TokyoHive recently covered Arashi appearing in the skies with their own jet, and now they are going to be appearing on the desk of every child and teenager through a textbook appearance.  It sure seems like Arashi is taking over Japan one product at a time.

A book called “Nippon no Arashi” has appeared in every elementary, junior high, and senior high schools in Japan recently. A letter that was sent along with the books explained that the goal of the book is to teach the children of Japan of its beauty and culture, and to encourage them to travel the country. The book is not for public sale though, as Arashi actually volunteered for this project.

In the book, Arashi is featured as tour navigators, presenting each chapter on different parts of Japan.  For example, Sho visits a rural town in Aichi Prefecture and helps with the farming. The book has many photos of the members getting a hands-on experience and spending time with the locals. There are no interviews in the book, however, there are detailed reports written by professionals who observed Arashi’s activities.

The book was published two days ago, and two copies of “Nippon no Arashi” have been sent to each school, and they will be placed in the school’s library.  While Arashi is on the cover, the real stars of the book are the locals, who are featured along with the lengthy articles.  This book isn’t a fan book at all, it’s an educational book hoping to get children more interested in their country. While many may not understand that concept, this is one book that will certainly touch the hands of many children for years to come.

With the release of this type of book, this is a strong testament to the popularity of Arashi in Japan, something even the government recognizes.

While it was told to us that this book is not for sale, there was a press conference back on April 8 in which the publishers requested TV stations from China and Korea market the “sightseeing navigator”, which plays an active part in promoting Japan overseas. Using Arashi as the face of Japan is the company’s catchphrase logo.

Twitter account GAKUJI received their copy four days ago (9/1) and uploaded the photo of the book. While they don’t explain the book, they did provide the link to the press conference with Arashi.

At a press conference the members each had a message:

“I am Sho SAKURAI, and I am very excited to be appointed as the Japanese Tourism Promotion Representative. I will make every effort to encourage you to visit Japan by introducing all the wonderful destinations in our country. I will be waiting for your visit here in Japan, so come enjoy endless discovery.”

“I’m Aiba Masaki and I was appointed as the sightseeing navigator. I did my best to show everyone Japan’s charm, so everyone hold on tight! I’ll see you all in Japan!”

“I’m Arashi’s Matsumoto Jun. I am a sightseeing navigator. We had two concerts in Korea and it’s a country I like very much. This time I want everyone to see the good of Japan. Everyone, Japan is waiting for you all!”

“We couldn’t call for a meeting place today, I’m sorry about that. I’m happy that Arashi has been appointing as the nation’s sightseeing navigators. There are many various things to discovery when traveling, and I think there is a moment in one’s life to look at yourself and make big changes. One of my hobbies is fishing, and I traveled around looking for fishing spots. I was touched by our island’s beauty and the warmth of every person as I traveled. I hope that people from overseas will know about his book, and through us, help them see the beauties of Japan.”-Ohno Satoshi

“I’m Ninomiya, a sightseeing navigator. I apologize for not being able to set up a meeting place. This is a chance for me to introduce the wonderful places of Japan, domestically and internationally. Even though I’ve been living here all my life, I discovered something new everyday. Wouldn’t you like to discover something new with someone all over Japan as well?”

Tip: aijpop

Source: aijpop, Gakuji, Japan Tourism Agency