USC Last Princess - highlights of the trip

I bumbled the last part of my speech (about the "Arashi secret agency" - which was the name of our meet up today) because all these fans started rushing up to him - us - that well, I don't remember his reaction, or what he said to me (Destini asked me afterward what he said... I swear I forgot -- I think he said "thank you", or, "for me?"). 

But my brother said he put his hand to his heart and seemed very touched, which I hope is true!!! 

I hope we fans from the U.S. have managed to leave a very good impression on Jun so he brings the rest of Arashi no minna with him. When I looked down at the card and showed him the cover - he looked down at it too - I hope I wrote it alright, and that he could read it alright (I'll post the cover later). Mah... I wasn't nervous or excited at all (I was a bit excited during the movie, waiting for it to end, so that the press conference could start and end, so that I could present him the flowers. Minna agreed that I should give him the flowers, as a representative to our group here, and because I bought the flowers), but afterwards I felt my knees were trembling. I never a very shy girl growing up, and almost always felt comfortable on stage or in the spotlight, so it was really no problem for me. I'm not sure what to say: that I gave Jun flowers. It felt normal.

Afterwards, all the other fans who had bouquets for Jun-kun (some had bought some ahead of time, like me, others had went and bought some when they saw our bouquet). I helped pass down one or two small bouquets to him, and for a second, my knuckle brushed his finger. Now, I'm not a fangirl to go, 'OMG, I touched his hand,", but I must say, he had a surprisingly soft hand/skin! 

I hope Jun-kun mentions this to other Arashi members, and reads the cards and its messages (I can't guarantee it). But giving it directly to Jun, I think, would make more of an impact and that he would be wanting to read it, rather than putting it aside for his Arashi assistants to sift through. 

All this America-(and Abroad) Fan Concerted effort moves me, and I hope it moves Arashi, Jun, and Johnny's, as well. 

The other highlight was THE PRESS. They interviewed us foreigner fans (well, not me, but most of the other girls) about why we like Arashi, how do we enjoy it, what is so special, how can we buy their goods, etc. I HOPE to God that gets published in a big way. 

It was sad, when the press first came, I was away in the bathroom, changing my shirt from a tanktop to a white, fancier blouse, and I guess the camera just ran over the entire length of the crowd. Which means they got a picture of everyone, BUT ME. :( Jun-kun!!! And it seemed like the biased camera-people (when I *did* come back) wanted to photograph everyone but me. I'm serious. 

OH! Also, I heard that News Zero was there, but alas, our favorite news zero anchor (Sho Sakurai) was NOT there. 

Anthony Daniels - the C3-PO was a lovely Master of Ceremonies, very funny, very charismatic, and I think my brother was won over as a fan by his performance here tonight. :) 

The press conference was shockingly short, and felt a bit on-edge, not quite comfortable, very awkward atmosphere around it, my brother & I decided. 

We didn't stick around for the reception because it was only finger food, not enough to go around probably when our turn in line came, we were hungry, and Jun/Daniels/director weren't there, so really, what was the point? 

I want to thank EEEEVERYONE who helped pitch in for the bouquet (or wanted to, but I had already been reimbursed completely and didn't want to take people's money, ya know?), send money, signed the card (digitally or otherwise), and just yeah. YOU are the ones who moved Jun more than me. I only gave it to him. But the message was clear, it was from minna! :) 

Now I gotta go wash my face. I'm tired. Maybe I'll go through the whole boring highlights, like how it was boiling, and my brother found free food and brought it back, and the waiting in line in the heat. Or that my eyes had turned bloodshot red, and I panicked, thinking about how I was going to now have to present to Jun flowers WITH BLOOD-SHOT EYES. (exaggeration). 

Or the pretty fun and quirky highlights, like how some of us sang along to Arashi songs, and how two girls were doing impersinations for us to guess (mostly Ohmiya SK - who, I am shocked to discover, have broken up. Nino broke up with Ohno, apparently! XD lol). 

And we watched part of the TIME concert DVD until Destini's laptop battery died.

Or the New friends I made today - and met some good friends from Vox. 

Arigatou, all!! Have fun at the after party. I have school in the mornin'. 

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Edit: more:

What Jun was wearing, and what did he look like: He was wearing REALLY tight, light khaki-colored slacks, a light blue, collared shirt, a dark blue blazer, and I think black shoes. Oh, and I tie, but I don't know what color - a dark color. His hair was perfect - as always. Kind a brushed to the side (over one eye) flippy, defying gravity a bit, but perfect. His skin was so light, and almost translucent, very clear, and so smooth and shiny!  He was also wearing a large, dark, grey ring on his index finger.

He rushed past me – just as Anthony Daniels had done, probably to hurry along so that fans they passed by wouldn’t have a chance to do anything.

When he came in and was introduced, he spoke a whole speech in English about how great it was to be here at the “University of Southern California”, and said the whole, “The Hidden Fortress: The Last Princess”, etc. So well spoken!! So clear!

Anthony Daniels was constantly making jokes on the fact that almost everyone who came here was here to see Jun!

During the Q and A session, when one fan asked what he put into his role, Jun said that the director said his character was like Luke Skywalker, Spiderman, and Jack Sparrow, all the superheroes, rolled into one. I could definitely see the Spiderman resemblance, especially the way he crawled on the dirt ground. Jack Sparrow, too – his character’s costume and makeup looked very piratical.

When asked about putting his own personality into the character and he mentioned this was his first period-film, and that putting on the clothes and costumes helped him get into the role more.

He said that he wasn’t cool like his character and would not say all those witty lines. He added in English, “I’m shy”. It was the cutest thing ever and he looked so embarrassed at the audience’s reaction (which was to go, “awww!!”). Other fans have said this, and I will reiterate: Jun-kun is to be the most humble, modest, cute, adorable guy ever.

Finally, he said that he wondered what the audience's reaction would be about the end of the movie (I won't spoil it here for those who haven't seen it), and said he was sitting in the back of the theater watching our reactions on that.

He took the flowers - card on the top - then all these girls gave him more flowers, which he piled on top of ours, but I KNOW he saw our card because when I said, “Arashi fans from America”, I pointed down at the card, and he looked at it when I handed to him the bouquet. The card had said:

“嵐 Fans from the U.S.A.

嵐 の あいこうしゃ in the U.S.A.

To: 松本潤

      Jun Matsumoto”

So that means that he would remember it's under the pile of flowers. :)  

Oh, and the bouquet had – you’re not going to believe this – “Matsumoto Asters”. It’s a type of purple flower. And I wanted to tell him that, but I didn’t get the chance. So sad.

Oh well.

As for the movie, I think it was good. I think the Akira Kurosawa’s version was better – but who can be better than Kurosawa, who was a genius and mastermind? However Jun’s acting was superb, and so was the leading lady character. The cast was excellent, the special effects, and the storyline all wonderful. But I’ll post a review of the movie up later, okay?