Japan Reacts

Category: Entertainment

  • Erika Sawajiri Crashes Miyane-ya’s Final Episode — 5ch’s Verdict: ‘Whatever’

    Yomiuri TV’s long-running information program “Miyane-ya” aired its 5,134th and final episode on October 2, 2026. To close out a show that had run for more than 16 years since its debut in late July 2006, actress Erika Sawajiri made a surprise appearance. The program looked back on a 2010 stunt in which a director traveled all the way to Spain to try to interview Sawajiri at the apartment where she was staying — only for her to vanish inside in a mere three seconds. Asked why she’d agreed to come on this time, Sawajiri at one point answered with her old signature line, “Whatever” (betsu ni). Reactions on 5ch were split between those who enjoyed the exchange and those questioning the show’s judgment in featuring someone with a past drug conviction.

    Fri, Oct 2, 3:15 PM

    “Information Live Miyane-ya,” the Yomiuri TV/NTV afternoon wide show hosted by Seiji Miyane (63) (weekdays, 1:55 PM), aired its final episode today, October 2. Erika Sawajiri made a surprise appearance, looking back on a doorstep interview attempt from 16 years ago.

    “Information Live Miyane-ya,” which began on July 31, 2006, reached its 5,134th and final broadcast today, October 2. Sixteen years ago, the show had tried to land an exclusive interview with Erika Sawajiri. In 2010, a director traveled to Spain and tracked down the apartment building where she was staying. He managed “three seconds” of contact with her there, but Sawajiri hurried back inside before the interview could happen.

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

    2AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:30
    "You did keep your promise [to come on eventually], but seriously, why did you agree to appear now (lol)?" / "Whatever."
    6AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:32
    Re: #2 If she could come back with that line, it'd be a perfect 100 points for variety TV (lol)
    3AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:31
    Guess even Her Majesty Erika mellows out once she's an old lady (lol)
    5AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:32
    Re: #1 What did she even do again? Can't remember (lol)
    8AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:33
    Come to think of it, Erika-sama was basically the female Manabu Oshio (another celebrity busted for drugs) — she's just like 'Sensei Oshio' in every way
    64AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:52
    Re: #8 On that same show, Oshio revealed that his gray hair isn't dyed — it turned white naturally after everything he went through — and that he now works as an advisor for a steak house in Shinagawa and runs an advertising company.
    He also shared that he started the ad company at the invitation of a junior colleague, but right as the business was taking off, that same colleague ran off with 20 million yen.
    These days his hobby is jiu-jitsu, and he reportedly leads a calm, healthy life with his kids.
    12AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:37
    Whatever — honestly, the public couldn't care less about her at this point
    14AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:38
    The one-hit wonder of 'Whatever' / Pretty low of this show to put a convicted drug criminal on air
    16AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:39
    She forced herself to play the bad girl and ended up actually becoming one, wasting the prime years of her career — kind of a hapless, unlucky person.
    23AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:44
    Re: #16 Even though she was hooked on drugs since her teens?
    18AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:40
    The woman who made 'hyper media creator' a viral phrase (a mocking label pinned on her ex-husband that became a running internet joke)
    20AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:42
    A few days ago Hide Nakayama was on announcing an event, and someone in the comments asked 'Isn't Erika Sawajiri going to show up as a guest?' — funny how that joke ended up overlapping with this.
    22AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:44
    If this woman hadn't caused all those scandals, Keiko Kitagawa might never have broken out the way she did
    75AnonymousOct 2, 2026 17:14
    Re: #22 Well, Sawajiri's acting is pretty one-note too, but Keiko Kitagawa's barely evolved since her Sailor Mars days (she played Sailor Mars in a live-action Sailor Moon series) — back then I was literally laughing while watching her act.
    24AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:46
    You can't keep your looks and popularity forever like you had when you were young. / It's just human nature to get humble once you come back down to earth.
    33AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:55
    I don't think Sawajiri's really 'mellowed out' — she just honestly goes with whatever she's feeling in the moment.
    38AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:01
    Stuff like this is exactly why nobody watches TV anymore.
    39AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:07
    That scandal torpedoed her career. / Let her have another shot at the Taiga historical drama and 'Kakuzuke Check' (the New Year's celebrity luxury-goods guessing show).
    41AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:09
    Haruna, who stepped in as Erika's replacement and went on to thrive, is now happily married with kids.
    42AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:09
    Wait, didn't this woman get arrested for drugs?
    43AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:10
    What was the deal with Miyane anyway? / He just suddenly showed up from out west and kept hosting ever since — as someone from the Kanto region I never really got it, like, how did this guy even become a thing?
    46AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:14
    Re: #43 He's from Shimane, went to college in Osaka, then joined Asahi Broadcasting (a quasi-key station based in Osaka), and became popular hosting the morning show 'Ohayo Asahi Desu.'
    44AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:10
    She probably did the whole 'Whatever…' thing, right?
    45AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:12
    That Hiroshima [Carp] player who got cut over the 'zombie cigarette' scandal should make a comeback in a few years too, like Sawajiri did.
    54AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:27
    The 'whatever' and 'hyper whatever' stuff left such a strong impression that I'd honestly forgotten about the drug thing.
    55AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:28
    It's like her arrest has been quietly swept under the rug, but Miyane-ya covered it when it happened, right? / That kind of thing is just gross.
    58AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:35
    This alone shows what's wrong with Miyane-ya. / The drugs alone were a huge problem, and because of them the Taiga drama 'Kirin ga Kuru' had to reshoot scenes and caused massive trouble — she should basically be banned from terrestrial TV.
    59AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:37
    Wasn't she dating a Johnny's [talent agency] idol or something?
    60AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:37
    In the timeline where this woman never screwed up, Haruna Kawaguchi probably would've faded away without ever breaking through.
    67AnonymousOct 2, 2026 17:06
    Re: #1 Wait, didn't she get investigated on November 16, 2019 for possessing the synthetic drug MDMA at her home in Meguro, Tokyo, and admit during questioning that she'd been using marijuana, MDMA, LSD, cocaine, and other illegal drugs for over ten years? / Wasn't she then indicted by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on December 6 that same year for violating the Narcotics Control Law, released on bail that same day, and handed a guilty verdict on February 6, 2020 by the Tokyo District Court — 1 year 6 months in prison, suspended for 3 years? / So… doesn't that make her a former convicted criminal?? / Celebrities who have affairs can't properly appear on TV for like 10 years, but a former criminal gets to?
    70AnonymousOct 2, 2026 17:08
    Re: #67 Yuki Saito's still appearing in dramas too, you know.

    Background and Points of Debate

    Erika Sawajiri was arrested in 2009 on suspicion of possessing the synthetic drug MDMA and received a guilty verdict (suspended sentence) for violating the Narcotics Control Law. As pointed out within the thread, she was arrested again in November 2019, indicted that December, and sentenced in February 2020 to 1 year and 6 months in prison, suspended for 3 years. At the time, this forced NHK’s Taiga historical drama “Kirin ga Kuru” to reshoot scenes already filmed, sending shockwaves through the industry. What split opinion in the thread was how to judge the TV station’s decision to feature her again given that history. Criticism that “letting bygones be bygones and booking her anyway shows how lax the show is” ran roughly even with more sympathetic takes that “it was sincere of her to come back and personally close out a segment from 16 years ago.” It’s also easy to overlook that the original doorstep interview attempt never actually succeeded — contact lasted only three seconds before she disappeared inside.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “Erika Sawajiri Makes Surprise Appearance on Miyane-ya’s Final Episode, Looks Back on a Doorstep Interview From 16 Years Ago.”

  • New Oishinbo, the First Full Sequel in 35 Years, Reveals Yamaoka and Yuzan’s Voices

    A new teaser trailer and stills for “New Oishinbo,” set to air in 2027, have been released, revealing the voices of Shiro Yamaoka (Yohei Azakami), Yuko Kurita (Hitomi Sasasaki), and Yuzan Kaibara (Akio Otsuka) for the first time. The original manga, written by Tetsu Kariya and illustrated by Akira Hanasaki, has sold a cumulative 135 million copies. On 5ch, opinions clashed between those praising the character designs for moving closer to the art style of the manga’s later chapters and those worried about the thin CG linework and cheap-looking visuals. Some who remember the cultural atmosphere of the ’90s voiced skepticism about whether reviving that mood today even makes sense, and the fact that the broadcaster hasn’t been announced also drew attention.

    A new teaser trailer and stills from the 2027 TV anime “New Oishinbo” have been released. The footage gives the first glimpse of the voices for Shiro Yamaoka (Yohei Azakami), Yuko Kurita (Hitomi Sasasaki), and Yuzan Kaibara (Akio Otsuka). The content hints at a heated showdown between Yamaoka and Yuzan over the “Ultimate Menu” and the “Supreme Menu.” (Text by the editorial staff)

    Shiro Yamaoka vs. Yuzan Kaibara — the “Ultimate vs. Supreme” showdown returns!

    “Oishinbo,” the food manga written by Tetsu Kariya and illustrated by Akira Hanasaki, has sold over 135 million copies and once swept the nation through live-action drama and anime adaptations.

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

    4AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:47
    Yamaoka's face design is finally getting closer to the original manga.
    5AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:47
    Newspapers were raking it in during the '90s,
    so cultural projects like the 'Ultimate Menu' were viable,
    and someone like Yamaoka —
    a lazy employee — could still get by.
    These days even Sankei and Mainichi are laying people off.
    7AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:47
    I don't get the point of basing the character designs on the sloppier art from the manga's later serialization.
    Even 'Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan' ignores Hirohiko Araki's current (weaker) art style when designing its characters.
    60AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:51
    Re: #7
    I'm not a fan of Araki's current art style either, but it's not like it's bad.
    10AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:48
    Is it normal for the broadcaster not to be announced?
    13AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:51
    Re: #10
    These days they sometimes hold off announcing it until the last minute. 'Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray' kept TBS a secret right up until airing too.
    11AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:49
    Glad it didn't end up like Ochiai from 'Kochikame' (where the recast voice felt totally off).
    12AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:50
    Yamaoka's voice has turned into just another generic mass-produced voice actor's voice.
    The worst.
    15AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:52
    I'm guessing they'll skip the social commentary and just make the Yuzan showdown and the wedding the main focus for a single cour (about 3 months).
    16AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:52
    Kaibara Yuzan's voice is different from before.
    He really needs that gravelly voice like Chikao Otsuka, Genzo Wakayama, or Shuichiro Moriyama used to have.
    18AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:53
    It reruns every day, year-round, on CS Asahi, and I watch it when I'm bored — which actually makes it bug me more wondering why it got cut off so abruptly back then.
    And now they're doing a sequel with a whole new cast, huh.
    19AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:54
    Looks cheap, like early-era digital animation.
    20AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:55
    With this character design, I really hope they put all their effort into animating the food.
    21AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:55
    With this quality, it's probably a streaming exclusive.
    22AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:56
    Can't they do something about this flat, coloring-book-style animation?
    23AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:59
    Forget that, just give us a second season of 'Mr. Hiroshi Nohara' already.
    24AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:02
    The anime abruptly ended right at the Ultimate vs. Supreme wedding reception showdown.
    25AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:05
    Re: #13
    What's even the point of doing that?
    26AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:05
    Yuzan's laugh sounds like something out of Kinnikuman.
    27AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:05
    I consider myself a self-proclaimed anime connoisseur, but this style of drawing facial features with a single thin line always ends up with the animation quality collapsing fast.
    29AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:06
    It's an anime that flat-out rejects Japan's economic growth and corporate activity, so of course sponsors won't line up.
    No wonder it ends up looking low-budget.
    30AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:09
    It looks like an amateur traced it.
    32AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:09
    The '90s-era atmosphere was exactly what made Oishinbo appealing.
    A revival that strips that away just isn't it.
    33AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:10
    This isn't really the anime you want after 30 years of stagnation.
    Sure, cooking quality might have gone up, but these days most chefs aren't even suited to Japanese cuisine.
    41AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:25
    Re: #33
    The Reiwa-era rice shortage that flipped into a rice glut, the 'death muffin' scandal, 'Kome Oto' (a rice-related news story)… there've actually been more interesting incidents since the manga went on hiatus.
    It's a shame none of that gets used as material in this manga.
    34AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:10
    I thought Akio Otsuka was doing an impression of his father's voice, but nope — that's his villain-character voice.

    The trouble with CG anime is how the lines get all wobbly and limp, and the screen looks too bright/glaring.
    35AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:13
    In an age where you have to eat even when it doesn't taste good, huh.
    36AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:13
    So Kaibara Yuzan's voice is being played by Otsuka's son.
    37AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:13
    They should've made it back when they had the chance to make it.
    Feels pretty late now.
    38AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:14
    Is this a remake starting from episode 1, or a continuation from the original series?
    39AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:17
    Could they even air the '30 points' episode these days? (the infamous episode where a dish was scored just 30 out of 100)
    42AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:25
    Re: #1
    The art looks cheap.
    45AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:27
    Re: #42
    Yeah, it does feel low-budget.
    57AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:45
    If they kept it exactly like the old days it'd probably blow up online, so I wonder if they can actually rework the script properly.
    59AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:49
    Re: #57
    I can't imagine the original author allowing any reworking, so they'll probably just stick to inoffensive, compliance-safe stories.
    74AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:33
    The art looks more like the original manga than the previous anime did, but it feels kind of flat.
    78AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:36
    Re: #74
    The previous anime killed what made the original manga good.

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    The original “Oishinbo” is a food manga written by Tetsu Kariya and illustrated by Akira Hanasaki, a hit series with a cumulative 135 million copies sold. The original anime aired in the ’90s, but as pointed out in the thread, the story was left hanging right at the “Ultimate vs. Supreme” wedding reception showdown, and this new work is positioned as a “full sequel” picking up where that left off. Opinions in the thread were mainly split over the animation: some praised the character designs for moving closer to the art style of the manga’s later chapters, while others worried about the thin CG linework and cheap-looking visuals. There were also comments in the thread claiming that Akio Otsuka, who voices Yuzan Kaibara, is the son of the voice actor who previously played the role — but this is a claim made by thread posters, not an official announcement, and fact-checking it is outside the scope of this article. The broadcaster has not been announced as of this writing, and the growing trend of withholding broadcaster names until the last minute in recent anime releases is also part of why it became a topic of discussion in the thread.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “This can only be hype…! “New Oishinbo” reveals Shiro Yamaoka & Yuzan Kaibara’s voices for the first time — full sequel after 35 years, new teaser PV released.”

  • Masami Nagasawa’s Micro-Shorts Look Sparks Buzz — “Those Legs!” “Stunning!”

    Actress Masami Nagasawa appeared on the official Instagram of women’s fashion magazine “GIANNA,” in shots showing her in ultra-short bottoms adorned with TASAKI high jewelry. On the 5ch “Entertainment & Sports News+” thread, while many commenters praised her outstanding figure, others raised suspicions about photo editing, pointed out differences in how her talent agency treats its actresses, and joked about the outfit’s design, comparing it to things like a “dragnet” or “Bambi print.” Reactions split between admiration and skepticism.

    10/2 (Fri) 15:11

    Actress Masami Nagasawa recently appeared on the official Instagram (@gianna_magazine) of women’s fashion magazine “GIANNA” (Number Seven Inc.). Shots showing off her outstanding figure in a mini-bottoms look have been released, sparking a big reaction.

    The official account wrote, “Here, special jewelry that resonates with strong, free vitality and unleashes true brilliance,” and “Actress Masami Nagasawa, clad in a one-of-a-kind aura, together with TASAKI’s high jewelry, which boasts innovative creativity and supreme craftsmanship,” before posting a series of close-up and full-body shots of Nagasawa wearing the high jewelry.

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

    3AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:17
    Stop putting random internet comments in headlines
    5AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:18
    Re: #1
    Nagasawa's got a great figure so I doubt they edited this one, but a black background is bound to make people suspect photo editing.
    10AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:20
    I like her and think she's got charm, but "beautiful" or "gorgeous" isn't really the word I'd use.
    11AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:20
    If she weren't signed to Toho, she wouldn't be getting hyped up this blatantly.
    Same goes for Minami Hamabe.
    13AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:21
    Another "kotatsu article" built from a touched-up Instagram photo and planted comments? (A "kotatsu article" is a lazy piece written from the couch, just riffing on social media instead of real reporting.)
    14AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:22
    She peaked around "Propose Daisakusen" (Operation Proposal), didn't she?
    17AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:23
    Her mourning dress in "Our Little Sister" (Umimachi Diary) was way sexier than this.
    19AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:25
    It's a shame if you don't know her "Mottainai!" Flet's Hikari commercials. ("Mottainai" = "what a waste," the catchphrase from those ads.)
    21AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:25
    Looks aside, it's baffling that she's treated as a great actress.
    She's always got that same lisping delivery — every role ends up feeling identical.
    24AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:26
    I wanted to marry her.
    53AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:51
    Re: #24
    No way, I'm the one who wanted to marry Masami-don.
    28AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:32
    The hair, makeup, and styling are all to blame here.
    32AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:33
    She's caught in a net — somebody untangle her already.
    37AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:35
    Males are strange creatures —
    someone who looked beautiful
    suddenly stops looking beautiful the moment she becomes someone else's.

    Apparently it comes down to a farming-people gene against touching what belongs to others.
    39AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:36
    Re: #1
    The outfit that looks like it got caught in a gillnet is fine, but what's with the last one?
    44AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:41
    Re: #39
    K-pop idols are wearing underwear-like outfits that show their underwear right now.
    This is just that same vibe, dressed up in an Art Nouveau, high-end way.
    45AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:44
    Re: #42,44
    Thanks, I kind of get it now.
    49AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:48
    A figure idols could never hope to match.
    52AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:51
    Re: #9
    Her leg length is inconsistent from photo to photo.
    Nagasawa's legs are long enough that she doesn't even need leg-lengthening edits.
    60AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:58
    Something feels off.
    This isn't what I want from her —
    I prefer her everyday look.
    62AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:59
    Isn't this just recycled footage from the Sumitomo Forestry ("Sumirin") commercial? When's this even from?
    64AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:01
    Isn't she getting married?
    70AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:03
    Re: #64
    She did, this year.
    77AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:17
    Re: #1
    She looks like someone caught in a dragnet.
    82AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:18
    Re: #77
    Like she's protesting ocean pollution or something.
    85AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:23
    Japanese people tend to prefer girls around 150cm tall, like Kanna Hashimoto or Mana Ashida.
    92AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:31
    Re: #85
    Honestly, if you actually walked around with someone that short, you'd just cringe.
    You need at least average height — same goes for guys.
    86AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:27
    Why isn't she all that sexy, I wonder?
    97AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:39
    Re: #86
    It's the face.
    A "tanuki face" (a round, soft, raccoon-dog-like look) just can't come off as sexy no matter what.

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    This post involves nothing more than an actress’s ad appearance, part of a promotional campaign for TASAKI’s high jewelry line. The thread split mainly along two lines: “how good her figure is” and “whether the photos are genuine.” Those praising her focused on her leg length and overall body balance, while skeptics pointed to the possibility of darkened-background photo editing and the fact that her leg length appeared to differ between shots. It’s worth noting that these “photo editing” claims are speculation based on inconsistencies between images, not solid proof disputing her actual figure. Some also suggested she’s being hyped up simply because she belongs to Toho, but this is just speculation from a few users, with no information confirming how the agency actually treats her. As for the outfit design, some comments tied it to decorative trends in overseas idol costumes — ultimately a matter of differing taste.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Entertainment & Sports News+) thread “Masami Nagasawa — “A True Embodiment of Beauty”: Ultra-Mini Bottoms Show Off Her Incredible Figure, Sparking “Those Legs!” “Stunning!!” Reactions.”

  • Hikaru on DOWNTOWN+ Heading to Netflix: “Guess It’s Not Going Well”

    YouTuber Hikaru brought up the news that content from the subscription streaming service DOWNTOWN+ is coming to Netflix during his live stream on the morning of October 2nd. Not hiding his shock, he said “Isn’t that nuts? Seriously” and “I figured it must not be going well,” pointing out that if you can watch it on Netflix, there’s less reason to subscribe to the standalone service. In response, users on 5ch’s Geisoku Sokuho+ board exchanged opinions about DOWNTOWN+’s subscriber numbers, its revenue structure, and questions about why Matsumoto Hitoshi hasn’t moved onto YouTube.

    On the morning of October 2nd, YouTuber Hikaru held a live stream on his official YouTube channel “Hikaru.” He brought up the news that content from the streaming service DOWNTOWN+ (Downtown Plus) has been confirmed to be coming to Netflix.

    Hikaru opened with, “Apparently DOWNTOWN+ is going to be watchable on Netflix now,” and revealed his shock, saying “Isn’t that nuts? Seriously. Isn’t that way too nuts? It’s even making the news.”

    “I figured it must not be going well. Honestly, I was just surprised. I mean, seriously, if you can watch it on Netflix, isn’t nobody going to subscribe to DOWNTOWN+ on its own? (Meaning: there won’t be anyone left.) Wouldn’t it just be a better deal to watch it on Netflix? No matter how you look at it,” he said.

    Source: sirabee.com / Original article here

    5AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:42

    11AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:44

    22AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:46
    I don't know who this Hikaru guy even is — is he funnier than Matchan (Matsumoto)?
    150AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:11
    Re: #22
    Can't say if he's funny, but he's got a better grip on reality than Matsumoto.
    32AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:48
    Probably because Netflix is paying them a massive amount of money.
    51AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:51
    Re: #32
    With DOWNTOWN+ they keep the whole profit, but with Netflix,
    Netflix takes everything and
    skims a cut off the top,
    so the moment they go to Netflix, they're not actually making money.
    53AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:51
    Re: #32
    Nah, Netflix is just taking advantage of them lol
    36AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:49
    Still, it's kind of a fair world now — even rich A-list celebrities like Nakai or Matsumoto can fall all the way down to Hikaru's level if they misbehave.
    Back in the day they'd never have been blacklisted, it would've just been covered up.
    43AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:50
    Re: #36
    If Johnny-san (talent agency mogul Johnny Kitagawa) were still alive, it all would've been swept under the rug.
    55AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:52
    Re: #36
    Matsumoto isn't falling from grace, it's just his approach that's the problem —
    if he actually did YouTube he'd easily reach Hikaru's level.
    37AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:49
    Dunno about that, but charging money for comedy-only content is already a stretch.
    57AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:53
    Re: #37
    There was a Sandwichman live video on the subscription service so I watched it, but got bored fast.
    You'd have to be out of your mind to keep paying money just to watch one specific comedian.
    52AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:51
    Honestly, Matchan should just stop forcing this streaming thing and come back to TV.
    The whole nation is waiting for it.
    58AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:53
    Re: #52
    Nobody wants that, which is why DOWNTOWN+ lost its subscribers.

    And the Netflix users who get this popping up on them out of nowhere must be pretty annoyed too lol
    61AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:53
    Hamada seems totally uninterested in this —
    he's busy with TV work.
    91AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:00
    Re: #61
    He probably has no intention of cutting ties with Matsumoto so he'll pitch in, but he's got Kakuzuke (Ranking) and Pres-Bato, and I don't think Yoshimoto (their talent agency) would let him shift away from TV as his main focus anyway.
    63AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:54
    Comedians just aren't worth paying money for.
    When you think about it that way, musicians and movie actors are pretty impressive.
    122AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:07
    Re: #63
    Matchan's got that legendary 10,000-yen live show though!
    Well, musicians are probably the most impressive of all —
    they actually pull in a crowd for a live show.
    It's basically like they plan it themselves and gather their own staff to pull it off.
    Movie actors are a bit different I think.
    80AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:58
    Is the reason he won't do YouTube that it doesn't pay well?
    93AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:00
    Re: #80
    Probably because Matsumoto would get depressed being compared to YouTubers on view counts and stuff.
    87AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:59
    You can already watch it on U-NEXT and the like, right?
    Isn't this the same pattern — only being able to watch some of the content?
    166AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:14
    Re: #87
    https://www.video.unext.jp/lp/downtownplus
    New original content produced by and starring Downtown's Matsumoto Hitoshi,
    unlimited streaming for 770 yen (tax included)
    *"DOWNTOWN+ ON U-NEXT" is excluded from U-NEXT's "monthly plan" unlimited-viewing lineup and requires a separate sign-up.

    Same deal with Amazon Prime and the like — on U-NEXT it's excluded from the unlimited plan, so diehard fans have to pay extra on top. Netflix basically doesn't have that kind of separate-plan setup, so the point is: if you can watch it with your regular Netflix subscription, nobody's going to keep paying for DOWNTOWN+ on its own.
    92AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:00
    Re: #83
    If the view counts get shown publicly, Matsumoto's actual market value gets exposed.
    109AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:04
    Re: #92
    It's bizarre — those limited-time full-episode releases on YouTube are all pulling in millions of views, yet nobody's talking about it on social media.
    Normally a channel racking up a million views over and over would get some kind of reaction posted somewhere.
    95AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:01
    Well, if DOWNTOWN+ really did have 500,000 subscribers,
    there'd be no need to sell cheap to Netflix.
    They probably thought at first they could compete with Netflix on their own, but
    giving up on that and selling at a discount is exactly what this is.
    111AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:05
    Re: #95
    No idea how much they paid, but is Netflix stupid?
    If anything, they should be the ones getting paid, as advertising money.
    132AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:08
    Re: #95
    Wasn't it 1,000 yen a month?
    That's terrible value when all you get to watch is Downtown.

    300 yen would be more like it.
    And even then, compared to half the price of Amazon Prime, it's still questionable.
    107AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:04
    It was free to watch, but DOWNTOWN+ was genuinely entertaining —
    classic Matsumoto.
    Not paying to subscribe though.
    Meanwhile I've been on Netflix for like 3 years straight lol
    116AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:05
    Re: #107
    My image of Netflix is you just subscribe for one month once enough shows you want to watch pile up.
    133AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:08
    He said a while back he wanted to collab with Matsumoto, so this is probably Hikaru throwing him a lifeline.
    A collab with Hikaru would be huge buzz for Matsumoto too — would be great if it happened through Miyasako.
    156AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:12
    Re: #133
    Sounds to me like he was all set to appear on DownPla, fidgeting around expecting to get called any moment, and since the call never came he started pushing himself forward instead.
    136AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:09
    Yay — wait, I thought you'd get to watch all of DOWNTOWN+ on Netflix,
    but it's only the new content?
    That's way too disappointing.
    143AnonymousOct 2, 2026 16:10
    Re: #136
    You want to watch it but can't even pay 1,000 yen?

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    DOWNTOWN+ is a subscription streaming service Matsumoto Hitoshi has built under his own name. Even within the thread, opinions on the monthly fee are split between a 300-yen theory and a 1,000-yen theory, and the subscriber count has never been officially disclosed. That’s why thread opinion split over this Netflix move — some read it as a sign the standalone service has stalled, others see it as simply an extra revenue stream. In particular, the question of “if it’s on Netflix, what’s the point of subscribing to the standalone service?” keeps resurfacing as part of a broader, recurring debate about streaming platforms skimming a cut off creators’ earnings. It’s also worth noting, as the “DOWNTOWN+ ON U-NEXT” example in the article shows, that what’s coming to Netflix appears to be only part of the new content — not the entire existing catalog moving over wholesale, which is an easy point to misread. And the “500,000 subscribers” figure floating around is just speculation from the thread, not a backed-up official announcement, so it should be taken with caution.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geisoku Sokuho+) thread “Hikaru on the news of DOWNTOWN+’s Netflix deal: “Isn’t that nuts? Seriously. Guess it’s not going well” / “Guess they can’t pull in customers”.”

  • Ayumi Hamasaki x McDonald’s Japan Team Up — ‘Ayu as a Mickey D’s Crew Member,’ Plus an Exclusive 200-Person Live

    On October 2 — singer Ayumi Hamasaki’s birthday — McDonald’s Japan announced a collaboration campaign called “Golden Campaign.” Running through December 31 via the official “My McDonald’s Rewards” app, the campaign offers a chance to win a spot at an exclusive live recording limited to 200 guests, along with limited-edition merchandise. On 5ch, reactions were mixed: some were stunned by the unlikely pairing, others reminisced about how common cars with Hamasaki-logo stickers used to be, and opinions split sharply over whether the target audiences actually overlap.

    Fri, Oct 2, 14:40

    A collaboration campaign between singer Ayumi Hamasaki and McDonald’s Japan, called “Golden Campaign,” was announced today, October 2 — Hamasaki’s birthday. Running for three months from today through December 31 via the company’s official “My McDonald’s Rewards” app, the campaign includes a chance to win a spot at an exclusive live recording limited to 200 guests, as well as limited-edition collaboration merchandise.

    The collaboration reportedly came together because Hamasaki and McDonald’s shared a common vision: that “spending time with the music and food you love creates a special, once-in-a-lifetime sparkle (= ‘Golden’) that can only exist right now” — a feeling both sides wanted to deliver.

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

    2AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:50
    Fine if she were young, but now?
    83AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:22
    Re: #2
    Don't let the thread die at post #2…
    5AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:51
    Spending money on this kind of nonsense…
    that cash would be better spent bulking up portions or cutting prices.
    12AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:53
    They should tint every store window and slap a giant 'A' sticker on it (like the old yankee-car Ayu-logo decals).
    13AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:54
    Whoa…
    what a noble, beautiful princess.
    No way she's actually pushing 50.
    14AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:54
    Such a blatant ripoff of FamilyMart's Lady Gaga thing lmaooooo
    15AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:54
    Genuine question, does Hamasaki even still have fans?
    17AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:54
    Meanwhile, over at FamilyMart, they'd already made Lady Gaga a store clerk
    22AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:57
    The bigwigs running the meeting are all middle-aged guys,
    so all you get are middle-aged-guy ideas
    23AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:57
    I wonder if anyone's still posting on the Ayu/Ami board
    24AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:58
    Her hardcore 'AYU-style' followers are already in their 40s
    27AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:58
    Ayu's fanbase probably doesn't even eat burgers anymore
    29AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:58
    No matter how you look at it, McDonald's just doesn't scream 'Ohama' (her nickname) lol
    71AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:14
    Re: #29
    Back in the day she did a Mister Donut promo too — I went and grabbed the poster.
    41AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:02
    Between this and the Poupelle collab, McDonald's really has its finger on the pulse of today's hip youth (sarcasm very much intended)
    42AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:02
    She'd put on weight, right? I picture her as the one doing those spinning routines in tights.
    43AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:03
    The target demographic actually lines up —
    back in the day you'd often see cars with Hamasaki's logo sticker on them.
    77AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:19
    Re: #43
    Still spot them occasionally out in the countryside.
    44AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:03
    What on earth did they feed her to end up like that…
    45AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:03
    Who signed off on this?! They've updated Ayu in completely the wrong direction (鮎, the kanji for 'sweetfish,' is a playful pun on her nickname).
    46AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:03
    Whenever I think 'McDonald's x Ayumi Hamasaki,' the first thing that comes to mind is that old ASCII-art meme.
    Haven't seen it in ages though.
    47AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:03
    Honestly, my first reaction is 'why now?'
    It's not like McDonald's Japan is hurting for business…

    though losing the Pokémon card promo really stung.
    48AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:03
    To kids these days, it's 'Ayumi Hamasaki? (lol)' territory.
    Dead serious.
    49AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:03
    Like how Madonna rolled up at the World Cup flanked by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, it'd be hilarious if she showed up in a party bus flanked by soccer legends Kazu and Gon.
    51AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:04
    Evolving from the pachinko machine 'CR Ayumi Hamasaki' to 'AI Ayumi Hamasaki.'
    52AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:05
    You'd think she'd play up the 'mom' angle for something like this, given she has kids
    53AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:05
    And why is she dressed like some American diner waitress, anyway?
    She's never had an era like that in her whole career.
    58AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:07
    Are they betting on her original fans bringing their kids and grandkids to McDonald's now?
    61AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:08
    Does Hamasaki still sing lines like 'we who have nowhere left to go'? (a nod to one of her famous lyrics)
    62AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:08
    The whole vibe feels more like First Kitchen than McDonald's
    63AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:10
    Only 200 spots means you'd actually get to see her up close 🙏

    Background and Key Points of Discussion

    It’s easy to overlook that this isn’t a permanent in-store product but an entry-and-lottery campaign run through the official “My McDonald’s Rewards” app. The collaboration merchandise isn’t something anyone can simply buy in-store either — it’s awarded by lottery to app users during the campaign period from October 2 to December 31. On the thread, opinions clashed between those arguing “the target demographics don’t match” and those speculating that “the brand is counting on Hamasaki’s original fans — now parents themselves — to bring their kids and grandkids into stores.” More than 20 years have passed since the early 2000s, when Hamasaki drew massive support from teens and twenty-somethings, and that original fanbase has simply aged right along with her — a gap that’s driving the differing reactions to this collaboration.

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “Ayumi Hamasaki Teams Up With McDonald’s — ‘Ayu as a Mickey D’s Employee’ — 200-Person Exclusive Live and Merch Announced.”

  • NHK Subscriptions on the Brink of Dropping Below 40 Million — 5ch: ‘Just Have AI Read the Weather and News, That’s Enough’

    NHK released the minutes of its September 8 board meeting, revealing that total broadcasting receiver contracts for Q1 of fiscal 2026 (April–June) stood at 40.19 million as of the end of June. That’s a decline of 140,000 contracts for the quarter — a drop roughly in line with the same period last year — but it means the total is now on the verge of falling below 40 million. NHK cited growing difficulty in securing new contracts through its sales agents and said it would now focus on halting the decline. The announcement sparked a flood of comments on the thread, with frustration over the receiving-fee system, calls to switch to scrambled (pay-to-view) broadcasting, and skepticism about program lineups and the profits of NHK’s subsidiaries — turning the discussion into a broader debate about what public broadcasting should even be.

    Fri, Oct 2, 2:44 PM

    On the 2nd, NHK released the minutes of its board meeting held on September 8, revealing that total broadcasting receiver contracts for Q1 of fiscal 2026 (April–June) came to 40.19 million as of the end of June. That’s a decrease of 140,000 for the quarter, putting the total on the verge of dropping below 40 million.

    On Q1 sales activity, the report stated: “Regarding the state of receiver contracts, the total number of contracts at the end of June was 40.19 million.” It added, “This represents a decrease of 140,000 for the first quarter, a decline roughly on par with the same period last year.”

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

    4AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:48
    Charging for every single hotel room, or for the nav systems in official government cars — that's just outrageous overreach.
    5AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:48
    So next they'll just tack it onto everyone's internet bill.
    8AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:49
    There's nothing worth watching on TV anyway, so I wouldn't miss it.
    11AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:50
    Is Takashi Tachibana (the anti-NHK activist politician) still being held in custody?
    12AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:51
    Of course it's dropping — the elderly population, NHK's core viewers, is shrinking.
    14AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:51
    The moment they did a feature on Temu and SHEIN, I knew this network was done.
    15AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:51
    What do all the regulars here who dodge their contract while slyly watching TV for free think about this?
    39AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:57
    I heard they've started doing door-to-door visits again.
    If you've got money for that, stop spending it on celebrities.
    Why do they even have talent doing narration?
    They've got their own in-house announcers for that.
    Music shows should just be simple, like Utacon (NHK's long-running song program).
    And what's with those shows hosted by comedians and idols where they even make an original song for it — who's that even for?
    44AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:00
    Re: #39
    Honestly, NHK could just have AI read out the weather and news — that'd be enough.
    There's zero public-interest justification for hiring celebrities.
    They could shrink the organization to a tenth of its current size.
    45AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:00
    Re: #39
    It's absurd — they pour money into talent agencies for no good reason and then cry that they don't have enough.
    40AnonymousOct 2, 2026 14:58
    Couldn't they fix the subsidiaries and become more like the BBC?
    BBC
    Licence fee revenue: £3.879 billion (approx. ¥737 billion)
    Commercial/other revenue: £2.083 billion (approx. ¥396 billion)

    NHK Operating revenue: approx. ¥613 billion (of which receiving-fee revenue is ¥585.1 billion)
    62AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:04
    Re: #40
    You don't even know that NHK's subsidiaries are raking in huge profits?
    48AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:01
    Hearing stories about how, after a parent who held a contract dies, canceling becomes a huge hassle — with NHK nitpicking and stonewalling to stop you from canceling — that's genuinely scary.
    64AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:04
    Re: #48
    I just waited about 20 minutes to get through on the phone, and after that it was easy.
    You do need proof the TV was disposed of, or details of who you transferred it to, though 🙂
    59AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:03
    If I'm paying 2000 yen a month, I'd rather spend it on a streaming subscription —
    obviously.
    74AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:06
    Re: #59
    Technically it's a bit over 2000 yen for two months.
    Still pricey though.
    63AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:04
    Wow, people still actually own TVs.
    86AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:09
    Re: #63
    I get way more out of watching YouTube and Amazon Prime Video. I don't watch terrestrial broadcasts at all.
    65AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:04
    How do they even determine whether you have a TV?
    If you have one but just insist you don't, couldn't you avoid getting charged by NHK?
    71AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:05
    Re: #65
    Maybe the retailer notifies NHK when you buy one?
    72AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:05
    Re: #65
    That's exactly why they send out those thuggish-looking collectors —
    if you push a timid person hard enough, they'll just admit they have a TV.
    81AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:07
    I'd be willing to pay just for emergency broadcasts.
    Scramble every other program and make it a subscription.
    92AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:11
    Re: #81
    If anything, emergency broadcasts should be made free for everyone. Right now, people without a contract can't even see those.
    82AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:07
    Non-payment is bad, mind you.
    I just flat-out never sign a contract.
    83AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:08
    Re: #82
    Same here, I haven't signed one either.
    Which is why I keep getting these mysterious letters.
    88AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:09
    They've completely stopped visiting in person — do they still do door-to-door now?
    I do still get unaddressed 'please sign a contract' flyers in my mailbox though.
    93AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:11
    Re: #88
    Same at my place.
    Checked my security camera footage and saw them delivering flyers while checking addresses on a smartphone instead of a tablet.
    89AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:10
    They need to cut this down to the bare minimum.
    Just education and news would be fine.
    No need for dramas. No need for sports either.
    98AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:12
    I wonder if they're actually collecting this properly from foreign residents.
    103AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:12
    Re: #98
    If someone starts rattling off a foreign language at them, the collector probably just gives up and leaves.
    99AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:12
    A thousand yen a month —
    it's so cheap, yet there are still people who refuse to pay.
    109AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:13
    Re: #99
    That's because it's not even worth that much.
    114AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:16
    Re: #1
    Seriously, just shrink the whole operation already.
    They cram variety shows full of Yoshimoto comedians and Johnny's (now STARTO) idols
    and now they're even broadcasting MLB games.
    139AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:21
    Re: #114
    I bet the staff are getting wined and dined by talent agencies, or someone's skimming kickbacks on the side.

    If it were run as a straight government operation, it'd actually get audited — they couldn't just do whatever they wanted.
    121AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:17
    Even with the built-in advantage of mandatory contracts for anyone who owns a receiver, numbers are still falling —
    doesn't that suggest NHK just isn't needed anymore?
    What's needed is a review of their content, cutting unnecessary services, and reforming the pay structure.
    129AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:19
    Re: #121
    Gotta secure that 10-million-yen salary!! Collect the fees no matter what!!
    If it became a government agency, civil servant pay is set by law, so salaries would basically get cut in half!!
    130AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:19
    So with NHK, if you just get rid of your TV, you're off the hook for payments?
    133AnonymousOct 2, 2026 15:19
    Re: #130
    Obviously.

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    Under Article 64 of the Broadcast Act, any household that installs a receiving device such as a TV is obligated to sign a contract with NHK — but there’s no penalty clause, and the only recourse against non-contracted or non-paying households is civil litigation, meaning that in practice it’s still possible to own a set and get away without paying. The repeated calls in the thread for a switch to scrambled broadcasting target exactly this contradiction in the system. The BBC comparison that came up is worth treating with caution: alongside its licence fee, the BBC also earns a much larger share of revenue from commercial activities, so a simple dollar-for-dollar comparison doesn’t accurately capture the difference in NHK’s revenue structure. While the thread focused heavily on grievances about programming choices and subsidiary profits, this announcement alone doesn’t make clear whether the drop in contracts is mainly driven by the shrinking number of elderly households or by a rise in people refusing to sign up.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “NHK receiver contracts decline — down 140,000 in Q1, on the verge of dropping below 40 million, “unable to secure new sign-ups,” now focusing on stopping the slide.”

  • 10-Hour Backroads Drive from Kanagawa to Kanazawa: Fans React to Hello! Project’s ‘Kagayaki Fes’ Road Trip Report

    On 5ch’s Hello! Project board, someone started a thread announcing they’d be driving from Kanagawa to “Kagayaki Fes” in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture — a 10-hour trip taken entirely on regular roads instead of the highway. They explained that while the toll expressway would shave 3 hours off the trip, it would cost an extra 10,000 yen, so they chose the back roads instead. The thread quickly filled up with tips on a shortcut route from Matsumoto to Toyama, Kanazawa sightseeing recommendations, and local specialties like nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) and Kanazawa oden, along with live photo updates from the road.

    1AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:09
    Got something going on?
    3AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:11
    Haven't had a drink yet
    Caffeine supply is fully stocked though
    6AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:14
    What are you even going for?
    7AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:16
    Oh, Kagayaki Fes huh
    8AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:18
    Bringing Red Bull or Monster with you?


    Stay safe out there
    12AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:22
    Re: #6
    Kagayaki Fes has OCHANORMA, Tsubaki Factory, Yuhanecchi, and others performing

    Re: #7
    Yep

    Re: #8
    I did bring 4 Red Bulls just in case, but coffee should cover it so I might not even drink them

    Re: #9
    100 million years old

    Re: #10
    Since I'm already going all the way to Ishikawa, I want to do the full 2-day event

    Re: #11
    Because I'm taking regular roads from Kanagawa Prefecture
    10AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:19
    OCHANORMA's on Sunday though
    You should head out tomorrow instead
    11AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:20
    10 hours? Do you live in Kagoshima or Hokkaido or something?
    14AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:24
    Re: #13
    I mean, if you walked it'd probably take like 2 days lol
    15AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:26
    Cutting through from Matsumoto to Toyama is fun
    if the weather's good
    16AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:26
    Went last year too — I remember the mountain roads being seriously creepy
    56AnonymousOct 2, 2026 13:10
    Re: #16
    Dug up some photos from back then
    The road is way too winding so it's creepy on its own, and even though it barely shows in the pictures, the fog was thick and I couldn't get a good shot — plus there was some ruin-looking place with "no entry" tape around it
    Drove through here in the dead of night and just remember the whole mountain being eerie



    17AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:27
    The downside of going through the mountains is you can't speed up, so it just eats time
    But if you go via the Northern Alps or Hida-Takayama, the scenery's great
    19AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:30
    I'm just letting Google Maps handle it so I don't even know which route I'll end up taking
    20AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:31
    Stay safe out there
    Reports from events I'm not attending myself are always appreciated
    27AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:37
    Re: #20
    Thanks
    Safety first

    Re: #23
    I'll try it if I get the chance

    Re: #25
    It's only a 3-hour time save for an extra 10,000 yen
    The highway just isn't worth it
    22AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:32
    lol it's called Kagayaki Fes and he's not even taking the Kagayaki shinkansen
    23AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:33
    Eat some nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch, a local delicacy)
    24AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:33
    Google Maps can technically do turn-by-turn navigation too, you know
    Yahoo! Car Navi is more of a dedicated nav app
    26AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:35
    Go eat some gasa-ebi or oni-ebi shrimp
    They're delicious
    52AnonymousOct 2, 2026 13:05
    Re: #26
    I'll try it if I get the chance

    Re: #39
    I'll try it if I get the chance

    Re: #40
    I'll try it if I get the chance
    29AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:41
    Isn't a 3-hour time save pretty big though? (＾＾；

    Well, if you're enjoying the local atmosphere and the drive itself on back roads, that's a valid choice too
    53AnonymousOct 2, 2026 13:05
    Re: #29 Re: #46
    Back roads aren't bad either
    Like during last year's Shiga Colle Premium, I stumbled onto an amazing unexpected view, pulled over, got out, and took a bunch of photos





    Re: #45
    Finished work in the morning and headed straight out from there

    Re: #48
    I'd watch them if it were a regular joint live show, but at festivals I don't really pick them out to watch much
    30AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:44
    400 km, huh — that's gonna burn through a decent chunk of gas alone
    31AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:45
    Google [Maps] will sometimes route you down absurdly narrow roads, so watch out
    33AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:49
    Re: #12
    Then go sightseeing in Kanazawa, it'd be a waste not to
    Kanazawa's museums and library are amazing, definitely worth a look
    If you've got a car, swing out to Noto too — don't let the chance go to waste
    35AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:53
    Isn't Kenrokuen in Kanazawa showing autumn colors about now?
    42AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:03
    Re: #35
    On the plus side it's less crowded, so it's quiet and has a nice atmosphere
    36AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:54
    Making it to Kanazawa is every small-town kid's dream (joking use of "going up to the capital," normally said of Tokyo)
    38AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:00
    Might still be a bit early for autumn leaves at Kenrokuen
    Somewhere around Tateyama might have them though
    39AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:01
    Eat some Kanazawa oden at the famous market
    40AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:03
    Go to Menya Taiga, drink the banana juice, and have some ramen
    It's good
    43AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:05
    Stay safe
    You never know when you'll get caught up in someone else's accident
    Things like a "Prius rocket" (slang for elderly drivers suddenly accelerating) or getting rear-ended by a dump truck
    46AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:06
    Back roads sound like hell honestly
    48AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:20
    Is Āsshu not watching Palette Parade?
    54AnonymousOct 2, 2026 13:07
    That person posting Sea of Japan photos and stuff on Wolf (nickname for a certain 5ch board) —
    was that Āsshu-senpai?
    57AnonymousOct 2, 2026 13:10
    Re: #54
    That's a case of mistaken identity

    Re: #55
    Seriously?
    I already left
    Well, it's not through the mountains so it's probably fine
    55AnonymousOct 2, 2026 13:08
    Went to Nagano City two days ago and it was only 13°C, so you'd better bring a jacket
    59AnonymousOct 2, 2026 13:17
    Right now

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    “Kagayaki Fes” appears to take its name from the Hokuriku Shinkansen’s “Kagayaki” line, and is described as an event in Ishikawa Prefecture featuring multiple Hello! Project-affiliated groups such as OCHANORMA and Tsubaki Factory. Since the venue is far from the greater Tokyo area, fans traveling there inevitably face the question of how to get there, and the thread saw opinions split between taking the highway or saving money on back roads. The original poster worked out that the expressway would only save 3 hours for an extra 10,000 yen and chose the back roads instead, though some commenters said they wouldn’t mind the extra cost while others worried about safety on the mountain roads. The warnings about accidents along the way don’t refer to any specific incident — they’re best read as general driving precautions. The thread doesn’t go into the full schedule or lineup of Kagayaki Fes in detail; this article is simply a summary of the exchange that took place within it.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “I’m about to drive 10 hours to Kanazawa, any questions?.”

  • Vtuber Erupts Over Mushoku Tensei’s “Paul the Two-Timer” Scene, Sparking 5ch Debate Over the Show’s Values

    A thread on 5ch’s “Nandemo Jikkyo G” board (a live-chat/reaction board) picked up on a Vtuber’s on-stream fury while watching the anime Mushoku Tensei, specifically the scene where the protagonist Rudeus’s father, Paul, cheats on his pregnant wife, fathers a child outside the marriage, and then announces he’s taking a second wife. The thread split between posters who took issue with polygamy as a concept and those who argued the real problem was the infidelity and the child born out of wedlock — a case of talking past each other. Others pointed out that the protagonist himself later ends up in a similar situation, and that the original novel began so long ago that its values have drifted from those of today’s otaku fandom, turning the discussion into a broader debate about how the series holds up.

    1AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:14
    Looks like it was Paul's two-timing scene that set her off
    11AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:17
    Mushoku Tensei was always the kind of series that probably shouldn't have gotten an anime
    26AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:21
    Re: #11
    It's a life-spanning story in the vein of Dragon Quest V [the RPG famous for following its hero from childhood through marriage and fatherhood], so this was bound to come up eventually
    18AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:18

    If Pekora [likely Usada Pekora, the popular Hololive Vtuber] watches season 2, she's probably going to feel for Norn, who's left speechless over Rudeus's own polygamy
    22AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:19
    Re: #18
    Yeah, she'd probably say "that's so sad" dead serious
    28AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:21
    Re: #18
    Well, if you announce you're taking a second wife while your current wife is nine months pregnant, of course people react that way
    157AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:50
    Re: #18
    Honestly, anyone who WOULDN'T be angry at someone suddenly demanding a second wife in that exact situation is the one with the screw loose
    24AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:20
    What's even wrong with polygamy to begin with? It's still practiced openly in, say, Muslim-majority countries
    30AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:23
    Re: #24
    There are plenty of multi-heroine series out there, and even couples getting together and breaking up doesn't usually bother me much. But with Mushoten [fan shorthand for Mushoku Tensei], something deep in my soul just screamed 'gross' and I couldn't shake it
    25AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:20
    Re: #1 is missing the point too. The problem isn't polygamy itself — it's that he cheated AND had a kid out of wedlock
    32AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:23
    Re: #25
    Sure, by Japanese standards, but this is an isekai fantasy world
    33AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:24
    Re: #32
    I mean, but the protagonist is literally just an ugly, overweight middle-aged Japanese guy [reincarnated into that world]
    35AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:25
    Re: #32
    Then how about you stop speaking Japanese?
    29AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:23

    Even Mushoku Tensei's own fans are furious at Paul, so it's fine — they're all cracking up about it together lol
    43AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:26
    Re: #29
    Respect for knowing this isn't a show aimed at women
    36AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:25
    Re: #33
    He does understand it's a different world and is trying to adapt. Besides, this particular scene is about his dad, not him
    41AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:26
    Re: #36
    Funny thing is, he ends up doing something similar himself later
    46AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:27
    Re: #41
    He's just playing by that world's rules though
    55AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:28
    Re: #41
    The protagonist's wives all actually agreed to the arrangement up front — that's not the same as cheating, getting someone pregnant, and stumbling into polygamy afterward
    50AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:27
    Grandpa, how much longer are you gonna keep watching narou anime?
    56AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:28
    Re: #50
    Well, it's because he's an old man. It's not something a young person with a future should be watching
    91AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:37
    Re: #50
    If anything, isn't it older guys who react worse to narou stuff? Isn't it Gen Z — who want everything handed to them fast and easy — who's actually into it?
    62AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:30
    Even in light novels, male readers have long called harem protagonists gross — so why did the genre go and double down on it instead?
    68AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:31
    Re: #62
    Mushoku Tensei started 16 years ago, so naturally some of its values are out of step with today's otaku
    70AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:32
    Re: #62
    That's simply because there are even more readers who love harem setups than those who hate them. The core readership is hikikomori NEETs [shut-in young people not in work, school, or training] anyway
    78AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:34
    Old-school otaku who go on about 'freedom of expression' and 'fiction isn't reality' are increasingly out of step with where otaku values stand in 2026. Frankly, that type usually can't even keep up with recent anime and fiction anymore
    87AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:36
    Re: #78
    Honestly both sides just look like self-styled 'otaku' to me
    128AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:45
    Re: #78
    I think it really just comes down to the individual work, then and now. There's plenty of wild, over-the-top stuff set in modern-day Japan too — nothing's really changed
    99AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:39
    I've got nothing against harem stories, but I at least want the protagonist to stay devoted to one person
    108AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:41
    Re: #99
    Theory: if Roxy had been his only wife, there wouldn't have been nearly this much complaining
    122AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:43
    Re: #99
    Technically Roxy is supposed to be his one true wife — in other timelines, Sylphy and Eris each end up marrying someone else
    114AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:42
    Re: #91
    Until recently protagonists skewed early-30s, now a lot are late-30s/40s — that's just tracking the aging readership. Give it a bit and we'll probably start seeing protagonists pushing 50
    117AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:43
    Re: #114
    Didn't that "middle-aged guy in the countryside" anime get a pretty poor reception though?
    125AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:44
    Re: #117
    Isn't that just because the anime adaptation itself was badly made? The manga version is apparently selling like crazy
    133AnonymousOct 2, 2026 12:46
    Re: #117
    That one's popular because of the comic adaptation, which threw in its own original material. The anime stuck to the original novel instead, so of course the people who got into it through the manga were unhappy

    Background and Key Points of the Debate

    Mushoku Tensei is a series whose harem elements and the protagonist’s tangled family relationships have sparked debate before, and this time the spark was the scene where his father, Paul, cheats, fathers a child outside his marriage, and then declares he’s taking a second wife. The thread split over whether the backlash was really aimed at polygamy as a concept, or at the specific acts of infidelity and having a child out of wedlock — with many posters arguing the latter was the actual issue. Some also noted that the protagonist himself later lands in a situation resembling his father’s, complicating any easy “bad father, righteous son” reading. On top of that, since the original novel began many years ago, posters pointed to a widening values gap with today’s otaku audience — all of which suggests opinion on the series is far from settled.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of a 5ch “Nandemo Jikkyo G” (a live-reaction discussion board) thread titled “[Sad News] Mushoku Tensei Gets Absolutely Raged At by a Vtuber Who Watched It lol.”

  • New ‘Fire TV Stick 4K’ Debuts — 5ch Says ‘Forget That, Did They Fix the Freezing?’

    On September 30, Amazon released a new streaming media player, the Fire TV Stick 4K. It’s priced at ¥11,980, and during the “Prime Thanksgiving” sale from October 16–19, it’ll be available for ¥5,980 — ¥6,000 off. Announced alongside it, the Fire TV remote control is slated for release on October 22, while the higher-end Fire TV Remote Plus isn’t due until 2027. On 5ch, rather than discussing the new features, commenters first zeroed in on complaints about past models, asking whether the freezing problem had finally been fixed. Opinion was further split over the new TV-USB-port charging method — some questioned its practicality since many TVs don’t have a free USB port to spare — while others asked what the point of a dedicated device even is when you can watch the same content on a phone or tablet.

    On September 30, Amazon announced new additions to the Fire TV lineup: the Fire TV Stick 4K, the Fire TV remote control, and the Fire TV Remote Plus. The Fire TV Stick 4K went on sale September 30; the Fire TV remote control is scheduled for release on October 22 (pre-orders starting September 30); and the Fire TV Remote Plus is planned for release in 2027.

    Fire TV Stick 4K

    The Fire TV Stick 4K is a slim, portable, 4K-capable streaming media player in stick form. It’s priced at ¥11,980. During the Prime Thanksgiving sale running October 16–19, it will be sold for ¥5,980 — ¥6,000 off.

    Source: pc.watch.impress.co.jp / Original article here

    2AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:53
    Forget all that — did they actually fix the freezing issue?
    9AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:30
    Re: #2
    Freezing has never been an issue for me — I'm on my third one and I've been using these for about 7 years.
    Why would it even freeze?
    Have you checked how much storage you're actually using?
    Probably installing apps nonstop with no memory left.
    10AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:50
    Re: #2
    Freezing happens maybe once every six months? And that's only if you're on external power and never turn it off.
    Fixing it is as simple as power-cycling once.
    Since this one draws power from the TV, if it regularly loses power that way, the problem might just take care of itself.
    11AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:13
    Re: #2
    Forget all that, just buying a new one is easier.
    3AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:01
    I literally just bought the 4K model back in May… wish they'd offer some kind of trade-in.
    4AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:18
    What kind of videos can you even watch on this thing?
    Amazon Prime Video?
    5AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:21
    Re: #4
    Seriously, you should try catching up with the times a little.
    6AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:24
    Re: #4
    'What kind of conversations can you even have on 5ch?' — sounds exactly like something someone who's never touched 5ch would say.
    So what would you say back to that?
    7AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:25
    They're bragging about how portable it is, but that just means Amazon knows exactly where you've taken it.
    And that's not even counting your voice data, if you're not careful.
    8AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:28
    It's the most convenient way to get a TV online.
    Then again, if it's just internet you want, you don't even need a TV — any monitor with HDMI will do.
    But hotels and phones support casting these days anyway, so there's no real need to carry one of these around.
    13AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:16
    Re: #8
    If you just want internet, your phone's fine.
    12AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:16
    People are seriously still using that heavy old thing after 7 years?
    Feels worse than sticking with a flip phone.
    14AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:21
    I watch Prime Video almost entirely on my tablet.
    I barely touch my Fire TV, maybe once every six months.
    And every single time I try to use it, the remote fails to pair — 100% of the time.
    At this point I just unplug it and reset it before I even try.
    15AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:24
    Can you use this with a car navigation system?
    17AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:36
    I lose the remote constantly, so the remote-finder feature is a lifesaver.
    18AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:46
    All it does is let you watch the major streaming services on any monitor with an HDMI port — it has nothing to do with TVs specifically.
    Is this article just written to confuse clueless old folks into parting with their money?
    Impress [the publisher] has really gone downhill.
    19AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:56
    What actually matters is how well it plays Samba/DLNA video.
    20AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:32
    The one-touch buttons got a bit better.
    Now just swap the Netflix button for an ABEMA one. (ABEMA is a major Japanese streaming service)
    25AnonymousOct 2, 2026 00:30
    Re: #20
    That really comes down to personal taste.
    For me, Prime Video, Netflix, and ABEMA all work, but if I had to pick a must-have, it'd be Netflix.
    21AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:38
    What about the Fire TV Cube? I've been waiting forever for the 4th generation.
    22AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:42
    USB power? Makes no sense.
    Most TVs don't have a spare USB port lying around.
    Whoever wrote 'no power adapter needed' like it's some big win must be an idiot.
    23AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:48
    I bought the model from two generations back and never use it at all…
    Does anyone actually use Amazon devices day to day?
    The Echo Show has garbage sound quality and is basically a bugging device — totally useless.
    24AnonymousOct 2, 2026 00:20
    How does it compare to the Max model?
    26AnonymousOct 2, 2026 01:05
    Just stick with the Prime button.
    A Netflix button is just in the way.
    27AnonymousOct 2, 2026 03:21
    Maybe it's for watching livestreams on your TV?
    Especially for people who can't make it to the venue in person.
    28AnonymousOct 2, 2026 03:33
    Re: #9
    It's specifically YouTube that freezes on a regular basis.
    Apparently that happens pretty often, from what people say.
    30AnonymousOct 2, 2026 05:38
    Re: #28
    My family uses other apps on it too, but I'm YouTube-only.
    Zero freezing for me. None at all.
    29AnonymousOct 2, 2026 05:11
    They haven't put out a new Fire tablet in a while — are they just going to let the line quietly die off?
    32AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:00
    Re: #29
    I got handed an Amazon tablet someone wasn't using and tried to set it up — totally unusable. Google's own apps don't work on it. You have to start by unofficially sideloading the Google Play Store just to get anywhere. And even if it works on that version, there's no guarantee it survives the next update. The whole network-based ecosystem feels half-assed, worse than the hardware itself. Garbage in an instant. Get an Android tablet instead.
    If you want cheap, the Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 is the best option, quality included.
    If you only ever use Amazon services, maybe it's fine, but that's about the extent of it. Apparently there's decent demand for these among kids in English-speaking markets, but kids' tablets live and die by content, and the Japanese-language content just isn't there.
    31AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:42
    Re: #30
    Do you actually look up the specs before you use these things?
    33AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:07
    The thing with Vega OS is you can't install outside apps on it. (Amazon's in-house OS)
    34AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:37
    For tablets, the iPad Air is really the only choice.
    If you don't have a PC at home, the Pro works too.
    36AnonymousOct 2, 2026 10:21
    The Fire tablet was always basically just Amazon's own multimedia gadget to begin with — bringing this up now feels way too late.
    37AnonymousOct 2, 2026 10:38
    Bought it when it was cheap, never use it.
    38AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:10
    Ads popping up during playback killed it for me — I stopped using it entirely.
    I watch comfortably now on a tablet with an ad blocker installed.
    If you're going to buy this, wouldn't you be better off just getting an Android TV and running an ad blocker on that?
    Terrestrial broadcasts can be watched on TVer these days anyway.
    39AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:16
    Put the USB power port on the opposite side from the HDMI adapter, not right next to it on the unit.
    40AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:22
    I'll grab one during the Prime Thanksgiving sale — the 3rd-gen HD model is way too sluggish to use anymore.
    41AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:32
    Honestly, I've just gotten tired of Prime Video.
    43AnonymousOct 2, 2026 11:40
    Does this support WOWOW On Demand?

    4K programming from the five BS commercial broadcasters now streaming free on WOWOW On Demand. A-PAB press conference: "A new era for BS 4K is about to begin."
    https://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2144955.html

    Background and Key Points of the Discussion

    Previously, the Fire TV Stick had to be powered via an AC adapter or USB cable, and the hassle of setting it up had been a recurring complaint. The new model switches to drawing power from the TV’s own USB port, touting adapter-free setup as a selling point — but since TV USB ports are often already occupied by things like recording HDDs, several commenters questioned how practical this really is. There’s also a history of the Fire TV Stick freezing during YouTube playback on past models, and the fact that commenters asked “did they fix the freezing?” before even discussing the new features speaks to just how much frustration existing users have built up. At the same time, with smartphones and tablets now able to stream the same services, some questioned what the point of a dedicated streaming device even is anymore, reopening debate over where the Fire TV Stick actually fits. Related news that came up in the same breath included the fact that Amazon hasn’t released a new Fire tablet model in some time, and the start of free 4K streaming on WOWOW On Demand.

    *This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary from the 5ch (Business News+) thread “[Product] Faster ‘Fire TV Stick 4K’ debuts, powered via the TV.”

  • His Band Just Landed a Major Label Debut — Without Him, 5ch Thread Reveals

    The poster says he’s a member of a band formed with childhood friends from junior high, and that he’s been involved in the songwriting. But he revealed that as the band’s major label debut moved forward, he alone was cut from the lineup — the reason given being that he’d supposedly keep the band from making it big. He says no one told him directly; the news reached him through other members. Replies piled up asking about the circumstances of his departure, his musical skill, and how the band got started, while some commenters suspected the story was too dramatic to be real — more like a template lifted from online fiction.

    1AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:32
    Still can't accept the reality of it.
    10AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:38
    Just get an AI to comfort you!
    11AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:39
    Re: #10
    I don't need AI's creepy fake friendliness.
    15AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:41
    Wait, what's the actual story here? Did someone just come right out and say 'we don't need that guy'?
    21AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:43
    Re: #15
    We never talked about it directly, but apparently that's what another member said — 'If he stays, this band will never make it.'
    20AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:42
    If you were in a band good enough to write songs and get that far, couldn't you monetize that without even needing a major label debut?
    26AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:44
    Re: #20
    It's not about the money — I just can't face the fact that I got cast aside.
    25AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:44
    When you say you wrote songs, how far did that actually go? Like, full productions in a DAW?
    32AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:47
    Re: #25
    I didn't make everything myself. More like I'd hum out a rough chorus, play it for everyone, and we'd build it together from there.
    29AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:45
    Re: #26
    Is it really that big a deal? It's just a call made by the agency and the members — and most artists don't even make it after going major anyway, so who cares?
    34AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:49
    Re: #29
    Because we formed this band back in middle school. We're all childhood friends.
    35AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:49
    For a band supposedly getting a major debut, the whole concept sounds pretty vague.
    38AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:51
    Re: #35
    Well yeah, because I never even heard about the major debut thing.
    37AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:50
    Isn't 'youth punk' basically a dead genre at this point?
    39AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:51
    Re: #37
    Oh yeah? So what genre IS alive, then?
    41AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:52
    Does that even happen? Were you really a full member? Sounds like you were just being treated as a support musician.
    43AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:54
    Re: #41
    That's literally what I've been agonizing over since yesterday, so could you not.
    49AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:59
    Instead of posting dumb fantasies first thing in the morning, go get ready for job hunting.
    52AnonymousOct 2, 2026 06:59
    Re: #49
    I'm not getting a job. Working is for suckers.
    53AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:00
    That's the label's call, isn't it. Rough. The members aren't the ones to blame.
    57AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:01
    Re: #53
    The members — and the label too, obviously — have to chase profit, so I can't even resent them for it. It's just this crushing sense of loss and sadness bearing down on me.
    56AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:01
    Bet you could write a great song right about now lol
    60AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:02
    Re: #56
    I figure the guy who can actually turn this sadness into a song is the one who ends up going pro. Me, I've just got no energy left — not even enough to get back up.
    63AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:05
    So what happens to the guitar slot? Are they going three-piece?
    65AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:08
    Re: #63
    No idea. We're a 5-piece with two guitarists to begin with, and the vocalist can play guitar too, so maybe that's how they landed on 'we don't need him.'
    68AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:11
    Up to a certain point, the deal included you too, right?
    71AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:14
    Re: #68
    I didn't know about the major debut talks. We'd get handed business cards from sketchy-looking music producers now and then while we were active, so 'going pro' had sort of become a running joke among us.
    69AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:12
    Dude, your life is basically a story arc.
    72AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:15
    Re: #69
    The other members' lives, maybe. I'm the one who got left out of the story.
    73AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:15
    How old are you? Do you just really like the phrase 'beer that tastes like dirt'?
    75AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:18
    Re: #73
    22. It's not that I like the phrase — it actually tasted like dirt.
    78AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:19
    Wait, were you just bad at guitar?
    81AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:20
    Re: #78
    Guess I just didn't have the skill to go pro.
    85AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:23
    I used to treat every piece of media out there as fuel for songwriting, so now I don't feel like doing anything at all.
    89AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:28
    Re: #85
    Can't you just go solo lol
    90AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:29
    Oh, so it's one of those 'kicked out of the band right before the major debut, then joins the strongest band and proves everyone wrong' stories?
    93AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:31
    Re: #90
    No comeback story like that is happening. 'Narou' (the web novel site known for wish-fulfillment power-fantasy stories) is just flooded with trashy fiction that's nothing but the delusions of people who think they can become somebody without putting in any effort.
    92AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:29
    Re: #89
    A guy who only got lucky enough to be in a band with talented people, then got cut — there's no way he pulls it off solo.
    95AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:32
    Re: #92
    Thought you wanted to do music though lol. You ate dirt-flavored beer AND puke-flavored liver and everything lol
    94AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:32
    'Isekai banishment' stories are popular right now, but a 'banished from reality' story isn't gonna take off.
    98AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:33
    Re: #94
    Yeah, nobody wants to look at reality. Especially the Lost Generation (Japan's 'ice age' cohort who graduated into the brutal job market of the late '90s–2000s), who make up the bulk of Narou's readership.

    Background and Key Points

    What split this thread was a single question: how much credence to give the “factualness” of the post. Replies #41 and #90 cast doubt, asking whether the poster was really even a band member and whether the whole saga followed the template of a typical “banishment” story, and the poster himself, in reply #93, pushed back against the idea of a “Narou”-style comeback twist. This shows how the “banishment story” structure that has spread online in recent years has become a go-to benchmark readers use when judging whether a real-life account is credible. At the same time, the post itself suggests that whether a band lands a major label debut hinges not just on individual skill but on a mix of factors — the label’s commercial judgment, the relationships between members, and so on. That said, this is only the poster’s one-sided account; the other members’ and the label’s side of the story have not been presented.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (News Speed VIP board) thread “My band just got its major label debut. Without me.”