Arashi open the new year with a big announcement.

Arashi are the main personality for this year's 24-hour TV!

The members announced the unusually advanced appointment during their Arashi ni Shiyagare SP on the first day of 2012.

The charity event is usually held in summer, but this year they set the tone early so as not to forget that the disaster areas are still in recovery and in need of support, especially in this cold harsh season.

This is the third time Arashi are chosen as the face of 24-hr TV on NTV. They were previously appointed in 2004 and 2008 seemingly creating a tradition like the Olympics. Once every four years and during the Olympics too! (Maybe it's coincidental, but still... )

There are plans for the members to visit the affected areas. More would come as the year unfolds. ^^

From Arashi's page on JNet, looks like the theme for the 24-hr TV is 『愛は地球を救う』, 'Ai wa chikyuu wo sukuu', [Love saves the world]. ^^

Looking forward to what Arashi would do this year too.

Happy New Year everyone. Please take care and be safe, healthy, happy and prosperous! ^o^