Japan Reacts

Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

  • Inoue Reon: “The Night My Joining Was Announced, Danbara Ruru Sent Me a LINE Message” — Even Though We’d Had Zero Contact Before

    Juice=Juice’s Inoue Reon has revealed that on the night her joining the group was announced, she got a welcome message on LINE from Danbara Ruru. The two had barely spoken before Inoue joined, but that message brought them close, and they’re now on nickname terms, with Inoue calling her “Ruru-chan.” Danbara herself has looked back on it, saying she was “happy to finally have a same-age groupmate,” reflecting on a stretch of time when she didn’t have peers her own age. The thread was full of warm reactions to the pair’s bond, along with a lively side debate over the hypothetical: “What if Inoue had ended up in a different group?”

    1AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:33
    Rein: There's a lot, but honestly, it's the fact that Ruru-chan messaged me on LINE the very night my joining Juice=Juice was announced. Before I joined, we really hadn't talked at all — we had basically no connection — but she kept telling me how happy she was that I was joining… Now I call her "Ruru-chan," but at first I called her "Danbara-san," and even fans would ask me, "Wait, you still call her Danbara-san?" I'm the type who really wants a same-age groupmate, and Ruru-chan already had various same-age, same-batch pairings with other members, each with its own special meaning to her — so the fact that she welcomed me into that circle too still means so much to me, and honestly she's helped me so much ever since. Being with her isn't just reassuring, it's just… easy. Comfortable.
    Ruru: It is easy. There's less to overthink. When I joined Juice=Juice, I had a same-age member who joined with me, but she graduated after less than two years, so I spent a long stretch surrounded by older members. That was fun too, of course, but looking back, there were so many moments where I really missed having someone the same age, a fellow "batch-mate"… So when Rei-chan joined and I realized we were the same age, I was thrilled! I was like, "Same age! Same batch!" — even though we'd basically never talked, I just unilaterally decided we were kind of batch-mates (laughs). I probably came on too strong and scared her a little, but I was genuinely so happy she ended up joining, and even now, having someone like a same-age batch-mate really helps me get through each day.
    5AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:35
    Inoue: What a reliable same-age friend.
    Danbara: Glad we got it all out and talked it through, since we both had things we wanted to say.
    Inoue: Yeah, really glad.
    Danbara: You'd better fight with me sometimes too, you know.
    Inoue: Eh, um…
    https://i.imgur.com/CbjS5VN.mp4
    6AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:40
    Danbara used to call Inaba "Inaba-san" at first too, but eventually started calling her "Manaka-chan" or just "Manaka," didn't she?
    16AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:16
    When Kobushi Factory's disbandment was decided and every member besides Inoue was set to retire, Inoue reportedly started hanging out a lot in other groups' dressing rooms. When the other members teased her about it, she apparently said, "Well, I'm about to be all alone soon."
    17AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:17
    She says she "observes" people first, but the person being observed usually notices they're being watched — which just makes them more guarded, if anything.
    18AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:21
    It's only natural for a leader to pay attention to the new member — honestly, that'd be true even if she weren't the leader.
    20AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:22
    Amii-san doesn't take detours like that.
    22AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:27
    Inoue also had Inaba, who'd been through a similar experience, so I doubt she was ever short of someone to talk to.
    23AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:31
    @Inoue: "This was with Tanimoto Ami-chan and Danbara Ruru-chan, before I'd even joined Juice — Ami-chan asked me, 'Wanna come listen to Ruru-chan sing?' I wondered what she meant, thought maybe it was some kind of solo performance, but it turned out to just be going to karaoke to listen to Ruru-chan sing. I actually tagged along for that once."
    That's a refreshingly shameless bit of self-interest from Tanimoto, honestly.
    24AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:32
    Amii-san's something else, huh (lol)
    25AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:34
    Could there have been a timeline where Rei Rei ended up joining Tsubaki Factory instead?
    26AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:37
    If I were the one deciding where Rei Rei would transfer to, given the situation at the time, I'd guess the candidates were Morning Musume ("Musume.") or Juice=Juice (JJ). But Musume. would've caused all sorts of problems with the group's internal skill balance, so I think it ends up being JJ anyway.
    33AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:41
    If she'd joined Angerme, her same-age member Sasaki Rikako wouldn't have quit yet, and the two of them would probably be the group's twin aces by now.
    58AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:46
    If it weren't for Yanamin, Manakan, and Rei Rei, Danbara probably would've already quit by now.
    59AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:46
    If she'd joined Angerme, having Kamikoryo, Inoue, and Sasaki together would've made for a seriously glamorous lineup.
    60AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:47
    Angerme disbands
    Gets folded into "Nagano Juice" (a pun combining Juice=Juice with Nagano Prefecture's famous apple juice)
    Hayashi Nia finally gets a same-year batch-mate
    61AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:49
    Back then, Juice=Juice's manager had been poached from Nice Girl, so Angerme or Musume. were never really on the table.
    62AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:56
    Maybe Danbara was struggling too, back then.

    Background and Talking Points

    It’s already widely known that Inoue Reon transferred to Juice=Juice after Kobushi Factory’s 2021 disbandment, and thread post #16 is written with that background in mind. In Hello! Project, when members transfer or groups get reshuffled, it’s common for members without an existing “same batch” bond to have to build new relationships from scratch — and Danbara Ruru, having lost her own same-age groupmate to early graduation not long after joining Juice=Juice herself, is described here as having reached out strongly to Inoue as a result. What really got the thread going wasn’t confirming those facts so much as the hypothetical “what if Inoue had been assigned to a different group” — with names like Tsubaki Factory and Angerme coming up as candidates. It’s worth noting for readers, though, that this is purely fan speculation, not anything from an official announcement or the members themselves. There were also replies touching on how Danbara went from calling Inaba Manaka “-san” to “-chan,” which, read alongside the Inoue-Danbara relationship at the center of this piece, rounds out a picture of how the psychological distance between members shifted over time.

    ※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “[Emo] Inoue Reon: “Danbara Ruru, who I’d never even talked to, sent me a LINE message welcoming me the night my joining Juice was announced”.”

  • Aiko Sugihara Wins Japan’s First-Ever All-Around Gold — 5ch: “A Leotard at 27 Is a Rare Sight”

    At the Asian Games gymnastics competition held in Nagoya, Aichi, 27-year-old Aiko Sugihara won Japan’s first-ever gold medal in the women’s individual all-around. 16-year-old Misa Nishiyama took bronze. Sugihara drew attention back in her high school days, retired from the sport once, then returned — going on to win the All-Japan Championships and an individual-event gold at the World Championships — before finally reaching this peak. On 5ch’s “Sports Express+” board, the thread filled up with congratulations, alongside questions about why women’s gymnastics gets so little terrestrial TV coverage, and debate over uniform choices.

    Sports Nippon

    [September 23, 2026, 05:30]

    Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya, Day 4 (September 22, 2026)

    Source: sponichi.co.jp / Original article here

    2AnonymousSep 23, 2026 07:59
    A leotard at 27 is a rare sight these days.
    7AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:02
    Congrats!
    Seriously, media — cover more of these Japanese athletes doing great things, you clowns.
    8AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:03
    Wait, she won?
    That's amazing, isn't she the one who retired once?
    Respect for the hard work.
    10AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:07
    Late 20s in gymnastics is basically grandma territory.
    16AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:15
    Huh, so

    she finally ditched the shorts style?
    22AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:22
    Re: #16
    Her results got better after she stopped wearing the shorts, so I guess a high-cut leotard really is easier to move in.
    23AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:23
    Re: #16
    Isn't it just that international meets require the official Japan team uniform, not a personal choice?
    79AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:03
    Re: #16
    She's repping Japan, so she can't just wear her own personal uniform.
    21AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:22
    This thread's only going up now — is there some time difference with Nagoya or something?
    38AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:56
    Re: #21
    Barely any articles came out about this last night either — makes me wonder if reporters even know women's gymnastics is happening.
    24AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:25
    Figured the CS TBS channel might be running some kind of coverage, but nope, BTS was dancing. What even is this channel.
    26AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:30
    Congrats!

    30AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:44
    Is there an archive of this somewhere I can watch?
    32AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:47
    Re: #30
    Isn't it on U-NEXT?
    34AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:50
    Why isn't this on terrestrial TV?
    Men's gymnastics gets live broadcasts even when they don't win gold.
    42AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:07
    Re: #34
    Women's volleyball earned a permanent terrestrial broadcast slot at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and the Matsudaira Japan men's volleyball team did the same in 1972.
    For a similar reason, men's gymnastics has a permanent "seeded" broadcast spot, but women's gymnastics doesn't.

    Having a major corporate sponsor behind you matters too — women's gymnastics runs on a club-by-club basis, and none of them seem to have especially heavy backing.
    54AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:50
    Re: #34
    If we're going down that road, it's way weirder that high school baseball gets live coverage every year starting from the regional qualifiers.
    80AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:08
    Re: #34
    The men have Hashimoto and Oka — Olympic gold medalists who are among the best in the world.
    40AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:04
    She seems like someone who could be way more popular.
    The gymnastics world needs to make better use of her.
    45AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:16
    Re: #40
    The treatment is completely different from when Rie Tanaka was around.
    What exactly is the difference, I wonder.
    64AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:05
    Wasn't she against leotards on principle? She was wearing one just fine though.
    70AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:24
    Re: #64
    Probably because it's the official team uniform.
    67AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:14
    Oh, she's the one who treats leotards like a mortal enemy?
    But even the athletes themselves can't agree on this.
    It's not like the country forces every woman to wear one — if you hate it, you can quit, or just do your own thing.
    If she's not competing in baggy shorts at international meets too, isn't that a bit hypocritical?
    71AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:25
    Re: #67
    I've also heard it's more that the shorts were made for girls who quit the sport because they hate leotards, and she wears them for promotional purposes — so which is it?

    Also, for competitions like this, the maker supplying the uniforms probably has a contract with the JOC or the governing body, so athletes likely can't just wear whatever they personally want anyway.
    75AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:43
    Fist pump after clearing the uneven bars — her notorious weak event

    76AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:44
    Hopes are high for the team event too

    Background and Talking Points

    Aiko Sugihara drew attention as far back as her high school days — she even got an NHK feature — but after retiring from competition once, she went through a long stretch of failing to establish herself among Japan’s top gymnasts. It was only in her late twenties, after winning the All-Japan Championships and an individual-event gold at the World Championships, that she finally claimed the individual all-around title at this Asian Games. What got the thread talking was the gap between men’s gymnastics, which gets live terrestrial broadcasts, and women’s gymnastics, which gets far less coverage. Commenters pointed to “permanent broadcast rights” — like the ones women’s volleyball earned at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and men’s volleyball earned in 1972 — as evidence that past achievements and the backing (or lack thereof) of major corporations shape broadcast slots, and that women’s gymnastics reportedly lacks that kind of backing. There was also debate over uniforms — leotards versus shorts — a topic that’s easy to misread if you don’t know that athletes representing Japan can’t simply choose their own attire.

    *This article is an excerpt and summary based on the 5ch (Sports Express+) thread “[Asian Games Gymnastics] 27-Year-Old “Rare Character” Aiko Sugihara Pulls Off a Historic Feat! Japan’s First-Ever Gold in the Women’s Individual All-Around! 16-Year-Old Misa Nishiyama Takes Bronze.”

  • Morning Musume。’26 Sells Out Same-Day Tickets in Nagoya — 5ch: ‘Say What You Will, Musume Still Fills Seats’

    On September 23, the sellout of same-day tickets for Morning Musume。’26’s concert tour ‘Chou Heartful 11’ Nagoya show (Forest Hall, capacity 2,291) became a hot topic on a 5ch Hello! Project thread. Around the same time, Juice=Juice also sold out same-day tickets for both its matinee and evening performances at Nagoya’s Village Hall (1,146 seats), sparking a clash between pushback (‘Don’t just compare them when the capacities are different’) and defense (‘Tickets vanished instantly after a wave of fan-club lottery losers, so demand is well above capacity’). The thread also touched on the boost from Oda Sakura’s graduation and the news that Forest Hall is slated to close at the end of fiscal 2027.

    1AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:49
    Morning Musume。'26
    Morning Musume。'26 Fall Concert Tour 'Chou Heartful 11'
    Same-Day Ticket Info
    2AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:49
    With Juice, neither the matinee nor the evening show ever has same-day tickets left, you know
    70AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:17
    Re: #2
    Village Hall — capacity 1,146 ← Juice=Juice
    Forest Hall — capacity 2,291 ← Morning Musume。'26

    Got it now, you clueless moron lol
    75AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:19
    Re: #70
    Juice=Juice had a wave of fan-club lottery losers, then tickets vanished instantly on the ticket sites — simple math says demand is more than double the capacity
    77AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:20
    Re: #70
    That fake, try-hard vibe I get from Juice
    comes from exactly this kind of thing
    3AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:50
    Juice=Juice actually had same-day tickets available for both the matinee and evening shows
    4AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:50
    Just a simple question, but when a show 'sells out,' are they actually filling seats all the way up to the 4th floor?
    5AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:50
    Doesn't look like any reinforcements showed up for ANGERME though
    95AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:27
    Re: #5
    Last night
    9AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:51
    The Xiao fans who wanted to claim Aichi would be empty after Xiao quit are fainting and foaming at the mouth lol (Xiao — a member's nickname)
    23AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:55
    Re: #9
    Pretty sure Makino's final Nagoya show sold out for both the matinee and evening
    14AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:52
    Panda: 'Ahh, glad I ended up in Morning Musume.'
    26AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:55
    For Juice=Juice, sold-out shows are so normal that nobody bothers making a fuss over one specific sellout when same-day tickets are available elsewhere on the tour
    29AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:56
    Re: #26
    Sure, it's a homecoming for Ebata and Kawashima, but tomorrow's an ordinary weekday and it's sold out too
    33AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:59
    Re: #23
    It only just sold out thanks to the graduation boost, after all
    38AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:01
    Re: #33
    Even though it's not her hometown this time, it's because of Oda's graduation, right?
    36AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:01
    But honestly, the setlist this time is kind of mediocre
    though that's partly because spring's was just too good
    47AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:06
    Re: #36
    How many times are you gonna write the same thing
    42AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:03
    LOVE Machine
    Renai Revolution 21
    THE Peace!

    Are songs like these in the set?
    44AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:05
    Re: #42
    Believe it or not, the classic old hits ('preservation society' songs, as fans call them) are sealed away this time
    51AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:07
    ANGERME's turn will come around again eventually too
    Juice selling well was just a coincidence, after all
    61AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:12
    Re: #51
    Juice had its members at their peak right when the best songs came along
    when that all lines up, it sells
    is ANGERME at its peak right now?
    54AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:08
    Say what you will, Musume still fills seats
    which means Juice=Juice could move up to an even bigger stage
    Century Hall or whatever it's called?
    63AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:12
    Re: #54
    I think Sky Expo would suit Juice=Juice just fine
    58AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:11
    Isn't Forest Hall about to become unusable for renovations soon anyway?
    64AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:13
    Re: #58
    Forest Hall is closing at the end of fiscal 2027
    59AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:11


    81AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:21
    Sorry, but isn't the point that if Juice used Forest Hall, it would obviously sell out too?
    84AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:22
    Re: #81
    Someone's trying so hard to steer the topic to this tour lol
    88AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:24
    This'll probably affect venue choices next year.
    Right now all they can really do is push hard on Suzuki Moa, Nagano Momoha, and Nishimura Kinggori.
    89AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:24
    Musume. sold out all 6 Osaka shows in the first round without any trouble, so they're still selling well enough these days to fill halls just fine.
    And from what I've seen at shows, it doesn't really feel like Oda is the sole top draw either.
    91AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:25
    Re: #89
    I thought Oda was way out in front — so who else is strong? Panda? Riry?
    94AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:27
    Re: #91
    Panda
    tons of blue penlights out there for her
    99AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:29
    Re: #94
    But Sapporo doesn't really sell well for her, does it?
    103AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:30
    Re: #99
    Sapporo's a Sunday show, so it's true that touring fans can't make it back home, which hurts sales
    if it were a Saturday, it would've sold a lot better
    100AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:29
    Isn't Moa-chan by far the most popular one in the 18th generation?
    I don't really get the sense that Mesa is that popular
    102AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:30
    Re: #100
    Moa's way out in front

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    A ‘same-day ticket sellout’ means different things for different Hello! Project groups, depending on venue size and how the fan-club presale lottery played out. Morning Musume。’26’s Nagoya show was at Forest Hall (capacity 2,291), while Juice=Juice played the Village Hall (1,146 seats) inside the same Nagoya Congress Center — since the capacities differ by nearly double, it’s hard to compare the weight of each sellout directly. As pointed out in the thread, Juice=Juice’s same-day sellouts are often discussed alongside its tendency for tickets to vanish instantly, driven by the large number of fans who lost the fan-club presale lottery, while Morning Musume。’26 is also getting an extra lift from the demand around Oda Sakura’s graduation tour. Forest Hall is also reportedly set to close at the end of fiscal 2027, which could affect venue choices for future Hello! Project shows in Nagoya.

    ※This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread ‘Morning Musume。’26’s Nagoya Forest Hall Same-Day Tickets Sell Out!!‘.

  • Tsubaki Factory’s Runo Yokaze Stars in Nippon-Ham Fighters Uniform Campaign — Her Photos Are Blowing Up

    Photos of Runo Yokaze, a member of Hello! Project’s Tsubaki Factory who was tapped for the Nippon-Ham Fighters’ uniform campaign, are stirring up the Hello! Project board on 5ch. While many posters praised the charm of the photos shared on social media, others compared them to what looked like unedited shots taken on-site and complained “this isn’t what I expected,” repeatedly turning the thread into a debate over the gap between the idealized image and reality. Some commenters also noted that Maria Makino had previously handled the Nippon-Ham uniform campaign, sparking discussion about how the role has passed between members.

    1AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:46
    Breaking through right now
    2AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:48
    Is her face size actually okay though?
    4AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:50
    No idea how to read her name, but she's cute
    20AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:27
    Re: #4
    That's little "Yo Furuno-chan," fresh in from China (a joke riffing on how foreign her name sounds)
    7AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:55
    99% of the time her real-life face doesn't look like this, and it's huge to boot, but I respect that she never gives up on making herself look good.
    12AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:06
    Tough being a young idol these days
    you can't even show your face in public without editing it first.
    13AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:10
    Wasn't the Nippon-Ham gig Makino's thing?
    Did it become Tsubaki Factory's now?
    19AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:27
    Re: #13
    Tanimoto's from Hokkaido and an actual Nippon-Ham fan, you know
    15AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:15
    Good thing she wasn't dumped in favor of Juice=Juice
    17AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:21
    Here's what she actually looks like in person:
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HSpFCbzbgAAWnpM.jpg:orig#.jpg
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HSpG588a0AA_dGO.jpg:orig#.jpg
    27AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:30
    Re: #17
    Cute. Love the energy in that shot, no?
    30AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:36
    Re: #17
    4.9K likes
    22AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:28
    https://imgur.com/Qksak6k
    Caught between the ideal and reality
    24AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:29
    Re: #22
    What's the point of digging up old photos?
    29AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:33
    Re: #22
    Girls change all the time.
    Can't you tell just from King lately?
    Even Mippuru looked kind of awkward back when she did the big-eyes look with Tanaka.
    23AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:29
    The Lotte Marines have Rosy locked down as their thing (their team ambassador) — wish there was some kind of crossover here.
    26AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:30
    It's amazing they found Yoffu (her nickname)
    they should push her into more media now and get her name out there fast.
    28AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:31
    Chiori's covering up all the way to the neckline — really image-conscious of her
    32AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:37
    @ That black-haired short-cut girl from Tsubaki Factory is seriously gorgeous
    33AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:38
    @ Fox Dance 🦊 (the Fighters' viral "Kitsune Dance" stadium routine)
    The girl I thought was cute during the first pitch came right up in front of me — total blessing 🫶
    36AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:40
    Re: #34
    https://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20260922/21/tsubaki-factory/ca/2c/j/o1080135015824587781.jpg
    37AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:40
    Runo's look is divisive, but her real strength is her performance. Once it clicks for you, you're falling straight into the rabbit hole.
    38AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:40
    The guy on X was giving off major otaku energy
    come on, play it a little cooler
    41AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:43






    44AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:46
    Re: #41
    This girl's face is just too good
    42AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:43
    Even Tio's cracking a grin
    45AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:50
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS03ovhaUAAFfAA.jpg
    47AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:55
    Re: #45
    If you told me this was Nagisa Saito, I wouldn't even question it
    52AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:03
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gphohb1bYAA0mqk.jpg
    Ace vs. ace showdown
    55AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:10


    67AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:27
    Re: #55
    So the whole group wearing white swimsuits had a precedent?
    And why did it stop?
    62AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:16
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HSo8j9uaQAADw51.jpg:orig#.jpg

    Runo, what's going on with your eyelids?
    63AnonymousSep 23, 2026 11:18
    Re: #62
    That's the "Mezaiku" eyelid-tape trick (a Japanese double-eyelid glue/tape brand)

    Background and Talking Points

    Hello! Project members have been tapped for the Nippon-Ham Fighters’ uniform campaign before, and some in the thread pointed out that the role may have shifted from Maria Makino to Tsubaki Factory. What sparked this particular discussion was the gap between the polish of the photos posted on social media and the impression left by what looked like unedited shots taken on-site, with the latter drawing some harsh comments. It’s worth keeping in mind that in idol-related uniform campaigns like this, photos tweaked for color and angle for social media often look quite different from shots fans take on location, so judging by either one alone doesn’t necessarily reflect the full picture.

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “Runo Yokaze from the Nippon-Ham uniform is breaking the beauty limit!!”.

  • Fox Leaves Mole as a “Gift” at Front Door — 7th Sighting This Year, 5ch: “So It Was You”

    At a home in Japan’s San’in region, a fox has been quietly leaving moles it caught at the front door — behavior repeated seven times already this year, leaving residents baffled. An expert consulted for the story floated a theory: by placing its prey in a sunny spot, the fox may be drying it out, essentially turning it into a preserved food like dried fish. On 5ch, the thread lit up with trivia-style chatter comparing the behavior to the folktale “Gon, the Little Fox,” plus surprise at fox habitats and mole ecology — while plenty of posters also poked fun at the fact that a mole expert, not a fox expert, was the one interviewed.

    A fox shows up carrying a “mole” in its mouth, drops it with a plop at the front door, and walks off… 7th fox sighting this year, mysterious behavior leaves residents baffled — expert’s surprising theory: “By leaving it in a sunny spot to turn it into a dried preserve, it may be trying to ‘cook’ it…”

    Published Wed, 9/23, 6:00 AM

    BSS San’in Broadcasting

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

    2AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:59
    So it was you all along
    22AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:03
    Re: #2
    This way…
    42AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:08
    Re: #2
    Called it, and in reply #2 no less
    Gon… (the fox from the folktale "Gon, the Little Fox")
    51AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:12
    This has to be some kind of warning.
    7AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:00
    Mole
    Written in kanji (土竜, literally "earth dragon"), it sounds absurdly strong.
    60AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:14
    Re: #7
    Like, "The Earth Dragon is the weakest of the four elemental dragons…"
    that kind of vibe, right?
    162AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:11
    Re: #7
    Foxes have their surprising sides too, huh.
    16AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:02
    Are foxes found all over Japan? I live in Kyushu and I've never once seen one.
    44AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:09
    Re: #16
    They're everywhere.
    There's even land in Tokyo — basically every green patch visible in aerial photos — where foxes have been spotted and confirmed to be living there.
    75AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:20
    Re: #16
    Just the other day there was a news story about one turning up in Nerima Ward, Tokyo.
    213AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:41
    Re: #16
    Same here, also in Kyushu, and I've never seen a fox… though I do see badgers and weasels.
    19AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:02
    A jaded modern man chimes in: "Bring cash in your mouth instead."
    167AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:13
    Re: #19
    Looks like opinions are split between the "bring money" camp and the "come as a cute fox-eared girl" camp.
    30AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:06
    A thank-you gift from the fox who sold me mittens
    185AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:24
    Re: #30
    You're mashing two different stories together lol
    38AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:07
    Gon wasn't repaying a favor, he was atoning for something he'd done wrong
    Maybe this fox is apologizing to the homeowner too…
    55AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:13
    Re: #38
    Huh, now that you mention it, that's true
    Everyone misremembers it, so it'd make a good quiz question.
    66AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:17
    Re: #38
    People mix it up with "Buying Mittens" (another famous story by the same author, Nankichi Niimi).
    46AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:10
    What exactly was that gut-punch of an ending supposed to teach kids?
    62AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:16
    Turns out moles smell like poop.
    Had no idea.
    74AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:20
    Re: #62
    Didn't want to get bitten, so I made a scoop out of cardboard and picked it up, and it suddenly sprayed feces and urine everywhere
    I don't remember it smelling bad, but thinking about it now, maybe that's some kind of skunk-style defense move?
    69AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:18
    My cat brings one home sometimes, but moles are so fluffy and cute
    They live underground, so why are they that fluffy?
    70AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:19
    Re: #69
    Apparently their fur is so dense that dirt practically brushes right off.
    83AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:24
    I bet almost nobody outside of farmers has ever actually seen a mole in real life.
    88AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:27
    Re: #83
    Saw one at a factory under construction on a newly cleared vacant lot (Tottori Prefecture).
    163AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:12
    Re: #83
    Outside city areas you can spot one now and then.
    If your hobbies include fishing or nature photography, odds are pretty high you'll run into one.
    Back when playing outside was just normal, seeing one was an everyday thing.
    84AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:24
    Pet cats line up their kills — roaches, crickets, mice — like they're showing off to their owner, practically saying "praise me, praise me"
    One time it was a sparrow, and the owner thought it was dead, picked it up, and put it outside the back door — apparently it snapped out of it and flew away.
    93AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:31
    Re: #84
    Some dogs do that too
    We used to have a Japanese mixed-breed dog, and if you let it loose in the yard it would catch all sorts of things
    Moles, mice, snakes, lizards, pigeons, frogs, rabbits, you name it
    It was just catching them to play — once they stopped moving, it just left them there.
    159AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:08
    It's fox behavior we're talking about — why ask a mole expert?
    179AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:20
    Re: #159
    Has to be a joke lol
    188AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:29
    Re: #159
    A fox expert probably couldn't have come up with as funny a line as the mole guy did.
    209AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:37
    Re: #1
    I've caught a mole in my yard before, and it didn't smell like poop to me
    Guess it depends on the species or the location?
    217AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:42
    Re: #209
    Say that after you've actually eaten one.
    219AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:43
    Re: #209
    Sounds like a fox is posting in here.
    214AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:41
    Mole fur is smooth like velvet — feels amazing to the touch.
    221AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:43
    Re: #214
    Apparently touching moles is risky
    They carry a lot of parasites.
    223AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:45
    Re: #221
    Whether it's bugs or animals, the carnivorous ones tend to be loaded with parasites and germs, so you can't eat them.
    229AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:47
    Re: #221
    Though foxes, crows, and cats all seem to eat them just fine.

    Background and Talking Points

    Canids like foxes are known to practice “food caching” — stashing surplus prey in a fixed spot to eat later — and the expert’s “dried preserve” theory in this story can be understood as an extension of that behavior. The thread brought up the folktale “Gon, the Little Fox,” but as several posters noted, the story’s theme isn’t gratitude but atonement for a past prank — a point often confused with another famous Nankichi Niimi work, “Buying Mittens.” The fact that a mole researcher, rather than a fox specialist, fielded questions about fox behavior also became a running joke in the thread, but this is likely less a gag and more standard reporting practice: when covering an animal outside a given expert’s specialty, journalists routinely check with a researcher in the relevant field. As for whether moles smell bad or carry parasites, there’s probably room for individual and regional variation, so it’s worth noting that a few anecdotal comments in the thread shouldn’t be taken as a general rule.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Breaking News+) thread “A fox shows up carrying a “mole” in its mouth, drops it with a plop at the front door, and walks off… 7th sighting this year, expert: “By leaving it in a sunny spot to turn it into a dried preserve…”“

  • Chunichi Signs Ward, Dodgers’ Triple-A Home Run King — 5ch: ‘Their Losing Streak Just Went from -20 to -16’

    On September 22 (September 23 Japan time), the Chunichi Dragons announced the signing of outfielder Ryan Ward (28), who captured the home run and RBI titles — and MVP honors — at Triple-A Oklahoma City, the Dodgers’ top affiliate. A left-handed slugger drafted by the Dodgers in the 8th round back in 2019, he’s racked up 168 home runs over his minor league career. Reaction on 5ch was split: while many threads showed excitement about him contributing right away, others raised concerns over his roughly .200 average against left-handed pitching and his relatively short 5’10” (177.8cm) frame.

    1AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:23
    Dodgers outfielder Ryan Ward is moving to the Chunichi Dragons. Team officials announced the move on the 22nd (23rd Japan time).
    The 28-year-old Ward was picked in the 8th round (251st overall) of the 2019 draft and has 168 career home runs in the minors — a left-handed power hitter. In 2025, he won the home run and RBI titles and was named MVP at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
    3AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:24
    Good news — next year their losing record should go from 20 games under .500 down to about 16.
    4AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:26
    Fans of a team that hasn't even made the Climax Series in 14 straight years are already hyping this up on X lmao
    5AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:27
    Their offseason chest-thumping is starting earlier than ever this year lol
    6AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:28
    Think they'll make the A Class (top 3) next year? They said making A Class would be a lock this year too though
    7AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:29
    They're already near the top of the league in home runs, and they still think their problem is a lack of power hitters?
    15AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:38
    Re: #7
    Well, the DH is coming in next year, so…
    8AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:29
    Manager Inoue actually got a 3-year deal.
    Bosler and Kuri Rodo also got multi-year contracts.
    Looks like we're losing Mora and Sano.
    16AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:38
    Re: #8
    It's already confirmed Sano's staying
    9AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:30
    For Chunichi, right now through next year's Opening Day is the real season.
    Once the season actually starts, that's when they go into their offseason.
    10AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:31
    When is this team ever going to make the Climax Series?
    11AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:33
    Feels like the Chunichi Dragons' hot stove league already kicked off lol
    12AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:33
    It's over the moment the manager is Inoue
    29AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:46
    Home Runs at the Dome Are Up


    September 21, 2026, 9:57 PM

    On the 21st, the Chunichi Dragons wrapped up all 69 games at their home park, Vantelin Dome Nagoya.

    The stadium added new terrace seating called the "Home Run Wing" this season. The distance from home plate to the fence was cut by up to 6 meters, and the fence height was lowered from 4.8 meters to 3.6 meters.

    As a result, home runs at the venue jumped sharply this season. Chunichi's team home run total at the stadium doubled to 70 (over 70 games), up from 35 in the same span last season.

    Chunichi's overall team home run total also rose, from 83 last season to 116 (as of the 21st) — second in the league behind DeNA.

    On the other hand, home runs allowed by Chunichi's pitching staff increased too. At Vantelin Dome Nagoya, home runs allowed went from 29 last season to 59 this season.

    https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2026/09/21/articles/20260921s00001173329000c.html
    36AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:50
    Re: #29
    But their losing record got worse too.
    Last year: 15 games under .500 → This year: 18 games under .500 (as of now)
    74AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:19
    Re: #29
    35 more homers hit, only 30 more allowed.
    That's a net positive
    34AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:49
    Inoue: "Ward, hear me out"
    41AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:54
    This guy can't hit lefties.
    And defensively he sounds like a weaker-armed version of Hosokawa.
    42AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:54
    Re: #41
    That's not a pro baseball player, is it
    47AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:01
    Apparently he's similar to Bosler
    48AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:02
    Re: #47
    His WAR is -1.9 though
    55AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:08
    Chunichi really is just a pile of nobodies and scrubs.

    Chunichi position player WAR, as of 9/22
    3.5 Muramatsu
    2.5 Ishii
    1.8 Ishikawa Ko
    1.6 Fukunaga, Sano
    1.3 Hosokawa
    1.1 Tanaka
    0.7 Itayama
    0.4 Okabayashi, Hanada, Tsuchida
    0.3 Abe, Kinoshita, Kanbayashi
    0.2 Fukumoto
    0.1 Kawagoe, Ukai
    0.0 Oda, Kato, Ajitani, Higuchi
    -0.1 Ishibashi, Chino, Tsujimoto, Takahashi Shu
    -0.2 Rodriguez
    -0.3 Bright
    -0.4 Oshima, Yamamoto
    -0.5 Caliste
    -1.9 Bosler
    60AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:13
    Re: #55
    At the end of the day, you need a handful of league-elite standouts to make it work, and Chunichi's got none
    61AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:15
    Re: #55
    Hosokawa's only at 1.3?
    He's treated like a star on this team though
    99AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:29
    Re: #55
    Typical collection of guys who'll never win a title or a single award
    66AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:15
    Ward
    Minor league numbers since 2024
    vs RHP: .291, OPS .946
    vs LHP: .202, OPS .652
    This season at AAA:
    vs RHP: .272 (82-for-301)
    vs LHP: .183 (19-for-104)
    87AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:24
    Re: #66
    Guys like this are genuinely hard to use.
    Even in a big chance late in the game, once they bring in a lefty it's over
    69AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:16
    His numbers against lefties are so bad it's hilarious
    71AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:18
    5'10" (177.8cm)? That's pretty small
    77AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:20
    If they don't reinforce the bullpen, it's going to be a repeat of this year
    83AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:22
    Re: #77
    The rotation looks shaky too.
    Wouldn't be shocking if guys like Ohno or Yanagi fall apart next year
    89AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:25
    Chunichi's pitching is in way worse shape than their lineup, but adding one or two arms won't fix it, so nobody even brings it up
    97AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:28
    Re: #89
    Catching is a mess too.
    Ishii's already stretched past his limit
    90AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:26
    Watching Chunichi over the past 15 years, I can already see it: they'll get serious about the bullpen, things improve somewhat over this year, everyone relaxes — and that's exactly when the rotation they took for granted falls apart
    96AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:28
    Re: #90
    It'd help if the young guys who got hyped up before the season had actually broken out.
    But with Nakanishi and Sakurai both ending up on the same dead-end path as Nakachi, and a washed-up Ohno still being your best option, there's no upside left
    102AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:30
    Honestly, Ishii is bottom-tier as a catcher.
    They called him a 'Kobayashi who can actually hit,' but his catching skills are worlds apart
    105AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:31
    Re: #102
    That's by Chunichi Dragons standards though.
    The bar's just different than for other teams
    103AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:30
    Apparently Hosokawa, Ward, and Sano together will easily hit 100 home runs next year
    107AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:31
    Re: #103
    I've never once seen that kind of fantasy actually pan out

    Background and Key Points

    Heading into the late stages of the 2026 season, the Chunichi Dragons once again find themselves mired near the bottom of the league with a losing record, and a lack of power hitting — compounded by a worsening team ERA — has long been seen as a core weakness. Their home stadium, Vantelin Dome Nagoya, was renovated this season with the fence pulled in by up to 6 meters, and as a result the team’s home run total doubled from 83 last season to 116. At the same time, home runs allowed also climbed, from 29 to 59, so the numbers shifted on both the hitting and pitching sides. Ward hits close to .300 against right-handers but only around .200 against lefties, and on the thread plenty of posters questioned how effective he’ll really be as an answer to left-handed pitching. That combination — a strong minor league résumé paired with a lingering weakness against lefties — is what’s driving the mixed reaction of hope and concern.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyō G) thread “[Great News] Chunichi Dragons Poised for a Comeback Title Run! Dodgers’ Ward Signed”.

  • Lawson’s ¥398 Sausage Bento Slammed for “Too Little Rice” — 5ch: “It’s Not Japan That’s Crazy, It’s Lawson”

    Lawson’s “Sausage Bento” (¥398/¥397) sparked complaints about skimpy rice portions in a 5ch chat thread. After one poster wrote “there’s barely any rice,” the discussion snowballed into price comparisons with Hotto Motto’s nori bento and Trial’s katsudon, as well as the cost structure behind convenience store bentos — ingredients, labor, and all. Some pointed out the markup, saying “¥398 could buy you a whole kilo of sausages,” while others defended the price, arguing that “even with cheap ingredients, convenience stores have other costs to cover.” The thread also touched on who actually relies on these bentos day to day.

    1AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:23
    @
    Bought that Lawson sausage bento everyone's talking about. My verdict:
    ① Not much rice
    6AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:29
    Not just Lawson — bentos everywhere lately have way too little rice
    8AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:33
    For ¥398 I'd rather get a nori bento at Hotto Motto
    9AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:34
    If this sells for ¥400 in Japan, the economy must be doing great.
    Anywhere else, people wouldn't touch this even for free.
    13AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:35
    Re: #9
    Probably just ends up unsold and tossed out
    It's not Japan that's crazy, it's just Lawson
    11AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:34
    It's just cheaper than buying rice and sausages separately, that's it
    15AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:35
    Re: #11
    Nah, it's not even cheap
    16AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:36
    Lawson's official listing says ¥397
    17AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:40
    For ¥400 you're better off with a nori bento
    18AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:42
    Drugstores are eyeing customers who've been burned by convenience store 'scam bentos' and are ready to scoop them up
    20AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:43
    With that amount of sausage, there's no way the rice portion is enough
    21AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:54
    Stuff sticking to the container is a big minus for me personally
    22AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:57
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS23VFNbwAAYkZs.jpg
    23AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:02
    Re: #1
    You can tell just by looking that the rice layer is thin
    I bought a nori bento at Trial the other day and the rice was only about 1cm thick too
    24AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:03
    Went to Lawson thinking about buying it but it looked so small I gave up
    25AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:04
    If you're going to eat something like this, homemade would taste better
    27AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:08
    But Trial sells katsudon for ¥300, and their egg sandwich is thick and only ¥200
    28AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:10
    Thing is, you can't cook for yourself when you're out and about
    29AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:11
    Compared to other bentos that normally run around ¥800, isn't this actually reasonable?
    31AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:12
    With ¥398 you could buy 1kg of sausages
    If they're selling this, it should be ¥198
    33AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:14
    A kilo of sausage for ¥398 is probably almost all chicken filler anyway lol
    35AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:16
    Trial's ¥300 katsudon is basically bait to get you to buy other stuff too
    36AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:16
    Went to a 100-yen Lawson for the first time in ages and was shocked that almost nothing was actually 100 yen
    37AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:19
    Why are people who never buy convenience store bentos in the first place — because they're too expensive — getting so worked up about something that doesn't even affect them?
    38AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:21
    Depends on the sausage quality too
    With Schau Essen it'd be a fancy meal, with the cheap bulk sausages it's garbage
    39AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:23
    This isn't really a 'bento' so much as a deli item shoved in a pack lol
    40AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:24
    Apparently it's selling out everywhere
    51AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:33
    Re: #40
    People who buy bentos at convenience stores are a special breed
    42AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:26
    Overall the verdict seems to be both the sausage and the rice taste bad
    ¥400 is pretty steep for that
    43AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:27
    I mean, just the rice alone probably costs like ¥200 to make
    44AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:27
    It's not really about whether it's expensive or not, that's missing the point
    45AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:28
    Big chains must be getting their rice dirt cheap
    47AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:29
    Re: #45
    Even if the ingredients are cheap, being a convenience store means a bunch of other costs pile on top
    46AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:28
    For convenience stores, complaints happen if there's too much food, so they'd rather err on the side of less
    48AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:31
    Major supermarkets can make bentos on the cheap
    50AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:33
    Re: #48
    That's because they've got low-wage part-timers making them
    49AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:32
    To begin with, low-income people can't really afford convenience stores unless they've got no other option — it's too expensive
    52AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:35
    Convenience store bentos are for people whose hourly wage makes going to the supermarket or cooking for themselves a net loss of money
    54AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:05
    The container is so cheap-looking it barely reads as a bento
    55AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:07
    People who can't shop during supermarket hours end up relying on convenience stores
    56AnonymousSep 23, 2026 10:09
    Construction site workers have to grab a quick meal near the site during their break, so they all end up at convenience stores

    Background and Key Points of the Debate

    The debate over convenience store bento pricing split between complaints about the container and rice portions, and an understanding that the price reflects more than just ingredient costs. Some in the thread pointed out that convenience store bentos carry multi-stage costs — manufacturing, delivery, and disposal — while supermarkets can keep prices lower thanks to in-store cooking and different labor cost structures. Opinions diverged between “low-income people don’t use convenience stores” and “people on lower hourly wages are the ones forced to rely on convenience stores due to time constraints,” with no clear consensus on who the actual customer base is. Whether the ¥398 price tag is seen as a simple “rip-off” or as the natural result of convenience stores’ unique cost structure is really the crux of this debate.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “[Thread title garbled/mojibake in source].”

  • Pokémon Card 30th Anniversary: High-Rarity Pull Rates Too Generous, Resale Prices Crash — 5ch: “Crush These Damn Scalpers”

    The Pokémon Card 30th-anniversary commemorative set “30th Celebration” saw a wave of bulk-buying and high-priced resale worldwide right after launch — but according to a report from Kotaku in the US, it turns out the pull rate for high-rarity cards was much higher than expected there, and prices are now crashing. The headline cards, “Mew ex” and “Mewtwo ex,” were fetching $850–$1,400 on eBay before release, with some hitting over $3,000 at the peak — but five days after launch they’d dropped to around $120, and anything priced above $100 is reportedly struggling to sell. On 5ch, reactions ranged from skepticism about the article’s premise (“isn’t this still way too profitable?”) to criticism of scalping itself, to speculation about the company’s own motives in controlling pull rates.

    Yahoo! Original Article, 9/22 (Tue) 7:01

    Last week, as soon as the Pokémon Card 30th-anniversary commemorative set “30th Celebration” went on sale, bulk-buying and high-priced resale broke out worldwide. But at least in the US, Kotaku reports that the pull rate for high-rarity cards turned out to be far higher than expected, crashing prices and leaving scalpers reeling.

    In particular, “Mew ex (FUR)” and “Mewtwo ex (FUR)” reportedly sold on eBay for $850–$1,400 before release, with some examples fetching over $3,000 at the peak. But five days after launch, they were listed around $120, with anything above $100 said to be a tough sell.

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

    4AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:22
    Just let the kids play with them as much as they want, honestly.
    5AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:24
    If that's how it is, scalpers should go sue Nintendo.
    6AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:26
    A card that's easier to pull than expected isn't exactly "rare" though.
    7AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:26
    But even opening a whole carton, that one really-rare, not-that-cute Mew never shows up.
    8AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:26
    Calling yourself a "secondary distributor" is shameless on a whole new level.
    Honestly it'd be better to feel a little guilty and just own up to being a scalper.
    9AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:27
    Grown adults still into Pokémon, huh.
    59AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:49
    Re: #9
    There are dead-serious collectors well past 30 too.
    Creepy.
    10AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:27
    Where's the crash? They're rolling in cash, living it up.
    11AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:27
    A week ago I saw three Mew cards going for ¥600,000 (~$4,000) each.
    15AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:29
    Prices are through the roof though.
    How do you even write such a sloppy article?
    17AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:29
    Why not just make the pull rate the same for every card?
    Making some feel "rare" is exactly what fuels scalping in the first place.
    Just give every card equal odds — it's baffling why they don't.
    So dumb.
    20AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:31
    Re: #17
    Guess you don't know, so let me break it to you: Pokémon cards are for playing a card GAME.
    18AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:30
    Gonna take on their legendary legal department all by yourself? lol
    Go for it lol
    33AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:37
    Re: #18
    Why are you the one getting all riled up?
    19AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:30
    Watching adults these days shove each other aside over a kids' toy is way too creepy.
    You all really need to realize how creepy you look.
    21AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:32
    So it's the company's own discretion on print rates versus everyone trying to out-guess them.
    22AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:32
    Scalpers are the enemy of kids, after all.
    Nintendo's on the kids' side.
    28AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:34
    Re: #22
    If they were really on the kids' side, they'd just print more stock.
    23AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:32
    The mindset of trying to profit off scalping is just pathetic. Idiots.
    24AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:32
    These are supposed to be for kids, so they should just let the top rarities drop freely. Crush these damn scalpers.
    25AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:32
    The real problem is these became speculative assets in the first place.
    Print a ton more and tank the value.
    26AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:33
    > "…because we've contributed so much," they proudly say.

    Lol, what a joke.
    27AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:33
    I don't find Pokémon or Chiikawa cute at all, zero interest.
    Anyone who wants that stuff is an idiot.
    41AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:39
    Re: #27
    The whole idea of adults desperately wanting kids' toys and characters is insane to begin with.
    30AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:35
    Everyone keeps pulling amazing cards, it got boring, so I stopped watching unboxing videos.
    31AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:36
    If it's a "business" (lol), of course there's risk involved.
    32AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:36
    Saw it on Orochin-yu's stream (a popular Japanese YouTuber/streamer).
    He was pulling a ton of them.
    34AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:37
    Re: #28
    And there it is — one of the classic scalper excuses lol
    36AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:37
    They probably just wanted to share their 30th-anniversary gratitude with as many people as possible.
    Just be happy for them.
    37AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:37
    Honestly, restricting the rare-card odds so tightly up until now was the weird part.
    Way too intense for a kids' card game.
    43AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:41
    Just a few years ago these were being dumped for like ¥100 a piece.
    What a gross world we live in.
    47AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:43
    Re: #43
    I was shocked when a card I bought for about ¥1,000 back in the day sold for ¥140,000.
    58AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:49
    Bikkuriman stickers (a classic Japanese sticker collectible) died out the same way once the rare ones got easier to pull too.
    65AnonymousSep 23, 2026 08:53
    Re: #58
    Same with everything, really — even Tomica die-cast cars, when they make new "reissue" versions, they sometimes just sit unsold.
    Guess it only means something if you got it in its own era.
    94AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:16
    Scalping is a funding source for organized crime.
    98AnonymousSep 23, 2026 09:19
    Re: #94
    Before that, the manufacturers running these limited-release marketing schemes are the real villains.

    Background and key points of this story

    What’s being reported as a “price crash” here is specifically the secondary-market price on eBay in the United States — a different market from Japan’s flea-market and buyback prices. The pushback in the thread (“they’re rolling in cash,” “prices are through the roof”) likely stems from that difference in country and market. The 30th Celebration is a commemorative pack loaded with newly designed high-rarity cards like Mew ex and Mewtwo ex, and it’s possible a higher-than-usual pull rate was intentional for this particular release. Since trading-card prices are fundamentally driven by “rarity × scarcity,” once it became clear the pull rate was higher than expected, the scalpers who’d bought up cards at inflated prices were the ones most exposed to losses. The thread’s discussion spread from criticism of scalping itself to speculation about the motives of both the company and the buyers driving that criticism.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports Express+) thread “[Pokémon Cards] Pokémon Card 30th Anniversary — Scalpers Who Bought Up Stock Left Reeling as High-Rarity Cards Prove Easier to Pull Than Expected, Crashing Prices.”

  • “Nanoha and Fate Barely Appear” — Fans Split Over New Nanoha Series

    The latest installment of the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha franchise, “EXCEEDS Gun Blaze Vengeance,” is currently airing, and 5ch’s live-watching threads have been flooded with mixed reactions. Many viewers voiced confusion that series mainstays like the Yagami family, Fate, and Hayate barely appear on screen, with the story instead centering on new characters. Viewers also questioned scenes late in the episode where the new characters casually engage in aerial combat despite their power levels never being clearly established, as well as the poem-styled flourishes attached to the subtitles. Some of the franchise’s longtime fans said it felt like “this isn’t Nanoha,” leaving opinions sharply divided.

    1AnonymousSep 20, 2026 02:45
    The UN investigative agency EXCEEDS is starting the job of saving the world!
    "Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha EXCEEDS Gun Blaze Vengeance"
    TOKYO MX — Saturday, July 4, 25:00 (1:00 AM)~
    48AnonymousSep 20, 2026 09:57
    When they called out to the Guardian Knights I was hoping for a raid battle…
    Well, given the time left I figured it'd be tough, but not even a single line about it?
    Also, a bunch of ordinary people who just got one special ability were all casually flying around and dogfighting by the end
    That said, I liked the new characters' designs
    51AnonymousSep 20, 2026 10:06
    Re: #48
    Maybe that world was zero-gravity or something.

    Given the setting, they can create as many worlds as they want, so it would've been fine to just do a one-episode-per-world format where Nanoha goes wild in a different world each time…
    83AnonymousSep 20, 2026 11:21
    Re: #48
    In StrikerS even flying was treated as an amazing ability, so this is just weird lol
    71AnonymousSep 20, 2026 11:11
    From what I can tell at a glance, not just the Yagami family but even Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate seem to get less screen time than the new characters, so I haven't watched yet — is it okay to skip it?
    72AnonymousSep 20, 2026 11:11
    Re: #71
    If you want to see the original Nanoha cast, seriously don't bother
    They barely do anything
    73AnonymousSep 20, 2026 11:13
    Re: #71
    The Yagami family is basically a cameo
    Nanoha and Fate get treated as less than side characters — it'll just make you angry, so better not watch
    96AnonymousSep 20, 2026 11:42
    It's funny how Towa, who looks like she's got maybe a tenth of Shiina's power, is acting all "I'm helping out!" like she matters
    And in the finale they're facing an enemy that even Nanoha and Fate struggled with — what's the demon-hunting squad supposed to do against that?
    They'll probably get one-shotted the second they hit the battlefield lol
    100AnonymousSep 20, 2026 11:52
    Re: #96
    They probably just called them in for the big final-episode gathering scene…
    102AnonymousSep 20, 2026 11:53
    Re: #96
    It's probably like Yamcha and Krillin showing up at the Cell Games lol (i.e., weak characters tagging along to a fight way above their level)
    128AnonymousSep 20, 2026 12:36
    Re: #96
    And Hayate's nowhere to be found
    112AnonymousSep 20, 2026 12:06
    Depends on what you liked about Nanoha, but if it's the magical-girl side or the emotional/heartwarming side, tell the disappointed folks that recent Precure does it better
    122AnonymousSep 20, 2026 12:20
    Re: #112
    Nanoha was a legendary anime that miraculously fused sexy-cute magical girl transformation scenes with intense battles
    But this new one has neither — it's trash
    125AnonymousSep 20, 2026 12:25
    Re: #112
    Precure, huh
    It's aimed at girls and runs a full year (4 cours), which makes it a drag to keep up with
    258AnonymousSep 20, 2026 16:30
    It's not the subtitle that feels like a cheesy web-novel (Narou-style) thing, it's that mysterious poem — genuinely creepy
    https://dec.2chan.net/up2/src/fu7290373.jpeg
    261AnonymousSep 20, 2026 16:40
    Re: #258
    Looking at it again, this poem gives me secondhand embarrassment chills lol
    And the choice of which parts they bothered to change the color of makes no sense either
    276AnonymousSep 20, 2026 18:13
    I thought it was at least within the range of an average anime overall
    But I guess it's unpopular with longtime Nanoha fans
    279AnonymousSep 20, 2026 18:23
    Re: #276
    For longtime fans, it's just… not Nanoha anymore
    282AnonymousSep 20, 2026 18:31
    Re: #276
    Not totally sure what "average anime level" means here, but if a supposedly long-awaited new entry in a franchise with tons of 20-year veteran fans turns out mediocre, of course it's not going to be well received
    At the very least it's the worst in the series
    285AnonymousSep 20, 2026 18:45
    Re: #276
    Average level? This?
    No matter how you look at it, this is a stale, out-of-touch anime that hasn't adapted to the Reiwa era, and the content's a mess
    Even your average dime-a-dozen isekai web-novel anime is better made than this
    326AnonymousSep 20, 2026 20:17
    What's the point of calling in reinforcements for the finale when even Nanoha and Fate can't handle the enemy?
    They'll just be dead weight
    330AnonymousSep 20, 2026 20:26
    Re: #326
    If you're forcing a reason to bring those guys along, maybe it's an enemy that fundamentally nullifies magic, so a demon-type power with a totally different ability system has a slim chance
    Though worst case it just ends in a total wipeout
    333AnonymousSep 20, 2026 20:28
    Re: #326
    Sounds like they just called in strong reinforcements because Nanoha and Fate alone couldn't win
    380AnonymousSep 20, 2026 22:39
    Re: #326
    Probably needed Shiina's special ability — like disposing of the corpse without causing collateral damage
    499AnonymousSep 21, 2026 17:16
    This has got to be the end for real, right? I always figured I'd see it through to the finish, but I can't anymore
    It was already rough going back around Vivid Strike, and I thought Reflection/Detonation wrapped it up, but here it is crawling out of the grave
    509AnonymousSep 21, 2026 17:39
    Re: #499
    They probably recouped costs with the "100k mobilized" crowd, so I bet they'll do it again
    Though nothing decent's gonna come out of it lol
    519AnonymousSep 21, 2026 18:12
    Re: #499
    Since it's set in the past timeline-wise, they can keep churning out as many as they want
    556AnonymousSep 21, 2026 19:58
    Apparently in the guidebook's epilogue, that whole crappy dragon storyline just got retconned out of existence
    559AnonymousSep 21, 2026 20:14
    Re: #556
    Seriously, just animate THIS instead
    It makes me sigh for real
    567AnonymousSep 21, 2026 20:42
    Re: #556
    Fate-chan is way too cute
    568AnonymousSep 21, 2026 20:56
    Re: #556
    Fate-chan, you really are the crown jewel of this series
    658AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:03
    Honestly, can anyone actually explain what made this anime popular in the first place?
    It's not the story
    It's not the characters (Innocent bombed hard, so that's not it)
    It's not the slice-of-life dialogue (Innocent and ViVid both bombed, so not that either)
    It's not the robo-anime-style gimmicks (Force got cancelled, Reflection/Detonation bombed)
    It's not the art (has been consistently mediocre)
    It's not the lolicon appeal (Reflection/Detonation and EXCEEDS both bombed, so it's not about the characters' ages either)
    Voice actor popularity (this seems most plausible, but once that's past its peak there's nothing you can do about it)
    659AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:06
    Re: #658
    It's the Nanoha x Fate yuri (girls'-love subtext), that's what
    666AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:39
    Re: #659
    If that's true, then dropping a bombshell like "30-something ladies living together as a yuri couple" — something even Yuri Hime magazine probably wouldn't touch — and then having it flop afterward doesn't add up
    671AnonymousSep 22, 2026 22:09
    Re: #659
    Yeah, this is exactly why I like Nanoha — please don't mess with the Nanoha x Fate dynamic, at least

    Background and Key Points

    The Lyrical Nanoha franchise has run for over 20 years, from its first season in 2004 through StrikerS in 2007 and ViVid in 2015, and EXCEEDS is its latest installment. The “985なの” at the end of the thread title is just the conventional running number for the 5ch live-watching thread — easy to mistake for an episode count, but it isn’t the broadcast episode number or the series’ total episode count. Opinions in the thread split because prioritizing the development of new characters meant drastically reduced screen time for veteran characters like Nanoha and Fate; longtime fans tend to judge it harshly as “this isn’t Nanoha,” while others say that, taken as a standalone anime, it holds up reasonably well — making it a title whose reception varies sharply depending on the viewer’s perspective.

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Anime) thread “Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha EXCEEDS Gun Blaze Vengeance Thread 985!“

  • Carp Manager Arai to Continue Next Season — 5ch: ‘Maybe He Was Just the Only One Who’d Take the Job’

    Hiroshima Toyo Carp manager Takahiro Arai (49) will continue in his post next season. Former owner Motonobu Matsuda (75) confirmed the decision outright, saying, “Arai was the only one I could think of.” But this season the Carp have limped to a 20-game losing record and a last-place finish, locking in their third straight year in the league’s bottom tier (B Class), while a scandal involving the designated drug etomidate — nicknamed the “zombie cigarette” — has also rocked the organization. On 5ch, Matsuda’s explanation that “Arai was the only one I could think of” drew a wave of sarcastic responses suggesting that, in reality, nobody else would take the job when approached, alongside growing frustration with the ownership itself.

    Hiroshima: Manager Arai to continue — Owner Matsuda declares, “Arai was the only one I could think of”; entering his 5th season, his skill at developing young players is praised: “He can afford to play it a bit more freely now”

    “Hiroshima 2-1 Giants” (Sept. 22, Mazda Stadium)

    It was decided on the 22nd that Hiroshima manager Takahiro Arai (49) will continue in his role next season. Speaking to reporters in Hiroshima City, former owner Motonobu Matsuda (75) stated plainly, “I want him to do it again next year.” Arai, who will be entering his fifth season in charge, voiced his resolve: “Since it’s been entrusted to me, I have no choice but to do it myself.” The team struggled from early in the season, sinking into last place with a 20-game losing record, and on the 21st their third consecutive finish in the bottom tier (B Class) was confirmed. Off the field, a scandal also erupted involving a designated drug known as the “zombie cigarette.” To get through this rough patch, the organization judged it best to stay unified under the current leadership.

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

    2AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:18
    Pretty sure they mean "nobody else would take it."
    5AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:22
    Re: #1
    > Back in January, a former player was arrested on suspicion of using the designated drug etomidate, and his contract was terminated in February.

    That phrasing is weird.
    8AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:23
    "Arai was the only one I could think of" — wrong.
    "Nobody else would take the job" — correct.
    10AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:24
    This was never a manager problem to begin with — it's an owner problem.
    13AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:27
    Try asking Maeda.
    36AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:42
    Re: #13
    No thanks, I'd rather not lose access to my sweets.
    14AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:28
    Looking forward to next year's trainwreck.

    Even for Hiroshima fans, who don't have much else going for entertainment, I wonder how long they'll keep following along like true believers.
    15AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:28
    If it was the fans who fired him up, guess there's nothing to be done about it.
    16AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:30
    If they don't clean up the zombie cigarette scandal, the bullying, and all the other issues before the draft, prospects will start refusing to sign and the club's image will get even worse.
    19AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:32
    Purge the bad apples and maybe they'll get strong again like Seibu did.
    20AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:33
    There's a guy out there with the face of a fighter, y'know.
    27AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:38
    Re: #20
    Bring back "Boss" Kanemoto — er, I mean manager — with "Underboss" Tatsunami — er, I mean head coach, please. (Nicknames poking fun at how intimidating the two looked as managers, like yakuza bosses.)
    22AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:34
    I don't get fans who cheer "hang in there." Matsuda, just sell the team already.
    25AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:37
    Unless they make some big trades and actually shake things up, it's hopeless if everything stays as-is.
    28AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:38
    Arai was the only one who'd take the job.
    30AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:39
    Isn't it actually "Arai was the only one who'd accept"?
    31AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:40
    What about the guy who said yes, though?
    Way too indecisive, if you ask me.
    32AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:40
    With Morishita, Tokoda, and Sakakura all gone, and prospects now refusing their draft picks on top of that, the suffering just keeps piling up.
    78AnonymousSep 23, 2026 07:02
    Re: #32
    The more promising a player is, the less likely he is to refuse a draft pick — going elsewhere would push back the age he hits free agency and end up costing him.
    33AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:40
    Nothing changes because the fans coddle them.
    I think it'd be fine for fans to go surround the team bus or something.
    45AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:47
    Re: #33
    Even if they wanted to change managers…
    Arai probably doesn't really want the job either, but since the scandal happened (or came to light?) on his watch, I think he feels responsible for it.
    50AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:49
    Re: #33
    Humans surrounding a bus full of zombies is pretty surreal. (A play on the "zombie cigarette" scandal players being called "zombies.")
    61AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:54
    Re: #33
    If anything, it sounds more like Chunichi fans are the ones doing the coddling…
    42AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:44
    Don't care about these guys, but I feel bad for whichever player ends up drafted by them.
    46AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:47
    Realistically, the whole team is consumed by the zombie cigarette mess — baseball's probably not even the priority right now.
    And they're dead last, no contest.
    Unless they put a clear end to this, they'll keep dragging around a bad image forever.
    47AnonymousSep 23, 2026 06:47
    Well, of course.
    Taking the manager job at the Carp right now is basically pulling chestnuts out of the fire, lol.
    80AnonymousSep 23, 2026 07:04
    If they're going to keep Arai on… then Motonobu (the owner) and Kazuhiro (the acting owner) need to step down.

    Background and Key Points of the Discussion

    Behind Arai’s continued tenure lies a season of poor results — a 20-game losing record from early on and a third consecutive finish in the league’s bottom tier (B Class) — compounded by a scandal in which a former player was found to have used the designated drug etomidate (known as the “zombie cigarette”), leading to his arrest in January and contract termination in February. Opinion in the thread split over how to read Owner Matsuda’s explanation that “Arai was the only one I could think of”: some took it as a vote of confidence in his continued leadership, while others sarcastically suggested it simply meant no replacement could be found when approached. The names Kenta Maeda and Yoshihiko Takahashi also came up, but it’s worth noting that neither the article nor the 5ch posts indicate either was actually approached — these remain nothing more than wishful speculation.

    *This article is compiled as excerpts and a summary from the 5ch (Geisports Sokuho+) thread “[Baseball] Hiroshima: Manager Arai to continue — Owner Matsuda declares, “Arai was the only one I could think of”.”