news_jpop | NEWS news (week of Sep 25)

Sorashige Book (Sept 23)
- The first letter was from a listener who said that though they weren’t able to make it to the anniversary concert, they enjoyed reading the concert reports. They also congratulated them on Dream Festival. They asked him what things he did this year that he felt were new or challenging.
  Shige said that there were many new, and talked about how though the 15th anniversary is just a checkpoint in the end, he was reminded all over again of how thankful he is to the fans, to those who have supported them in the past, and to those currently supporting them. He said that he’s had many opportunities this year, lots to be thankful for. He talked about how he tried his best this year, and in many ways came up against this limits and made him realize how much room he still has to grow. Rather than new realizations, there were many things that he rediscovered. He thinks that he still has to work hard in order to grow bigger. He also spent a lot of time reevaluating himself.
  He talked about how there were many amazing actors on set, bu that most of the actors were younger than him. It was also new to act with the members, but he also received a lot of inspiration and learned a lot from the actors he spent a lot of time with on set. He thought a lot about how his role as the lead actor and how he should be on set and make the work better. He said that he experienced a lot of new emotions on set, and that it was a tough but precious experience for him.
- ♪ ’Ikiro' ♪
- For music club this week he played ‘Jusho feat. Okamura Yasuyuki<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap; by KICK THE CAN CREW. He talked about how the group came back together to celebrate their 20th anniversary, he talked about how back when he listened to them as a student, he never would have thought this kind of collaboration would happen. He said that he thought that the offer came from Kick the Can Crew, and talked about how he wondered what kind of song it would be, and when he saw the title ‘Jusho (address)’ he was like “What’s with this!” he talked about both groups and the song for a bite and how they really do sing the word ‘Jusho’ in the lyrics and tried singing some of the lines. He said that it’s a love song, a proposal to live together (have the same address). It made he feel all over again how amazing they are.
- He said that next he wanted to read some letters about the drama. The next letter was from a listener who said that thanks to Zero and Sorashige book, their Sundays are always fun. They brought up the scene where Yuki (played by Koseki Yuta) slaps Zero, and how Yuta tweeted that he really did slap Shige. They wanted to know what it was like to be slapped and if it hurt.
  Shige said that the slap was written into the script and that he got the script during Tegoshi’s anchor episode and Yuta was right next to him so the topic of the slap came up. When Shige did the Green Mile, he had to slap one of his co-stars, Ito who played Percy, in the play. He said that there are times when the slaps go off cleanly and other times when it doesn’t so the pain isn’t the same every time. He felt bad about it, but you get better at the more you do it. Shige asked Yuta if he had ever done it before, and he said that he hadn’t but he has an actor friend that often does it so he’d go ask him. He apparently did ask him and then told Shige that he had begun practicing slapping, to which Shige responded that he was looking forward to it.
  He said that despite the practice his first slap wasn’t very good, meaning that you don’t get the sound and it didn’t hit straight on and it hurt. He said it’s fine if it hurts, but it has to make a sound. In the end they did about 3 takes, and he got better each time. He said that it hurt more than he thought, he’s played a role where he has to get slapped before, but this hurt the most. He then backtracked and said that actually the time he got slapped by Inoki Antonio during 24hr TV. He talked about how the pain lingers when you’ve been slapped, and that maybe that means he did it well. He also mentioned how Yuta’s hands are surprisingly big, and how that meant that wider area of his cheek came in contact with his hand. He also talked about how Yuta had played basketball. He said it was an honor to be the recipient of Koseki Yuta’s first slap, and how he was glad that they had built up a good enough relationship that he was able to slap him without reserve. He said that he did apologize after and Shige told him not to worry.
  He said that Yuta didn’t really want to do it, that he felt awkward and bad slapping someone who was older than him, and Shige during Green Mile he didn’t feel bad about it at all and just went for it. It made him realize all over again what a good person Ito is.
- The next letter was from a listener who said wrote in to ask about a scene in the 8th episode. They commented on how when Shige had to press a button to answer a question he used his thumb, and wanted to know if he always pushes buttons with his thumb.
  Shige said that he usually uses his pointer finger, he just used his thumb for that scene.
- The next letter was from a listener about the 8th episode again, They said they really liked the part where Shige’s character took the cap off the pen with his mouth and them spit it away, it was really cool. The wanted to know if that was in the script or if it was an adlib.
  Shige said that it was an adlib, since the setting for the scene is that they don’t have much time. He said that when Koyama told him his thoughts on the episode he just mentioned that and left.
- The next letter was from a listener who asked if he had seen the movie ‘Camera o Tomeru na! (One Cut of the Dead)’
  Shige said that of course he had, he found some time to go in August. He had wanted to go multiple times but the theater was completely full. He said it was amazing and had a vision. He talked about how amazing it was for an independent movie to come this far. He talked about how it became quite a hot topic early on, and air:man told him he should go see it because he would like it. He also talked about how Kato Ryo really likes movies, and told him that he had gone to go see it and that Shige should watch it. When he went it was so crowded that he had to watch it standing up, and Shige thought that he wasn’t up to standing while watching so he made a reservation well in advance and went to go see it.
  He said that from watching the trailer you might feel like it’s pretty obvious. He said that you should watch it knowing no spoilers, so those who haven’t seen it yet shouldn’t listen any further. He said that watching the trailer he thought ‘ah it’ll go this way, it’s metafiction’ but that it manages to surpass your expectations. He said that he was impressed by how well done it is, and how tough filming must have been, especially since he has worked on dramas. He was impressed by the love and energy he felt in the making of this movie. It also makes you laugh a lot, and there are a lot things he could relate to since he also is involved with with the process of making and acting in movies/dramas. Also parts that made him feel like he could cry, he really liked it. He also mention how Miacis Symphony as well, is kind of gimmicky with how he wrote it. He hopes lots of people go to see the movie.
- ♪ Bring Back the Summer ♪

Kchan NEWS (Sep 25)
- The guest this week was Shige.
- Koyama started by congratulating Shige on his hard work now that filming for Zero has wrapped. They talked about how Koyama just finished filming for the spin off after Shige had already finished and how that felt off, as well as how the staff for both the main drama and the spinoff are the same.
  They also talked about how you have to make a comment after you’ve wrapped up and Koyama said that he wasn’t sure what to say. He said that in his speech he talked about how since coming on set, he really felt how loved Shige is by everyone. He was honored to be able to come on such a set, and thankful that all of NEWS was able to appear in the drama. He felt that since it was the last day, he thought for sure that Shige would come as a surprise. Shige said that at that time he was in Mie filming until 11pm.
  Shige said that when they wrapped up filming for the main drama, Mamiya came on set just for Shige’s sake and Koyama commented on how cool that is of him. Shige joked that Koyama likes Mamiya too much, though he gets it cause Mamiya is a great guy. Shige said that he wanted to go, but that if he were able to go then they really should have finished on one of his scenes. They said that they haven’t seen the finished product yet, and Koyama said that by the time the radio show is broadcast the final spin off episode will be available on Hulu. It takes place after the final Zero episode, Shige commented on how it’s a completely different feeling to the rest. They said that they hope everyone will watch.
- ♪ ‘Ikiro’ ♪
- The first letter was from a listener who said that they watched Zero every week, and so they are already experiencing ‘Zero loss’. Koyama paused in reading the letter to ask Shige if he was experiencing ‘Zero loss’ and he said that today is the wrap party, so he’ll probably start to feel that way after the party. That’s how it is for him every time, for 24hr TV and Green Mile and concerts. Koyama said that he felt it and he only appeared in both Zero and the spin offs a little bit. Shige laughed asking if he was serious and that it’ll probably be really bad for him. Koyama said that it’s just due to how great the set was, and how much everyone put into it. Shige said that just going on set would give him energy, so it’ll be a bit lonely now that it’s over, Koyama agreed saying that it’s great to be surrounding by people who want to make something good.
  Going back to the letter, the listener asked for any behind the scenes stories or bloopers.
  Shige said that it was a difficult question, and Koyama mentioned how Kuroda (one of the characters dressed all in black) was supposed to say ‘Tokuten ni kasansareru’ and said ‘Tokuten tin’ with a really serious expression and that was funny. Shige said that he did it a lot too, and mentioned When Sugino Yosuke, who has a cute face but can be a bit air-headed, there was a scene where he had say ‘Shimazu-san’ but instead said the name of an AP on set. Shige said that it was really funny, and happened a fair amount. They said it was cute, and they would laugh and talk about it quite a bit, and Shige said that he would miss that.
  Koyama brought up how in a scene where Mineko had a line where she shows a playing card and says ‘Day and night’ but accidentally said ‘Day and king’. They talked about how amazing Koike Eiko is. Koyama said that he was sorry to just keep talking about Mamiya, but there was a time when they were alone together during filming and he said that he thought he would be nervous to be with him. Shige said that he got his contact information and Koyama said that there was good timing for it, he asked him if he was aware that Koyama has been talking about how cool he is, and he said that he was and thanked him. Koyama said that he seems really mature, but surprisingly he’s younger than them and Shige agreed saying that he’s around 26 years old.
  Koyama said that he apologized in case it was actually bothersome, and Mamiya said it wasn’t at all and the next time they filmed together they both had to go to the bathroom at the same time, so they went together and to buy something from the convenience store. While there, they started to read some of the magazines/books there and laugh together, and Koyama realized that they were getting along really well. (S: Are you guys going to go out??) Koyama said that it felt a bit presumptuous to ask for someone’s contact information who you only just met. Then on the way to the return bus, they ended up walking together and they had a good conversation and so Koyama asked him if he’d want to get dinner sometime, and Mamiya said that he really wanted to go, so that’s when he asked for his contact info. Koyama said that Shige should join them next time, and Shige said that Mamiya really was a great guy, cool but he doesn’t put on airs which is why he’s loved by so many. Koyama said that he must be really popular.
- They also got a letter asking about what Koyama brought on set, and Shige said that he was saying this upfront but he was putting a ban on dango. He doesn’t like them and he’s tired of seeing them. Koyama said that he brought some taiyaki from a good places he knows for the last day of filming the spin off and how everyone brings something on the last day. There were about 5 different items, and they were all sweets. Every for him, who loves sweets, it was a bit tough. Shige agreed saying it’s best to calculate that and have a variety. Koyama asked him how much his repartory has increased, and Shige said that for this drama he brought homemade stuff like his umeboshi, and Koyama said that he saw them there. Shige said that the pouches everyone was using, his mother made those as well as cloth glasses wipes. When he went home, there were about 100 paper bags in his genkan. Shige said his mom often makes things like that, he also brought the glasses wipes to the Green Mile set and everyone liked them. Koyama said that the pouches were cute. Shige talked about how he bought umeboshi for 24hr TV too,
  K: I have a recommendation.
  S: What?
  K: Dango.
  S: Enough already!
  Shige said that since he actually has tried them much before, he thought maybe he would this time but they have anko in them which he doesn’t like. Out of the 6 different types, 4 of them had anko- all different types of anko-
  S: Yuzuan! Kurian! Shiroan! An!! An!!!
  S&K: (laughing)
  Shige said that he can only eat the mitarashi and nori dango. Shige said that he really doesn’t like shiroan, like why is it white! Scary. They talked about the different things brought to various sets for awhile, and how Shige does a lot of research into it. Koyama mentioned how the number of sets Shige goes to has really increased, and Shige said that he was thankful.
- ♪ Bring Back the Summer ♪
- The last letter Koyama read was from a listener asking Shige what alphabet letter he liked.
  S: Eh?
  K: Haha
  S: Read the lead up!
  Koyama said that they prefaced it by saying they were asking because of a letter on a previous broadcast asking them what their favorite hiragana is. Shige said that for the theme they should answer with the letter he’d most want to bring on set for everyone as a snack, and Koyama asked if it should be upper or lowercase and they decided either. Shige said that you can’t choose O for zero, nor ‘z’ because it’ll definitely overlap with someone else. Koyama commented that ‘e’ and ‘r’ must be out too then.
  They talked about how the feeling of the letter changes a lot depending on whether it’s upper or lowercase. Shige said that lowercase ‘a’ is really sweet and Koyama agreed. But uppercase ‘A’ is hard, Shige agreed saying it’s like sembei. Koyama said that ‘e’ must be sweet too. Shige said that part of him would want to bring ‘Q’, because you don’t know it’s like a snack that you’ve never seen before. Shige said it’s also possible that you would overlap with someone with it, that you could fail with it. They laughed over how pointless this conversation was.
  Shige said that ‘X’ and ‘Y’ and ‘H’ seem nice, and Koyama started to recite the alphabet from ‘HIJKLMN’ and said that the ones following that seem really nice to him, the ‘OPQR’ and Shige agreed and laughed saying it’s like ‘JOQR’ (part of the address for writing into this radio show). Shige said that ‘S’ for Shige is also nice particularly during the hot summer. Koyama said that ‘Y’ is also good, Koyama said that ‘Y’ seems good, but he’d worry and want to support it (so it doesn’t fall over) and Shige suggested going with lowercase ‘y’. Shige said that everyone would come in with the later letters like ‘ZWXO’ in uppercase letters but having lowercase ‘y’ would be nice, it has a good balance. Koyama said that he’d go with ‘y’ and Shige said he’d go with ‘Q’ as the lead actor, and Koyama asked what genre ‘Q’ is. Shige said that he didn’t know, maybe like salt chocolate, is it salty or is it sweet?

Tegomass no Radio (Sep 26)
- At the opening, they talked about how it’s the end of September and it was really hot this summer (with Tegoshi being obsessed with using the word “zansho” = lingering summer heat). They moved on to talk about the public holiday in October, the “Health and Sports Day”. It used to be on October 10, until it was moved to the second Monday of October, as part of theHappy Monday system. Tegomass said they don’t really know much about public holidays, as their work is such that it doesn’t matter if it’s a weekday or weekend, and they can’t really keep track of the days of the week either. Massu shared how sometimes he’d pass by Laforet and whether why it’s so crowded, did a new shop open or something? Only to realise it was a Sunday. Or realise it’s a public holiday when some shops are closed. They also talked a bit about how it’s probably the season of Sport’s Days in schools too. And Tegoshi started singing the tune ofCsikos Post, a song commonly used for Sport’s Days in Japan. Then decided they should stop talking about such pointless things and move on, as they only read two mails the previous week.
  Sakura: Yeah let’s move on! I was starting to feel uneasy.
  T: Yeah that was close.
  M: SO! Please listen to-
  Sakura: NOT YET! Wait. We haven’t read the request yet.
- The request this week was for “Endless Summer -represent NEWS mix-”. The listener is in their second year of high school, and at a point when they have to think a lot about their future etc. There were also times when they got mad at their past selves, and at such times the lyrics of the song that gave them strength.
  Tegoshi said he felt all over again, how good a song this was when he sang it at the rehearsals at the Ajinomoto Stadium. Massu agreed, and said it’s also a song appropriate for the current season.
- ♪ Endless Summer -represent NEWS mix- ♪
- The second mail was someone who listens to the radio programme each week while upsetting their parents with their loud laughter. (M: Mother! Mother!) The listener bought the 15th anniversary clock, and realised with digital clocks, it could be set in 12-hour or 24-hour clocks. The listener prefers 24-hour, what about them?
  T: Which is it. People who prefer 24-hour!
  Sakura, M: Me.
  T: Me.
  Sakura: Ah everyone!
  T: Okay that’s all!
  Massu said how it probably became the preferred clock when they got older. Tegoshi agreed, saying he used to prefer AM/ PM when he was a kid. They also said it might have something to do with their work, as Tegoshi would say his work ends at 26:30 when he has “Soccer Earth”, and some of his friends would initially go ??? Massu then threw out an old media slang of “teppen”, which was used in the Japanese media industry to refer to midnight. The other two said nobody uses that much anymore. Besides, the average office worker doesn’t work past midnight either.
  M: No? Like, “What time are we drinking till?” “Teppen!”
  Sakura: They don’t.
  But in any case, they all prefer the 24-hour clock, and said they’re happy the listener’s using the 15th anniversary clock.
- The third mail was some a listener who’s in their first year of high school and want some advice from them - their friend told them that they’d like cash for their birthday, as the listener probably doesn’t know them enough to get them something yet. Should they give the friend cash for their birthday? Tegoshi first commented that’s amazing, and Massu wondered what kind of relationship they share that allowed the friend to say something like that.
  T: Right? Are they so close that it could be said as a joke, or…
  M: Like, if I asked Tegoshi to get me some vouchers or what, it might still make sense. Or if it’s for the staff we work with.
  T: But it’s a classmate they are not that close with, right?
  M: And in cash right? 500yen, max.
  They then discussed how a high schooler probably doesn’t get that much allowance, though they might be working part time. Still, they’re still probably just about 15 years-old and shouldn’t have money exchanges. Tegoshi quipped how this classmate would probably list “annual income” as one of the top deciding factors when choosing their life partner in future. Very practical. They then talked about how it’s not about what they receive, but the thought put into choosing the present? Massu said they also probably found out a bit more about the person when they said, “Just give me cash since you don’t know me that well yet.” They’re not sure about the context, as if it were meant as a joke the classmate might be shocked to really receive money. They suggested getting them something, maybe snacks or notepads designed to look like money.
- For “Tegomass no Debate” this week, the two of them first tried to disrupt Sakura by making statements like “Are we doing this!”, “3, 2, 1, go!”. The first question was what they’d do if they were out for a meal with someone they’re not super close with yet, and that person had seaweed stuck to their lips. A: Tell them straight that they’ve got something on their lips. B: Pretend they don’t see it.
  Right after Sakura finished reading the mail, Massu went A and Tegoshi followed by saying A too.
  Sakura: Eh? Wait- yeah- Eh? (silence, with Massu starting to laugh a bit) Now I can only go “Ooooooh…” isn’t it?
  M: A! A!
  Sakura: There’s a standard procedure we always do this by, isn’t there.
  M: Hmm?
  T: What?
  Sakura: For the debate. There’s this flow. I read,
  M: Next!
  Sakura: No…
  M: Next!
  Sakura: You’re being rude to the listener who sent this in. Right?
  M: Nope we’re grateful. And happy to them.
  Sakura: They put in a lot of thought into their mail, so let’s answer this properly. A?
  T: We replied with 100% sincerity, didn’t we?
  Sakura: We’d want to know why too.
  T: (he said italicised text in English)Why? We have to talk about thereasontoo?
  Tegoshi said there’s no reason not to. And like let that person go home with seaweed stuck on their tooth even on the train back. So just tell them earlier. There isn’t anything like “being nice” by not telling them. Massu asked what they’d do if it were nose hair instead. (T: NOSE HAIR!) For someone slightly more senior. And female.
  T: Are their females with nose hair sticking out?
  Sakura: There sure are!
  T: HEH! I’ve never seen any.
  Sakura shared how her close friend since high school often has nose hair sticking out from her nose, and Sakura can’t bring herself to tell the friend, even up till today.
  M: You just did! On radio!
  T: You should tell her!
  Sakura said there’re some people you can just tell straight in the face and some you can’t. Massu agreed, like how he thinks Sakura is someone who might feel hurt after. Tegoshi said he’d say. And Sakura said to please tell her. Tegoshi said for seaweed it’s straightforward, since they can remove it immediately. A bit harder for nose hair, but he’d definitely say it. Massu went back to the setting of the question, saying it’s someone they’re not that close too. So he’d tell them about the seaweed, but not nose hair. Sakura asked Tegoshi how he’d say it.
  T: For nose hair? …… “You’ve got nose hair sticking out.”
  M, Sakura: HAHAHAHAHHAHHAHA!
  M: That’s nice.
  Sakura: It is!
  M: The most natural way of saying it. If this were “One-line actors”, he’d have won it.
  They tried to get him to say it again, and he said it weird this time. But anyway. The conclusion was they’d tell the person.
- The next debate question: if they had to do shift work, which shift would they prefer? A: The morning shift that ends around evening; B: The afternoon shift that ends at night. They both chose B. They said it might have to do with how their current job is like and what they’re used to, but they’d really hate to have to work in the mornings. Tegoshi added how if his body was used to the fixed routine of waking up early for work, like the students/ office workers, it might still be okay. But he can’t sleep, and having to wake up early means less sleep. He slept just about 2 hours each day during the period when he had the shoots for “Zero”.
  M: Ah, that was 2 hours? (in English) “Two”? Not “Zero”?
  T: Yeah it wasn’t zero. If it were zero I’d probably start hallucinating or something. And it’s not like it was “Zero Sleep Ikkakusenkin game”. Not like you’d get a million bucks if you kept awake. So, what? Shige couldn’t sleep for 3 months? I’d get worried! I worry about his health.
  They talked again about how they prefer working at night and Tegoshi said he’s at his most alert during “Soccer Earth”. And commented how they don’t seem to be getting split about their choices today, before moving to the next question.
- This one asked which they find more amazing. A: A born genius; B: Someone who worked their way up to success. Massu decided after a bit of time, but Tegoshi kept saying it’s a tough choice as both are amazing. Sakura repeated the options again, and this time Massu said he can’t decide.
  Sakura: What do you mean you can’t decide. Didn’t you decide just now?
  T: Wait. It’s like having to choose if Messi or Ohtani Shohei is more amazing. You can’t. They’re both amazing.
  M, Sakura: Which is which?
  M: They both born geniuses, aren’t they?
  Sakura: Don’t give us the “???” face.
  Massu said they both probably didn’t start out bad at their sport, and Tegoshi admitted it was his bad. They then made their choices, with Tegoshi choosing A and Massu B. Massu said it was tough for him to decide too, as he does find born geniuses more amazing. But from the phrasing of the question, while the born genius might not have achieved anything yet, the second option has already worked their way up to success. (M: Hmm? They succeeded right? Yes? Sakura: Yes no worries.) Massu and Sakura then argued a bit over whether the born genius is successful or not, with Massu saying they’re just born to be a genius, but have no succeeded, while Sakura said a genius is always successful. And that the genius have also succeeded for the question.
  M: Then I’d need to rethink.
  Sakura: EH! You’re going to rethink?
  M: Yeah. It’d be the born genius wouldn’t it? If they’re both successful.
  Sakura: But what if they’re both equally successful? COMPLETELY successful.
  M: Then they’re both amazing!
  Tegoshi then had his turn. And he said if he had to choose which he wanted to be like, it’d be B, as it’d be better to go through a lot and experience more, so as to better empathise with various people. But he does think geniuses are amazing. While it’s possible to work harder to become better and overcome obstacles, geniuses are at a different level. You can’t beat a genius once they decide to work hard. So it’d be the born genius who is more amazing, as there are limits to hard work. Like no matter how hard a runner trains, they would never be able to beat Usain Bolt’s record of 9.58 seconds.
  T: So “A” it is.
  M: “A” for me too! (laughter in studio) I mean, the genius is successful right? Then it’d be “A”.
  They concluded they think the same way for all the questions today.
- At the ending, they promoted “Ikiro”, and the 7th year anniversary request project. When Sakura was talking about the subject title for the email, “テゴマスに歌って” (Sing this, Tegomass), they started saying to write in for “咲良に歌って” (Sing this, Sakura). And since everyone can only send in one mail each, it meant if they sent in a request for Sakura, they can’t send one for Tegomass. SO! If they received even 2 requests, Sakura should sing.
  Sakura: No. If the both of you send in the requests, we’d hit the target already, wouldn’t it?
  T, M: Ah right. We’ll send them in
  Sakura: No no no no…
  M: It’s okay the staff will work it out.
  Sakura: No. NO.
  T: But we want to hear you sing.
  Sakura: What are you talking about. You’ve been doing this for 7 years. Obviously what everyone wants to hear is the both of you sing!
  M: We’d do that of course. It’s just a matter of whether we have Sakura sing too. Both, or just Tegomass.
  Sakura: No it’s okay. Everyone, don’t have to be nice about this. Don’t send anything in. Only ONE mail each. So please send what you’d like Tegomass to sing.