http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2007/04/20/01.html
Akanishi Returns to Japan Under Tight Secrecy, To Resume Entertainment Activity

Member of popular idol group KAT-TUN, Akanishi Jin(22), who went on a hiatus from entertainment in order to study language abroad, returned to Japan on a Narita Airport-bound ANA flight from Los Angeles at 5.10pm on the 19th. It is the 6th month since the 13 October press conference where he announced his hiatus. On the 20th, he will attend a press conference in the city center with the rest of KAT-TUN and announce his resuming of entertainment activities . There have been adjustments made in preparation for his genuine return in the group’s Tokyo Dome concert in June.

<> In satellite feeds from the airport, Akanishi showed up after all other passengers had disembarked, with airport workers in front and behind him. VIP treatment as before, hiatus nothwithstanding.

He wore a white t-shirt under a black jacket, sneakers and jeans. Chest exposed even with the t-shirt, his wildness and sexiness was still evident despite the simple dressing. His trademark long hair had grown even longer, and had been curled at the shoulders.

Wearing sunglasses, he was fiddling around with his portable music player. Amid the shouts of “Welcome back!” by a group of around 10 journalists, he lowered his head, and had no further comment to questions. Even when asked questions such as “What were the results of your studies abroad?”, “Do you plan to stage a comeback?” and “Say something to the fans”, his lips were firmly pressed into a tight line, and his stiff expression indissoluble.

Only when he was asked, “Will you live all the way to the end now” [translator’s note: ‘Ima mo girigiri de ikite imasu ka?” ], in relation to the lyrics of debut song “Real Face” where he sang ♪ “girigiri de itsumo ikiteita kara…” [Because I’ll always live all the way till the end], did his features finally soften, and he walked briskly towards customs smiling.

It was half a year ago that he suddenly announced his hiatus right at the peak of his popularity. He had emphasized, “I’m not confused”, and had decided to go abroad to study “because I’d like to learn and absorb what I’d never thought about before, and what I’d never seen before”. Although he had not revealed his study destination nor other details, he had been spotted in Los Angeles late last October.

According to sources in-the-know, his return to Japan this time is no one-off thing, but with the full intention to resume his entertainment activities for real. It seems that he had decided that his study trip was to be done with “within half a year”. Staff had started preparing for his return since late February this year, to the extent of cancelling greeting meetings with sponsors and the like, until Jin returned to Japan.

Right now, KAT-TUN carries out activities as a group of 5. They started their national tour this month with a 3 day concert in Nagoya. There is a high chance that Akanishi will stage a ‘stage comeback’ at their Tokyo Dome concerts on the 2nd, 3rd, 16th and 17th of June. Not only does the Tokyo Dome carry a large sentimental significance as the place of their milestone CD Debut Concert last March, it is also a very ideal setting to stage their new start. In the press conference about his return to Japan set for 1.30pm on the 20th, Akanishi is expected to appeal for the resumation of activities as well as report on the results of his study abroad.

▼Akanishi Jin, 22 years old, born in Tokyo on 4 July 1984 (Showa 59). Active in Johnny’s Jr,became a member of KAT-TUN in 2001. Made his breakthrough in January 2005’s drama ‘Gokusen’ (Nippon TV). Also acted in ‘anego’ in April that year. 1.76 metres, Blood type O

2007.4.20, front page report