Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

  • Phone-Use and Drowsy-Driving Detection to Become Mandatory in New Cars from 2031, Japan’s Transport Ministry Says

    Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has settled on a policy to mandate that new vehicle models be equipped with a “driver monitoring system” that detects and warns drivers who are operating a smartphone or dozing off while driving, starting in 2031. Existing models will also be required to comply by 2033.

    On the thread, users debated the resulting rise in vehicle prices from the mandatory equipment, how the rollout compares to the EU, the US, and other countries, the emergence of workaround devices like limiter-removers, and the impact on auto repair shops.

    8/24 (Mon) 14:27 — Jiji Press

    MLIT has settled on a policy to mandate, for both domestic and imported vehicles, the installation of a “Driver Monitoring System (DMS)” that detects and warns drivers who are looking away or dozing off while operating their smartphone.

    This was learned from an interview with the ministry on the 24th. The ministry will revise the relevant ministerial ordinance in September, applying the requirement to new models from 2031, and mandating installation on existing models still in production by 2033.

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

    2AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:22
    Cars are about to get even more expensive.
    17AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:25
    Re: #2
    And if it's broken at your next shaken (mandatory vehicle inspection), that's another ¥500,000 down the drain.
    46AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:33
    Re: #2
    Prices just keep climbing because of idiots.
    51AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:34
    Oh really?
    What about the cars that went touchscreen-crazy to cut costs, forcing you to fumble with a screen just to do anything?
    Those cars are a hazard in themselves.
    4AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:22
    If it's just a beep-beep-beep warning, isn't that pointless?
    11AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:24
    Re: #4
    Slap on a new feature and now they've got an excuse to sell a kei car for ¥3 million.
    105AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:48
    Re: #4
    Honestly I want it to give you an electric shock or something.
    128AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:55
    Re: #4
    If you keep ignoring it, shouldn't it just report you to the police?
    8AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:23
    A future where Japan gets slammed for non-tariff barriers.
    21AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:26
    Re: #8
    Europe's already made it mandatory and the US is working toward requiring it too, so Japan's just falling in line.
    60AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:38
    Re: #8
    METI will obviously try hard to dodge that framing.
    And what does "adopted at the forum" mentioned in the article have to do with it becoming mandatory anyway?
    19AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:26
    (;゚Д゚) Starting in 2031? They're not even trying.
    Do it starting today.
    28AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:29
    Re: #19
    Do you even drive normally, Koro-neko? (a poster's screen name)
    111AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:50
    Re: #19
    That's some foul language for a cat lol
    30AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:29
    They should make it auto-report to the police.
    Also, honking the horn should automatically alert the police too.
    42AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:32
    Re: #30
    So if some idiot pulls out of a convenience store without checking either side and you honk, the cops show up every single time?
    Think about the hassle for both sides, genius.
    179AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:06
    Re: #42
    But you only honk after the other guy's already noticed you — it's basically spite at that point, right?
    If it looks like they're about to pull out, just slow down or stop. What a pain.
    56AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:35
    Makes you wonder what people are even watching while driving.
    The lady who caused that rear-end collision that burst into flames was watching a cooking video, apparently.
    70AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:39
    Re: #56
    Probably some boring YouTube video.
    There are still idiots out there mounting their phone on the steering wheel to watch stuff.
    80AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:42
    Re: #56
    Same thing you're doing browsing 5ch right now.
    These days the smartphone IS humanity's main body — everything else is just an accessory.
    59AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:38
    They should add a machine that scans your license too.
    248AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:23
    Re: #59
    Scanners break down easily.
    Fine if you're okay with suddenly being told "you can't drive" because of that.
    93AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:45
    I wonder if there'll be any incentive — like cheaper insurance or a subsidy. If there's nothing, used cars are going to sell like crazy.
    101AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:47
    Re: #93
    That's what happened in the US.
    If your gaze isn't steady it'll cut the engine or set off an alarm on its own — it's got a terrible reputation.
    117AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:51
    Re: #93
    Probably will happen — in the form of your insurance going up if you don't have it.
    153AnonymousAug 24, 2026 17:59
    Cars are already expensive enough as it is, and that's part of why the birthrate's falling — stop tacking on unnecessary features.
    We'll lose in global competition too.
    156AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:00
    Re: #153
    It's being mandated in the EU and the US too, so how would we lose lol
    162AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:01
    Re: #156
    The world's largest auto market is China.
    188AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:08
    Re: #156
    Even ordinary Europeans are starting to buckle under rising car prices.
    Only people with access to a company-car scheme can afford a new Western European brand.
    For everyone else, a new Western European car is completely out of reach.
    If they scrape the money together at all, it's for an Eastern European or Chinese car.
    197AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:10
    Re: #188
    It'll be mandatory for Chinese self-driving cars too, and since it's an international standard adopted by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP29), it's being rolled out across EU countries, including Eastern Europe.
    206AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:13
    Re: #197
    China will probably pull it off cheap with their own tech. My next car might just be Chinese.
    208AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:14
    Re: #197
    Well, it's very clear your Japanese isn't very good.
    203AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:12
    Like these will actually sell.
    Give it a few days and a limiter-removal device will show up.
    204AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:13
    Re: #203
    Things like that deserve harsh punishment.
    Honestly, attempted murder charges would be fine too.
    214AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:15
    Re: #203
    Yeah, it'll show up. Similar devices, like idling-stop cancelers, are already common.
    222AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:17
    So what happens when it detects you dozing off?
    Does the car just stop suddenly?
    229AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:18
    Re: #203
    Subaru's had it for 5 years already and no canceler device has shown up, right?
    The 90-series Noah/Voxy has it too, and I don't think there's a canceler for that either.

    Re: #222
    Some systems sound the horn, turn on the hazards, and bring the car to a stop.
    Probably depends on the car.
    221AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:17
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HQefaK8a0AAcqKM.jpg
    243AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:22
    Since it has to be removed and resynced every single time you do maintenance, the job takes way longer than the work-hours manufacturers budget for. In the US, where this rolled out early, mechanics are quitting left and right and a month-long wait for repairs is now common.
    252AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:24
    Re: #243
    Home appliances used to be repairable too, but then it became "swap the whole assembly," and eventually it turned into "just throw it out and buy a new one."
    258AnonymousAug 24, 2026 18:25
    Re: #243
    Is that the "aiming" calibration thing?
    This is an interior-facing monitor though — is that kind of work even necessary for it?

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (News Express+) thread “Distracted and Drowsy Driving Detection to Become Mandatory — Applies to New Cars from 2031, MLIT Policy.”

  • New Akita Stadium: Mayor Numatani to Submit Master Plan Budget Bill to August City Council

    Akita City Mayor Jun Numatani has announced that a supplementary budget bill for drafting a master plan for J.League club Blaublitz Akita’s new stadium will be submitted to the city council session opening August 31. The club explained that it now has a prospect of raising nearly ¥100 million from private sources — but on 5ch, commenters were quick to point out this is merely a “prospect,” not money actually “raised,” with many questioning how realistic the funding plan really is.

    Regarding development of the new stadium that will serve as the home ground of J2 club Blaublitz Akita, Akita City Mayor Jun Numatani revealed on the 24th that a supplementary budget bill for drafting the master plan will be submitted to the August city council session.

    Mayor Numatani made the announcement to Blaublitz Akita President Kosuke Iwase and others, who had come to report on the season opener.

    Mayor Numatani stated clearly that he will submit the supplementary budget bill for drafting the new stadium’s master plan to the August city council session, set to open on August 31.

    Source: akt.co.jp / Original article here

    7AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:37
    Nearly ¥100 million (they never said ¥100 million)
    18AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:45
    Re: #7
    A prospect has emerged for raising nearly ¥100 million
    (Note: they didn't say it *was* raised)
    14AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:43
    Japan's largest AI data center to be built in Akita, ¥2 trillion construction cost, UAE set to invest
    http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOCC138LW0T10C26A7000000/

    Just ask the Arab billionaires
    They'd probably just hand it over
    33AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:09
    Re: #14
    Whoa
    Why not just ask them?
    It's pocket change to those guys
    26AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:55
    I'm a baseball fan, but
    baseball's been leeching off taxpayers since Showa 29 (1954)
    As payback, they should start a baseball lottery

    and use that money to build
    soccer stadiums all across the country, no?
    40AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:20
    Re: #26
    College baseball, high school baseball, and pro baseball all used to pay a tax called the admissions tax, you know
    27AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:59
    Raising ¥100 million is impressive, but ¥500 million for design costs is still a long way off
    Maybe they should keep "staying in J3" as a backup option
    29AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:03
    Re: #27
    > Raising ¥100 million is impressive, but ¥500 million for design costs is still a long way off

    They never said "raised"

    > They explained that a prospect has emerged for raising nearly ¥100 million from private companies.
    31AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:06
    Akita Prefecture doesn't even have a pro baseball team, yet it has six baseball stadiums seating over 10,000 — but somehow they can't build a single soccer stadium? Doesn't add up.
    58AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:52
    Re: #31
    Then go donate already
    37AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:16
    Heard Kiyota went to Kitakyushu to see the sorry state of the J.League with his own eyes
    Did you soccer fanboys (サカ豚, lit. "soccer pigs" — a mocking term for soccer fans) see that?
    55AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:45
    Re: #37
    Isn't he going to Akita?
    41AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:21
    The reason Akita Prefecture has so many baseball stadiums seating over 10,000 is that baseball fever runs high there — it ranks among the top prefectures nationally for stadiums per 100,000 people — and stadiums with a certain seating capacity were built at general parks across the prefecture to host top-tier pro baseball games (played regionally) and large-scale national/regional tournaments in rotation.

    Every top-tier (first-team) official pro baseball game held in Akita Prefecture since last year (2024-2026) has been a home game for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, held at Komachi Stadium (Akita Prefectural Baseball Stadium) in Akita City.

    ■ Wednesday, May 8, 2024
    Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles vs. Orix Buffaloes
    Attendance: 14,047

    ■ Wednesday, August 27, 2025
    Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
    Attendance: 11,107
    45AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:33
    Re: #41
    Baseball fanboys (焼き豚, a mocking pun on "yakyuu"/baseball) say J.League isn't worth tax money because home games only happen twice a month — but baseball only gets one game a year here
    And it's half-empty too
    48AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:37
    Re: #41
    That's 40 times FC Osaka's attendance, impressive
    And Komachi Stadium's construction and upkeep costs are like a quarter of Mikuni Stadium's
    59AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:53
    This isn't technically false, but it's misleading. Both the prefecture and city are moving forward on the assumption that Blaublitz Akita raises ¥500 million. Nothing has changed about the basic agreement: if they can't raise the ¥500 million, the whole thing freezes. Confirmed from the meeting details via ABS Akita Broadcasting.
    63AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:05
    Re: #59
    Well, of course
    The mayor's policy hasn't changed one bit
    62AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:04
    Re: #50
    Apparently you get paid to cheer for FC Osaka lol
    64AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:06
    Re: #62
    But only 894 people actually showed up, though
    67AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:10
    There's no way they're raising ¥500 million
    Blaublitz would never agree to such lopsided terms
    This ends with a "we tried our best but it didn't work out"
    70AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:13
    Re: #67
    So it's basically unconditional surrender then
    It's already over — might as well just declare defeat already
    68AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:12
    Re: #64
    They're padding 404 people up to 894, you know
    91AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:39
    Re: #68
    I figured that guy would definitely show up, and sure enough he did — cracked me up
    75AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:21
    Re: #74
    What do you mean it's a bust even if they wait?
    What happens then?
    79AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:26
    Re: #75
    "Bust" means they don't make it in time
    It gets scrapped or frozen
    To put it plainly, this whole plan goes away
    83AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:28
    Re: #79
    That's fine, isn't it
    What's the problem
    84AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:29
    Re: #83
    No problem at all
    Hope soccer stadium (サカスタ) plans collapse the same way all across the country
    87AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:32
    Re: #84
    Just curious, though
    Did you actually think Akita's stadium plan would get this far?
    78AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:26
    The prefecture and city jointly develop and own it
    The private side raises about 50% of the development costs

    Nobody's putting money into that
    You pay half the cost, and in the end the prefecture and city own it
    On top of that, upkeep and management costs fall on the private side too
    Would you invest in that?
    86AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:30
    Re: #84
    It just becomes the next plan, that's all
    The club doesn't fold either
    Re: #78 There's no way they'd agree to terms like that
    89AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:38
    Re: #86
    What do you mean, "the next plan"?
    92AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:41
    Re: #89
    Guess that's a talk for the next mayor
    So would you invest under Re: #78's terms?
    101AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:58
    Best you can do is pray Akita BB has no chance
    Though personally, I don't think there's a J2 club out there that couldn't scrape together ¥500 million from here
    105AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:02
    Re: #101
    That's exactly why they don't need to raise it
    You pay half the money, and everything still ends up belonging to the prefecture and city, and on top of that you're stuck paying upkeep and management costs
    Maybe they'll even keep paying property tax and usage fees forever too

    Just pretending to raise the money is enough
    106AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:02
    Re: #101
    This isn't "stadium built after raising ¥500 million" lol
    In this soccer-fanboy-beloved (サカ豚) stadium plan, raising that money only gets you to the "candidate site under review" stage lol

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geisports Sokuhou+) thread “[Soccer] New Stadium Master Plan to Be Drafted — Akita Mayor Numatani Confirms Budget Submission to August City Council, Club Explains Prospect of Raising ¥100 Million.”

  • Uehara Koji’s Picks for “Top 3 Aces Since the Heisei Era” — Saito Masaki, Saito Kazumi, Tanaka Masahiro — Spark Debate

    Uehara Koji naming Saito Masaki, Saito Kazumi, and Tanaka Masahiro as his “Top 3 Aces Since the Heisei Era” became a hot topic on 5ch.

    In the thread, commenters pushed back one after another in favor of Nomo Hideo, Darvish Yu, and Yamamoto Yoshinobu, opinions split over whether an “ace” should be judged by win totals or by quality of pitching, and the conversation eventually derailed into a debate over NPB’s popularity in the 1980s.

    1AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:10
    Nomo, Darvish, and Yamamoto, right? 😅
    6AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:14
    Win totals don't even matter, do they
    64AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:13
    Re: #6
    Wins and losses matter most, though
    106AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:34
    Re: #6
    Even pitchers who supposedly get "zero run support" rarely actually get zero — usually they get handed a 1- or 2-run lead and immediately cough it right back up. Kanamaru's the textbook case.
    11AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:19
    More than anything, my image of an "ace" is the guy who's the top of the rotation for years, going head-to-head with the other team's ace over and over — Nomo, Matsuzaka, Darvish, that type. In that sense, I didn't watch it live, but Egawa in '81-'82 was insane — he kept facing the other team's #1 starter nonstop and completed almost every game.
    12AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:21
    Re: #11
    Baseball's popularity was at its lowest point while that guy was actually playing, though
    14AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:25
    Re: #12
    No need to force yourself to sound like an expert
    13AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:23
    Re: #12
    The '80s were when baseball was at its most popular. What are you even talking about?
    17AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:27
    Re: #13
    After Oh and Nagashima retired, the stars were gone and things got gloomy. That was the Giants' "dark age," right? Popularity only picked back up once Matsui showed up.
    28AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:42
    Re: #17
    People were sick of the Giants dominating everything during their V9 run — once the tables turned and Hiroshima rose up, players outside the Giants started getting nationwide popularity too. The late '70s through the '80s were the golden age of NPB popularity.
    40AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:55
    Re: #17
    What world are you living in where the Giants had no popularity between the O-N retirement and Matsui joining? That gap WAS the peak.
    16AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:27
    Darvish and Yamamoto both got hit hard in pretty important spots, though
    20AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:30
    Re: #16
    Guys like that show up every year. Same level as Tigers pitchers like Murakami or Takahashi. If you don't win 20 games, you're not an ace.
    21AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:30
    Re: #16
    Both of them ended up pitching in the World Series though. Judging them just by the "got hit hard" impression is tunnel vision.
    22AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:31
    The "will never bring up Ohtani" guy
    32AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:45
    Re: #22
    Is there actually anyone who'd bring up Ohtani here?
    35AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:49
    Re: #22
    Nobody would bring him up
    68AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:15
    Re: #22
    How much has he even pitched? He's supposedly a pitcher first, but he hasn't held down a rotation spot for the Dodgers three years running.
    24AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:36
    Saito Kazumi really only had 2 full seasons though. You can't put him in the same tier as Saito Masaki or Tanaka Ma-kun. Honestly Uehara himself would be more deserving. Is this guy tough on others but underrates himself too?
    74AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:16
    Re: #24
    It's about substance, not stats. Saito Kazumi WAS the word "dominant" in pitcher form. I also think he's the number one since Heisei.
    26AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:42
    The Big Five aces: Nomo, Darvish, Ma-kun, Yamamoto, and Matsuzaka
    30AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:44
    The fact that Imanaka gets brought up as another candidate suggests people are going more by the "image" of an ace. But if that's the criteria, I'd think Darvish should qualify even more.
    75AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:17
    Re: #30
    Darvish doesn't even have a league-leading win total. Even Aoyagi has won it twice.
    33AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:46
    Re: #28
    Nah, that's only true for part of it. What were Pacific League attendance numbers like?
    67AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:14
    Re: #33
    Lol, so you're admitting the Central League was at its peak
    110AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:37
    Re: #33
    During the Giants' V9 era, the Pacific League was basically treated as a punching bag reserved for the All-Star Game and Japan Series — about as unpopular as it gets.
    36AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:49
    Funny how Kudo and Yamamoto Masa — guys who never come up first in these conversations — actually have the most wins in recent memory.
    39AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:55
    Re: #36
    Kudo I get — he was a genuine ace for Daiei. But with Yamamoto Masa, you just can't shake the "second option" feel. Part of that's on the Chunichi Dragons too, honestly, since you can name better pitchers than him for pretty much any stretch of time.
    37AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:51
    Classic case of just wanting someone to say "You'd make the list too, Uehara-san"
    50AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:03
    Re: #37
    🤣🤣🤣
    38AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:51
    Is leaving out Darvish just jealousy?
    80AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:18
    Re: #38
    Darvish isn't quite on that level
    41AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:57
    Not mentioning Matsuzaka is so on-brand for Uehara, it's great
    49AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:02
    Re: #41
    Very fitting for Uehara, who's clearly still super jealous of Matsuzaka
    90AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:21
    I think Yamamoto Yoshinobu is the greatest pitcher ever. The overall level is higher now than it was back in Darvish's prime.
    95AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:23
    Re: #90
    Back in Yoshinobu's day there weren't any decent hitters in the Pacific League though
    96AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:23
    Re: #95
    I'm talking about after he went to MLB
    97AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:24
    Re: #95
    Ah, so that explains why prime Kaneko Chihiro felt more like Orix's true ace
    91AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:21
    Re: #83
    Both Sugano and Uehara — don't you feel like a Giants ace needs one or two more years at that level? They're just a bit short of being the clear face of an era.
    94AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:23
    Re: #91
    If neither Sugano nor Uehara can be candidates, then there's nobody else left
    113AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:40
    Re: #91
    Same goes for Togo and Yamazaki Iori. Though Togo looks like he might be bouncing back this year.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyo G) thread “Uehara Koji: “The 3 Big Aces Since Heisei Are "Saito-Masa" Kazumi "Tanaka Ma"” ← Wait, what?“.

  • Editor Kosuke Minowa: “I Seriously Don’t Get the Mentality of People Who Dump Their Bags on the Seat Next to Them While Someone’s Standing”

    Gentosha editor Kosuke Minowa posted on X on the 23rd about people who ride crowded trains and leave their bag on the seat next to them, refusing to let anyone sit down, saying he “wonders what’s going on in their head.” On 5ch, the post drew plenty of “I get it” reactions, while other users piled on with their own train-manners stories — from the bag-placers’ side of the argument to gripes about elderly riders who take the aisle seat and won’t give up the window seat.

    8/24 (Mon) 17:16

    Gentosha editor Kosuke Minowa updated his X account on the 23rd, sharing his take on people who leave their own bag on the seat next to them on crowded trains.

    Minowa opened with: “I wonder what’s going on in the head of someone who puts their bag on the seat next to them when there’s someone standing.” He continued, “Isn’t it way more uncomfortable to have someone obviously eyeing that seat? I seriously don’t get it.”

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

    4AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:15
    I don't get the mentality of people who cheat on their partners either.
    6AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:16
    I don't get how he keeps a YouTuber (as a mistress) right next door to the house where he lives with his family.
    7AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:16
    What I really can't understand is him telling a pointless lie about having given her a Switch.
    17AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:20
    You see this on limited express trains too, honestly.
    Scary to think guys like this probably put on a good-guy act around people who know them.
    They're definitely not fooling anyone.
    19AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:21
    The most infuriating are the women who plop down a tiny bag and end up hogging like 1.25 seats' worth of space.
    The worst part is how they play dumb about it — "I'm not trying to keep anyone from sitting here" — while obviously doing exactly that.
    74AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:03
    Seriously common among college athletic-club guys and middle-aged women like the one in Re: #19.
    21AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:22
    Maybe they sit on the aisle because they're getting off soon.
    Just sit in the window seat anyway, who cares.
    22AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:23
    Yeah, I can't wrap my head around this type either.
    I'd love to know what kind of upbringing produces that.
    26AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:24
    But when I DON'T put anything on the seat, nobody sits next to me anyway.
    27AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:24
    Sitting right on top of your own bag — now that's the true Tokyoite mentality lol
    29AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:25
    I wouldn't want to sit through a full-course dinner with this guy.
    31AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:26
    He looks like the rough, thoughtless type, so it's surprising he's even got that kind of sensibility lol
    32AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:26
    People leave their bags on the seat because they simply want to.

    But… an affair? That's a bit beyond understanding.
    34AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:27
    Whatever you say at this point,
    he's just Ike-chan (his nickname) —
    might as well give up.
    36AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:27
    Nobody sits next to me even when there's nothing on the seat…
    39AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:31
    People can judge others' behavior objectively but can't see their own the same way.
    He'd probably say "everyone does it!" the moment it's his own behavior in question.
    40AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:31
    You know how there are elderly people on local buses who take the aisle seat of a two-seater and won't let anyone into the window seat?
    54AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:39
    Re: #40
    Can't you get home without taking the local bus?
    60AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:46
    Re: #40
    "(I'll be getting off soon anyway, might as well take the aisle seat.)"
    77AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:07
    I've genuinely never run into anyone putting their bag on the seat on a regular train.
    82AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:16
    Re: #77
    I see it a lot on weekday afternoons.
    Rarely in the mornings — when it happens I just ignore it and sit on top of the bag, or pick it up and toss it aside.
    I see it fairly often in the evenings too, but there are usually empty seats around, so it never turns into a confrontation.
    84AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:22
    Do people really put their bags on the seat next to them when someone's standing right there?
    Just say "I'd like to sit, could you move that?"
    …oh right, you can't say that. Too scary lol
    88AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:27
    Re: #84
    Most normal people move their bag beforehand, figuring someone's going to want that seat.
    The point is, it's unbelievable that some people won't move it until they're actually told to.
    85AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:23
    Being the weaker party is the real problem.
    Back in the Showa era you could've just punched them out of the way.
    93AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:35
    Re: #85
    The police would show up within ten minutes, followed by a bill for several hundred thousand yen.
    Re: #85
    98AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:10
    Ha, I bet you saw this one.

    108AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:44

    *This article is an excerpt and summary compiled from the 5ch (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread「Kosuke Minowa shares his opinion: “I wonder what’s going on in the head of someone who puts their bag on the seat next to them when there’s someone standing… I seriously don’t get it”」.

  • Tsubaki Factory × Takui Nakajima “Two-Man Live” Announced — Date Clashes With Morning Musume。’s Zama Event

    News that Hello! Project idol group Tsubaki Factory and musician Takui Nakajima will hold a two-man live called “Geki-Atsu 2Man Live” (Super Hot Two-Man Live) became a hot topic on the thread.

    The thread lit up over the fact that the date overlaps with Morning Musume。’s Zama event, the pricing of the venue’s 2nd-floor seats, and Takui’s tour merch — rice crackers (“kaki no tane”) — that apparently just won’t sell.

    1AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:01
    Tsubaki Factory & Takui Nakajima Super Hot Two-Man Live ~Even on a Weekday, We Wanted to Get Hyped~
    8AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:03
    Whoa, this overlaps with Musume。's Zama event
    15AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:04
    Re: #8
    Damn DDs, lol (DD = a fan who "loves whoever," i.e. follows multiple idol groups at once)
    21AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:05
    Has there ever been a stage with Takui before?
    66AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:14
    Re: #21
    It's out on Blu-ray
    31AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:07
    They never said it'd be a full band live, so watch out
    34AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:08
    Re: #31
    Tsubaki Factory & Takui Nakajima Super Hot Two-Man Live ~Even on a Weekday, We Wanted to Get Hyped~ — Confirmed!
    https://takui.com/pages/info/261130-2/

    【Performers】
    Takui Nakajima / Tsubaki Factory / Takui Nakajima × Tsubaki Factory

    【Support Musicians】
    Guitar: you (Nicori Light Tours / ex. Janne Da Arc)
    Bass: NAOKI (FANTASISTA / ex. Kagrra,)
    Drums: SHINGO (the superlative degree / ex. JURASSIC)
    50AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:12
    Re: #34
    Are the band members the same as at Budokan?
    53AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:12
    Re: #34
    Those are the support members on Takui's side
    If it's a proper collab, there'll probably be a band for that too
    47AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:11
    What's even up there on the 2nd floor anyway?
    51AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:12
    Re: #47
    You get to sit and watch leisurely from a distance
    56AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:13
    Re: #47
    You'd be close to any Juice=Juice members who show up to watch
    61AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:14
    What's the reasoning behind only the 2nd floor being priced higher?
    63AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:14
    Re: #61
    Other way around
    Only the 1st floor is the cheap one
    62AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:14
    Re: #53
    So when Tsubaki sings, the band members step back?
    78AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:17
    Re: #62
    Well, if Tsubaki's doing it with a band too, they'd just list the support members here too, right?
    77AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:16
    Why would they schedule a clash on a weekday event?
    81AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:17
    Re: #77
    What's wrong with that?
    It's basically the Musume。 Zama "didn't win the lottery" consolation crowd anyway, so who cares
    84AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:18
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HQZQ-fpbUAAXig0.jpg?name=orig
    100AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:20
    Re: #84
    Alright, everyone's there
    151AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:34
    Re: #84
    Maybe it's just because I'm not used to seeing it, but the balance looks off with 10 people
    93AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:19
    Today from 20:30~

    Looks like Takui's doing a free live-streamed acoustic solo set
    Might talk about the two-man live from the thread title
    https://youtube.com/@takui_nakajima_official?si=-nJmsLZlMJjqoC2c
    134AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:30
    Re: #93
    Live-streamed acoustic solo set
    https://www.youtube.com/live/CtR6U_o2giM?si=Bssz9DHqmMpcMwPP
    165AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:37
    Re: #93
    He's singing "Konya Dake" (Just Tonight) right now
    97AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:19
    So once it's Takui's turn, do you have to give way to the "obasama" (his older female fans)?
    105AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:21
    Re: #97
    That's just the unwritten rule
    108AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:22
    Give Juice=Juice a Takui Nakajima collab too, please
    114AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:24
    Re: #108
    Juice=Juice already did a two-man live with Aoi Yamazaki at Nakano Sun Plaza back in 2022
    117AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:24

    Hmm, lol
    121AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:26
    Re: #117
    That's a price for a 3-hour show
    118AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:25
    C'mon, buy the guy's rice crackers already

    Takui Nakajima @takuinakajima
    Takui's tour merch, kaki no tane rice crackers, round two! They're selling so badly I barely feel alive.
    #TakuiNakajima
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HQVF2tXawAAvMty.jpg:orig#.jpg
    126AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:28
    Re: #118
    Did he sell them by hand himself?
    172AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:39
    Re: #118
    1,500 yen lol
    177AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:40
    Re: #118
    If he sells them at the joint show, the Tsubaki wota will probably buy them
    180AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:40
    Are Tsubaki wota actually happy about this?
    184AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:40
    Re: #180
    Honestly, yeah, happy about it
    190AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:42
    Re: #180
    Not happy at all, honestly
    212AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:46
    I already grabbed a Zama ticket in the early pre-sale, so I can't exactly sell it off now — what a pain
    214AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:48
    Re: #212
    Just sell it on a ticket resale site
    218AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:50
    Re: #212
    Go support Oda's final one, come on

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “Tsubaki Factory & Takui Nakajima Super Hot Two-Man Live ~Even on a Weekday, We Wanted to Get Hyped~ キタ━━━━(゚∀゚)━━━━!! (“Here it comes!!”)“.

  • MARVEL Tōkon’s Concurrent Players Crash to 1,300 — 5ch Asks ‘Can You Even Find a Match?’

    The concurrent player count for MARVEL Tōkon, the new fighting game from Sony and Arc System Works, has plummeted to just 1,300 less than a month after launch. On 5ch, users are voicing concern over whether matches can even be found, with many pointing to the mandatory PSN account requirement and the royalty fees owed to Marvel as culprits. Some posts even invoked Concord, the poster child for gaming flops, as a comparison.

    1AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:17
    Can matches even happen at this point? 🥺
    3AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:18
    It hasn't even been a month since launch, right?
    5AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:18
    lmao ('草' = 5ch's laughter marker)
    There's no way matchmaking works with numbers like this
    7AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:19
    Game Freak's Beekane, sitting at 500 concurrent players, might be its rival for now
    9AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:20
    Re: #7
    I mean, that one's a solo game, so in the extreme case even single-digit concurrent players wouldn't hurt it
    This is a PvP game though 😭
    10AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:21
    Just bury it next to Concord already lol
    11AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:21
    People were already saying matchmaking took like 5 minutes back when it had 5,000 players, so 1,000 is gonna be rough
    12AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:21
    Has the peak settled in around 4,000?
    13AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:22
    Re: #12
    That 4,000 was the weekend bump, so this week it'll probably be 3,000 to 2,000
    14AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:22
    Re: #4
    So I guess it's such a lousy game that tens of thousands of people quit just from the negative buzz
    17AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:23
    The projectile speed was insane in the pre-release build — did they seriously ship it like that?
    My timeline gets a decent flow of fighting game tweets, including from overseas, but I'm not even seeing people talking about how bad Tōkon is
    18AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:23
    Normally a number like this would have you thinking early service shutdown as a failure, but apparently there's a contract with Marvel, so who knows
    20AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:24
    Re: #18
    Ah, so licensing rights and stuff mean they can't pull the plug even with low concurrent numbers?
    29AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:28
    Re: #18
    Wait, this is a one-time purchase — what do you mean by 'service shutdown'?
    93AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:49
    Re: #18
    Saw this in another thread — apparently they have to pay Marvel a royalty per character, so it costs a lot
    21AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:25
    Guess the PS5 that only sold 2,000 units already came out on top 😄
    22AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:25
    31AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:30
    Re: #29
    Babylon's Fall was also a one-time purchase and it still got shut down
    47AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:37
    Re: #31,37
    Probably because it's run as a live service — fighting games don't put that much load on servers anyway, even Arika manages it
    36AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:32
    Wait, this is a one-time purchase?
    Just like Marathon, this is straight-up garbage
    42AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:33
    Re: #36
    It's a one-time purchase, but you have to stay connected to the server at all times
    and on top of that, even on Steam you need a PSN account, so…
    48AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:37
    Honestly I had high hopes for this, but I'd say it's half Arc System Works' fault and half Sony's fault
    53AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:45
    Re: #48
    The game itself is rough, but the mandatory PSN requirement also played a part in killing it
    Yeah, probably about 50/50
    52AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:44
    Hint: it's digital-only
    55AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:46
    Re: #52
    Wait, was there ever a physical Steam release…?
    59AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:51
    There's no way to hype it back up, this is a lost cause
    61AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:52
    Re: #59
    If they gave it away for free, maybe…!


    Oh wait, I forgot the beta didn't pull in a crowd either lol
    71AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:01
    A lot of Steam users don't have the specs for it, so most people probably moved over to PS
    75AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:02
    Re: #71
    Wait, did it actually grow from 2,814?
    80AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:17
    You can tell how bad it is when it's not even used as a 'beating stick' — the go-to weapon for trash-talking other games
    102AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:30
    It's less about it being Sony's game and more that handing it to Arc — a studio that only ever makes crap games — was the real mistake
    105AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:45
    Re: #102
    And Sony's doing its part too, with the 'you can't play without a PSN account!' setup helping drive players away ♥
    108AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:04
    Re: #1
    PS players like, 'I'll just play Street Fighter 6 instead'
    121AnonymousAug 25, 2026 00:09
    Seriously though, just let us play online matches without needing PSN, for free, come on
    127AnonymousAug 25, 2026 00:24

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hardware/Industry (Geha)) thread “Sony’s MARVEL Tōkon Currently at 1,300 Concurrent Players lol.”

  • YOASOBI’s Ayase Sparks Buzz With Tattoos Spreading Up to His Neck: “That’s Some Serious Ink”

    YOASOBI’s Ayase caused a stir when an outfit worn at a Canada show revealed tattoos spreading from his arms all the way up his neck. On 5ch, opinions split between fans of the design and those worried about health implications, with defenders arguing “it’s his own values, so what’s the problem?” alongside more practical concerns like “having tattoos can get you turned away from MRI scans.”

    “That’s Some Serious Ink” — YOASOBI’s Ayase Shows Off Outfit Baring Tattoos “Packed All the Way Up His Neck,” Sparking “That’s too much,” “So heavily inked…,” and “I mean, it’s fine though”

    ▼ “He’s got tattoos packed in solid”

    A live shot from a Canada show featuring Ayase, of the music unit YOASOBI, is drawing attention.

    Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Read the original article here

    3AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:23
    Is he going for the Hoichi the Earless look? (folklore character whose whole body was covered in protective script to hide from ghosts)
    116AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:52
    Re: #3
    LMAOOO
    17AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:27
    Is getting tattoos turning into an addiction for him or something?
    19AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:27
    It's his own values, so what's wrong with it?
    What exactly is the problem?
    And besides, are you all living such noble lives that you get to weigh in on someone else's?
    23AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:29
    Re: #19
    Well, tattoos have historically marked criminals, so it's a pretty common instinct to want to look down on someone who chooses to enjoy getting inked anyway. If you say there's nothing wrong with that, sure, fair enough.
    26AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:29
    Re: #19
    And yet you couldn't help but post about it either, right? Everyone else here is the same. Why do you think you're any different from the rest?
    67AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:36
    Re: #19
    At least I'm not living a life where I go around inking up my body.
    36AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:31
    Ayase is 32 and Ikura is 25 — that's basically the same age gap as the 'Rikuryu' figure skating pair (Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, the famous ice dance duo).
    YOASOBI should just get married already.
    44AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:32
    Re: #36
    This thread too, huh

    There's actually a published study showing tattoos are linked to cancer.
    49AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:33
    If you're a successful artist, why not? It's not like he'll ever need to worry about money and go work a regular salaryman job.
    56AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:34
    Re: #49
    Once your spending habits adjust to a certain lifestyle, it's hard to scale back.
    The real question is whether the royalty income keeps flowing long-term.
    57AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:35
    Doesn't the female member have any tattoos?
    Everyone in the group should just get covered in ink
    — become a full-on tattooed band.
    63AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:35
    Re: #57
    She's basically become an idol for otaku fans now — no way she's getting inked up, lol.
    70AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:37
    I've heard it's like plastic surgery — once you start, you can't stop.
    76AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:39
    Re: #70
    Honestly it's probably people with mental-health-issue tendencies ("menhera"-type).
    71AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:37
    Successful artists really do tend to have a lot of tattoos.
    Like ONE OK ROCK — every single member is covered in ink.
    81AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:39
    Re: #71
    And there are genres where doing drugs is basically treated as mandatory education too.
    75AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:39
    Even Beckham — insanely good-looking and with real social standing — is
    covered head to toe in tattoos that look like graffiti scribbles.
    84AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:40
    Re: #75
    No taste.
    82AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:39
    Next stop has to be the face.
    Looking forward to it.
    89AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:42
    Re: #82
    Urita's face tattoo aside, something in the style of Mike Tyson's face tattoo actually looks pretty cool — I'd be into that.
    98AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:45
    If you have tattoos, you might not even be able to get an MRI if you get cancer.
    That raises your odds of dying.
    121AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:54
    Re: #98
    It's like a physical version of a Jehovah's Witness situation —
    not about blood transfusions, but the same idea of missing out on treatment that would normally save you.
    113AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:50
    Extensive tattoos dramatically raise the risk of heat reaction and burns during an MRI scan.
    Some medical facilities will flatly refuse to do an MRI at all,
    and switching to alternative scans like CT or ultrasound happens plenty.

    And even if you can get an MRI, having tattoos means you have to sign a special consent form just for that.
    120AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:53
    Re: #113
    What happens if you get injured?
    How do all those European soccer players covered in tattoos handle it?
    127AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:58
    Is there actually anyone out there who looks at this and thinks it's cool?
    132AnonymousAug 25, 2026 02:01
    Re: #127
    Unfortunately, yes, plenty — that's why tattoos are becoming more common out in the world.
    Especially at shopping malls out in the countryside, it's tattoos everywhere.
    129AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:59
    What happens if he suddenly gets sick of the design?
    What if in ten years he no longer thinks it's "cool"?
    Like the pattern feels too intense and starts seeming uncool somehow
    — there's bound to be a change of heart at some point…

    People change, after all.
    140AnonymousAug 25, 2026 02:04
    Re: #129
    There was a comedian who gave advice to someone who'd tattooed their ex's name — like "Takashi" or "Miho" — and regretted it after the breakup: just add "… and others" after the name so it reads like a list.
    134AnonymousAug 25, 2026 02:01
    Just like piercings became normal in Japan,
    tattoos will become normal too.

    Japan is basically 50 years behind the West on this stuff.
    137AnonymousAug 25, 2026 02:03
    Re: #134
    The piercings on those middle-aged guys from the generation that made piercings "normal" are way too gross.
    146AnonymousAug 25, 2026 02:12
    Thinking about the balance between the face and body, leaving some blank skin might've looked better.
    170AnonymousAug 25, 2026 02:24
    Re: #146
    Negative space really might matter.

    If you cover everything,
    it ends up looking like a futon mattress pattern…
    154AnonymousAug 25, 2026 02:15
    There's no real originality to this tattoo though, is there?
    Why does it end up looking like he just picked a uniform out of a catalog?
    163AnonymousAug 25, 2026 02:20
    Re: #154
    Even the tattoo artist can't ink it without working from a catalog reference.
    164AnonymousAug 25, 2026 02:20
    Did he add more again? Feels like there's more every time I see him
    — there can't be much blank skin left.
    168AnonymousAug 25, 2026 02:24
    Re: #164
    All that's left is the face.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Geisokusoku+) thread “[Entertainment] YOASOBI’s Ayase Reveals Tattoos Packed From Arm to Neck, Sparks Reaction: “That’s Some Serious Ink,” “Too Many Tattoos,” “So Heavily Inked…”.”

  • OGs Guest-Starring at Current Members’ Concerts Sparks Debate — 5ch: “Secret Guests Kill the Vibe”

    Opinions split on the Hello! Project subforum of 5ch over the practice of having OGs (graduated members) appear as special guests at current groups’ live shows. Some voiced sympathy for the OG members’ fans when these appearances are sprung as a secret — “Feel bad for the OG’s fans,” “Secret guests kill the vibe” — while others pushed back with “Only a tiny minority actually cares about that.” Posters also cited past examples, like Sato Masaki and Takeuchi Akari appearing as guests at regional revitalization concerts in Bizen and Kaga.

    1AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:19
    Guess there's all kinds of takes on this.
    9AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:26
    Secret guest appearances should really stop — it's rough on that OG's fans.
    10AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:27
    Re: #9
    Only a tiny minority actually says that.
    11AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:27
    Wonder if it'll be Karin-chan or Manakan (Tsugunaga Mana) next — that'd get the crowd hyped.
    14AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:29
    Re: #11
    That would absolutely bring the house down.
    13AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:29
    Re: #10
    Everyone's just holding it in.
    91AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:47
    Re: #13
    Nah, only a tiny handful of people are making these kinds of statements about their feelings — they should realize they're the ones who've gotten way too invested and lost perspective.
    Treating "attend every show" as some kind of baseline expectation is messed up.
    93AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:51
    Re: #91
    For OGs there just aren't many events to begin with,
    so it ends up feeling like you're expected to attend all of them.
    16AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:31
    If you're going, just say you're going.
    If you're appearing, just say you're appearing.
    20AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:33
    Re: #16
    Then it wouldn't be a secret guest anymore, would it.
    25AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:34
    Re: #16
    Why would they need to cater to you specifically?
    17AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:31
    They should just bring Takeuchi, Sasaki, and Jokoryo along on ANGERME's bus tour.
    19AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:32
    Re: #17
    Ticket sales are already solid, so there's no real point in bringing them in.
    18AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:31
    21AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:33


    27AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:35
    Re: #20
    They didn't need to make it a secret in the first place.
    30AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:36
    Re: #27
    Doing that would defeat the whole purpose
    — the OG would just be tagging along lol
    32AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:38
    "Okayama Prefecture Bizen City × OCHA NORMA Regional Revitalization Concert: Naruchika 2023 OCHA NORMA in Bizen" Special Guest Announcement
    https://helloproject.com/news/16465/
    Sato Masaki, Miyamoto Karin, and Ogata Risa have been confirmed as special guests.
    34AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:39
    Re: #32
    Bet this left OCHA NORMA fans with really mixed feelings.
    59AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:47
    Re: #32 Re: #35 Was there an actual collab with the current members?
    35AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:40
    "Ishikawa Prefecture Kaga City × OCHA NORMA Regional Revitalization Concert: Naruchika 2025 OCHA NORMA in Kaga" General Ticket Sales and Special Guest Announcement
    https://helloproject.com/news/18559/
    > Also, Takeuchi Akari and Ishida Ayumi have been confirmed as special guests.
    41AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:43
    You wouldn't expect a guest to show up when it's already sold out, right?
    45AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:44
    Re: #41
    What we learned this time: even if it's sold out, a guest can still show up and sing a Satoyama song (OCHA NORMA's local/nature-themed songs); if it's NOT sold out, it gets announced beforehand.
    43AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:44
    I wonder which opinion was actually more common yesterday.
    63AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:49
    Re: #43
    Probably more people were happy about it.
    65AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:50
    But when they asked "anyone seeing Aarii (Takeuchi Akari's nickname) for the first time?" only about 10 people raised their hands.
    67AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:51
    Re: #65
    I'm a new fan but didn't raise my hand —
    newcomers aren't used to it, so it's hard to put your hand up.
    68AnonymousAug 24, 2026 21:51
    Re: #65
    Seriously?
    I figured it'd be like 20-30%.
    76AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:01
    Uemura TO Tsubo's statement of feelings
    95AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:55
    Every OG fan I know hates these surprise OG appearances.
    Miyamoto even wrote an apology blog post over it.
    98AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:58
    Wasn't that the secret guest thing at UniDol?
    Who even cares about that lol
    102AnonymousAug 25, 2026 00:04
    Re: #98
    They went out of their way to tease it too.
    104AnonymousAug 25, 2026 00:06
    Might have fewer restrooms than Momokuri Karuizawa (Momoiro Clover Z's Christmas event).
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C83CX2KV0AEMVVP.jpg
    118AnonymousAug 25, 2026 00:27
    Secret guests kill the vibe way more than people realize
    — some fans actually quit over it.
    119AnonymousAug 25, 2026 00:27
    Re: #118
    That's straight-up underground-idol behavior lol
    132AnonymousAug 25, 2026 00:51
    Re: #118
    Only with underground idols can you actually complete every single event.
    121AnonymousAug 25, 2026 00:28
    They're entertainers — of course there's the occasional work surprise.
    Honestly, after so long without breaking through, the whole fandom's mentality has sunk to underground-idol level.
    135AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:29
    Re: #121
    The old-guard fans' mentality is way too "underground idol."
    Though to be fair, some groups really do end up sliding into that underground tier.
    134AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:27
    Re: #93
    The logic in the first half and the second half doesn't connect.
    Even with fewer events, that doesn't mean "attend everything" becomes some kind of default expectation.
    If anything, going around posting these "statement of feelings" things is more likely to get you disliked normally
    — you never know where it might reach the person involved.
    If you don't have the perspective or the mental bandwidth to think about that, you're going to end up disliked all over the place.
    137AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:38
    Re: #134
    The point is that because there are so few events, it ends up amounting to attending all of them anyway.
    It'd be better if it did reach her —
    if she's fine just showing up as a secret guest like that, she clearly doesn't understand how the fans feel.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “Opinions on OGs Making Guest Appearances at Current Groups’ Live Shows.”

  • Matsumoto Hitoshi’s Perfect Toilet Paper Comeback Brings the House Down

    Downtown’s Hitoshi Matsumoto (62) was asked at a “DOWNTOWN+” YouTube channel event whether he’s “Team Single-ply or Team Double-ply” toilet paper, and delivered a razor-sharp comeback. On 5ch, the thread lit up with practical single-vs-double-ply debates, but since the joke’s backstory involved his colostomy (stoma), opinions split over whether it was actually okay to laugh.

    Hitoshi Matsumoto Hits Back with a Perfect Comeback to “Single-ply or Double-ply?” — Event Erupts in Laughter

    Downtown’s Hitoshi Matsumoto (62) appeared on the “DOWNTOWN+” YouTube channel as of the 24th. Responding to a question from an event attendee, he pulled off a brilliant comeback.

    A short video revealed the Q&A segment with Matsumoto. An event attendee asked him, “Are you Team Single-ply or Team Double-ply for toilet paper?”

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

    3AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:52
    Single-ply just feels unreliable, can't trust it
    Double-ply, no question
    6AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:52
    Re: #3
    Are you seriously so cheap you wipe with one un-folded sheet at a time?
    187AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:48
    Re: #3
    Double-ply as a rule
    If it's single-ply I pull off a ridiculously long stretch
    9AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:53
    Comedian Kanpei Hazama would just drop his pants first no matter whether he actually needed to go
    13AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:54
    Matsumoto does a lot of toilet humor, huh
    And it's not even funny
    14AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:54
    Isn't double-ply just the normal choice for everyone?
    16AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:55
    This one's actually funny

    Re: #14
    They sell soft single-ply now too. That's what we use
    73AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:06
    Re: #14
    I used to use double-ply, but
    since I like winding off a huge wad at once,
    switching to single-ply turned out just right
    18AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:56
    Sorry, but
    that's really not funny
    23AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:57
    A papermaker rep said in an interview that single-ply sells better in Kansai while double-ply is the top seller in Kanto
    24AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:57
    Single or double, I fold it up before use anyway, so it's the same either way
    25AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:57
    Turning his illness into a lighthearted joke so it doesn't feel heavy is what makes it kind of painful to watch
    26AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:57
    It's funny, but that's thanks to the questioner setting him up so well
    28AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:57
    Not funny
    Are Matsumoto's die-hard fans really paying money to cackle at stuff like this?
    37AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:59
    LMAOOOO bro, hahaha, Mattsun bro that's hilarious lol, not a single flop lol lol lol (Kansai-style fan gushing — "not a single flop" nods to Matsumoto's old no-flop storytelling show)
    38AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:59
    Cut it out with jokes where you don't even know if it's okay to laugh
    40AnonymousAug 24, 2026 19:59
    Is this really something we're allowed to laugh at?
    What would someone with the same condition say watching this?
    41AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:00
    Written out as text, genius Matsumoto's joke is depressingly unfunny lol
    44AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:00
    Mattsun, all you talk about lately is poop
    45AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:00
    I heard that even at the same price, single-ply isn't just double the length of double-ply —
    it's about 50cm longer than that
    89AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:08
    Is this really a joke you're allowed to laugh at?
    Other patients are going to be furious
    95AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:10
    Re: #89
    He's the one actually living it, so it's fine, isn't it?
    111AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:14
    Good to see his comedic chops haven't dulled one bit
    121AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:18
    Re: #111
    Can you still say that after watching that syamu dance that blew up online? (syamu = a notorious Japanese internet meme figure)
    127AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:21
    He turned even his colostomy into a solid laugh
    Gotta hand it to him
    129AnonymousAug 24, 2026 20:22
    Re: #127
    It's just not something to laugh at

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “[Entertainment] Hitoshi Matsumoto Hits Back with a Perfect Comeback to “Single-ply or Double-ply?” — Event Erupts in Laughter.”

  • New Story of Seasons & Rune Factory 6 Footage Drops — 5ch Debates the PS5 Port

    After Marvelous released new footage for its upcoming Story of Seasons title and Rune Factory 6, 5ch lit up with debate over whether a PS5 port even makes sense. Sales figures for the previous entry, Story of Seasons: Let’s! Wind’s Grand Bazaar, were cited — the Switch version sold 95,817 units, while the PS5 version didn’t even chart (under 1,310 units) — and the thread split hard over what upside a PS5 release actually offers.

    2AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:36
    Ah, this one looks PS5-bound.
    8AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:40
    Re: #2
    What?? lol

    Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
    Switch: 86,223 units

    Port
    PS5: 1,384 units

    Story of Seasons: Let's! Wind's Grand Bazaar
    Switch: 95,817 units

    Port
    PS5: not charted (under 1,310 units)
    13AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:41
    Re: #8
    It's not even the kind of game that sells overseas, and with domestic numbers like these, what's the point of putting it on PlayStation 😭
    88AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:21
    Re: #8
    And people still have the nerve to demand a PS release with numbers like that.
    14AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:41
    It's obvious that if even 5's cheap-looking 3D chugged on that hardware, putting out 6 with more than that would be a disaster.
    It'll probably be built PS5-first and downgraded just enough to barely squeeze onto Switch 2 as a multiplatform release.
    17AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:43
    Re: #14
    You can't even run 5 on PlayStation, so it never had the chance to chug in the first place lol
    30AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:49
    Re: #14
    The noisy minority who nitpick performance are just loud — the rest of them never actually spend any money.
    21AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:46
    There's no way a farming game sells on PlayStation. Wrong audience entirely.

    PlayStation's safest bet is just sticking to games about killing people.
    118AnonymousAug 25, 2026 00:07
    Re: #21
    If it's coming to PS5, it'd better go full photorealistic.
    27AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:48
    Actually, did they finally drop Switch 1 support for this one?
    34AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:51
    Re: #27
    Story of Seasons is probably still on it.
    43AnonymousAug 24, 2026 22:53
    I feel like they said, back around Wind Bazaar and Guardians of Azuma, that after learning their lesson from Olive Town and Rune Factory 5 they'd stop outsourcing development going forward.
    Quality actually improved because of it and both got reevaluated positively, so I've got high hopes for the next ones too.
    59AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:04
    The teaser has so little info there's nothing much to say.
    "We've been making this for 3 years" just makes me more anxious than excited.
    I didn't even think platform was worth discussing since Switch 2 seemed like the obvious answer, but I guess they never actually confirmed it.

    Re: #43
    No, Guardians of Azuma was developed by Hyde, and Wind Bazaar was Three Rings.
    53AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:01
    Who knows when it'll actually release.
    Even if it ends up multiplatform with PS5, I wonder if they can even manage simultaneous physical releases.
    67AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:09
    Re: #53

    https://livedoor.blogimg.jp/sag_alt-er_/imgs/a/5/a59fdb3a.jpg

    Marvelous revealed in their earnings report that this fiscal year's console lineup is the Muramasa: The Demon Blade remaster plus one more unannounced title.
    So either the new Story of Seasons or Rune Factory 6 should be out by next March.
    75AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:12
    Re: #53
    Whoa… that actually sounds credible.
    The farming game still felt like it had a ways to go, so Rune Factory will probably come out first.
    Good to hear PS5 might actually get a disc release too.
    55AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:02
    Re: #53
    Probably around next summer, I'd guess. Though I think the farming game might come sooner, maybe spring.
    61AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:05
    Re: #55
    Really, that soon? Feels like it'll take 2-3 years.
    58AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:04
    This looks good. Honestly, just drop PS5 already.
    77AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:13
    Re: #58
    Switch is the one that should get dropped. I was already fed up with the insanely long load times on the Switch-first release of 5, and then the later Steam version ran buttery smooth — made me furious realizing I'd been sold the low-spec-adjusted version.
    64AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:07
    Re: #59
    Yeah, sorry, my bad.
    So maybe it's that they stopped outsourcing starting after Wind Bazaar and Guardians of Azuma? Honestly I'm fuzzy on where I even heard that.
    83AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:17
    Re: #64
    I feel like I heard something similar back then too, but Hyde and Three Rings both stayed on as usual,
    so I figure it just meant they'd stop handing everything off wholesale to outside studios.
    Now that I think about it, they did cut Hakama though.
    68AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:10
    Re: #53
    This fiscal year's core lineup only has two console titles, so it'd be Muramasa plus either the new farming game or Rune Factory 6, right?
    81AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:15
    Re: #77
    Bad graphics not selling was already proven by the Steam version of Guardians of Azuma.
    93AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:25
    Re: #81
    I mean, Rune Factory was never going to sell on Steam of all places anyway.
    86AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:19
    Re: #1 included, it's just people on the hardware board (ゲハ) squawking away without even watching the special broadcast — total 'never actually played it' posturing (エアプ).
    90AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:22
    Re: #86
    I watched it. The animal donuts were cute.
    98AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:40
    Wonder if they're dropping Switch 1. Doesn't look completely impossible for it to run, barely.
    99AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:45
    Re: #98
    Releasing on Switch too would sell the most, no contest.
    111AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:57
    Re: #98
    If it just means sacrificing resolution and frame rate, I'd still want a Switch version.
    Showing off how downgraded it looks might even help sell people on Switch 2.
    120AnonymousAug 25, 2026 00:14
    Re: #98
    This is Switch 1 quality, honestly.
    101AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:45
    By the way, the Story of Seasons 30th anniversary and Rune Factory 20th anniversary sales are only running on Nintendo platforms, so that tells you everything.
    Also, which farming game would you all recommend?
    108AnonymousAug 24, 2026 23:55
    Re: #101
    The most popular one is Three Villages.
    If you're starting now though, I'd go with Wind Bazaar — it's got the free trial running right now, and it's the best-made one of what's available on Switch.
    136AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:07
    Checking out the sale on the older titles — why is 4 cheaper than 3?
    Is 4 priced like a budget 'best' edition just because it's the bad one?
    138AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:09
    The problem with Marvelous's Story of Seasons line is that it's way too Nintendo-focused, with everything else left way behind.
    Steam got left completely untouched and lost to the competition outright.

    Re: #136
    They ported 4 first and 3 later, so the one that came out first (4) is priced lower.
    143AnonymousAug 25, 2026 01:22
    Re: #136
    3 came out later and apparently had the budget to redo the graphics.
    4 is just a straight port from the 3DS with obviously no budget put into it — I wish they'd done it the other way around.

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hardware/Industry (ゲハ)) thread “New footage revealed for “Story of Seasons” and “Rune Factory 6”!