Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

To mark the 80th anniversary of Freddie Mercury’s birth, Queen: Budapest — a concert film documenting the band’s 1986 Budapest show — opens in theaters on October 7. The release prompted a music critic’s piece on Queen’s enduring appeal, which was picked up on 5ch [Japan’s largest anonymous forum network] and sparked a flood of comments about favorite tracks and “greatest album” debates. Some pushed for the Queen II and Sheer Heart Attack era, others questioned the synth-heavy direction from The Game onward, and opinions split sharply over claims like “they only caught on here because of a Kimutaku drama” [a nickname for actor Takuya Kimura] and “overseas they rank below Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd.”

Tue, Sep 29, 6:05 PM

2026 marks the 80th anniversary of Freddie Mercury’s birth. The historic 1986 Budapest concert, captured at the peak of Queen’s powers, hits theaters October 7 as Queen: Budapest. More than half a century on, why does Queen still command such devotion? Music critic Yuichi Masuda — who has followed the band in real time since 1975, later served as editor-in-chief of Music Life magazine, and supervised the Japanese subtitles for Bohemian Rhapsody — breaks down the appeal.

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Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geisupo Sokuho+ [entertainment/sports news board]) thread “Queen, Beloved for Over Half a Century — 5 Essential Songs to Start With.”

Chonmage Ramen, the comedy duo formerly known as Indians, appeared at a Tokyo event on October 1 and revealed that one year and four months after their name change, public recognition of the new duo name is “about 60%, still a tough struggle.” In a thread on 5ch’s Geinou Supo Sokuhou+ board, users ran through examples of renames that worked out (Summers, Cream Stew) alongside past cases where a new name never stuck and the act reverted to its old one (Animal Kaidan, Rafurekuran’s switch to Cotton, etc.), fueling a growing consensus that “duos who actually succeed after renaming are the minority.” Meanwhile, some questioned the naming sense itself, while others had fun pitching alternative name ideas.

Thu, Oct 1, 3:12 PM

Comedy duo Chonmage Ramen attended a sampling event for Nobel Confectionery’s “VC-3000 Throat Tablets” in Tokyo on the 1st.

Akihiro Tabuchi, who showed up in a yellow full-body tights costume, spent about 30 minutes handing out the product. Mingling with everyone from kids to foreign visitors, he was thrilled: “I’m so grateful it was such a huge hit. If I get fussed over like this, I want to dress like this all the time — I had almost 100 times more photos taken of me than usual.” His partner Kimu laughed along: “He’s practically sparkling. If he’d bring this look to our manzai act too, I’d actually look forward to smacking him.”

Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

*This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou Supo Sokuhou+) thread “[Comedians] Chonmage Ramen, One Year and Four Months After Renaming, Recognition Rate “About 60%. Still a Tough Battle” — Formerly Indians.”

A controversy has been brewing over a family-trip vlog that former AKB48 member Tomomi Itano posted in September, which included footage filmed in the changing room of a public bath. It has now emerged that the hotel where she stayed, The Ritz-Carlton Nikko, reviewed and approved the video before it was published. Josei Seven Plus obtained LINE messages exchanged between Itano’s side and hotel staff and reported on October 1 that the hotel had even requested changes to the video’s wording. On 5ch, opinions split: some said “so Itano was right all along,” while others questioned the hotel’s own judgment in allowing changing-room footage to be filmed at all, and some speculated it may have been a promotional arrangement.

October 1, 2026

Regarding a family-trip vlog posted on September 3 by former AKB48 member and talent Tomomi Itano (400,000 subscribers), it has been confirmed that the hotel where she stayed, The Ritz-Carlton Nikko, reviewed the video before publication and approved its content. Josei Seven Plus reported this on October 1, revealing details that had not previously come to light.

At issue was a scene in the video “[Summer Vacation] A Family Trip to Nikko with the Three of Us Again After a While [vlog]” showing her drying her eldest daughter’s hair in the changing room of the public bath. On September 5, Itano explained on X that the filming had been done with special permission from the hotel, and apologized.

Source: yutura.net / Original article here

110AnonymousOct 1, 2026 16:11

161AnonymousOct 1, 2026 16:19

Re: #110
If these LINE messages are genuine, Itano isn't in the wrong at all — if anything she's the victim of having the ladder pulled out from under her

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “Itano Tomomi Changing-Room Filming Controversy: Hotel Confirmed to Have Pre-Checked the Video.”

On TBS Radio’s “Ijuin Hikaru: Shinya no Bakajikara,” Ijuin Hikaru’s remark that the September 19 episode of Crayon Shin-chan, “It’s the Nohara Couple’s Afternoon,” was “boring enough to make your legs give out” sparked controversy. The episode barely featured the show’s protagonist, Shinnosuke, and after screenwriter Sho Hasumi responded on his own radio show, Ijuin apologized during the ending segment of the September 28 late-night broadcast, saying, “I caused Hasumi a great deal of trouble.” Reactions on 5ch split between those praising Ijuin for apologizing sincerely, those who felt no apology was needed since he was just sharing his opinion, and those who rewatched the episode themselves and weighed in on its merits.

Talent Ijuin Hikaru appeared on the late-night broadcast of “JUNK Ijuin Hikaru: Shinya no Bakajikara” (TBS Radio) on September 28 and addressed, during the show’s ending segment, the controversy that had erupted following the previous week’s broadcast.

The episode Hasumi wrote was the September 19 installment of Crayon Shin-chan, “It’s the Nohara Couple’s Afternoon” — an unusual episode that barely featured Shinnosuke, focusing instead on a conversation between his parents, Hiroshi and Misae.

On the late-night broadcast on the 21st, Ijuin had said the episode was “boring enough to make your legs give out,” among other remarks. Hasumi responded on his own radio show, revealing that he had been a listener of Ijuin’s program back in his college days.

Source: sirabee.com / Original article here

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “Ijuin Hikaru Apologizes to Crayon Shin-chan Writer Sho Hasumi for Calling His Episode “Boring”: “I Caused Hasumi a Great Deal of Trouble”.”

Comedic actor Shiro Ito (89) announced on October 1st that he will retire from show business upon turning 90 on June 15th next year. Since joining the “Laughing Companions” (Warau Nakama) theater troupe as a trainee in 1958, he has spent roughly 70 years in the industry, rising to fame with the comedy trio Tempuku Trio before building a long career as an actor as well. The stated reason is his declining physical condition. On 5channel threads, posters expressed shock (“He’s already 90?!”), fondly recalled his roles in shows like “Oedo de Gozaru” and “The Ito Family’s Dinner Table,” voiced concern over signs of decline heard on his radio appearances, and speculated about why he chose to announce his retirement at this particular time.

Shiro Ito Announces Retirement After 70 Years in Entertainment — To Step Down on His 90th Birthday, June 15th Next Year

Comedic actor Shiro Ito (89) announced on the 1st that he will withdraw from show business upon his 90th birthday on June 15th next year, citing his declining physical condition. Since becoming a trainee at the “Laughing Companions” theater troupe in 1958, this legend — who made his mark not only in comedy but also as an actor over roughly 70 years — has decided to bring his journey to a close.

Ito first became interested in theater through the influence of his eldest brother, who ran an amateur troupe. After passing through “Laughing Companions” and the Hitoshi Ishii Troupe, he rose to fame as part of the comedy trio Tempuku Trio alongside Shinsuke Minami and Mutsuo Totsuka.

Source: sponichi.co.jp / Original article here

95AnonymousOct 1, 2026 13:23

*This article is compiled and summarized from the 5channel (Geinou Sokuho+) thread “[Entertainment] Shiro Ito Announces Retirement After 70 Years in Entertainment — On His 90th Birthday, June 15th Next Year“.