Category: Entertainment

The YouTube view count for Juice=Juice’s Nippon Budokan live video ‘Moreru! Mi Amore’ (Concert 2025 Queen of Hearts Special Flush) has reached 10,961,856 views, surpassing the group’s previous second-place video, the ‘Hito Sore’ music video, which sits at 10,960,502 views. The narrow overtake sparked excitement among fans, with some calling it ‘the biggest viral moment in Hello! Project history,’ while others offered more measured takes, noting that ‘they’re just breaking their own record since there’s no rival left’ and that ‘view counts rising doesn’t translate to actual sales or a spot on the Kohaku Uta Gassen lineup.’ Opinions were split on how to interpret the numbers.

※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “[Breaking] Juice=Juice’s ‘Moreru! Mi Amore’ Nippon Budokan Live Video Overtakes ‘Hito Sore’ MV in Views, Rises to No. 2 All-Time in the Group’s History!“

Singer Kondo Masahiko (62) told reporters before a concert in Tottori City on September 23 that the case of timelesz member Shuto Inomata (25), arrested on suspicion of assault, “cannot be forgiven.” While touching on his own years of paying his dues as a young performer and saying he himself stays mindful of compliance, Kondo’s comments drew less sympathy than mockery on 5ch, where posters pointed to his own 1989 breakup press conference with Akina Nakamori and the sexual abuse scandal involving former Johnny’s boss Johnny Kitagawa, jeering “look who’s talking” (omaeiu).

September 24, 2026, 4:00 AM

Singer Kondo Masahiko (62) performed live at Tottori’s Ace Pac Mirai Chuo Main Hall on the 23rd. The show, part of a 16-city tour, marked his first-ever concert in the prefecture.

Speaking to reporters before the show, Kondo also addressed the case of Shuto Inomata (25) — a member of “timelesz,” a group of younger talents from the former Johnny’s agency Kondo himself once belonged to — who was arrested on suspicion of assault.

Source: sponichi.co.jp / Original article here

*This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Geino/Sports News+) thread “[Matchy] Kondo Masahiko Weighs In on the timelesz Inomata Uproar: ‘This Can’t Be Forgiven,’ ‘Even having paid my dues…,’ ‘I’m mindful of compliance myself too’ [Ailuropoda melanoleuca★].”

The original 5ch post reports that lyricist Akira Aku found the nonsensical title of Southern All Stars’ “Katte ni Sindbad” — the band’s debut single from 48 years ago — genuinely amusing. In the thread, posters traced how Keisuke Kuwata, once seen as fronting a novelty band, won people over with “Itoshi no Ellie,” and debated whether Kuwata, Motoharu Sano, or Takuro Yoshida was first to pioneer the distinctive style of cramming multiple syllables into a single note. Opinions were also split on the band’s more recent songs and their past live staging.

[Southern All Stars] “What IS this nonsensical song?!” — The Shock of “Katte ni Sindbad” 48 Years Ago, and Why Akira Aku Loved the Bizarre Title

Mon, 9/21, 11:10 AM

■ Source note: the title even Akira Aku found amusing

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

*This article is compiled as an excerpt/summary from the 5ch (Geinosuposokuho+) thread “[Southern All Stars] “What IS this nonsensical song?!” The Shock of “Katte ni Sindbad” 48 Years Ago, and Why Akira Aku Loved the Bizarre Title.”

On September 21st, Clear River Games announced the release of “Estpolis Biography I&II,” a remaster of Taito’s RPG series “Estpolis Biography” (known in the West as the “Lufia” series), and figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu reacted with joy on his official X account, saying “Wait, is this real? No way…” He has reportedly called this game his personal “origin point.” However, since Estpolis Biography II was released in 1995, just a year after Hanyu was born in 1994, many on the thread pointed out the timeline discrepancy. Meanwhile, plenty of others admitted they’d never even heard of the game, with some posts praising it as an underrated gem.

Yuzuru Hanyu: “Wait, is this real? No way…” — Figure skater thrilled by the announcement of “Estpolis Biography I&II,” a game he’s called his personal starting point

Mon, Sep 21, 1:45 PM

On September 21st, professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu posted an excited reaction on his official X account to Clear River Games’ announcement of “Estpolis Biography I&II,” a bundled remaster of Taito’s RPGs “Estpolis Biography” and “Estpolis Biography II.”

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

*This article is composed from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Geisports Sokuho+) thread “[Entertainment] Yuzuru Hanyu: “Wait, is this real? No way…” — Figure skater thrilled by the announcement of “Estpolis Biography I&II,” a game he’s called his personal starting point.”

During TBS’s live broadcast of the women’s volleyball final (Japan 0-3 China) at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi/Nagoya, announcers read Chinese athletes’ names using Japanese readings of the kanji characters, sparking a wave of questions on X (formerly Twitter). Reading Wu Mengjie’s name as “Go Muketsu” and Chen Houyu’s as “Chin Kouu” drew comments along the lines of “think about the dignity of foreign athletes.” On 5ch, threads debated where to draw the line on name pronunciation — covering why Japanese media have long used Japanese on’yomi readings rather than Chinese pronunciations, consistency with how other countries’ figures (like Kim Jong-un) are read, and how Chinese media, in turn, pronounce Japanese names.

[Asian Games] “Think About the Dignity of Foreigners” — Unease Over Chinese Athletes’ Names Announced with Japanese Readings, Why?

<Aichi/Nagoya Asian Games: Women’s Volleyball: Japan 0-3 China> ◇22nd◇Final◇Komaki City Sports Park General Gymnasium

Following TBS’s live broadcast of the women’s volleyball final, questions have been piling up on X (formerly Twitter) over commentators reading Chinese athletes’ names with Japanese pronunciations.

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

*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[Asian Games] “Think about the dignity of foreigners” — Unease over TBS commentary on Chinese athletes’ names… Wu Mengjie called ‘Go Muketsu,’ Chen Houyu called ‘Chin Kouu’.”

On September 23, TV personality Shinobu Sakagami (59) appeared at a talk show held alongside the “Naomi Kawashima Animal Welfare Award” ceremony, lamenting Japan’s lagging animal welfare legislation: “For such a blessed country, it’s hard to think of one that’s this far behind.” On the 5ch thread, commenters repeatedly criticized live-animal display sales at pet shops and the oversight of breeders, with many arguing Japan should follow Europe’s lead by ending storefront sales in favor of direct purchases from breeders or adoptions from shelters. Meanwhile, opinion split between an extreme camp arguing that people should simply stop keeping pets altogether, and those who supported pet ownership but wanted tighter regulation of shops and breeders.

Shinobu Sakagami laments Japan’s animal welfare situation: “Few countries are this far behind” — calls for legal reform

On the 23rd, TV personality/actor Shinobu Sakagami (59) and pastry chef Toshihiko Yoroizuka appeared at the talk show “Living Together: Toward a Happy Future for Both Animals and People,” held alongside the 10th “Naomi Kawashima Animal Welfare Award” ceremony. They spoke out about the challenges facing animal welfare in Japan.

At the event, Sakagami shared his view: “Our predecessors built this country into something so truly blessed, and yet when it comes to laws regarding animals, I don’t think there are many countries that are this far behind — that’s the reality. Honestly, I find it embarrassing.”

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

41AnonymousSep 24, 2026 00:29

This is a new breed of kitty ("nuko," playful baby-talk for "neko"/cat).
Nice to meet you 🐱



Her name's Tirukayo.

*This article is compiled as an excerpt/summary of the 5ch (Geino/Sports News+) thread “[Entertainment] Shinobu Sakagami laments Japan’s animal welfare situation: “Few countries are this far behind” — calls for legal reform.”

Osaka Pro Wrestling announced on its official social media on September 22 that the championship belt for the “Osaka Puroresu Championship” was lost by current title-holder Tatsuya Matsubusa while he was carrying it. President Zeus apologized, saying, “Ultimate responsibility lies with me.” Thread reactions centered on how little real damage was done — jokes like “just make whoever finds it the new champion,” pointed-out contradictions in the belt’s listed price (“market value: 28,000 yen when new”), and comparisons to the old story of an Athens Olympics gold medalist who once left his medal behind at a payphone.

Sports Nippon

[September 23, 2026, 08:40]

Osaka Pro Wrestling updated its official social media on the 22nd, announcing that the championship belt for the “Osaka Puroresu Championship,” managed by the promotion, was lost by current champion Tatsuya Matsubusa while he was carrying it.

Source: sponichi.co.jp / Original article here

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “[Osaka Pro Wrestling] Current Champion Loses Championship Belt on Train… President Zeus Apologizes: “Ultimate Responsibility Lies With Me”.”

YouTuber Hikaru (35) made his solo rakugo debut on August 3 at the Meijiza theater under the stage name “Tatekawa Sagishi,” and criticism has been pouring in from rakugo fans saying “that’s not rakugo.” His master, Tatekawa Shiraku, revealed on YouTube on the 22nd that complaints have even been reaching Tatekawa Shinosuke, the head of the Tatekawa school. On 5ch, opinions split over how this compares to the “B Course” system created by the late Tatekawa Danshi, whether it was appropriate to hold a paid solo show so soon after becoming a disciple, and the generational gap between Shinosuke and Shiraku/Danshun.

Wed 9/23, 18:00

Rakugo performer Tatekawa Shiraku (63) updated his YouTube channel on the 22nd, revealing that taking on YouTuber Hikaru (35) — known as “Tatekawa Sagishi” — as his disciple has drawn a storm of criticism toward the Tatekawa school of rakugo he belongs to.

Hikaru made a flashy rakugo debut with a solo performance titled “Tatekawa Sagishi: Solo Show” at the Meijiza theater on August 3. While some have praised him for putting a spotlight on the rakugo world, rakugo fans have also voiced harsh criticism, saying “that’s not rakugo.”

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

*This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Geinou Sports Express+) thread “Criticism floods in over Hikaru’s rakugo debut… Tatekawa school representative bewildered: “Quite a few complaints have been reaching big brother Shinosuke” — Shiraku reveals“.

The 46th National High School Quiz Championship (Nippon TV), broadcast on September 21, has become a hot topic on social media. Viewers were moved watching high schoolers compete in tests of knowledge and stamina across locations like Yokohama Stadium, Odawara Castle, and Hokkaido — but at the same time, the heavy use of “reaction cam” cutaways to the celebrity panel’s expressions, along with studio chatter asking contestants for their thoughts after every correct answer, sparked a wave of complaints that “the quiz itself barely comes through.” On 5ch’s Geinou/Sports News+ thread, discussion ranged from questioning whether the reaction cam is even necessary to comparisons with the production style of the old Trans-America Ultra Quiz era.

The 46th National High School Quiz Championship (Nippon TV; hereafter “High School Quiz”), broadcast on September 21, has become a hot topic.

The 16 schools that made it through the qualifiers competed in tests of intellect and physical endurance across locations like Yokohama Stadium, Odawara Castle, and Hokkaido, and X (formerly Twitter) saw comments like “The bond between these high schoolers really moved me!” At the same time, though, this broadcast also drew comments like:

“The quiz itself barely comes through at all. Do we really need the celebrities and studio guests? I just want to watch the quiz, plain and simple.”

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

※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[Nippon TV] “High School Quiz” Draws Viewer Backlash Over Excessive Reaction-Cam and Studio-Talk Format: “Can’t Focus on the Quiz at All” — Fallout Spreads to “Ultra Quiz” Comparisons” on 5ch.

In the men’s hockey match “South Korea vs. Bangladesh,” held ahead of the opening ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, an incident occurred in which North Korea’s national anthem was played instead of South Korea’s. At a press conference on the 23rd, the organizing committee explained that the anthem data for every participating country had been saved on the same device, and that the private contractor responsible for playback had sent out the wrong track — and apologized. With other troubles piling up, including major bus delays, criticism spread on 5ch over how the roughly ¥370 billion in total event operating costs was being spent, with comments like “they just keep blaming the contractor” and “isn’t the final check the organizing committee’s job?”

On the 23rd, the organizing committee addressed the string of troubles at the Asian Games, including the mixed-up national anthem and major bus delays.

On the 18th of this month, during the men’s hockey match “South Korea vs. Bangladesh” held ahead of the Asian Games opening ceremony, the staff member in charge mistakenly played North Korea’s anthem instead of South Korea’s.

At the press conference on the 23rd, Deputy Secretary-General Takaaki Osan of the organizing committee explained, “Because the anthem data for all participating countries was saved on the same device, the private contractor mistakenly sent out the wrong one,” and apologized.

Source: tokai-tv.com / Original article here

40AnonymousSep 23, 2026 19:37

This is Japan for you.

43AnonymousSep 23, 2026 19:38

This is Japan too.

44AnonymousSep 23, 2026 19:39

And of course, this is Japan as well.

※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games] Anthem Mix-Up: Organizing Committee Explains “All Countries’ Data Was on the Same Device, Private Contractor Sent the Wrong One” and Announces Preventive Measures.”