news_jpop | NEWS news (week of Dec 10)

Tegomass no Radio (Dec 13)
- At the opening, they talked about how NEWS’ 22nd single, “LPS” will be released on Jan 17 next year, and the Bluray/ DVD for “NEVERLAND” will be released the following week. Tegoshi then apologised to Sakura, saying he’s got acute bronchitis and can’t speak in a loud voice, so he’s counting on her that day. He shared how he had to be on a drip on the morning of Best Artist as he lost his voice. He felt regretful, thinking if only he had his voice. His voice wouldn’t come out at all, and it was only after being on the drip since morning did he regain his voice, so he barely made it and he seriously panicked. But apparently Massu’s voice hasn’t been in great condition since the week before, so it’s going to be Sakura’s radio for the day, and to treat them as guests. T: Please read all the mails and segment introductions. Sakura: I will, I will. T: We’ll answer of course. Sakura: Please do. T: Because we have recordings too. Sakura: Masuda-san, it’s not okay to sleep. M: No? Sakura: Uh huh. *I’m not sure what they said here. After all the talk about sleeping, Sakura said it’s okay for them to not talk, and relax their voice muscles. However, they’re playing their new song that day, so she’d need them to do the introduction. Tegoshi explained that LPS meant “Love, Peace, Smile”, and Massu shared his story on how he thought it’s a new cell. Tegoshi then went on talking about the content for the DVD (for NEVERLAND), what the limited ed and regular ed will each contain. T: Hmm? The off-shots won’t get included this time? M: Not off-shots, but the stuff in-between the concerts. T: I see. Yeah so something like what I just said. You get to see a double concert in the limited ed. M: What Tegoshi-san explained was for NEVERLAND’s DVD/ Bluray, but I was thinking of just going ahead to play LPS since we were on the topic just now. T: AHHH! Really! M: Yeah. T: Well, hmm? Let’s go ahead with “Love, Peace, Smile”. M: Yeah we were about to go when you started going “In the usual ed…” and talked about NEVERLAND. T: Because it’s written here. Sakura: As you’re seeing this only for the first time. T: Yeah. Sakura: So he’s just going according to the order properly, like how it’s written.
- ♪ LPS ♪
- Just when Sakura was reading the first mail, M: (sobbing voice) Arigatou. Sakura: Arigatou gozaimasu. M: Thanks for reading this for us. T: (starts singing “Catch the Moment”) S: If you can say that, and sing that, then read the mail! (T continues singing) S: Stop it already! T: That was Naoto Inti Raymi, where he sings “Thank you” in all the different languages. M: Ah that’s interesting. Sakura: Because you always push yourselves for these things! There are things we need you to do today. Please rest. Sakura proceeded reading the mail, but Tegoshi started humming a song, and Massu joined in. Sakura: You guys are perfectly well. M: Yo. T: We did this without using our vocal chords. Sakura: You’re definitely using them, because we can hear your voice! T: AHHAHAHA. M: This was a great explanation! T: Great job, sempai!
- Going back to the mail, the listener said they always are torn between buying rings that’re slightly looser or tighter. T: Okay pingpong! (the sound of quiz bells) It depends on the expansion of the fingers so I don’t know. (in Kansai accent) The fingers expands and contracts slightly depending on the time of the day so I don’t know. That’s all. Sakura: It’s true they’re asking about this, but... M: How noisy. Going back to the question, if they would buy rings slightly loose or tight, M: Just right… (slight laughter in the background) T: Seriously, it’s different depending on the size of the day. M: Just right… Tegoshi shared the story of how he lost his favourite ruby ring in the middle of one of the NEVERLAND concerts again when he was high fiving the audience and he never found it. But he really liked it very much so he bought something similar in a slightly different colour. M: That’s how much you liked it? Though it didn’t really suit you. T: Shut up. Sakura: Whoa… T: Oei. If you’re going to say that, then I’m going to call you ruby head. Oei. M: Hmm? You bought that ring after the image of me? T: (laughing) Shut up. Leave me alone.
- They went back to answering the mail, with Massu answering just right and Tegoshi saying it depends on the size of the finger then. Massu said fingers tend to be smaller in winter and wider in summer, so he recommends buying slightly loose rings in winter so they can still be worn in summer, and the other way in summer.
- The second listener said they are in charged of answering the phone at work. As they are the most junior there, they have to pick up the phone before their seniors, so they usually pick up after the first ring. It’s become such a natural habit that they do so to their own calls too, and got laughed at by their mother when they said the name of their company when they picked up the mother’s call. Do the three of them have any embarrassing stories of things they did unconsciously due to occupational hazards? Tegoshi said he probably has said this many times, but at bars where there are karaoke sets for the guests to use, he can’t help but be really conscious when people go off key, or when they are imitating singers. They might look like they are having lots of fun harmonising, but they aren’t at all. Stuff like that. Massu said he’d say “Ohayo gozaimasu!” even to people completely unrelated to the media industry when they meet. (NOTE: The media people in Japan greet each other “ohayo gozaimasu” the first time they meet in the day/ when they start a job, regardless of whether it’s morning or not.) Tegoshi said there are words he uses without knowing they’re industry lingo, like “teppen” (NOTE: usually means summit, but refers to midnight in media lingo). M: Or things like “ketsukacchin”? (to have an appointment later) T: We don’t even use that! That’s probably something used by producers many years ago! They then asked Sakura for hers, and she said she tends to take note of people’s enunciation, to which Massu started talking purposely in bad enunciation, and Tegoshi started spouting off endlessly in bad enunciation too. M: He’s talking more than usual! Sakura: Really. It’s okay not to try so hard. T: Ahh I just can’t help but speak since we’re doing radio. So I shall go home now. Sakura: No… T: I know myself. Once it gets fun I’ll just talk, so I’m going home. It’s better if I’m not here. Sakura: Please stay. Massu shared a recent episode of when they were having rehearsals, and both of them weren’t feeling well, so they both put masks on and sat in the corner. And while Shige and Koyama were dancing, Tegoshi mumbled, “There’s nothing good about me if I can’t talk.” T, Sakura: HAHAHAHHAAHAHAH. M: Real softly. T, Sakura: AHHAHAHAHA. M: I told him, “Of course not!” Sakura: Of course not! You’ve got lots of strengths! Tegoshi said he’s always fooling around with the members and the staff, and is the type who wants to make lots of noise, but when he can’t talk, he can’t do that. And because he couldn’t convey anything without going really close to each person, he felt he couldn’t do anything that day. People probably thought he was in a low or even bad mood that day, so he was like, “It’s not like I don’t want to go talk to people either. I do! Ahh there’s nothing good about me” Sakura: Such a good kid… It’s okay! Everybody understands. T: Ah really. I was really sad. Because I’m always so noisy. Sakura: It’s okay. T: Sorry. Sakura: It’s okay, even if you don’t talk, people feel your presence. Both of you.
- The third listener asked if the 3 of them behave the same way in private, with TM speaking to Sakura in casual tone despite being younger, or if they use proper language and greetings behind the scenes? Tegoshi said both of them each kiss Sakura once before saying bye. Sakura: No you don’t. T: That’s how close we are. Close enough to kiss. Sakura: That’s just not close, just sick. M: There was once when, well during the recording we always pretend to be close, but there was once when I got kicked after we were done. T: No way! Sakura: Hang on.. M: I got kicked, and told, “That was no way to say that, was it!” T: Whoa scary… M: So I got down on my fours and apologised. Sakura: Hang on, Imai-san shouldn’t be joining in too, you guys know me, don’t you! T: Masuda Takahisa got suppressed by Miyajima Sakura! They said they behave the same way even off-air, and Tegoshi said if it isn’t a direct sempai, he doesn’t really care about using polite language. Like if it’s the seniors from Johnny’s, the work place or school, he uses polite language, but other than that he doesn’t really care. Even for Horie Takafumi, someone he really looked up to, and gradually got close to. They just speak casually to each other these days. M: What do you call him? Horiemon? T: Taka-kun. Because he refers to himself as Takapon. M: That’s the same as me, isn’t it. T: That’s true! M: Ah that’s why you chose that ring! T: Stop it! You’re the one who hates it the most, isn’t it. When fans think we are all lovey dovey in private too. So why are you trying to push things in that direction!
- Going back, Tegoshi said he isn’t bothered as long as they’re in different industries. M: It’s true you don’t care. Even though I’m your direct senior, you spoke to me in casual language right from day one! T, Sakura: HAHHAHAAHA. M: Your direct senior! T: That’s right. From about 15 years ago? M: So you’re lying. It depends on the person. T: Because we’re in the same group. M: Even before when we were in a group! Tegoshi said it’s true it might depend on the person, as he doesn’t use polite language with Nakamaru either. They said it’s because Nakamaru (KAT-TUN) doesn’t push his weight around like a sempai would, and is someone gentle. But even with Miyagawa-san (from ItteQ), there are times when he doesn’t use polite language either. Sakura said how she doesn’t use polite language with a fengshui master “Doctor Copa” either, and they talked a bit about how there are many doctors around and it’s easy to mix things up. T: Because I don’t know much about the media industry. M, Sakura: This is not even the media industry, it’s the fengshui industry! M: That was Fusuya. T: What’s “Fusuya”? M: Comedians. T, Sakura: We don’t know. M: Hmm? (says their trademark line) T: AHHHH! I know them! They’re Fusuya? Stop saying things that need explanation. M: You should know them. Then at the end of the segment, Tegoshi started coughing and Sakura read the ending lines in place of him, and he thanked her.
- For Tegomass’ Battle this week, they had to do a word chain game in English. For example, if the first word was “apple”, the next word had to begin with “E”. Whoever has more words written in 30 seconds win. They were given Tegomass’ T to start with. They would be disqualified if the spelling was wrong and Massu was worried about his spelling. Tegoshi apparently wrote really quickly. Tegoshi’s words: tea > apple > eat > trip > please > egg > god > doctor > ring > get > together. M: He got all the spelling right? Doesn’t apple look wrong? T: They’re right! Then it was Massu’s turn. Sakura: T! M: Did I spell “table” right? T: Yeap. Massu’s words: table > egg > google > egg. Sakura: What is this! It’s in a loop (studio bursts into laughter) Tegoshi said to put it into Pokemon terms, Massu’s just practising how to catch the ball after receiving it from the Professor, and there’s no competition at all! M: I was most worried about “table”. Sakura: Why did you pick something you weren’t sure about then! Tegoshi said he didn’t feel like he won anything at all, and Sakura said it’s probably because Massu won, impact-wise. T: It’s as if a pro soccer player beat a nursery kid. I don’t feel like I won. M: Who are you calling a nursery kid! T: I don’t feel like I won. M: Table, egg, google, egg, google...hurhurhur. T: I feel stupid for having written all that so seriously.
- The next battle had them writing animals whose names are made up of 4 characters. Whoever manages to write more in 30 seconds wins. You could hear sniffling sounds, and it’s likely Massu. After 30 seconds, Tegoshi only wrote 3: lion > cheetah > penguin (all written in 4 characters in Japanese) M: SO FEW! Seriously? Massu managed the following: mammoth > zebra > (misspelt) sea otter. M: I’m sure there are 2 of those small “tsu” in the middle. Sakura: No there’s only one. So this is only 3 characters. T: You little… in the end we only managed 3 each? Sakura: No, it’s 3 versus 2. Sea otter didn’t count. T: Eh? I won with just this? (laughter in studio) Massu tried arguing a little, but didn’t manage to change anything while Tegoshi couldn’t believe how weak his opponent was that day. M: I lost… I lost completely today. T: He was terrible. He only wrote 5 words in total for both games. Despite having 1 minute. M: Ah I’m in a bad shape today.
- At the end, they promoted LPS and NEVERLAND again. And when Sakura was reading the details, the two of them tried continuing the English word game in the background. M: Pen. T: NEWS. T: Saw. M: Saw’s okay? T: Yeah. M: Winter. Winter. Wing. Google. (laughter) T: You really love google, don’t you. Though I do use Google Maps a lot. Okay, google!
- They apologised again for their condition, and ended off.

Masuda Takahisa no Master Hits (Dec 15)
- At the opening, he said it’s written on the script that it’s only 10 days to Christmas. People might think, “So what?”. Recently when he looks at the expiry date of sweets and snacks he buys, and it’s in 2020 or even 2018, he feels like it’s very far ahead in time. He’d never felt this way, but if the food can last till 2020, it means it’ll already be Tokyo Olympics then. Another story he shared was how JE staff always go to the recordings for Master Hits. He’s mentioned it before, but they asked him for his clothes and he gave them some. They’ve probably met about 10 times since, and he’s never seen them in the clothes yet. Not even once. And on top of that, they’re wearing the same shirt each time they meet. It might be their strength in that they don’t waver in their preferences, but to ask for clothes from him and not even add it to their repertoire is just… he hopes to see them in his clothes the next time.
- The first message is from someone who asked if Massu prefers deep fried prawns or prawn tempura. He prefers prawn tempura. Though part of him feels they are not thaaaat much different.
- ♪ Miso Soup ♪
- The second message said they worked at a clothing store for 2 days as part of their work experience. While they were really happy to be able to get into contact with the clothes they love, they also realised how hard the job is. What would Massu like to try doing if he could try, for a few days? He said when he was in elementary school, he went to a doughnuts store in his hometown for his work experience with 5 - 6 people. There, he was allowed to shape the doughnuts, put them into the oil and fry them. He wasn’t allowed to work at the cashier or anything, just experience how to make the doughnuts inside. Other than that, he also went to quite a lot of places for Ippuku and was allowed to learn many things. But if he were to choose something now… the cashier. At a fast food restaurant or something. Rather than being the one to prepare the food, he wants to be the one at the cashier packing the stuff. Like at convenience stores and supermarkets, there are the ones who pack everything really nicely, and there are probably skills involved in that. But fronting the store as the cashier at fast food restaurants is nice too. He said it’s nice to work at clothing store, though it might be surprisingly tough too, to have to do the cleaning up, with all the dust and windows. He thinks it’s great to have this experience, as there are times when you may like something but feel differently about having to make it your occupation.
- The third message is from someone who likes Massu’s smiling face. They’ve also been praised for their smile since they smile all the time since they are young. Recently, they started being really happy about being praised for the same thing they like Massu for. What was something he got praised for and was happy about recently? He took some time before offering “The way you eat makes the food looks yummy”. He thinks that’s a form of potential, a skill you have at birth. M: What do you call that. Spec? Hurhur… is “spec” right? The spec that Masuda has since birth. It’s like I was just wanted to say “spec”. After that he did a short explanation of spec, saying it’s short for specification (the way he pronounced it here is really cute). And that means a skill you possess? But yeah. “The way you eat makes the food looks yummy” is praise on a high level. He said it’s great for the listener to be praised for their smile, and to please continue living life with a smile.
- The fourth message is from someone who’s in their second year of high school, and has been angering their teacher since their first year, for sleeping in class. Recently, they bought a photo of Massu from Johnny’s shop and put it in the file they usually use, and that stopped them from feeling sleepy. Each time they see Massu, they think he must be working hard, so they should work hard too. The rate at which they fall asleep in class has dropped by a lot, and it’s all thanks to Massu. He said he can somewhat guess which photo it is and that photo also becomes one of his specs. He’s happy to hear that, as he’s always hoping their merchandise can come in useful to their daily lives. Though there were rumours that Masuda slept quite a bit in his classes (M: I don’t know anything about that though!). Since they’re in their second year of high school, he hopes they can stay awake and do their best.
- The fifth message said Massu mentioned he likes his curry medium spicy in jweb, but what kind of curry does he like? The listener likes the Bangladesh chicken curry and naan they ate at a curry festival held in their prefecture last time. He said while he’s had chicken curry and naan before, he’s probably not had any in Bangladeshi style. It sounds yummy, and even the naming is perfect. He doesn’t like curry to be super spicy, but the kind that he’s been used to. He also found out recently that he doesn’t really like the kind of curry where the ingredients are chunky. It’s nice to have meat, and other ingredients, but he prefers ingredients like potatoes and carrots to be simmered to the extent that they’re practically melted into the curry. Onions too. That’s the kind of curry he likes, though he might have talked about this before. This type of curry, plus Thai rice. Naan’s nice too. He also shared that if you scoop the rice towards the curry instead of the other way round, you can clean out the plate really nicely. He said that rather than being super particular and cooking everything from scratch, curry is the most delicious when you cook using the ready made curry packs. So it’s just having to cut the ingredients, fry them, and wait. Plus cook the rice. And that might actually be the hardest step. Cutting onions and cooking rice. Slightly hard. He said he got excited talking about curry and might eat curry that night.
- The sixth listener asked what present Massu would be happy to receive from a girl. The listener wants to buy a gift for his boyfriend, who’s born in December and likes sports. He asked if that’s separate from Christmas, and suggested giving them in one gift, and buy him accessories. Necklaces, or bracelets. Since it’s Master Hits, he’d really want to promote mugs, but since it’s December, mugs don’t really make sense as they’re not for hot drinks. Considering it’s his birthday and it’s Christmas, accessories should work well. Or if they’re students, maybe a muffler, one that she stays up a few nights to knit herself or something. Or gloves. Again, since it’s December, it might be nice to put in effort for it and combine it together with Christmas. At the end, he concluded that a muffler’s a good idea, and asked how everyone felt. Apparently people at the studio were all nodding, so either accessories or muffler.
- The seventh listener said they have bad inounciation, especially for the “sa” row of sounds (sa shi su se so). They even have problems with “desu” and trip over that very often. As it’s embarrassing, they started practising tongue twisters for the “sa” sounds recently. However, there’s one that can’t read 3 times at one go. Can Massu read this tongue twister without tripping over? He just read everything in a mess, said “Ok!” and moved on.
- The eighth listener asked if there’s anything he wants to do within the year. He said he’s been saying he’s decluttering all the time, and is pretty much done with it but he wants to properly finish it up.
- ♪ Yuki Daruma ♪
- For Masterpiece this week, he played “LPS”.
- At the end, he properly said the tongue twister 3 times, (“Josetsusha josetsu sagyouchuu” ) albeit really slowly, and said really happily that he managed to do it perfectly.