winkychan: (Sho - Scarf)
// lost on the web. ([personal profile] winkychan) wrote2017-04-14 12:45 pm
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The Ultimate Arashi starter guide

So you're a new Arashi fan/you want to help your friend getting into Arashi/help other find stuff without being bothered, but it's quite complicated to get yourself around. Search no more my friend because you've come to the right place (without pretention of course!). I'll try not to write too much because it can get overwhelming, but I'll try to concisely list ressources, along with the correct method to search and download stuff (that's the number one request I generally get: "Do you know where I can find XXXXX?").



The big Arashi starter pack

Without further ado, we'll start with a big zip file with many awesome/must see videos, because videos... are better than words!



Download links: Mega | MF (1.91Gb)
Click here if you don't know how to download from those websites and unzip and join files
Inside the pack I also added some shortcut links to useful ressources to watch short clips and such, and a "read me" describing each file. Here is what's inside of it:


*whispers* You should watch "[Live] Arashi - Hope in the Darkness (THE DIGITALIAN)" first ~(˘▾˘~)


Pimp posts

If you don't know what a pimp post is, basically, in any fandom, a pimp post is a post to introduce an interest or idea to other people in hopes that they will like/follow the interest/idea due to a wealth of information.
I made just a quick graphic, because a lot of Arashi subs are color-coded, and when you're new to the fandom, it's easy to get lost (just notice, for the future, that Aiba-chan and Jun's colors are inverted in C/D/G no Arashi and Arashi no Shukudai-kun).


You will find many great pimp posts in this entry made by [personal profile] justfever .
I'll just add my three favorite links to start quickly with Arashi:

Getting started with Arashi fan communities

As of April 2017, a big part of the international fandom is present mainly on Twitter and Tumblr.
If you're new to those social networks, I suggest the following:

  • for twitter, you can start by checking the list of accounts that I follow here, that will give you a general overview (you can also check who those accounts follow too), and then twitter will give you recommendations later, so you will be able to adjust your timeline according to YOUR taste. Here is a more in-depth tutorial on how to start with twitter.

  • for tumblr, check the Arashi tag, from there, you can see which accounts post often and which one you want to follow. Also checking the tag only will get you up to date informations too. Here is a more in-depth tutorial on how to start with tumblr.

But here you are on dreamwidth/livejournal, and while even Facebook and Instragram (and I believe, also Pinterest) have a lot of Arashi fans (also a lot discuss in LINE groups), this is where the real business is happening because mainly here will you find subs!
[personal profile] nicefinalbeam made an awesome tutorial for Livejournal, so I highly suggest you read it carefully because there are many unspoken rules in this fandom that you should be aware of.

You also should know that, since the new TOS of Livejournal, a lot of people and communities are migrating to Dreamwidth, it's basically a clone of Livejournal, so the same etiquette should be applied there as well.
If you want to try your hand at Dreamwidth, I highly suggest that you read this tutorial by [personal profile] coolohoh.



Arashi communities

Now that you're all set for Livejournal, here is the very basic list of Arashi communities you should follow in order to be always up to date with what is happening in the fandom (especially if you're looking for subs). As of now, I'll refer to Livejournal with "LJ" and Dreamwidth with "DW":

  • [livejournal.com profile] arashi_on

  • [community profile] arashi_off

  • [community profile] storm_freaks(this community is great if you want to bring up your comments counter and make friends, because it's really active, with games, and a good place to chat)

  • [livejournal.com profile] arashi_bangumi (a community to post reviews on episode. It's great if you don't know what to watch, to bring up your comment/posting history, and sometimes, if you couldn't find subs for a certain episode, you can get an overview reading the corresponding the summary)



How to get your Arashi medias

Now we've come to the real reason you're here :)
I've made a big flowchart at the end with the tried-and-tested process to find almost every Arashi file you may need to find.


1/ How to search efficiently

  • First, you want to know what you're looking for. For many files, you will need to search sometimes in Japanese, sometimes in Korean, so you should refer to this guide I made.

  • You will also need sometimes, somewhere, to type in Japanese, so please follow this tutorial on how to install the Japanese keyboard on your computer.

  • You should also know that Japanese files are almost always listing the airdate in this order: YYYY/MM/DD. You should try different formatting if you cannot find what you need on the first try: YYYY.MM.DD | YYMMDD | YYYY MM DD

  • If you're looking for a video where you only have a gif or a picture, and if you cannot get informations from what could be written on the picture, try using Google reverse image search (here's a tutorial).

  • If you ever need to request something, you should do it here at [livejournal.com profile] arashi_on but please be careful to read the rules first and be mindful on how you do it or you will get banned. Once again, please read [personal profile] nicefinalbeam 's guide to Livejournal to know the proper etiquette to adopt.


2/ Get your tools ready

  • I highly highly highly recommend that you get Jdownloader 2, because it will simplify your life immensely. It's a download manager, that support almost every plateforms, it will unzip your file, join them, manage their passwords etc... it's just that amazing and time saving! Here is a very simple tutorial. Jdownloader will deal with the 5 points below, it is THAT amazing!

  • You will need to know how to download from Mega

  • You will need to know how to download from Mediafire

  • You will need to know how to extract archives using winrar

  • You will need to know how to join split files using HJsplit

  • It's a bonus, but you can also get a video downloader extension for your web browser like Video Downloader Professional (free) if you want to download from streaming sites

  • You will maybe later need Clubbox and/or Baidu, but we'll get to this part later.

  • I recommend that you update all your video codecs using K-lite codec pack.

  • Also I recommend the use of VLC as your video player. And here is a tutorial on how to add subtitles to a video using VLC (this will only work with softsubs, most usually you will get them for dramas and movies, the subtitles are in a separate file and not directly on the video).


3/ Find your subs

There are great listings of subbed files around, so I'll list them all here. Just know that you will encounter MANY locked entries and unfortunately behind that, EVEN MORE dead links (because of the great Megaupload tragedy). I highly recommend, if you have not done it yet, that you really read [personal profile] nicefinalbeam 's guide to Livejournal because it covers that aspect.

  • [livejournal.com profile] we_make_storm (updated until 2013, not updated anymore)

  • [livejournal.com profile] arashic_index (updated until 2014, not updated anymore)

  • [livejournal.com profile] gonindeiru (starts from 2013 onwards, still updated)

  • JE index (updated until 2011, not updated anymore)

  • [personal profile] kazunari (updated until 2013, not updated anymore)

  • [livejournal.com profile] arashiproject (a huge revival project, if you encounter a dead file, you should check this site)


4/ Find your audios and raws

Sooner or later you will need to get raws ressources (raw means not-subbed here), here is a list of places to go:

  • [livejournal.com profile] arashigoodies (audios, pvs, concerts, dramas, movies etc...)

  • [community profile] ninotendo (tv shows, dramas, movies etc...)

  • [community profile] yumenohashi  (recent TV shows, fast at updating after the airdate)

  • [community profile] amnos_n0_asa (recent promotionnals shows, fast at updating after the airdate)

  • There are other LJ communities for raws that are really up to date but they don't allow to link back to them. I suggest you look for the raw provider credit on subbed files and errr.... ask your friends for "KnH" and "DSS".

  • Pan.baidu is a Chinese online cloud storage and is the number one raw provider for Arashi stuff. You can read my tutorial to learn how to use it.

  • Clubbox is a Korean online cloud storage, really slow, but also a great source and easier to find stuff (especially old) than baidu. You can read my tutorial to learn how to use it.

  • Naver is a Korean social plateform where you will be able to stream almost every video you want. Here is a great tutorial by [profile] shelketuesti.

  • Bilibili is a Chinese video streaming site.

  • Youku is a Chinese video streaming site.

  • Tudou is a Chinese video streaming site.

  • MioMio is a Japanese video streaming site

  • Pandora.TV is a Japanese video streaming site

  • And ultimately, here is my tutorial on how to watch to Japanese TV and listen to Japanese radio live online :)


5/ The ultimate flowchart on how to search for your Arashi stuff

Works better if you've read the 4 points above or else you will feel lost!

arashi-flowchart.png



Thank you for reading all of this, now you're fully prepare to buy another external HDD to download all those amazing Arashi stuff :D
Feel free to link this post anywhere :)
Also feel free to make suggestions in the comments to complete this guide!
But most of all: BAIT YOUR FRIENDS (ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ*:・゚✧ ✧゚・: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)

[identity profile] aussiestorm.livejournal.com 2017-04-15 08:40 am (UTC)(link)
WOW!!! This is truly amazing!! Not so much is new to me in there, apart from how to use some of the Chinese and Korean sites (which I didn't know how to use), but this is a great go to guide!

You have done a truly wonderful job, and should be proud of yourself! Although, I think there are some clips in the download I haven't got, so I am taking that!

Love your work, and enthusiasm!

(no subject)

[identity profile] aussiestorm.livejournal.com - 2017-04-16 02:25 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] jun-m.livejournal.com 2017-04-15 10:51 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much for sharing.

I love the ultimate flowchart especially pray very hard to Junsus XD

[identity profile] zzz-abc.livejournal.com 2017-04-15 06:10 pm (UTC)(link)
OMG WOW what a dedication!
but seriously, I'm so thankful of this post as I've just started to follow Arashi for this past 3 weeks~
well I've been in the Johnny's fandom from back then in 2009 with NEWS when it was really a wonderland, with all of the active subbers/subbing community, active members, etc. T___T then I went on complete hiatus for a whole year or so
but for this past 2 years I'm trying to be up-to-date according to my own pace hahahah
and just recently I started to fall deeper for Arashi! >w< especially Nino & Aiba! XD
So this really came on the perfect timing for me hahah~
btw seems like I saw your name a lot as a re-uploader on some subbing communities, so together with this one, I'd like to say that I'm really thankful from the deepest of my heart! Bcs there are dedicated people like you guys that the fandom is still living to this moment, and that's a really beautiful thing to do!
and this started to get long lol so yeah, I wish great days ahead of you, Winkychan!^^

(no subject)

[identity profile] zzz-abc.livejournal.com - 2017-04-18 14:24 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] zzz-abc.livejournal.com - 2017-04-22 07:52 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] amai-aji.livejournal.com 2017-04-15 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow!! It must have taken you a lot of time and effort to do all this!! I'm not a new fan but I still find it useful =P Thanks a lot for doing it and sharing it with everybody, you're really a kind soul x3

[identity profile] ys-jnr.livejournal.com 2017-04-16 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
Dear...goshhhhh....
this is really 200% guide, more than helpful..
thank you so much..hv a great day ahead!!
ext_242241: (Supernova)

[identity profile] mojojowan.livejournal.com 2017-04-16 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
Uwaaaaaaaah!!!! Omedetou!!! Finally, you're done with your Arashi starter pack! When you told us on your twitter account that you're going to make this, I am excited to see the final results. I love it dear! Specially the chart hahahaha! :D

Thank you for always making our fangirl life easy :D

[identity profile] tapsilogue.livejournal.com 2017-04-16 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
INCREDIBLE. I can't imagine how long this might have taken, lol. But it's a great help to many people in fandom, I'm very sure! ♥

[identity profile] reyahh321.livejournal.com 2017-04-16 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
HI WINKYCHAN! SEEING THIS POST OF YOURS (after the long while you weren't updating us back in ..uhm, maybe 2013?) MAKES ME WANNA SAY, WELCOME BACK OMGASDFGHJKL! I love you~ :D

I'll definitely link this post and share this guide to welcome new fans of Arashi!!!!Hohohoho~ We need more fan love~
ext_1898051: (ohchan1)

Sasuga Senpai!

[identity profile] babicentil.livejournal.com 2017-04-16 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I honestly believe that the intl fans community should give you a trophy.

[identity profile] bianca747.livejournal.com 2017-04-16 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
This post with all it's resources and tutorials is amazing. I'm sure it'll be useful even if I don't consider myself a new fan anymore.
Thank you very much for putting it together! <3

[identity profile] missd3stiny.livejournal.com 2017-04-16 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Beautiful post!! Good job :)
wonsraed: kuro (sho & arms)

[personal profile] wonsraed 2017-04-17 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
Hajikerya yea! You are cool~ Haha
Awesome post as always~ It'll be helpful for the new bloods~
Edited 2017-04-17 03:48 (UTC)

[identity profile] lexisegovia.livejournal.com 2017-04-17 07:40 am (UTC)(link)
This is awesome! thank you so much! i'll be using this to bait more arashi fan haha

[identity profile] podo933.livejournal.com 2017-04-17 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow :) Winkychan thank you very much!

[identity profile] katipooh12.livejournal.com 2017-04-17 02:17 pm (UTC)(link)
WOW! Been a fan since the beginning, this is one great help for all us fans!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! :)

[identity profile] sakura shoko (from livejournal.com) 2017-04-18 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)

This is the best! Hahaha lmao at Pray for Junsus @ the flowchart

[identity profile] astrangerenters.livejournal.com 2017-04-18 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I just want to say thank you for compiling this. I got into Arashi in 2009, so it was a much easier land to navigate back then. Things really have changed, and I'm so glad newer fans will have such a great resource to use to get started with our 5 friends. This is terrific, thanks for all your efforts.

[identity profile] goren-solves.livejournal.com 2017-04-21 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
Though Im not an Arashi noob, this is an awesome guide!! ^_^

OMG I LOVE YOU <3

[identity profile] moonhound.livejournal.com 2017-04-26 05:58 am (UTC)(link)
seriously, I've been out of the downloading thing these days because all the places I used to go to are now dead links. huhuhu. Thank you so much for these! I really really appreciate the efforts you guys are doing for the community. Thank you! I can't say that enough! <3 m(_ _)m

[personal profile] prettytin 2017-05-21 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
thank you! this is really helpful! as in really helpful. thank you :)

[identity profile] keichisuke.livejournal.com 2017-10-04 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
Hi winkychan :)

I was amazed when I saw this guide. Its just that, I started looking for Arashi videos just this year of 2017 and Im so disappointed on myself because I thought I was late to join this fandom, "why is it I only got interested to Arashi just now even tho I know them already before???""" A question that I asked myself before, Looking around social media and other sites I found Livejournal and made my own account.

I glad that I can have many resources through lj, but Im sad that other community are already purged, or not active anymore, Im too late to join their community too.

But Im happy, very happy I found you at the arashi_on community also your arashi project with others arashiproject community.

Im very much thankful that your still an active fan of arashi that still sub or share videos with sub here in lj. Also, I glad that those videos that I thought I can never watch is you revive them throught the arashiproject. Also, the community whose still active, you always give the information. Thankyou so much ^_^

And to you winkychan, your hardwork and effort thank you very much. I know is not that easy but your still there to do those stuff to atleast help others like me. I really appreciate you. ♥♥♥♥
ibtissa_m98: (Default)

[personal profile] ibtissa_m98 2017-11-26 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Hello :D
Thank you so much your tutorials really helped me a lot
do you know a way to download videos from bilibili ??

(no subject)

[personal profile] ibtissa_m98 - 2017-11-26 17:34 (UTC) - Expand
annoyingcactus: (Default)

[personal profile] annoyingcactus 2018-01-16 03:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Hi! I'm new to arashi and the fandom.Thank you for sharing this guide :D
chibipinkpetals: (Default)

[personal profile] chibipinkpetals 2018-01-19 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you for the link.
I'm unfortunately not as active or active as before as I would love to be. Hopefully things can become manageable for me to rejoin the rainbow of happiness that Arashi is.

[personal profile] azurewolf7 2018-01-20 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
winkychan~~~~!!! WINK.KY.CHAN~!! I- I am so grateful for you, for this fandom, for Arashi. This is an amazing post and exactly what I needed to get re-started in the fandom. Your starter pack was amazing! I laughed, I ogled, I gasped, I laughed and ogled some more. It was nostalgic and also full of new things to give me a taste of what I had been missing. Thank you, truly, thank you- and of course everyone else that has contributed with guides and their time and skills. I am watching the Blast in Miyagi concert right now- I've actually purchased every single single (heh), album and concert they've sold even though I have not watched any of them- so this is me, falling further and further in love with those dorks. Sorry for the long winded babble- I got home from work yesterday and have not slept yet. Thanks again!!

(Oh my goodness, I replied to someone else's comment instead of creating my own. I think I need to sleep now.)

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