Japan Reacts

Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

  • Rena Tanaka and Akane Haga Got Their Driver’s Licenses Together at Driving School — 5ch: ‘That’s Way Too Much Information (lol)’

    It’s come to light that former Morning Musume。’ member Rena Tanaka, while working to get her driver’s license for her child’s sake, invited Akane Haga — who had also been wanting to get licensed — to join her, and the two attended driving school together to earn their licenses. On 5ch’s Hello! Project board, some posters expressed surprise that the two kept in touch privately, while others hailed Tanaka as a “genius” for passing the written exam on the first try every time, and still others jokingly dismissed the fuss over “just” getting a license. The thread eventually drifted into speculation about what kind of cars the two might drive, along with stories about other former members who’d struggled to pass their own driving tests.

    1AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:53
    @
    Rena Tanaka got her driver's license!! And apparently she went to driving school together with Akane Haga-chan and got licensed together with her!! #Reina100Percent
    @
    3AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:54
    Surprised they keep in touch outside of work too
    4AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:56
    Fuku-chan said 'an acquaintance of mine got her license so I want to get mine too' — figured it had something to do with Akanechin after all
    8AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:58
    Oh right, Haga completely retired from showbiz, didn't she…
    23AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:04
    Re: #8
    Bet Haga's fans are gutted… so much regret…
    32AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:10
    Re: #8
    Yokoyama too…
    9AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:59
    Murota got caught out at the dentist, and now it's the driving school too?
    10AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:59
    So the story is Rena Tanaka got her driver's license for her kid's sake, and when she heard a rumor that Akanechin wanted one too, she texted her on LINE — got a sparkly✨ 'I want to go!' reply back, and they ended up going to driving school together 😂
    I always figured Akanechin looked up to her a lot, but seeing Reina enjoy hanging out with Akanechin too is just too wholesome 😂
    9:38 PM · Sep 12, 2026
    11AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:59
    Feels like there've been members who failed over and over, so Reina must really be naturally smart
    13AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:01
    Re: #11
    She just got a driver's license and now she's 'smart'? lol
    18AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:03
    So that means some of Reina's outing photos might've actually had Akanechin in them too
    Never thought they hung out privately
    19AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:04
    Seems like she'd drive a black N-BOX Custom (a popular Honda kei car)
    34AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:11
    Re: #19
    Bet she'd have some pink fluffy thing sitting in it
    20AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:04
    When you think she barely attended school properly since middle school, and plenty of people fail the test, passing on the first try means she's not dumb
    21AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:04
    Not like all the delinquent types are driving around unlicensed either
    22AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:04
    Can't get to Costco without a car, after all
    24AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:06
    Maro said Hello! Project members are good at memorizing things fast
    25AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:07
    Re: #1
    That's way too much information lol

    Sayu got her license too but it ended up a "paper license" she never used — but Reina actually got hers!

    So she's still in touch with Akanechin, aka Akane-chan?
    And they went together, too

    Never failed the written test once, Reina's a genius
    Meanwhile I failed the final written exam six times
    26AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:08
    Going to LoVendoЯ (lit. "Lavender") concerts for real, huh lol
    28AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:08
    Still, it's nice enough that a currently active OG (a graduate still in showbiz) even brought up her name
    Even with a no-face-reveal rule at the concert, she's still in photos together with her

    Her face probably hasn't changed that much anyway lol
    29AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:09
    There was a post saying 'Rena Tanaka seems like she'd drive an Alphard,' and she replied something like 'Is that supposed to be an insult? Alphards are cool though'
    30AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:10
    Feels like Akanechin would drive a Land Cruiser or something
    31AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:10
    I'd freak out if Reina and Akanechin were at the driving school I go to
    33AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:10
    Akanechin needs to get a large special vehicle license for the family business
    36AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:12
    Super-thick steering wheel cover
    Fake fur on the dashboard
    Hemp-scented air freshener
    40AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:13
    It was Kamei who liked Ayumi Hamasaki
    42AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:16
    I get the image that Hagachin would drive a 4WD pickup truck, like a Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi Triton.
    47AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:18
    Re: #42
    Toyota Hilux
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/2026_Toyota_Hilux_Z.jpg

    Mitsubishi Triton
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Mitsubishi_TRITON_GSR_%283DF-LC2T-JLPRD%29.jpg
    51AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:19
    Necchin (Akanechin) seems like a Mazda person
    55AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:20
    Re: #51
    Actually a Mitsubishi would suit her more
    59AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:21
    Re: #51
    Ichioka was the one who wanted a Mazda
    66AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:22
    Is a regular license good up to 4 tons? Is that still the case?
    69AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:23
    Re: #66
    Akanechin's lightweight, though
    77AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:25
    Re: #66
    The current regular license covers up to a GVW of 3.5t (gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tons).

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    Akane Haga retired from the entertainment industry several years ago, and this episode was revealed not as a sign of a comeback, but simply as a glimpse into her private friendship with Rena Tanaka. On the license topic, posters pointed out that the current regular license caps gross vehicle weight at 3.5 tons — a threshold that has been progressively lowered from what used to be 8 tons, then 5 tons, a detail that may be unfamiliar to readers unfamiliar with Japan’s driving-school system. Rather than a sharp divide, the thread’s split in opinion came down to some posters hailing Tanaka’s flawless first-try pass of the written exam as proof she’s a “genius,” while others teased that people were making too big a deal out of “just” getting a license. From there, as posters traded story after story about former members who’d struggled with their own driving tests, the conversation drifted away from the license itself and into a round of Hello! Project inside jokes.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “Rena Tanaka and Akane Haga go to driving school together and get their licenses together! The driving instructor turns out to be a LoVendoЯ fan wwwwwwwww“.

  • Samurai U-18 Rally to Beat Taiwan, Reach Final — Ace Oda Goes 6 Innings, Allows Just 1 Run

    In the U18 Asian Baseball Championship being held in Taipei, Taiwan, the Samurai Japan U-18 team faced host nation Taiwan in their second Super Round game on the 12th and came from behind to win 2-1. The day before, on the 11th, they had blown a lead and lost 2-3 to Korea, making this a must-win game. Starting ace Shoki Oda (Yokohama), the standout right-hander who hit 156 km/h at this summer’s Koshien, allowed the game’s first run in the opening inning but battled through to finish with just 1 run allowed over 6 innings. The win locks in Japan’s spot in the final on the 13th. On 5ch, many praised Oda’s gritty pitching, while others questioned the tournament schedule for calling up players right after Koshien for back-to-back games, and raised doubts about Yokohama High School for sending out two of its key players.

    Samurai U-18 team advances to the final, coming from behind to beat host nation Taiwan… Ace Oda tops out at 155 km/h, allows 1 run over 6 innings

    Samurai Japan’s U-18 team, competing in the 14th BFA U18 Asian Baseball Championship held in Taipei, Taiwan, defeated Chinese Taipei 2-1 on the 12th in their second Super Round game. Since results carry over from the Opening Round match against the Philippines, this puts Japan at 2 wins, 1 loss in the Super Round. They have now secured their place in the final on the 13th.

    Japan had suffered a come-from-ahead 2-3 loss to Korea on the 11th. In this must-win game, pitcher Shoki Oda (Yokohama), who set the tournament’s fastest-pitch record of 156 km/h at this summer’s Koshien, made his first appearance of the tournament. He ran into a jam with one out and a runner on third in the first inning, allowing the go-ahead run to score on a groundout to second base by the No. 3 hitter, outfielder Liu Huang-Yu.

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

    5AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:50
    Taiwan's team lined up the sexy cheerleaders right behind the U-18 high schoolers' bench


    21AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:01
    Re: #5
    When it comes to passion for cheerleading, it's Taiwan > Korea >>>>> Japan
    61AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:28
    Re: #5
    Taiwan's the best, man
    72AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:11
    Re: #5
    YouTube keeps recommending me Taiwanese and Korean cheer squads.
    That's no good for me.
    6AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:52
    Oda couldn't find his control and racked up a ton of pitches, but he battled through it.
    Say what you want, the guy's a real ace.
    9AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:57
    Re: #6
    That's just his whole thing, isn't it.
    7AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:53
    Top 3 countries qualify for next year's U18 baseball World Cup.
    This 'Asian Championship' is just Japan-Korea-Taiwan playing pretend since it's decided before it even starts.
    8AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:53
    Mantani's amazing — Hanamaki Higashi's player development and recruiting are incredible.
    11AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:57
    The insane 156 km/h lefty who went to war with
    Japan's starting ace Shoki Oda
    Taiwan's starting ace was in tears too, like a man


    13AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:58
    Japan won \(^o^)/ Congrats!
    Great job, Shoki Oda!
    15AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:58
    Since 2016??
    In baseball? Wow, we're really that weak?
    62AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:32
    Re: #15
    It's not held every year, and Japan won the World Cup not long ago.
    Besides, Cuba, the US, Korea, and Taiwan are simply stronger to begin with.
    17AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:59
    As expected of Oda, the guy's a real star.
    Love that he stays upbeat even when he's in a jam — that smile was adorable lol
    18AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:59
    Shoki Oda is a huge hit with
    local Taiwanese
    baseball fangirls too


    23AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:02
    Yeah, sticking with Oda the whole way beats clumsily swapping pitchers in and out.
    He kept shifting into a higher gear the longer the game went.
    57AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:25
    I don't get the format.
    So it's round robin, then the top two teams play the final?

    Also, international baseball tournaments always feel like some kind of punishment game.
    It's right after these guys burned themselves out at Koshien with U18.
    Kind of feel bad for the players getting dragged into it.
    64AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:44
    Re: #57
    It's probably fine for kids who didn't play in the summer Koshien, but
    calling up the new team's ace and cleanup hitter at this point makes no sense — and I don't get why Yokohama High School agreed to send them either.
    75AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:13
    Apparently Oda's pretty scatterbrained off the mound, but
    he always starts out at his own pace and seems to shift into a higher gear as the game goes on lol
    His fastball has the cleanest velocity, love it.
    83AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:30
    Re: #75
    But he's not getting any swings and misses with that pitch.
    77AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:16
    Korea and Taiwan both get weirdly obsessed with these national team games.
    Must be nice living in such peaceful times.
    78AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:17
    Re: #77
    Nobody's watching high schoolers play baseball anyway.

    Background and Talking Points

    The BFA U18 Asian Baseball Championship carries results over from the Opening Round and decides final standings in the Super Round, with the top teams earning spots in next year’s U18 World Cup. In the thread, discussion centered on whether it makes sense to call up players for an international tournament right after they’ve just finished competing at Koshien, and on the burden placed on high schools that send out their star pitchers. There was also back-and-forth about the rules for selecting national team players, but eligibility criteria based on birthplace or ancestry — as seen in tournaments like the WBC — vary by competition and are a separate matter from the selection criteria used for this BFA-run U18 tournament, a distinction that’s easy to mix up. Many posts conflated the two, but this article deals only with facts based on its source.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[Baseball] U18 Asian Championship: Samurai U-18 team advances to the final, coming from behind to beat host nation Taiwan… Ace Oda tops out at 155 km/h, allows 1 run over 6 innings”.

  • Hana Kojima: “I’m Banned From Saying My Old Agency’s Name” — The Unspoken Rule Shared by Every Hello! Project Transfer Member

    The thread was sparked by a post noting that Morning Musume。’23’s Hana Kojima said her manager has forbidden her from naming the talent agency she used to belong to. Posters piled on with more examples of transfer members who avoid naming their former agencies — Kasahara (Angerme), Konno (a Morning Musume。 OG), Kawanishi (formerly of Amuse) — and opinions split over whether this is a Hello! Project-specific custom or standard practice across the entertainment industry as a whole. Some defended it (“It’d actually look more unnatural if she didn’t stay quiet about it,” “Might be a copyright or publicity-rights issue”), while others took it as proof that the agency is simply closed off.

    1AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:29
    That's common knowledge, isn't it
    2AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:30
    Is saying "I'm banned from saying it" itself not banned?
    4AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:31
    Re: #2
    Because it gives her a ready excuse when she needs to turn something down — "Sorry, my agency won't let me talk about that."
    If anything, it'd look more unnatural if she didn't say that
    3AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:31
    Well, it's probably better not to go running your mouth about it yourself.
    It's fine when fans bring it up on their own, but it kills the vibe once the idol herself starts turning it into a bit
    5AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:32
    That's pretty much standard whenever anyone switches agencies.
    Kasahara doesn't say Angerme's name either
    11AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:34
    Re: #5
    Announcer Kitagawa never brings up Morning Musume。 at all either
    A little sad, but I guess that's just how it goes
    21AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:36
    Re: #11
    Konno used to casually say Morning Musume。's name back in her TV Tokyo days,
    and even appeared alongside other OGs
    62AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:55
    Re: #11
    Riorio probably can't bring it up because you guys keep grumbling about it
    7AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:33
    Hana Kojima: "If it weren't for Hello! Project, I think I'd have quit showbiz and gotten a part-time job"
    9AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:34
    I wonder if she'll stop appearing on the official One Piece channel now
    The cast and staff there clearly know her former agency and group
    10AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:34
    Hana-chan Kojima: "I can't really say the agency's name… but it's the one over in Ebisu"
    13AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:34
    Isn't it just an industry custom?
    Not that I'd know
    14AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:35
    15th Gen: "We're banned from saying there were three of us in our batch"
    18AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:35
    Kamo never brought up "Hachikin" either (a former group/nickname reference)
    19AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:36
    There's no way you'd name your old agency's other company in showbiz
    20AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:36
    She's not allowed to say "People often tell me I look like Ichioka-san"
    22AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:36
    Talking about ASH is the one thing that's allowed, right?
    23AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:37
    Minamikawa talks about Shochiku all the time though
    24AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:38
    There have been a few Hello! Project members over the years from Meguro (Hinode), and apparently there was even a time when naming your old school was off-limits too
    26AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:38
    I wonder if she's even allowed to post "met up with a former coworker" on social media
    30AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:40
    Re: #26
    She's posted on Instagram about hanging out with former coworkers just fine since transferring
    Kojima even showed up naturally in a TikTok video posted by an old Stardust colleague
    28AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:39
    Doesn't Kawanishi avoid saying it too?
    32AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:43
    Re: #28
    She does say it
    She's even written about Lupinranger vs. Patranger on her blog
    34AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:44
    Re: #32
    Has she ever actually said out loud, in her own words, that she was with Amuse?
    29AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:40
    Even Shizuka Kudo never talks about the Seventeen Club
    33AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:43
    Some members bring up their past entertainment careers and some don't
    Not sure what the difference comes down to
    36AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:45
    Well, it's best not to talk about your old agency at all if you can help it
    37AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:45
    She doesn't name it specifically, but she's talked openly about having been in an idol group at a different agency before
    38AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:45
    It's probably fine for members who properly graduated
    41AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:46
    The other side might have put an NG on it
    42AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:46
    People who graduated from Hello! Project and moved to other agencies talk about Up-Front just fine
    Guess it's just this crappy agency being weird about it
    53AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:51
    Re: #42
    Maybe it's different when someone quits an idol group to do something totally unrelated to idol work,
    versus switching agencies and going right back to being an idol in another group?
    43AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:47
    Stardust's Hana Kojima and Hello! Project's Hana Kojima are different "products" — it's a copyright/publicity-rights thing
    45AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:48
    It's because you guys hate their "past life" so much (fan slang for a member's pre-transfer career)
    Kawanishi doesn't talk about Amuse either
    46AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:48
    How did the conversation even end up here?

    Background and Key Points of the Discussion

    It’s not unusual in the entertainment industry for a talent who has switched agencies to avoid publicly naming their former one, and this is generally attributed to contractual confidentiality obligations along with the publicity and image rights still held by the former agency. The point raised in the thread (reply 43) about a possible “copyright or publicity-rights issue” lines up with this general understanding. That said, the thread’s reactions were split — some treated it as simply standard industry practice, while others saw it as evidence that Hello! Project (UFA) is especially closed off. Worth noting, though: both takes remain speculation within the thread, and there’s no primary sourcing confirming that any one agency in particular enforces this more strictly than others. It’s also been pointed out (reply 30) that posts about meeting up with former colleagues still appear on social media after a transfer, suggesting the restriction may apply only to publicly naming the agency itself, not to private contact with former colleagues.

    ※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “[Sad News] Hana Kojima: “My manager has forbidden me from saying the name of the agency I used to belong to” ← UFA’s closed-off culture.”

  • Kawashima Mifu Is the Most Popular Pick During ‘Photo-Op Time’ — Hello! Project Board Debates Why

    Juice=Juice’s Kawashima Mifu has become the talk of 5channel’s Hello! Project board after fans noted she’s the most popular member during “photo-op time,” the window at Hello! Project events when attendees can shoot close-up photos of the members. Posts ranged from simple support (“she’s the ace,” “she’s just cute”) to comments tracing a crowd-pleasing-looks “lineage” running from Konno Azusa to Michishige Sayumi to Kawashima Mifu, with some arguing her appeal reaches casual viewers, not just hardcore fans. Meanwhile, claims that she “seems to glow” drew pushback that it’s just a lighting effect, reviving the old looks-versus-skill debate.

    1AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:19
    How come, though?
    2AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:20
    Because she's the ace.
    3AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:20
    [Sad News] Juice=Juice's Kawashima Mifu lmaooo (the "sad news" tag is used sarcastically here — this is actually a compliment)
    https://kizuna.5ch.io/test/read.cgi/morningcoffee/1787456533/
    5AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:21
    At the end of the day, it's all about the face.
    6AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:21
    Because she's cute.
    7AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:22
    It's because she's hot, obviously.
    9AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:25
    You can just tell by looking
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HSBD6GbbsAAPZAI.jpg:orig#.jpg
    10AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:25
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HSBD6GVbAAETlot.jpg:orig#.jpg
    11AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:26
    12AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:27
    If you've ever seen her up close even once, you'd get it —
    she genuinely glows.
    If Chansan is an idol cyborg,
    then Mippuru (Kawashima's nickname) is a natural-born idol.
    13AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:28
    She's honestly turning into the best thing Hello! Project has produced in recent years.
    14AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:29
    A Nogizaka fan said this and it weirdly made sense to me:
    once a Hello! Project act actually gets popular, they end up doing the same generic idol work as everyone else anyway.
    Quit doing the kind of work 'Kawa-Lab' does.
    Turns out idols don't need skill after all —
    just being cute is enough.
    Think about what the idol job actually involves, and Nogizaka's got the right formula.
    16AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:29
    To an average person, she's just got the most textbook idol looks.
    Hello! Project otaku have just seen so many weird faces their standards are broken lol
    22AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:30
    Kind of moving when you think there was a version of this where she burns out and disappears instead.
    28AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:30
    That's exactly why Nogizaka's been on top for years, right? The answer's right there lol
    33AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:31
    Feels like this girl gets cuter every single time she wakes up.
    36AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:31
    If she'd joined Morning Musume instead and had to watch Juice=Juice now, she might've spiraled lol
    56AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:40
    Konno → Michishige → Kawashima

    roughly how the fanbase's favorite face has passed down
    58AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:42
    Well yeah, she's not just cute — she's a genuine talent skill-wise too.
    59AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:43
    An upgraded version of Michishige.
    60AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:43
    Takao's smiling too.
    61AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:49
    ■Camera-Ready! Mi Amore Photo-Op Highlights Roundup (Updated September 2026)
    Danbara


    Inoue


    Kudo


    Matsunaga


    Arisawa


    Irie


    Ebata


    Ishiyama

    Endo

    Kawashima



    Hayashi

    Inaba

    Miyamoto
    62AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:50
    Because she's as pale as a squid (Japanese slang for very fair, translucent skin).

    Background and Talking Points

    “Photo-op time” is fan slang for the window during Hello! Project live merchandise sales and other events when attendees can shoot close-up photos of members, and it’s said to reward at-a-glance cuteness that lands with casual, first-time viewers more than the niche skills prized by hardcore fans. In the thread, Kawashima Mifu was framed as heir to a “lineage” of broadly appealing faces running from Konno Azusa through Michishige Sayumi, on top of her standing as Juice=Juice’s ace — though claims that she “seems to glow” drew pushback as nothing more than a lighting effect, so no consensus emerged. Some posts spun off into comparisons with Nogizaka46, but that’s just subjective popularity talk on an anonymous message board, not an official ranking or achievement within Hello! Project, and should be read with that caveat.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (Hello! Project board) thread “Why Kawashima Mifu-chan is the most popular during photo-op time.”

  • Iran’s Coach Slams Grueling 3-Match Schedule: ‘Why Is This So Insane?’

    Iran defeated Australia 3-1 to reach the final of the Men’s Asian Volleyball Championship. The win puts Iran on the verge of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but head coach Roberto Piazza exploded with frustration over a schedule that forces teams into three straight matches with zero rest days starting from the quarterfinals, saying “Why is this so insane?” On 5ch, opinions split over whether the grueling schedule was driven by TV broadcast and tournament-organizing interests, and whether Japan’s national team alone was getting a favorable schedule.

    ◆Volleyball ▽ Men’s Asian Championship, Day 9, Semifinal: Iran 3-1 Australia (September 12, at Kitakyushu City General Gymnasium)

    Iran (2nd in their preliminary pool), chasing a fifth title and their first in two tournaments, edged out Australia (6th in their pool) 3-1 (25-21, 17-25, 25-17, 25-22) to clinch a spot in the final. Though the win puts Iran on the verge of securing a berth at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, head coach Roberto Piazza exploded with frustration over the schedule after the match.

    Looking back on the match against Australia, he said, “It was a tough match. Australia has experienced players. We knew it would be a very, very, very difficult match for us. Winning the second set and bringing the match back to even was the key point,” reflecting a sense of satisfaction.

    Source: hochi.news / Original article here

    2AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:59
    Still better than that ball-kicking World Cup in America (dismissive slang for soccer).
    8AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:02
    Volleyball's not that demanding, they can play back-to-back matches lol
    10AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:05
    If they'd stop pointlessly celebrating and spinning around every time they score, their workload would drop a lot lol
    11AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:06
    This is the downside of commercialism.
    Only the host country benefits from it, so I get why he's angry.
    12AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:06
    Volleyball seems to have an international tournament every single month, doesn't it.
    14AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:07
    I only know the results, but Australia seems disappointing at pretty much every sport.
    19AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:07
    Re: #14
    Maybe just rugby and cricket.
    72AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:54
    Re: #14
    Australia seems to love these mystery sports that only exist in Australia lol
    15AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:07
    What a joke lol
    Japan gets 3 rest days while other countries get zero?
    This is exactly why Japan volleyball (the organizers) is hated worldwide.
    30AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:14
    Re: #15
    Re: #1 actually says:
    "Like Japan, Iran plays three straight matches too — quarterfinal on the 11th, won today's semifinal, and the final on the 13th"
    …so?
    16AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:07
    They move less than in soccer or basketball, right?
    17AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:07
    Dunno, but they don't move as much as soccer or basketball.
    29AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:13
    Re: #17
    Still, they should at least give them one rest day, right?
    They move more than baseball players do.
    18AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:07
    Whose fault is this anyway, it's irritating.
    21AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:10
    Re: #19
    Don't you know Australia got knocked out in the group stage at the last Rugby World Cup?
    Both rugby league and union are losing popularity domestically too.
    Cricket's doing great though.
    23AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:10
    Volleyball always seems to give Japan an especially easy schedule.
    26AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:13
    Makes me think Japan's really fallen on hard times when a resale/pawn shop is the title sponsor…
    33AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:15
    Re: #26
    It's an international tournament.
    The Asian federation decides the tournament sponsors.
    27AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:13
    Re: #5
    "Daikichi~" (doing an IKKO impression)
    32AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:15
    Re: #27
    Reminds me of the pitcher on Aichi's team doing an Antonio Inoki face impression at last summer's Koshien lol
    28AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:13
    Volleyball doesn't have the workload soccer or basketball does.
    Though obviously more than baseball.
    31AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:15
    That's how the Asian Championship always is.
    If you want rest days, go earn more success.
    35AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:16
    At the All-Japan high school tournament, making it to the final means 6 matches in 5 days — got a problem with that?
    38AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:17
    Japan's schedule is also the same three-straight-match grind, so the conditions aren't actually different, but this schedule really is abnormal.
    48AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:26
    Re: #38
    Since the tournament started, Japan's matches have all had a fixed 7:30 PM start time, so the conditions are actually quite different.
    Within the same jam-packed week-plus schedule, other countries' start times vary day to day, anywhere from 10 AM to 7:30 PM.
    39AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:20
    In volleyball you run maybe 3 meters at most.
    There's no way any player is actually tired after a match lol
    44AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:24
    Re: #39
    Volleyball players get tired because they jump, just like the Maasai (known for their jumping dance).
    69AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:51
    Baseball teams play every single day.
    Volleyball players are being way too soft.
    70AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:52
    Re: #69
    Sure, go have the same starting pitcher throw every single day then.
    83AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:09
    For matches other than Japan's, the stands must be so empty and embarrassing they don't even bother uploading official footage lol
    87AnonymousSep 12, 2026 23:20
    Re: #83
    Well, that's just soccer being a special case.

    Background and Talking Points

    The Men’s Asian Championship carries Los Angeles Olympic qualification stakes, and reaching the final means playing three matches with zero rest days between them starting from the quarterfinals. As the article notes, Iran — just like Japan — was also forced into this same three-match grind, and it was later pointed out in the thread that some posters had misread the article and jumped to the conclusion that “only Japan is being favored.” That said, there’s also the point that Japan’s matches have been fixed at a 7:30 PM start time throughout the tournament, while other countries’ matches have varied start times ranging from 10 AM to 7:30 PM — so it isn’t simply a clear-cut case of fair versus unfair. The grueling schedule itself appears to stem from TV broadcasting and sponsor considerations, and opinions were also divided on just how physically demanding volleyball really is, depending on whether posters compared it to soccer or to baseball.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Entertainment & Sports News+) thread “[Volleyball] Iran reaches final but coach explodes with frustration: ‘It’s insane. Only at this tournament. Why is it so insane?’ — grueling 3-match schedule from the quarterfinals“.

  • Nippon-Ham’s Ito Taiga and Seibu Coach Kuroda Nearly Come to Blows — 5ch: “Coach, Check Your Ego”

    During the Seibu–Nippon-Ham game at Belluna Dome on September 12, Nippon-Ham pitcher Ito Taiga and Seibu coach Kuroda Tetsushi got into a heated shouting match mid-game, with an angry-looking Kuroda storming toward the mound. Players poured out of both dugouts and things briefly turned into a tense standoff, though it never escalated to blows. On 5ch, a post claiming to be from someone watching in person spread the account that “Coach Kuroda kept heckling Ito persistently about how he was handling the rosin, and Ito snapped back at him — that’s what set it off.” Some questioned why a coach, rather than a player, was the one front and center in the confrontation, while others speculated that the recent decline in on-field brawls might be linked to team policies banning casual chatter and greetings between players.

    9/12 (Sat) 19:35

    Daily Sports

    “Seibu vs. Nippon-Ham” (September 12, Belluna Dome)

    Source: topics.smt.docomo.ne.jp / Original article here

    2AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:17
    Pro baseball brawls have pretty much disappeared, huh.
    Though I watch a ton of them in MLB.
    66AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:47
    Re: #2
    Makes sense they've declined — you could get criminally charged for violence these days.
    10AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:20
    Coach, don't butt in lol
    110AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:10
    Re: #10
    Maybe he's just a good coach lol
    17AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:22
    This one's on the Ham-trash (derisive nickname for Nippon-Ham)
    39AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:30
    Re: #17
    You're the worst one here
    19AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:23
    Happened to flip the channel over and saw everyone gathered up — so was it the coach who went after him?
    22AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:24
    Re: #19
    Looked to me like Ham's starter Ito was the one picking a fight with Seibu
    24AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:25
    Back in Hoshino's era, getting your uniform ripped off was just business as usual
    28AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:26
    Apparently it went down like this ↓

    894 Anonymous Commentator (Au Au Kee Sad3-T/Hs [182.249.57.15]) 9/12 (Sat) 2026 19:36:56.99 ID:SJHGY/VXa
    FYI I was there in person, up in the stands

    Kuroda kept relentlessly heckling Ito (probably about the rosin)
    ↓
    Ito snapped and yelled back
    ↓
    Kuroda lost it even harder
    ↓
    Near-brawl
    45AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:34
    Re: #28
    Probably got told something like "I'm a Sawamura Award pitcher — what have you ever done?"
    51AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:38
    Re: #28
    Coach, don't let your ego show
    102AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:04
    Re: #28
    Kuroda: "Rosin! Rosin!"
    Ito: "What's Lu Xun (Rojin) got to do with anything?"
    Kuroda: "Diary of a Madman" (Lu Xun's novel — "kyōjin nikki" in Japanese)
    Ito: "Who said anything about the Giants (Kyojin)?"

    Probably went something like that, who knows
    36AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:29
    There hadn't been a brawl in ages, everyone was getting along fine. I bet it's because guys like Fujikawa and Shinjo started banning pregame greetings and chatting with the other team. That kind of thing just builds up stress for the players, and with no interaction anymore, it's making things worse between them.
    41AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:31
    Re: #36
    That's totally normal in MLB. These old-school "proper baseball" geezers need to get with the times.
    44AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:33
    Why was Genda acting so cocky? lol
    48AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:37
    Re: #44
    That's the biggest mystery here lol
    60AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:43
    Re: #44
    He was being weirdly aggro, it's hilarious
    98AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:03
    Re: #44
    Maybe he just wanted to get out of there fast
    46AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:34
    A coach mixing it up with a player is way too out of line lol
    57AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:39
    Re: #46
    Some managers love stealing the spotlight from players too lol
    50AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:37
    Did Kuroda ditch Hiroshima to come to Seibu?
    84AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:56
    Re: #50
    What's that got to do with Hiroshima?
    54AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:39
    They got into it over whether to put soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce on tonkatsu
    74AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:52
    Re: #54
    Mixing soy sauce and sauce together is actually pretty good
    108AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:09
    Re: #54
    It's miso you put on tonkatsu, obviously
    80AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:54
    Sign-stealing again, maybe?
    97AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:03
    Re: #80
    This has nothing to do with the sign-stealing Hawks (SoftBank)
    85AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:57
    Is he Chiharu Matsuyama's husband?
    90AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:59
    Re: #85
    "Ha~te~shi~nai" ("Endless" — a line from Matsuyama Chiharu's hit song)~♪
    96AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:03
    It's just an everyday thing in Saitama for Matsuyama Chiharu to go off on one of his signature rants on NACK5 radio.

    Chiharu: "Well, y'know, since NACK5 is based in Saitama I probably shouldn't say this too loud, but — I was born in Hokkaido. So if you're asking which side I'm on, well, I don't think I need to spell it out, do I?"
    Listener: "Chiharu, that's some real backbone! Speaking your mind even on a Saitama station — I'm falling for you all over again!"
    (This is purely fiction)
    100AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:04
    Re: #96
    I just heard that in Chiharu's voice in my head
    112AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:11
    Re: #96
    Wait, does Niiyama talk like that…oh wait, it's Matsuyama
    99AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:03
    Guess Shinjo's been too soft on them and now someone's getting the wrong idea.
    Feels like it's only a matter of time before another Nakata Sho type shows up and causes trouble.
    106AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:07
    Re: #99
    Shinjo's got nothing to do with this lol

    Background and Key Points

    Pitcher Ito Taiga is Nippon-Ham’s ace, who became the youngest-ever winner of the Sawamura Award in 2021, while Coach Kuroda Tetsushi is a veteran who has coached for Seibu for nearly 20 years since retiring as a player. Brawls in Japanese pro baseball have been on the decline in recent years, and some in the thread speculated this might be linked to team policies discouraging casual chatter and greetings between players — though this is only speculation from posters, not something officially confirmed by the teams. The trigger for the clash was said to be “heckling over rosin,” but this too is based only on an anonymous post claiming to be from someone watching in person, and neither the teams nor those involved have given an official account of what happened.

    *This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “Stadium in an Uproar: Nippon-Ham’s Ito Taiga and Seibu Coach Kuroda Tetsushi Nearly Come to Blows — Kuroda Storms Toward the Mound in Anger, Both Benches Empty in a Tense Standoff.”

  • New Juice=Juice Fans and Respect for Graduated Members: 5ch Says “The Feeling Just Isn’t There”

    A thread appeared on 5ch’s Hello! Project board asking, “Do people who recently became Juice=Juice fans actually respect the OGs (graduated former members) who left the group?” Some new fans said, “I don’t really know what kind of people they were, so I’d like to learn about them little by little,” while others pushed back with, “Don’t force me to respect members I don’t even know.” Even longtime fans admitted, “The golden era is too far in the past to feel anything real about it,” and the most common view was that how much respect you feel depends on how closely your favorite member’s era overlaps with the OGs.

    1AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:45
    Or is it more of a "who cares about the old-school members" kind of thing?
    2AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:45
    The style where you go all-in denying and bashing the OGs
    4AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:47
    Re: #1
    It's none of your business anyway, you're just an anti-fan!
    5AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:48
    When you're digging into the old songs, you can probably manage without knowing who Yukanya is (fan nickname for an early member)
    6AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:49
    If Kanazawa were still active today, she'd probably be insanely popular
    7AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:50
    Takagi's the only one I respect
    8AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:50
    I do want to respect them
    But honestly I have no idea what kind of people they were, so I want to learn bit by bit going forward
    I got into the group from the McDonald's commercial this past March
    9AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:51
    These days you can watch all sorts of stuff on YouTube ("tube") or Chinese streaming sites
    14AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:53
    Re: #9
    YouTube got way less convenient since you can't search videos by upload date anymore
    Especially annoying when you're trying to dig up old footage
    And I don't want to touch those illegal Chinese sites
    10AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:52
    In the early days it was basically a group built around Karin-chan
    11AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:52
    You like Juice's current vibe, right?
    So you'd probably hate the tense, drama-filled original lineup
    13AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:53
    I respect whoever wrote the songs
    The songwriters are the real MVPs
    15AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:53
    Re: #1
    Let me ask you this instead — why do we have to respect them?
    16AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:54
    Didn't Juice start out as a duo with Inoue and Danbara?
    17AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:55
    Re: #1
    There's no way that's just a given
    Sure, some people will do it on the surface
    I'm an old-timer from the "One For" era, but the golden age is so far back that I honestly still don't feel real respect for it
    On the surface I logically think things like "we owe where we are now to those people," but that's about as far as it goes
    The Platinum era is about the cutoff where I can actually feel respect
    And that's coming from someone as old-school as me
    20AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:56
    Re: #17
    You'll always be a "One For"-era newbie no matter how much time passes
    18AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:55
    Re: #14
    Whether you like it or not isn't my problem
    21AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:57
    Not interested
    I want to listen on streaming services, but since I want to hear the current members' voices, I mostly just watch YouTube and the Blu-ray of the Spring 2025 tour
    22AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:57
    Do Homamei (portmanteau nickname for two current members' fanbase) fans even respect the original members???
    23AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:58
    The loudest voices are always the ones who don't respect them
    24AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:58
    Juice had Uemura around until fairly recently, so it's still pretty easy to trace things back
    41AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:24
    Re: #7
    That's the one that got called "on another level" on Kanjam (Danbara was in it too)
    Re: #24
    Uemura Akari's contribution to laying the groundwork for today's Juice=Juice
    Everyone got along really well

    Including Kanazawa Tomoko and Inaba Manaka — that's the impression that sticks most
    25AnonymousSep 12, 2026 20:59
    Quick question
    How exactly am I supposed to "respect" them?
    26AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:01
    It's ridiculous to tell Moremi or Kurakura newbies (fanbases of current members) to respect OGs they barely know who graduated more than five years ago
    Forcing respect on anyone in the first place is just wrong
    28AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:01
    Why would new fans have to respect members who already quit and aren't even around anymore lol
    Makes no sense
    30AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:03
    I do respect the saintly Miyamoto Karin — she rescued Mippuru, made her the group's first great ace, and gave birth to Juice=Juice
    31AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:04
    It's kind of like how people feel about pro baseball alumni
    Basically don't care either way, but it's annoying when they pop up as commentators and say something dumb
    32AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:08
    Re: #1
    Which OG, specifically?

    I don't think for a second that "if even one OG were missing, Angerme wouldn't be what it is today"
    Somebody just say it already
    34AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:10
    If it were Morning Musume's golden-era members singing songs released after they left, that'd be one thing
    But Miyamoto and Inaba singing current members' songs — yeah, that's a bit much
    35AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:11
    I respect the former leader
    I think she directly laid the foundation for how things are run now
    36AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:12
    Both Morning Musume fans and original-lineup ghosts are just so full of themselves about it
    37AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:16
    For anti-fans, current members and OGs don't matter
    They just bash everyone
    38AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:16
    Is it not just OGs from groups like Juice, which only got popular after all the founding members left — do even OGs from groups that built a genuine legend, like AKB, get seen as annoying when they get involved with the current lineup?
    48AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:35
    I think it depends on which current member you're into
    If you're a Ruru or Yumeriai fan, digging into the past naturally grows respect for the original members
    If you're into 3FLOWER, you probably have no idea who Takagi is
    If you're a Sakuringo or Mippuru fan, you respect Uemura-shan (and if you're a Sakurachi fan, Manakan too)
    I'm a Nia newbie, so I genuinely feel nothing toward the original members
    49AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:37
    Re: #48
    Liar
    You clearly know way too much for that
    57AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:50
    Kanatomo retired and still gets discovered by new fans, while Miyamoto's still active and yet doesn't — guess that's the difference in star power

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    Juice=Juice is a Hello! Project group formed in 2013. All of the members who were in the group at its founding have since graduated, and the current lineup is made up of members who joined at various later points. Because of this, what counts as an “OG” (graduated former member) varies from fan to fan — there’s a real gap in how well new fans recognize “older OGs” like early members Miyamoto Karin and Kanazawa Tomoko versus “newer OGs” like Uemura Akari, who stayed with the group until relatively recently. Where opinions split in the thread was over whether respect is something that arises naturally or a personal feeling that shouldn’t be forced on anyone, with the intensity of feeling varying depending on how closely a fan’s favorite current member connects to the OGs. Note that some replies involving personal insults or political/religious comparisons have been excluded from this article.

    ※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “Do people who recently became Juice=Juice fans actually respect the OGs who graduated???“

  • 5ch VIP Buzzer Quiz Night: 29 Questions Spanning Radio, Free-for-All, and Madoka Magica

    5channel’s “News VIP” board held its regular Saturday-night buzzer quiz thread. The lineup totaled 29 questions in all — 9 on “Radio,” 18 “Free-for-all,” and 2 on “Madoka Magica” — run in a first-to-buzz format that awards points based on finishing order. Questions ranged across genres: naming a radio show’s title, identifying actress Kurenai Manko by name, the nickname given to a movement from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” and the real town that inspired a Pokémon game location. The banter between the quizmaster and the answerers stayed lively throughout, with the thread’s host even getting ribbed as someone who’s “been alive since the age of the Ōkagami” (a centuries-old Japanese chronicle — i.e., joked to be ancient).

    1AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:35
    It's the weekend, let's all do a quiz together!
    ◯ Official wiki: ttps://quizinvip.playing.wiki/
    ◯ Detailed rules: ttps://quizinvip.playing.wiki/d/%a5%c6%a5%f3%a5%d7%a5%ec
    2AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:36
    [ Quizmaster ]: ◆QinVIP.Rook4

    [ Rules ]
    ◎ Buzzer quiz: 29 questions (9 "Radio" + 18 "Free-for-all" + 2 "Madoka Magica")
    ◎ Scoring: 1st place = 3pt, 2nd place = 2pt, everyone from 3rd place down = 1pt
    ◎ Overall winner decided by total score (per-segment tallies posted later)
    139AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:29
    [ Nureshi's Corner ] (a second host's side segment) Now in session!
    Rules: see Re: #2

    [ Answer ]
    Speakeasy
    (Speakeasy)

    [ Verdict ]
    Passed (no correct answer)

    It brings on guests across genres and generations pretty evenly — one of my favorite shows.

    Maybe the key part was that the answer had to be the actual "radio show" title.

    Pass tally: 1

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 30:00
    144AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:30
    [ Nureshi's Corner ] Now in session!
    Rules: see Re: #2

    [ Answer ]
    "BITTERSWEET SAMBA"
    (Bittersweet Samba)

    [ Verdict ]
    Passed (no correct answer)

    Guess nobody here grew up on late-night radio.

    Personally I catch Yoko Shogenji's ANN X (All Night Nippon X) now and then — Nippon Cultural Broadcasting.

    Pass tally: 2

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 32:00
    154AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:32
    [ Nureshi's Corner ] Now in session!
    Rules: see Re: #2

    [ Answer ]
    Machiko-maki (a 1950s hairstyle named after a movie character)

    [ Verdict ]
    3pt: Re: #150
    2pt: Re: #152

    Re: #153
    Well, if we're being picky, there wasn't even a period ["。"] in there to begin with
    4AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:37
    [ Answering Rules ]
    ◯ One answer attempt per person, 30-second time limit

    ◯ Silent symbols/punctuation can be left out
    　Extra characters count as a "✗" (wrong)
    ※ For now, adding one silent symbol is allowed when answering with half-width numerals

    ◯ Names: full name for people from kanji-using cultures,
    　"surname only" is fine as a rule for everyone else

    ◯ Unless stated otherwise, answering in hiragana is fine
    　Hiragana OK for questions like "What's the kanji?" / "What's the English word?" / "Answer in 3 kanji characters"
    　Hiragana NOT OK when the question specifies "《Answer in: kanji》" or "Please answer in 3 kanji characters," etc.
    5AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:37
    [ Sample Question (from a past thread) ] 2026/02/14 "Risshun (Start of Spring) Special"
    This is a [ Wikipedia fill-in-the-blank quiz ].

    【 Who 】 ……

    Streaming-only singles [edit] ……
    30th — May 16, 2025 — "GeGeGe no Kitaro"
    31st — September 12, 2025 — "CAT'S EYE" ……
    34th — December 29, 2025 — "Odoru Pompokolin"
    7AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:39
    [ Answer ]
    Ado
    (the singer)

    Passed (no correct answer)

    ◎ 《Recap for latecomers》 (5ch slang for "just got here, catch me up")
    1. Quizmasters & answerers welcome anytime!
    2. Jump in or drop out whenever you like!
    3. Don't know it? Just riff a joke answer! (Gag answers welcome too)

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 39:30
    8AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:39
    [ Sample Question (from a past thread) ] 2026/02/14 "Risshun (Start of Spring) Special"
    This is a [ Headline quiz ].

    [2024/09/05 – 4Gamer.net]
    "The Scariest -【 What 】-", Switch version releasing September 12.

    Play as a younger sister searching for her missing older sister in this horror-action game, exploring a mysterious Western-style mansion while dodging the relentlessly pursuing 【 what 】.
    10AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:40
    [ Answer ]
    Ao Oni
    (Blue Ogre)

    Passed (no correct answer)

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 41:00
    11AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:41
    [ Sample Question (from a past thread) ] 2025/12/12 "Niconico Anniversary (to i)"
    This is a [ Niconico Pedia fill-in-the-blank quiz ].

    "Poko a Pokemon" is a Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive title announced on September 12, 2025.

    The protagonist is, surprisingly, a "【 what 】" transformed into human form.

    By meeting Pokémon and learning moves, you gradually gain more abilities.
    13AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:42
    [ Answer ]
    Ditto

    Passed (no correct answer)

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 43:00
    14AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:43
    [ Sample Question (from a past thread) ] 2025/09/13 "Flame Emperor Battle"
    [ It's Back! Quiz Week 5 ]
    Question set from Friday, September 11, 2025.

    That afternoon saw record-breaking torrential rain — 31.5mm in 10 minutes and 85.5mm in an hour, the heaviest ever observed — plus a typhoon-level peak wind gust of 30.9 m/s and a temperature drop of 5.2°C within a single hour. Which AMeDAS observation point, located at 《 【 what 】 Airport 》, got hit by this extreme weather?
    16AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:44
    [ Answer ]
    Haneda Airport

    Passed (no correct answer)

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 45:00
    17AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:45
    [ Sample Question (from a past thread) ] 2025/09/13 "Flame Emperor Battle" ◆5IgXoU.PW6
    The Wikipedia page for "Tokyo International Airport" (commonly known as "Haneda Airport") also uses the word "hane" (羽根, meaning "feather/wing"). True or false?
    19AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:45
    [ Answer ]
    False (×)

    Re: #18 Correct!

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 46:30
    22AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:47
    [ Answer ]
    Sato Shiori

    Passed (no correct answer)

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 48:00
    23AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:48
    [ Sample Question (from a past thread) ] 2025/09/12 "TV Grand Prize" (quoted verbatim)
    ◯ 2025/08/17: Korokke [celebrity impersonator]
    ◯ 2025/08/24: Chocolate Planet [comedy duo]
    ◯ 2025/08/31: Miyamoto Masae [film costume designer]
    ◯ 2025/09/07: Abdul Hakim Sani Brown [pro track athlete]

    Recent episodes have followed each of the above figures up close. What's the name of this TV show, "【 what 】"?
    25AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:49
    [ Answer ]
    Jonetsu Tairiku (Passionate Continent)

    Passed (no correct answer)

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 50:00
    26AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:50
    [ Sample Question (from a past thread) ] 2025/09/12 "Classical Grand Prize"
    A piece composed 300 years ago (1725), Concerto No. 3 in F major, RV 293, "L'Autunno" —

    In Japan, this piece is known by a one-kanji-character nickname, "【 what 】."
    28AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:50
    [ Answer ]
    "Autumn" (秋)
    (the third movement of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons")

    Re: #27 Correct!

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 51:30
    29AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:51
    [ Sample Question (from a past thread) ] 2024/12/28 "New Words & Buzzwords Special"
    This is a [ Wikipedia fill-in-the-blank quiz ].

    Kurenai Manko (【 what 】, born September 12, 1953 – ) is a Japanese actress. From 2015 to 2024 she performed under the stage name Kurenai Ichiko.

    Films [edit] ……
    ・Amarok (2024) – as Hiroki Nagumo's mother
    ・The Samurai Time Slipper (2024) – as Setsuko, the temple head priest's wife
    33AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:53
    [ Sample Question (from a past thread) ] 2020/09/12 "Real Serious Quiz #02" CC
    This is a [ Wikipedia fill-in-the-blank quiz ].

    "【 What 】" is a light, fluffy dish made by mixing various ingredients into meringue and baking it in an oven. It's served as either a main course or a dessert.

    ……The past participle of the French verb "souffler," meaning "to blow."
    36AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:53
    [ Answer ]
    Soufflé
    (souffle)

    Re: #35 Correct!

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 54:30
    37AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:54
    [ Sample Question (from a past thread) ] 2020/09/12 "West Japan Derby"
    This is a [ Wikipedia fill-in-the-blank quiz ].

    The 【 What 】 is an American instrumental band. ……

    Starting with the release of "Futari no Ginza," they went on to put out kayōkyoku (Japanese pop) hits like "Kitaguni no Aoi Sora," and — with Jerry's involvement — "Kyoto no Koi," "Kyoto Bojo," "Nagasaki Bojo," and "Ame no Midosuji," songs that came to be known as "Ventures kayō."
    38AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:54
    Ventures
    40AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:55
    [ Answer ]
    The Ventures

    Re: #38 Correct!

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 56:00
    41AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:56
    [ Sample Question (from a past thread) ] 2020/09/12 "West Japan Derby"
    This is a [ Wikipedia fill-in-the-blank quiz ].

    Pocket Monsters –

    Hiwada Town, in the 【 what 】 region where the game is set, is modeled after Minabe Town, a production area for Kishu Bincho charcoal.
    49AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:58
    [ Answer ]
    "The Flame Never Dies"

    Passed (no correct answer)

    Re: #48
    Well, there is a faction that argues for the Kyushu theory!

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 59:00
    53AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:59
    Re: #49
    Wait, isn't that answer kind of off?
    64AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:02
    Cro-Magnon
    66AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:02
    [ Answer ]
    (Ancient) Greeks, Greek people

    Re: #62 Correct!
    Re: #64 Whoa, you knew enough to draw a comparison like that!

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 03:30
    153AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:32
    Like I'd have any clue what the 1950s even looked like
    156AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:33
    Honestly the anime-heroine question was way harder
    159AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:34
    Re: #156 That's Mitsuha Miyamizu (the heroine of Your Name), right? (Ah, should've made that into a quiz question)
    158AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:34
    I mean, Re: #1 supposedly has been alive since the age of the Ōkagami, so it wouldn't even be surprising if he'd actually heard it live
    164AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:35
    [ Nureshi's Corner ] Now in session!
    Rules: see Re: #2

    [ Answer ]
    Jumping off (a fall/jump)

    [ Verdict ]
    Passed (no correct answer)

    Re: #158
    Okay, "heard the whole thing" would be a stretch, but "heard part of it" is dead serious

    Pass tally: 3

    [ Next Up ]
    Next: 37:00

    Background and Key Points of This Thread

    Buzzer quiz threads like this one are a VIP-board staple: volunteer quizmasters write fill-in-the-blank questions based on things like Wikipedia entries, and the thread runs on a one-answer-per-person, 30-second time limit format. Points are 3 for first place, 2 for second, and 1 for everyone else who answers correctly, with both per-segment tallies and an overall ranking kept. “Passed” means nobody answered correctly, and the time shown in the “Next Up” line marks the interval before the next question. This time, alongside the main quizmaster, a side segment called “Nureshi’s Corner” — run by a separate host — was running in parallel, meaning multiple question lines were unfolding in the same thread at once, which can be confusing for first-time readers. Matching trip codes and IDs suggest most of the questions were written consistently by the same person throughout.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (“News VIP”) thread “[He’s Back After Three Weeks] Saturday Night Quiz Thread [29 Questions This Past Month].”

  • Shinnosuke Abe’s Possible Return as Giants Manager Next Season Sparks Reaction from Players — 5ch: ‘We Don’t Want Him Back’

    In May, former Yomiuri Giants manager Shinnosuke Abe was arrested on the spot on suspicion of assaulting his eldest daughter and abruptly resigned as manager. Since then, acting manager Hideki Hashigami has steadied the team, rebuilding it into a genuine pennant contender against the Hanshin Tigers — but now some media outlets have begun reporting that Abe could return to the dugout as early as next season. The Giants have long followed an unwritten rule that only a homegrown ace pitcher or cleanup hitter can become manager, meaning that even with Hashigami delivering results, his promotion to full-time manager is considered unlikely. On 5ch, reports of players’ “we don’t want him back” reaction to Abe mixed with voices backing Hashigami and frustration at the team’s homegrown-only doctrine itself.

    The possibility that former Giants manager Shinnosuke Abe (47) could return to the dugout is now being reported by multiple media outlets. Abe was arrested on the spot at his Tokyo home on May 25, the eve of interleague play, on suspicion of assaulting his eldest daughter, and abruptly resigned as manager. Acting manager Hideki Hashigami (60), who took the helm on emergency short notice, has calmed the team down and put up a strong fight for the pennant against Hanshin — but under the club’s policy of “Giants managers must be pure-blooded,” his chances of being promoted to full manager next season are seen as slim. Talk of “former manager Abe’s return” is circulating within the team itself, and it has drawn pushback from some players. What decision will the front office ultimately make?

    Attended a rally to rouse team spirit

    〈”Is the report of former Giants manager Abe’s ‘September return’ true?” — even within the Yomiuri Group there is some sympathy for him, but what’s the sticking point?〉(Nikkan Gendai, September 1 issue), 〈The reality of the Giants’ succession plans: hoped-for return or comeback rumor? What kind of manager can be trusted with the young talent that has grown under the acting regime〉(Full-Count, September 7), 〈”Why not bring Abe (Shinnosuke) back as manager?” — a Giants legend issues an urgent proposal on next season’s managerial appointment〉(RONSPO, September 8)

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

    2AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:26
    7AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:28
    Now that he's got his anger management sorted,
    'saintly' Abe makes his return (sarcastic — 仏 means Buddha-like/serene)
    9AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:29
    I want Hashigami to win the pennant and the Japan Series as acting manager, and take home the Matsutaro Shoriki Award for it
    12AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:30
    Baseball reporting is way too full of made-up stuff…
    even if someone really thinks this, they're not going to say it to some reporter
    14AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:31
    Have Egawa oversee the pitchers like a general-manager type role,
    and let acting manager Hashigami actually run the team
    16AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:32
    The people desperately hoping for Abe's return are basically all Giants haters
    19AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:33
    He's got a power-harassment streak
    and probably thinks that's cool
    20AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:33
    Honestly, ChatGPT could do this job, no joke
    21AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:33
    A rival team's fan: 'I really want Abe to come back. The Giants manager definitely has to be a homegrown player after all.'
    42AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:38
    Re: #21
    Kind of like those 'Don't quit, Ishiba' protests, huh (lol)
    22AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:33
    Iron-fist discipline and managing by mood swings

    what's wrong with that?
    Say it to my face!!!
    24AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:34
    Of course the players don't want him back
    26AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:34
    The name 'Full-Count' fools you
    — you'd think it's a serious specialist outlet
    but it clickbaits headlines like any tabloid site
    though maybe that's just how it survives
    27AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:34
    Another fan-fiction article, huh (lol)
    Hashigami gets walked all over by the players, no way he becomes manager (lol)
    53AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:40
    Re: #27
    Even if that's true, he's getting results, so it's not like Abe suddenly becomes necessary — can't be helped
    28AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:34
    'Because I'm a stubborn Showa-era old man'

    — sounds like something he'd say
    30AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:35
    There's this creepy unwritten rule that only a Giants ace or cleanup hitter can become manager

    so dumb
    102AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:56
    Re: #30
    A player's ability and a manager's ability are completely different things.
    There'd be nothing wrong at all with someone who isn't a Giants alum becoming the team's full manager or coach.
    36AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:37
    He's the type who wants to be called a 'drill sergeant,' right?

    dunno though
    40AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:38
    They keep floating these trial balloons
    forget about a comeback already
    it's fans of other teams who want him back
    41AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:38
    Shincho picking up a Nikkan Gendai story and writing an article off it means nobody actually did any reporting…
    43AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:38
    So the front office doesn't consider whether someone's actually suited for the job
    45AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:38
    You can tell just by watching the stands at Giants games right now.
    The cheers for Hashigami get louder by the day, and fans light up when he waves back.
    Giants fans have already accepted Hashigami — more than expected
    46AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:38
    It's just like an office worker feeling refreshed once their harassing boss is gone
    people who abuse their power drag down productivity
    you guys are nothing but dead weight to the organization
    47AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:38
    Well, from the players' perspective, a manager who's actually getting results is obviously better
    48AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:38
    As a Hanshin fan, I'd love to see manager Abe come back (lol)
    62AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:43
    The game gap suddenly started closing right after this report came out
    69AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:45
    Re: #62
    Maybe it's because the players rallied together
    92AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:53
    It's crazy not to make Hashigami the full manager
    It's messed up that pro baseball managers aren't chosen on merit
    Being the front office's favorite or whatever is just gross
    101AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:55
    Re: #92
    It's not about being the front office's favorite — it's just a dumb club playing a self-imposed 'Giants alumni only' challenge run
    115AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:00
    So what does 'Nabetsune' have to say about this? (longtime Yomiuri Group chairman Tsuneo Watanabe)
    119AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:03
    If it has to be a cleanup hitter or ace, that'd be Abe, Matsui, Uehara, Yoshinobu, Kuwata, or Saito, right?
    121AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:05
    Re: #119
    Matsui, Uehara, and Kuwata aren't homegrown Giants
    120AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:05
    Why'd they pick Hashigami as acting manager, I wonder. I figured it'd be someone like Kawai.
    122AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:05
    Re: #120
    Makes you suspect there's something going on with Kawai, precisely because he wasn't picked

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    The Giants are a club that has long upheld the unwritten rule that only a homegrown player (someone who was once an ace pitcher or cleanup hitter) can become manager, and it’s this convention that lies behind the view that acting manager Hashigami is unlikely to be promoted to full manager even with his results so far. Meanwhile, Abe resigned as manager in May after being arrested on the spot on suspicion of assaulting his eldest daughter, and this round of reporting does not touch on what happened with the criminal proceedings in that case. What split opinion on the thread was whether Hashigami, who is delivering results, should be given credit, and whether the Giants should stick to their homegrown-only policy — evaluations of Abe himself were almost uniformly harsh. It’s also worth readers keeping in mind that the ‘comeback rumor’ reporting comes mainly from outlets like Nikkan Gendai and RONSPO that don’t clearly cite primary sources, and is not an official comment from the club or from Abe himself.

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “Former Giants manager Shinnosuke Abe’s ‘return next season’ rumor draws real reactions from the Giants roster: ‘We don’t want him back,’ ‘It’s crazy that Hashigami isn’t getting promoted’ [Ailuropoda melanoleuca★]“.

  • Streamer Daisuke Hori’s Sleep-Deprivation Broadcast Draws Buzz After His Normally-Absent Dark Eye Circles Show Up On Camera

    Daisuke Hori, a streamer who bills himself as a “short sleeper” (someone who claims to need only a few hours of sleep), has been running a marathon sleep-deprivation broadcast — and thread regulars reacted when dark circles that supposedly never appear under his eyes were accidentally caught on camera. Viewers called it “about five times worse than I expected.” The stream reportedly shows him sleeping just 27 minutes over three days, and total “super chat” donations (YouTube’s paid live-chat tipping feature) have already topped 300 million yen. The thread also brought up a past case: fellow streamer Yuta Iwata previously attempted the same “Hori Daisuke Challenge” and lasted 164 hours. Commenters split between concern over the stream’s authenticity and Hori’s health, and admiration for it as a piece of content.

    2AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:23
    This might already be a lost cause…
    3AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:23
    There's always a thread about this guy but who even is he?
    5AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:24
    About five times worse than I expected.
    Even if he's just powering through it, that's some serious grit.
    11AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:26
    Why now, of all times, when it never shows up otherwise?
    12AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:27
    He looks sleepier than usual,
    even though this is supposedly his normal routine.
    85AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:03
    Re: #12
    Well, being under surveillance 24 hours a day would wear you out even if you're technically awake.
    Can't even fart in peace.
    13AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:27
    Is this what it was like for old-school manga artists?
    I heard pulling three all-nighters in a row used to be totally normal in that industry.
    14AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:27
    Sounds like he's been cutting into his sleep more than usual to keep this going.
    18AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:30
    Take six baths and grab 30 minutes of sleep in each one, you could pull it off.
    Personally I need my five hours minimum.
    20AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:31
    A doctor's going to have to step in and shut this down soon.
    21AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:33
    If he weren't doing the short-sleeper thing, he'd just be a decent-looking, jacked dad.
    22AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:33
    All the clips of this guy are just him working out or taking baths — is the extra time from being a short sleeper actually going anywhere useful?
    23AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:34
    The real danger zone starts from here.
    Three days in is still manageable.
    24AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:34
    Before it gets fatal, someone from the production staff will probably pose as a viewer, trigger whatever condition ends the challenge, and pull the plug on it.
    25AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:37
    He's getting so worn out he can't even work out properly anymore.
    28AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:38
    He's getting trashed nonstop in the comments section and still holding up mentally — impressive.
    30AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:40
    At this point, if he just leans into this persona, he's basically won as a YouTuber.
    32AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:41
    So this is what it actually looks like.
    This could genuinely kill him.
    34AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:42
    So the eye bags are real after all.
    53AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:54
    Wait, the rules were supposed to allow 30 minutes of sleep per day,
    so how is it only 27 minutes total over three days?
    55AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:55
    Re: #53
    Because if he actually sleeps now, he'll crash out cold for a full day straight.
    59AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:56
    Re: #53
    Wasn't it something like he dozed off during a massage, so that got counted against his allotted sleep time?
    67AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:58
    Re: #53
    He's taking six baths a day,
    and that's when he's actually sleeping.
    62AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:56
    Honestly, if he keeps this up for a full week that's genuinely insane.
    He hasn't even hit a full hour of sleep total yet.
    Wouldn't be surprised if more people start copying his method.
    72AnonymousSep 12, 2026 21:59
    Re: #62
    Even if you could pull it off, the brain damage from this seems brutal.
    The guy who did it before him said he was hearing and seeing hallucinations by day six.
    86AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:03
    Re: #62
    Reminder that a normal person only needs to stay awake around 17 hours.
    74AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:00
    Super chat donations are already past 300 million yen.
    With the days he's got left, clearing 500 million should be easy.
    78AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:01
    Re: #74
    Would be hilarious if he got banned for dangerous conduct.
    I assume the money gets forfeited if that happens?
    99AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:08
    Is there actually someone watching the whole stream to verify he's not secretly sleeping?
    102AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:09
    Re: #99
    AI handles that part these days.
    106AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:10
    I don't know the full picture, but is this a one-off special sleep-deprivation endurance stunt, or does he normally stream his everyday life like this?
    108AnonymousSep 12, 2026 22:11
    Re: #106
    The premise is that it's just his regular day-to-day life, streamed continuously.

    Background and Key Points of This Story

    The so-called “Hori Daisuke Challenge” — a sleep-deprivation endurance broadcast modeled on Hori’s own stunt — has spread to other streamers. On September 6, Yuta Iwata, a streamer with 30,000 subscribers, reported retiring at the 164-hour mark after experiencing hallucinations. Extended sleep deprivation is well documented to carry health risks such as auditory hallucinations and memory confusion, but the thread showed no shortage of praise calling Hori “talented as a YouTuber” or a “genius,” leaving commenters split over the ethics of monetizing this kind of risky behavior. There’s also ambiguity around the reported sleep figures themselves — between the repeated baths and dozing off during massages — leaving viewers divided on how much of the “barely sleeping” framing to take at face value.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (Livegalileo/”anything goes” board) thread “[Bad News] Short-sleeper Hori accidentally shows the dark eye circles that normally never appear wwwwwwwww.”