news_jpop | NEWS news (week of Jul 8)

Sorashige Book (Jul 8)
- Shige mentioned the paperback release of Kasa wo Motanai Aritachi wa at the start and said he wanted to read some letters from readers about it.
- The first letter was from a listener who said that they became interested in Shige and NEWS recently and hadn’t read any of his writing before, so they bought Kasa wo Motanai Aritachi wa. Usually they have a tendency to fall asleep while reading, but they didn’t fall asleep at all while reading. They gave their thoughts on some of the individual stories, saying that they were all interesting and had surprising parts. They said they were really glad they bought it.
  Shige said that the letter made him happy, and made him think back to when he was writing it and talked about things the listener brought up in relation to the first story which has an art theme and how in his work he’s been able to meet many people who went to art school.
  He also mentioned Inochi no Uta, and how he did a shoot with a Hiroshima art high school and how the school also served as the model for the movie Kimi no Na wa. He talked about how nice high school art displays are, while there are works there that are very good, there are also ones that aren’t so good but you can see things they really wanted to make that have a handmade feel from people who will go on to designers or illustrators or directors. He said that if he were to redo his life he might what to try going to an art school.
- ♪ Blue ♪
- Shige said that with with filming for the drama he hasn’t really had any tim to listen to music, but said that he wanted to talk about Suchmos and their new album ‘Ashtray’. He talked about the group for awhile and played their song ‘Voltage’ the 2018 NHK Soccer theme song. He talked about how the format of the song differs from the usual Japanese song format.
- The next letter was from a listener who wrote in to say that they just finished reading an installment of Miacis Symphony. They said that after reading the first part they thought that they’d really like it, and reading the second part confirmed those feelings. They said that they’re really looking forward to the rest.
  The next letter was also about Miacis Symphony, they just finished the 2nd installment and praised it a lot and how their friend likes it best out of all his writing.
  He said what he thought was amazing about deciding you like it after the 1st installment and confirming it with the 2nd is that the two are completely different. He said he was glad to hear that they like it, but said that he couldn’t say much more because it’d be a spoiler for people who haven’t read it yet.
  He said he’s busy with the drama, but is trying to write at as fast a pace as he can, but it’s taking time to write. He said that with the way he’s writing the number of characters is going increase a lot, and he’s not sure how it’ll come together. He hopes he can write more quickly once the drama is finished.
- The next letter was from a listener who said that more of the cast for Zero had just be announced and that they like Mamiya Shotaro and Sugino Yosuke so they were surprised. They said that they thought that Shige and Mamiya probably have a lot in common in their taste in movies, music and books so they’re really happy that they’re acting together. She asked if the cast has gotten to know each other.
  Shige said that they are, and that they were pretty much together for the first episode and would talk while they were waiting, and they had a long time to wait. He said that a lot of the cast are younger than him, so they could play around and he’s kind of in the big brother role. He said that they played the werewolf game, and card games. He said that Sugino suggested it, he doesn’t usually play games though he likes card games, but since a lot of the cast is younger they suggested it.
- ♪ Orihime ♪
- At the end when Shige was reading the ending information, the staff started playing NEWS’ ‘Happy Birthday’ and brought him out a cake. Shige was surprised and laughed thanking them before blowing out the candles. He said it was a crepe cake.

Kchan NEWS (Jul 10)
- This week’s broadcast was a special on location episode with Koyama visiting Massu in his dressing room at Tokyo Globe for his play ‘Only You’. It begins with Koyama explaining the situation as he approaches Massu’s dressing room. When he approaches the room you can hear Massu’s solo ‘Thunder’ playing in the background, and Koyama says that if it’s not his imagination he thinks he can hear Massu playing his own solo song. Koyama laughed before knocking on his door and then shouting over the music to ask if it’s ok for him to enter.
  Massu turned the music off and told him to come in and Koyama asks him if he was really playing his own solo song and Massu apologizes saying he didn’t know he was coming then. Massu urges him to sit and Koyama says that there’s something he wants to say to Massu.
  K: Well, these past two weeks you took care of the radio. I feel really sorry about that, and also thank you.
  M: No, It’s fine. Totally.
  K: Thank you.
  M: I think the listeners were looking forward to it. And they let me do it. I’ll be in Tokyo Globe theater for my play, so if you were to bring something, then…
  K: Well, actually.
  M: Yeah?
  K: I went and bought a bunch of the dangos that you like.
  M: Thank you!!
  K: I just bought them.
  M: Thank you!
  K: There’s some of the Mitarashi kind you like too.
  M: You’re forgiven.
  (Staff burst out laughing)
  K: No, that’s fast.
  They chatted for a bit more before playing the first song.
- ♪ Blue ♪
- The next letter was from a listener who wrote about how they’re looking forward to Massu’s play since they like various Johnny’s groups (though they can’t go to the see the play).
  Massu commented on how they’re only doing the play in Tokyo and Osaka, but he’ll do a play again sometime and thanked them.
  Koyma continued to read the letter, and it went on to talk about how Massu said that they’d be redoing the dances and they asked if it’s difficult to remember.
  Massu said that there are some sempai songs that he knew and danced to before, so he has to relearn the choreography as if it’s brand new. Koyama commented on how that’s the kind of thing that Massu hates the most, Massu said that for their songs he doesn’t like to change the choreography but it’s fine if it’s a sempai song.
  The letter went on to mention a question from the week before about how they memorize lines, and they said they wanted to know what techniques Massu uses to memorize his lines.
  Massu thanked them for their letter and then started to joke around and said that for scripts he doesn’t really do much ‘memorization’ that he’s not the type to make a lot of mistakes if he just gets into the feelings of the character, it’s not really about memorization. Koyama said that the more he kept talking the less he understood. Koyama said that yesterday when he was with Massu, they sat next to each other and though he didn’t mean to look he ended up seeing into his bag and his script had a lot of sticky notes on it so Massu must be properly memorizing it. They then pulled out the script in question and Koyama confirmed that it was covered in sticky notes. Massu tried to comment on how pristine it looked, but Koyama protested saying that it looked really beat up.
- The next letter was from a listener who said that they had a question for Koyama. (M: Ask me!) They wanted Koyama to share the parts of Massu that he thought are cute, cool, and kind while they’re in the dressing room. They think that there must be many good things about Massu that the fans don’t know about but that Koyama does.
  Koyama said that Massu usually talks a lot with the stylist about clothes, and if they’re on a music show with other groups he’ll look at their outfits and talk about which parts he thinks are cute or cool. Massu said that when all the different Johnny’s groups get together he likes to look at the individuality in different groups outfits, and will guess from looking who changed their stylist and who made the costumes.
  Koyama said that he was curious about a tshirt there in the dressing room, it had a lot of faces drawn on it and Massu said that it was a present from the choreographer of ‘Only Yours’.
  M: You were going to point out that it’s flashy looking weren’t you.
  K: No no
  M: What?
  K: It’s the kind of Tshirt that shows that in this [short] amount of time he was able to understand your fashion sense.
  Massu agreed saying that it’s only been about a month but he must have seen it and known Massu would like it from seeing his clothes.
  They then started to talk about the dressing room itself, and Massu boasted about how big it was and Koyama commented that he was making it up and it wasn’t actually that big. He also described some of the items in the room, including an exercise ball, some weight lifting tools, mirror, toothbrush, and　face lotion. Koyama said he had a lot of the same kind too and Massu told him not to coy him. Koyama asked about a certain item, and Massu said that everyone wrote notes for him for his birthday. Koyama commented on how close they all seem, and said that there’s also a speaker in the room and how Massu only had coffee in his fridge. They then went over to the shower room, and Koyama commented on how Massu had changed the kind of shampoo he uses and Massu said that someone gave it to him. Koyama also commented on how Massu’s body scrub towel is loud, and Massu made him touch it and Koyama was surprised by how firm it was.
  They also talked about how right now it was before practice starts, and Koyama double checked that he wasn’t bothering Massu and Massu said that he was happy that he came to visit him.
- The next letter was from a listener who wished Massu a Happy Birthday and Koyama said that they really got a lot of birthday wishes to the radio for Massu and Massu said that he was happy to hear that and would properly read them all later. The letter writer wanted to know who game him what for his birthday, they said that their guess would be clothes, but they also think that maybe since Massu has strong preferences regarding clothes maybe they wouldn’t. They said if he hasn’t received anything to please share what he wants and asked Koyama to buy it for him.
  Massu thanked them for the letter, and said that from the cast and staff they all gave him an outfit from the brand he likes, and since he said he thought XL might be too small on him they got him a bigger size than that. Massu said also that Koyama got him a 4XL Tshirt. Koyama commented on how no one has 4XL and even after telling the store staff the size three times they responded like ‘eh?’ and asked him if the size was really ok and he explained that it was a present for a member in his group. Massu said he’s worn it a lot, 3 times already. Koyama said he was glad if he liked it, and Massu said that it’s because he picked it out and Koyama laughed saying that Massu gave him instructions on what to buy.
  Massu said that since Koyama doesn’t like it when Massu doesn’t like the gifts that he picks out on his own, he often gives him some guidance on what to buy and Koyama will go get it.
- They said the ending information and then Koyama had Massu do some promo for his play. Koyama said wished him luck in his play, and Massu thanked him for coming. Koyama also brought up how it’s now past midnight and so it’s July 11th so it’s Shige’s birthday. Massu already gave Shige his present, sneakers, and Shige told him to tell him if there’s anything he wants so he wondered if the members don’t like to pick things out for him. Koyama told him that it’s really hard to pick things out for him, and Massu said he likes to see what others think will suit him, though he might not choose to wear it.
  K: Right? That’s what I don’t like! ‘Ah he’s not wearing it….’
  They also talked about how Shige’s drama is starting and that there are a lot of things to look forward for. Koyama said that people were starting to show up so he’d leave so as to not be in the way and Massu joked that he was in the way. Koyama wished Massu and Shige a happy birthday.
- ♪ Happy Birthday ♪

Tegomass no Radio (Jul 11)
- At the beginning, they talked about how Massu’s butai was going to start the following day. Massu shared how while the Johnny’s songs are familiar ones, there might be some are less familiar. All the choreography was also redone so Massu’s in the midst of memorising them. He’ll do his best, so please look forward to it.
- The request this week was for “BLUE”. The listener was someone who entered college this year. The CDs they own so far were all bought by their mother and shared between the two of them. Since they’re now a college student, they have started working part-time and “BLUE” is their first CD they bought with their own money. They will continue to support NEWS, so please do their best.
  Massu said since the first CD he bought on his own was “Samayoeru Aoidangan*” by B’z (the “Aoi” here can also mean blue), their first CDs are linked by “blue”. Tegoshi doesn’t remember the first CD he bought (M: Didn’t you say it was “Ai wa Katsu”? T: I bought that in elementary school with my mum. So I didn’t pay for it myself.) They started discussing how you define the first CD “you” bought, if using the money received during New Year’s counts, if money saved from pocket money counts...they tried defining it as “money they earned”, but they can’t remember. Tegoshi said it might have been something by Morning Musume for him. They said again it’s amazing the listener can define so clearly the first CD they bought on their own.
- ♪ BLUE ♪
- The second mail was from someone who’s looking at getting a new wallet. The first option is from a brand whose design they like, and the second is one which has better functionality than design. Which would they recommend. (T: This is becoming like a debate.) Massu and Sakura chose design, while Tegoshi chose functionality as he has lots of cards. So at that moment (sono shunkan) his cards don’t fit...
  T: ♪SONO SHUNKAN! (to the tune of “KINGDOM”)
  Sakura: Why do you have such a smug look on your face when you weren’t cool at all?
  M: Yeah he had the “I did it” kind of face.
  T: Domo, that was “KINGDOM”.
  Sakura: We know, we know.
  T: Thank you.
  Going back, Tegoshi said the design’s important too. He owns a long wallet, but needs the case of his mobile phone to be able to hold cards too. (M: Do you need so many cards??) They started looking at Tegoshi’s cards, which include spa cards, credit cards, and name cards he’s received. He doesn’t carry cash around much, so he usually has 5,000 - 6,000yen slotted in just in case.
  Tegoshi then said he doesn’t buy his own wallets and try to get people he thinks are more powerful than him to gift him. As it is said that it’s better that way. Massu says he doesn’t like receiving wallets as he might not like the design and it’d be too thick-skinned to ask for a wallet of a specific design. They then talked about how it’s said it’s better to change wallets 2-3 years for better power, but wallets are expensive and it’s hard to ask people to keep getting them. Tegoshi’d ask for permission to pass the wallets on to juniors etc. and Massu asked if that person would get him wallets too. They then joked it’s not as if that person owns a wallet shop or anything. (M: No? Well if they might get me one let me know. Sakura: Still talking about that?) They concluded it’s best to get a wallet with both design and functions that the listener like. A wallet can affect a person’s fortune so please look around more.
- The third listener was someone who didn’t like getting their mouth and hands dirty while eating the watermelon, so they’d use a toothpick to pick out all the seeds before eating. (T: Seriously!) If they find more seeds along the way, they’d start the seed picking process again. (T: Seriously!!) So they always end up the slowest one. How do the 3 of them eat watermelons, and do they know any ways of eating the fruit quickly and neatly? (M: Who do they think we are! T: We’re not watermelon meisters!) Tegoshi said he just bites in and spits the seeds out. Even if he accidentally eats the seeds it doesn’t matter since they’ll get processed out eventually anyway. (M: Eh, but wouldn’t a watermelon grow out from your belly button?) Tegoshi started saying how his belly button is super clean and apparently showed it to them, and they started commenting on how it looks somewhat weird.
  Going back, Massu said it’s best the watermelons are already cut into pieces (like in cut fruits) so it’s easy to pick the seeds out and eat them. He would never eat them using his hands. They agreed that it’s fine if it’s outside, at the beach or a BBQ when they’re okay to getting dirty. Like, Massu would never eat a watermelon now as it’d get messy. Tegoshi then randomly said he ate watermelon this year. At the Philippines. It was yums. (Sakura: Is it different from Japan’s? T: Dunno!) They joked Sakura must be battling the watermelon on her own each year but she said she eats the fruit normally. They even went on to discuss the colour of the pole she uses and she said gold.
- For “Quiz! Tegomass ni Oshiete” this week, the first question was a riddle. “What time is it now?” (ima nan ji) Tegoshi got it right - 2, because “ima” (now) is made up of 2 characters (ji).
- The second question - is the pot used by the cook made locally or overseas? Massu got it right - locally. Because cook-san (kokkusan) and locally-made (kokusan) sound similar. Tegoshi answered just a bit later than Massu and asked to use the VAR.
- The third question - what is something that has eyes (me) and nose (hana) but not ears and mouth? They took sometime to get this. Massu was really close to the answer, before Tegoshi got the answer first - plants. (T: LOOK EVERYONE! I’M THE TORTOISE WHO BEAT THE RABBIT!!! I AM THE LIVE-ACTION VERSION OF THE TORTOISE! ME!) So to explain, the pronunciation for sprout and flowers are the same as eyes and nose in Japanese.
  T: That was close! An amazing PK playoffs!
  M: It’s not. It’s a goal that I would have gotten on my own even without your assistance but you went to kick anyway and it ended up your goal.
  T: I’m glad I stood in front of the goal!
  M: Let’s make the next question 3 points. Okay 2.
  Sakura: All right 2 points.
  T: Nah make it 3. Let’s bring by a large margin rather than a close one. It’s okay to make it 100 points even, since I’m going to win anyway.
  Sakura: So it’s 100 points.
- It’s said that people from a certain prefecture don’t use hangers. Which prefecture is it? Tegoshi got it right - Fukuoka. While Tegoshi was celebrating Massu started going “Ah. Ah.” The reasoning is “fuku wo kaken”, a somewhat slang for “don’t hang clothes” which sounds similar to “Fukuoka-ken” (Fukuoka Prefecture”.
  So Tegoshi beat Massu 102 - 1. Tegoshi just kept laughing non-stop in the background while Massu said the score difference was as if they were playing rugby. Tegoshi went back to the rabbit and tortoise again and said the quiz segment was starting to get point.
- At the ending, they promoted “BLUE”, and talked about how the coupling songs are super cool too. Massu’s butai begins the following day and that he’ll do his best while taking care of his health. They also promoted the anniversary concert and told everyone to look forward to it.
  Before ending the programme, they talked about Massu’s butai again, with Massu commenting Tegoshi would be going every show, won’t he? Tegoshi said he’ll be there as a back dancer. Sakura: You’d stand out too much. T: I know right.

Masuda Takahisa no Master Hits (Jul 13)
- At the opening, he promoted “Only You”.
- The first listener wanted to know if Massu liked soft boiled eggs or hard boiled eggs. He said he likes stewed eggs on the soft side. In between the state when the yolk is flowy and completely cooked.
- ♪ BLUE ♪
- The second mail was from someone who forgot to listen to Master Hits when they got so touched after watching “Finding Dory”, which was airing on TV. Massu first talked about how they could have, timing wise, and even if they didn’t, there was now the time-free service available so… He then talked about how Nemo’s cute and it’s nice how Nemo appeared in “Finding Dory” too. He’s pretty sure Master Hits that day was a touching one too. That’s how Master Hits is most of the time anyway.
- The following mails are in response to him asking for people to send in mails to tell him which food they can’t stop eating. (He usually says something different each week as part of the ending routine after reading out the address to the radio programme) The food people wrote in are - edamame (M: I understand) and almonds. Massu talked about how he likes almonds a lot and eats them often too, but his mother ever told him he’d get a nosebleed if he ate too much of them so he doesn’t. But then again he was brought up not to eat more than an egg a day and he found out it’s not true, so the almond one might not stand true either. He’ll go check it out.
  Another listener said it’s the small snack packs they win at the game arcades. (M: Ah...the ones that are slightly smaller than the usual ones. I get it I get it.) Other food sent in include dried mangos, dried fruit and lightly pickled celery.
  He said he hasn’t touched on the topics he asks for listeners to send in for a while, despite listeners sending them in each time. So he decided to do it.
- The next mail was from someone who’s worried about how some fans won’t behave appropriately for Massu’s stage play, and might bring along uchiwas or pen lights or dress in member colours as if they’re going to watch a concert. They’d like Massu to tell everyone things he’d like us to take note of, just in case. He said there might be people dressing more flamboyantly or in clothes they like for concerts. If it were him, he’d try to dress simply as there’s a world each stage play would create for everyone going to watch. He’d also hope everyone to go with the thought of watching a stage play, and is happy that there are people who worry for him like that. He added that it’s also their responsibility to make sure it’s something that manages to draw everyone in, so he’ll do his best.
- Another listener wrote into say Ken Miyake (V6) ever said that he uses his hands to scoop the water to rinse his mouth after brushing his teeth as cups tend to turn black and he’s worried about bacteria. Is it the same for Massu, who’s particular about cleanliness just like Ken? He said he realised that when he was in elementary school. It occurred to him in elementary school that the cup’s dirty, and since then he hasn’t used the cup. He doesn’t even have one anymore. It’s so totally dirty, from inside to out. Since people don’t wash it after each use and would make all the toothbrushing pointless.
- The following listener started keeping a squirtle and wanted Massu to name it. They are not sure of its gender though. He first talked about how the naming series from an old episode of Master Hits was used on the “Nino san SP” he guested on, and how it made everyone laugh. He decided to name it “Osukamesu” (male or female). (M: Osukamesu. How’s this! Fufu)
- The next listener is a mother of 2 who took a break from radio to take care of her two young children. Now that they’re a little older, she begun listening to Master Hits recently and was really happy to find nothing’s change. She’d like to know if there’s anything Massu feel has or hasn’t changed about the programme. He said he’s happy and thanked her. He thinks it’s great that the programme is still here after all these years. As for what has or hasn’t changed… what changed. Well of course his talking skills. (M: Like, level up? In English? Uh huh.) As for what hasn’t… on the contrary there isn’t anything to change about it, since he’s doing it alone and he’d hate it too if people felt his character has changed over the years. He does think he’s gotten way better at saying “That was ‘xxx’, from ‘Masuda Takahisa no Master Hits’ at bayfm.” He used to stumble over it all the time when he first started, so much so that he couldn’t even insert the release date of the songs even when he wanted to. So… maybe things haven’t changed much. Even for his talking skills. They’re actually... right. He’s mastered the skill of talking by himself though, making sure to leave space in between for listeners to go “uh huh” or “oei oei”. He said all the staff for MH are around, but everyone’s just looking down. So there’s nothing he’s gotten better in huh. Hurhurhurhur.
- ♪ Yoruyo Odore ♪
- For Masterpiece this week, he played Rita Ora’s ‘Your Song’. He said the punch of the intro is fantastic, so much so he’d even want this song as his solo. The “pun pun pun pun” rhythm (he hums this a few times) is really nice. When he realised Ed Sheeran’s involved in the creation of the song, he wondered if he’s responsible for the “pun pun pun pun”.
- At the ending, he promoted his play again and talked about how great his sense was for “osukamesu” and would even want to give himself a pat on the back for that. Though the Master Hits staff all had the “huh?” look on their faces. (M: Am I the only one laughing? If none of the listeners are laughing too, I’d be hur, laughing, hurhur, on my own…)
- There was still no ending song this week. (NOTE: He first changed “Full Swing” to a Tegomass song, then his solo song, and started using the background music since the week before)