SMAP to appear in NHK documentary Professional

Things are going absolutely great for SMAP this year. They celebated their 20th anniversary, had their first concert overseas - in Beijing - and will be featured in Professional Shigoto no Ryu-gi on 10 October!

There are two firsts about this documentary. First, it is SMAP's first time since their debut to appear in an NHK documentary. Second, it is NHK's first time to feature entertainment idols! (I know Kimura once said that he doesn't consider themselves as musicians. He's more comfortable being referred to as entertainers.}

Here's the link to the news from Tokyohive.com

By the way, Professional is one of my favorite shows in NHK because it is so inspirational. The subjects are mostly out-of-the-box thinkers. However, I've not seen it for a long time, (been too busy and I forgot its sked) the last one featured a road accident investigator and it was an encore.

The format is usually like this. The subject is followed by a camera for several months to document what they do, their daily schedule, how they work and how they deal with the problems they face each day. It seeks to unravel how they rose to the top and be successful in their field. Towards the end, the professionals will define what is a professional, and they will give lots of quotable quotes that provide for the motivation to be like the professional. Watching one episode of this is like attending a business/life coaching session. It's awesome.

I'm so excited because it will feature SMAP and I don't see them a lot on NHK except in the yearender Kouhaku. NHK is the only Japanese channel carried by the cable we subscribe to. I'm assuming that the English version will come out a week later. Fingers crossed.

Here's the announcement in NHK website.

SMAP in Beijing

I'm so upbeat about this concert, even though I can't go to Beijing to see their performance.

This news is from Mainichi. It just tickles me every time I read any article about SMAP.

Wow! It was called off three times! There's no holding back now!

I wish you all the best and success in this concert!

A fanmade design for a t-shirt. Oh my gosh! They look so cute! I want one!

Below is a photo from Kyodo News. They're holding calligraphy of their names.

20 Years of SMAP

I can't blog as much as I wanted to because of studies and work and travel, and work and studies and travel, that my body is beginning to complain now. My holiday is a few weeks away and I can't wait to be off to the beaches in Palawan, Boracay and Bali.

I'm also thankful for this short break as I can listen to some old SMAP CDs and watch SMAP on YouTube. There is one particular video that I keep going back to every time I get sentimental – a video of Kimura singing Hajimete no Chuu (First Kiss). I guess he was 23 at that time. The original Hajimete is actually a fast song, but it was awesome when Kimura sang the ballad version.



He likes experimenting with songs. He once sang a nursery song Donguri Koro Koro, but he sounded like he was singing a love song. I wish someone would share that video again.

This year, SMAP is celebrating their 20 years as a group. What a great milestone! They never even thought they would make it that long! Now, they're still thinking of keeping things going for as long as the fans cheer and love them.

It is interesting to note that on their debut 20 years ago, there was a typhoon so they sang in the rain, and at their first press conference not one question was asked by the press. (I feel a knot in my throat now) I wondered what was racing through the boys’ minds at that time. They must have made a great resolve as from thereon they became the greatest boy band ever in Japan.

I just love the thought of loving these guys. I will continue loving and supporting them forever!

Always.