Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

On October 4, 2026, the closing ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games — held in Japan for the third time in 32 years — took place at Mizuho Athletic Stadium. During the finale’s Bon Odori (traditional summer folk dance) segment, actor Ken Matsudaira, a native of Toyohashi City, made a surprise appearance and performed his signature number “Matsuken Samba.” On 5ch’s Entertainment & Sports Express+ thread, welcoming comments stood out, but reactions to the ceremony’s production were mixed — with complaints that TBS failed to air it on terrestrial TV (“I wanted to see this on regular broadcast”), and others noting that, unlike South Korea and China, Japan has few actors with true worldwide name recognition.

10/4 (Sun) 7:44 PM

The closing ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games — Japan’s third time hosting in 32 years — was held on October 4 at Mizuho Athletic Stadium in Nagoya. During the finale’s Bon Odori segment, a major Japanese actor appeared and performed his legendary samba dance.

Near the end of the colorful ceremony, a special Bon Odori venue was set up at the center of the stadium. Performers in yukata (summer kimono) and happi coats (festival jackets) emerged from all four sides, where four pillars had been erected and hung with red lanterns. The surrounding performers fired up the athletes with dancing and clapping.

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

※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Entertainment & Sports Express+) thread “[Asian Games] Major Aichi-born actor Ken Matsudaira makes surprise appearance at closing ceremony — “legendary samba” performance electrifies venue: “Matsuken Samba has arrived!”“

TBS’s Sunday Theater drama “VIVANT” returned for the second half of its second season on October 4, after a two-week break for Asian Games broadcasts. In episode 19, actor Takumi Nishigaki appeared unannounced as a member of the Special Operations Group, a special forces unit, drawing surprised reactions from viewers who recognized him from his role in “Dragon Zakura.” Meanwhile, on 5ch, reactions were split: some were confused by the tangled plot of shifting missions and unclear life-or-death stakes, calling it “impossible to follow” or “bait-and-switch previews,” while others enjoyed the guest’s dubbing performance, joking that “Wakamoto stole the whole show.” Overall, opinions on the drama were divided.

10/4 (Sun) 22:10

Episode 9 of the second half (episode 19 overall) of TBS’s Sunday Theater drama “VIVANT” Season 2 (Sundays, 9:00 PM) aired on the 4th. After a two-week broadcast hiatus for coverage of the “Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026,” this long-awaited return for the second half set social media abuzz with viewer posts. In that episode 19, actor Takumi Nishigaki made a surprise appearance as a member of the “Special Operations Group.”

He played a member of the “Special Operations Group,” the Ground Self-Defense Force’s top-tier special forces unit, described in the show as an elite unit ranked just below the “Beppan” (the covert team at the center of the show).

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

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geisoku Sokuho+) thread “‘VIVANT’ Sudden Surprise Storm After Its Return! Takumi Nishigaki Appears Unannounced — ‘Dragon Zakura’ Fans Thrilled.”

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which closed on October 4, marked Japan’s first time hosting the event in 32 years, since the 1994 Hiroshima Games. At the joint wrap-up press conference, the OCA touted the Games’ success by citing over 50 world records and more than 90 Asian records, but a remark made at that same conference — that out of more than 100,000 vehicle movements, only one or two were delayed, amounting to a mere 0.000001% of the total — drew heavy attention on 5ch. Bunshun Online reported that the organizing committee was thrown into internal chaos by athlete bus transport troubles, and the thread split between those pointing out the math error in the OCA’s statement and those who saw the bus issue itself as a symbol of declining operational competence.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games — Japan’s third time hosting the event, and its first in 32 years — closed on October 4. That day, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINADOC) held a joint press conference to review the Games. The OCA emphasized the Games’ success by pointing to the many new records set and praised the new, sustainable operating model, while Organising Committee Chairman and Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura spoke about the various operational challenges that had to be dealt with during the Games.

OCA Coordination Committee Chairman Tayyab Ikram praised the event, saying “Aichi-Nagoya has been a wonderful experience for Asia’s top athletes.” As evidence, he cited more than 50 world records, over 90 Asian records, and more than 200 Games records. “We are proud of our athletes. This clearly shows that our objectives were achieved,” he said.

OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam followed, saying “the numbers speak for themselves” in reference to the record-breaking performances. “Athletes cannot deliver their best performances without good sleep, good transportation, good medical care, and good food. These achievements would not have been possible without the organizing committee creating the best possible environment for the athletes,” he said, heaping praise on the operations.

Source: thedigestweb.com / Original article here

*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Geisoku Sokuhou+) thread “OCA on Repeated Operational Trouble at the Aichi-Nagoya Games: ‘Only one or two cars were delayed. That’s a mere 0.000001% of the total. Where exactly did a mistake happen?’.”