9, 2017

And of course, Can't Stop (also one of the favourites)

Jong-hyun’s part in CAN’T STOP is forever iconic (also, there’s something about Yong-hwa smiling in here that I can’t quite figure out, parang ano e hehehehe basta haha) #BetweenUsinMANILA (this is for you, moja @rhoannie13) pic.twitter.com/VXxcQxNLUR

— April Ann (@AprilDeGuzman) December 10, 2017