To some, idols are nothing more than a pretty face, and the feeling is honestly understandable. In Japan, when it comes to the qualifications of idols, looks often precede talent, and everything is rehearsed and pre-screened.

But that stereotype doesn’t hold for all idols.

Many Japanese fans mention that a certain artist has helped them emotionally in their time of need, whether it be through music or acting or humor, and so is the case of a 63-year-old American lady named Margaret, who had lost her husband and was having trouble letting go. It turns out she was comforted by a song, “Kako“, a poetic ballad about not being able to let go. Of course, that track was performed by none other than J-pop idol superstars Arashi, and the song was composed by member, Kazunari Niniomiya.

Margaret was introduced to the group by her friend that lives in Japan, and while she didn’t understand the language, the song still comforted her, motivating her to look up the song’s translations. Along the way, she took the time to research the group, which led her to watching subtitled variety shows, and eventually, she found herself gradually being cheered up by the group’s humorous shows and charming nature.

While this may be just one case in a sea of a million, it’s not exactly a stretch to say the group’s worldwide popularity is not solely due to their pretty faces. As for the case of the elderly American lady, she wasn’t drawn in by superficiality, but rather the music, the meaning, and the charming nature of the group.

The Arashi fangirls all have their own reasons for loving the group, and undoubtedly, part of that reason is due to their striking features, but Arashi also possesses the unique nature of not being just randomly pieced together by their agency, as they were friends as trainees, and their care for each other and comfort level around each other never fails to show through. They have charm, charisma, and an honest warmness/aura (choose one) that translates to the viewers, a sight not often seen within idol groups today.


source: tokyohive