Japan Reacts

Category: Entertainment

  • Ex-KAT-TUN’s Kiyoshi Tanaka Poses with Masashi Tashiro and Michio Kochi — Trio Spotted at Drug Recovery Meeting

    Kiyoshi Tanaka, formerly of KAT-TUN, posted a photo on his Instagram showing himself alongside actor Michio Kochi and former TV personality Masashi Tashiro. All three have previously been arrested on drug-related charges, and the photo is believed to have been taken at a meeting aimed at supporting recovery from drug addiction. On 5channel, reactions were mixed: some voiced shock that “this combination could never happen on network TV,” while others cracked edgy jokes or expressed concern for the trio’s futures.

    9/19 (Sat) 23:00

    A candid photo of former KAT-TUN member Kiyoshi Tanaka is making the rounds online.

    A tattoo peeks out from the hand holding a designer bag. Dressed in a tracksuit and sandals, Tanaka captioned the post “With Kochi-san and Tashiro-san — not in the wild” on Instagram, sharing a three-shot with TV personality Masashi Tashiro (from Saga Prefecture) and actor Michio Kochi.

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

    2AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:15
    Because watching Showa-retro exploration videos on YouTube beats watching Peace-kun the peacock at Omiya Park (a famous peace-sign-posing peacock mascot) any day.
    6AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:15
    Isn't it kind of trivia-worthy that guys like this all dress the same?
    9AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:16
    Where do they even sell these guys' dorky clothes?
    13AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:17
    The Three Drug Brothers
    14AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:17
    Hard to tell if these three actually plan on quitting drugs for real.
    15AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:17
    Even as a middle-aged guy, that's a good smile.
    Nice one, Tanaka.
    16AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:17
    I really don't think we should be treating this like it's funny.
    17AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:18
    Honestly, having all three of these guys together is a little scary.
    20AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:21
    They're probably under a dealer's watchful eye at all times.
    21AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:22
    If just one of them shows up with something, they'd probably all end up doing it together.
    22AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:22
    Guess celebrities really do have their own unique styleᥬ🥺ᩤ
    23AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:23
    Where are you looking, Marcy? (Tashiro's nickname)
    You'd better not be using again…
    24AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:24
    …………………………………………………………………………
    25AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:25
    If Masashi Tashiro hadn't gotten into drugs, voyeurism, and secret filming, he'd probably be a top A-list star in showbiz by now — what a waste.
    36AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:29
    Re: #25
    He does seem like he's hit a wall.
    Seems mentally fragile.
    78AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:27
    Re: #25
    He's got way too much history.
    32AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:26
    Bonus round for the cops —
    stop and search all three, and you know at least one of them's holding.
    33AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:26
    Isolation tends to push people in a bad direction, so this is probably the right call.
    It'll be tough, but hang in there.
    37AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:29
    Checked his Wikipedia page and turns out Tanaka actually served real prison time lol
    He probably hasn't been out that long.
    41AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:33
    Makes you wonder how these guys even make a living at this point.
    47AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:36
    Tashiro's really turned into an old man now.
    Looks like he could go any day.
    50AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:38
    Re: #47
    He looked most like an old man when he got busted for drugs with some woman.
    48AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:36
    Kochi's hat is at least stylish.
    Where do you even buy that?
    51AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:39
    You should've invited Norippy too — leaving her out is kind of sad. (Norippy: nickname of singer Noriko Sakai, also arrested on drug charges)
    68AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:00
    Re: #51
    Norippy? Hard pass.
    54AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:46
    If the three of them started a YouTube channel together, it'd probably get at least a little buzz.
    56AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:47
    Three drug addicts from totally different generations hanging out — weirdly heartwarming.
    58AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:50

    60AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:52
    Oh, his name's read "Koki"? I always thought it was "Hijiri" this whole time (´・ω・｀)
    61AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:53
    Meanwhile, ASKA kicks off his nationwide tour today.
    Guess that's the difference in demand — or maybe just the gap between actors/TV personalities, whose stage is television, and musicians.
    63AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:55
    I've always had this image of Michio Kochi as someone who's already turned his life around.
    Feels like he'd be better off not hanging around repeat offenders like the two next to him.
    He's only been arrested once, and his suspended sentence period is already over.
    71AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:17
    Re: #63
    He's been a puzzling guy with no clear purpose from the start,
    and there's still no demand for him now.
    65AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:57
    I know the name, but looking at the photo I honestly can't tell who's who anymore. Drugs are scary.
    70AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:07
    While we're at it, bring in Kiyohara, Norippy, Sawajiri, Pierre Taki, Iseya, Taguchi, Shimiken, Konomoto, Ishida, Akasaka, and Oshio too. (all Japanese celebrities with past drug arrests)
    79AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:39
    Couldn't help but think — if they did a talk session on YouTube, it'd probably blow up.
    80AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:41
    Feels like the meeting venue itself doubles as their supplier.
    82AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:53
    Supporting each other might actually be a good thing.
    They get each other's struggles, after all.

    Background and Discussion Points

    Masashi Tashiro has been arrested multiple times over stimulant-drug incidents, and Michio Kochi was arrested in 2016 for violating the Stimulants Control Act, receiving a suspended sentence. Kiyoshi Tanaka was also convicted under the same law and served actual prison time, resuming his entertainment career after his release. This latest photo appears to have been taken at a self-help group meeting aimed at supporting recovery from addiction, and seems to have been shared as an example of people in similar situations supporting one another. Reactions on the thread were split between surprise at “a combination that could never happen on network TV,” jokes poking fun at their shared drug history (like dubbing them “the Three Drug Brothers”), and comments cheering on their recovery. It should be noted that, based on the original article alone, it isn’t confirmed whether all three attended the same organization’s meeting or one held for the same purpose.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5channel (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “Kiyoshi Tanaka Shares Photo Captioned “With Kochi-san and Tashiro-san,” Sparking Surprise That “This Could Never Happen on Network TV” — Trio Attends Drug Addiction Recovery Meeting.”

  • Yoshiko Mita to Move In With Her Imprisoned Son — Family Once Branded a “Mooching Hell”

    Actress Yoshiko Mita has decided to live together with her second son, Yuya Takahashi, who is currently serving time for violating the Stimulants Control Act, according to a report from “Josei Seven Plus.” Takahashi was first arrested in 1998 as a high school senior and has since been arrested repeatedly on drug-related charges; at the time, Mita drew criticism for reportedly giving him a monthly allowance of over 500,000 yen. On 5ch, the thread buzzed with jabs at the mother (“it’s about time she cut the apron strings”), discussion of the system requiring a guarantor for parole, and claims that the family had several other “problem children.”

    Yoshiko Mita Reportedly “Decides to Live Together” With Imprisoned Son Yuya Takahashi… “I’ll Take His Whole Fee” — Family Once Reported as Trapped in “Mooching Hell”

    In a report published September 18 by “Josei Seven Plus,” actress Yoshiko Mita was said to have decided to move in with her second son, Yuya Takahashi.

    “Mita’s second son, Yuya Takahashi, who has worked as a singer and actor, has been arrested repeatedly on suspicion of violating the Stimulants Control Act. When he was first arrested in 1998, he was a high school senior. At the time, it was also reported that Mita was giving the suspect Takahashi a monthly allowance of over 500,000 yen, drawing criticism for her overprotectiveness.

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

    2AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:57
    Seriously, cut the apron strings already.
    He's long past adulthood — let him fend for himself.
    3AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:58
    She's at the age where she should be the one getting cared for…
    52AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:20
    Re: #3
    Sounds like she's fully planning on making him care for her someday.
    She's never given a thought to his feelings, not even when he was a kid.
    60AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:22
    Re: #52
    It's probably the serious, low-key eldest son who ends up as her caregiver.
    He was raised pretty strictly. The second son, who she doted on more, turned out like this because she spoiled him.
    6AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:58
    Best Mother: Yoshiko Mita
    Best Father: Ebizō (has a secret child)
    7AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:59
    Seriously, just cut him off already.
    If she actually moves in with him, she'll probably end up dead.
    8AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:59
    Once he burns through the inheritance, he'll probably do something stupid and get arrested again.
    9AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:59
    What happens after she's gone?
    He'll probably blow the inheritance living it up, run out of money fast, and turn to crime.
    12AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:01
    What really shocks me is that he was in prison…
    I thought he'd gotten married and had kids.
    51AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:19
    Re: #12
    Same, my memory of him stopped right there too.
    18AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:03
    If the 500,000-yen allowance is true, I want Mita to adopt me too (´・ω・`)
    20AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:04
    If she's handing out allowances like that, I'll gladly volunteer to be her son.
    21AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:05
    No, that's not it.
    His mother has to act as guarantor for him to get parole, right?
    So this "living together" thing is basically forced on her.
    Once he's served his full term after parole, she'll kick him out again.
    32AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:10
    Re: #21
    What happens in cases like this if you can't find a guarantor?
    Does that mean you can't get out even after serving your full sentence?
    42AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:17
    Re: #32
    Doesn't a probation volunteer (hogoshi) get assigned instead?
    48AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:18
    Re: #32
    I don't know the details either, but if you serve out your full sentence you shouldn't need a guarantor.
    A guarantor is only required for parole before the sentence is fully served.
    But apparently if you don't have a guarantor, you can still get parole by living at a rehabilitation facility until your term is up.
    22AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:05
    Cut ties and make him stand on his own two feet. Coddling him is exactly why he keeps running back to drugs.
    23AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:05
    Wasn't there also that time a car Mita bought him ended up being used in a murder case?
    25AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:06
    Worse than any celebrity nepo-kid out there.
    He's even tied, indirectly, to a past murder case through lending out that car.
    33AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:10
    Re: #25
    Keiko Awaji's son was pretty wild too, you know.
    Though he ended up taking his own life in the end, so I guess he's "better" than this idiot son.
    26AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:07
    Well, the mother earned and paid taxes enough to cover her son's share too.
    That's still more of a contribution to society than plenty of ordinary people manage.
    27AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:07
    It's wild that even with this many arrests for addiction, it took this long for him to actually get real prison time.
    So what does that say about young people who get sent to prison over far fewer drug offenses?
    Or was he dodging real sentences this whole time thanks to his parents' influence?
    30AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:10
    I only remember the first incident.
    Had no idea he'd done it that many times.
    31AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:10
    Was this son basically an errand boy, getting used and exploited by all kinds of people?
    34AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:12
    First things first, three years at Totsuka Yacht School (a notoriously harsh Japanese "delinquent reform" boot camp).
    Use that allowance money to pay for it.
    35AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:12
    Re: #33
    So there were other problem sons besides this still-living idiot one?
    65AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:23
    Re: #35
    Eldest son: declared bankruptcy
    Second son: no details available, an ordinary private citizen
    Third son: died in a traffic accident
    Fourth son: broke into the family home to steal, was arrested, then took his own life
    36AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:13
    Only two years in prison even on his fifth arrest?
    That's an incredibly light sentence.
    Seems pretty likely he'll be right back at it once he's out.
    50AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:19
    Her son probably told her she had to be his guarantor to get bail, and she reluctantly agreed, ending up stuck living with him.

    In the past she would've just dumped the whole thing on her close friend Lee Ryeo-seon and looked the other way, but now that Lee has passed away, she had no choice but to take him in herself.
    She'll probably cut him loose again once he's out and they've lived together just for show.
    61AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:22
    Re: #50
    Ah, so that's the real story.
    Guess she doesn't have much of a maternal instinct after all.
    57AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:21
    Wasn't Yoshiko Mita ranked #1 on Japan's top-earners list back in the '90s?
    Makes you wonder where all that money kept coming from.
    66AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:23
    Re: #57
    She played the ideal Japanese mother on screen and was the reigning "queen of commercials" from the '90s onward.

    Background and Key Points of the Discussion

    For someone serving time on charges like drug offenses to be granted parole, a guarantor (identity guarantor) is often required, and it’s not unusual for a family member to take on that role on condition of living together. In the thread, one recurring view was that this “decision to live together” may be less about rebuilding an emotional bond and more a practical necessity tied to that system. The Mita family has repeatedly made headlines as a “mooching hell” ever since the son’s first arrest in 1998, when it emerged that Mita had been giving him a large monthly allowance, and this latest news is being read against that backdrop. That said, some posts speculate well beyond what’s publicly confirmed, including claims about other siblings’ histories, so it’s worth noting that parts of this remain unverified.

    *This article was compiled by excerpting and summarizing the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[Entertainment] Yoshiko Mita Reportedly “Decides to Live Together” With Imprisoned Son Yuya Takahashi… “I’ll Take His Whole Fee” — Once Reported as “Mooching Hell”.”

  • Aiko Wada: ‘Koji Tamaki is one of the top one or two male singers — his singing is just incredible’

    On the TOKYO MX YouTube show “Aiko Wada Becomes Best Friends with an AI Smartphone,” streamed on the 19th, Aiko Wada heaped praise on singer Koji Tamaki — a favorite impression of comedy impressionist Mr. Shachihoko — saying, “He’s such an amazing singer, I’d put him at number one or two among men.” The remark set off a singing-skill debate on 5channel’s Entertainment/Sports News+ board over “who’s really number one,” with names like Yosui Inoue, Akira Fuse, Chiharu Matsuyama, ASKA, Hideki Saijo, MISIA, and Toshinobu Kubota all coming up one after another. Some judged by vocal power, others by tone or expressiveness, and there was even disagreement over what “good singing” actually means.

    Sat, Sep 19, 10:48 PM

    Singer Aiko Wada (76) appeared in an update posted on the 19th to TOKYO MX’s YouTube channel “Aiko Wada Becomes Best Friends with an AI Smartphone,” where she spoke about a male singer she’d rank as “number one or two.”

    The episode featured impressionist Mr. Shachihoko as a guest. When Tamaki’s name came up among his impression repertoire, Akko (Wada’s nickname) gushed, “He’s such an amazing singer, I’d put him at number one or two among men.”

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

    2AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:09
    So you're saying you were looking down on Hiroshi Itsuki and Saburo Kitajima this whole time?
    6AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:13
    Yosui Inoue is #1, no question.
    31AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:33
    Re: #6
    They aired an old Anzen Chitai & Yosui Inoue concert on TV the other day (Anzen Chitai = Tamaki's band), and yeah, Inoue's greatness really stood out.
    37AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:37
    Re: #6
    I like Yosui Inoue best too. He and Miyuki Nakajima are the only ones who are truly, genuinely skilled.
    7AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:14
    There's this whole trend where if someone asks 'who's a great singer,' you just say Koji Tamaki and call it a day.
    8AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:15
    For women, the great singers are MISIA, Mari Hamada, and Akane Minato.
    12AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:17
    Re: #8
    I don't like MISIA. She sings like she's going 'aren't I such a great singer,' just getting herself off on it.
    56AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:48
    Re: #8
    Honestly I think Miwa Yoshida at her peak was better than MISIA. Something about MISIA's voice and enunciation feels muffled to me — not that I'm a huge Yoshida fan either, but still.
    9AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:16
    Nobody can touch Kyo from Dir en grey.
    10AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:17
    It's less about skill and more that his voice is just good — not muffled in the low register, not grating up high.
    11AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:17
    What's the actual standard for 'good singing' here anyway? I'm sick to death of all this high-tone belting lately.
    13AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:17
    Does Horipro basically have to force Tokyo MX's YouTube channel to give Wada a show no matter what? (lol) (Horipro = Wada's talent agency)
    14AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:18
    He's good, but sometimes he over-arranges a song to the point the original barely survives.
    15AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:18
    Re: #1
    Chiharu Matsuyama: 'Obviously I'm the best singer around!'
    18AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:21
    His tone isn't even that great though.
    19AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:26
    Overrated. Toshinobu Kubota is way better, hands down.
    27AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:33
    Re: #19
    Kubota's the one who's overrated. His singing style is just a knockoff of Black music. All he's got is vocal power — same as MISIA.
    42AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:38
    Re: #27
    Kubota was on Utaban once for a segment testing vocal range, and his range turned out to be really narrow — even he panicked. (Utaban = a Japanese music variety show)
    21AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:27
    Tamaki's probably like 10th at best.
    22AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:28
    I want to know who's #1 and #2. In rankings of Japan's best singers as voted by music-industry people and musicians, Koji Tamaki is always #1.
    25AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:32
    No vocal power doesn't automatically mean 'skilled,' right? A thin voice that sounds like it's about to give out isn't what I'd call good singing.
    26AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:33
    I thought 'wow, what an incredible newcomer' listening to Hiromi Iwasaki sing — then Takashi Hosokawa came out and blew me away.
    33AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:34
    All-time, I'd have to say Hideki Saijo. The guy was just absurd.
    Re: #26
    Takashi Hosokawa's great too.
    34AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:34
    Re: #26
    What an insane old man, lol
    57AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:50
    Re: #26
    That Newcomer Award race was intense. The Grand Prize song 'Cyclamen' was great too.
    28AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:33
    It's ugly how Tamaki fanboys keep trashing other artists.
    29AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:33
    It's ASKA, obviously.
    45AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:40
    Re: #29
    Did you actually listen to that duet track that just came out? Different styles aside, Tamaki's emotional delivery felt way above the rest to me.
    30AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:33
    Tamaki's voice is totally different depending on the era. Honestly I'm not a huge fan of the thick, growly voice with all the vocal runs he's been doing lately.
    32AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:34
    Akira Fuse or Chiharu Matsuyama, maybe?
    46AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:40
    Re: #32
    And Masashi Sada — the one guy Chiharu himself admits is good.
    36AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:35
    Enka singers who started out in min'yo folk singing are all great — it's so obvious nobody even bothers pointing it out. (min'yo = traditional Japanese folk song)
    40AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:37
    Re: #36
    I saw Kohei Fukuda on Nodo Jiman and he was great — way better than when I saw him on Kohaku. (Nodo Jiman = amateur singing show; Kohaku = NHK's New Year's Eve music special)
    58AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:50
    Isn't Higedan's vocalist way better though?
    There's no way Tamaki could pull off those long tones even doing a handstand. (Higedan = the band Official HIGE DANdism)
    65AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:54
    Re: #58
    Higedan? No way.
    72AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:01
    Re: #58
    Today's songs are technically way harder to sing — Tamaki's stuff is just flat-rhythm old-school kayokyoku pop.
    78AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:04
    What even is the definition of 'good singing' anyway? Vocal power's non-negotiable, I guess.
    80AnonymousSep 20, 2026 00:05
    Re: #78

    Melodies are completely tapped out these days.

    Everything just ends up sounding the same.

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    The remark was sparked when Koji Tamaki happened to turn up in impressionist Mr. Shachihoko’s repertoire, prompting Aiko Wada to blurt out her honest opinion. The claim that “Koji Tamaki always ranks #1ollo in vocal-skill rankings voted on by music-industry insiders and musicians” has long circulated in the entertainment world, though no specific survey or source is clearly identified. In the thread, people who judge by vocal power, people who judge by tone and sustained long notes, and people who judge by expressiveness and vocal-run technique each named different singers — the fact that “good singing” has no single yardstick was a major source of the talking-past-each-other. While support for veteran acts like Yosui Inoue, Akira Fuse, and Chiharu Matsuyama stayed strong, opinions were split on newer-generation artists like MISIA and Toshinobu Kubota too, hinting at a generational divide in taste.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5channel (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “Aiko Wada: ‘Koji Tamaki is one of the top one or two male singers — his singing is just incredible’.”

  • Athlete wins competition despite diarrhea, later forfeits points — 5ch: “Continuing without disinfecting shared equipment is rough”

    CNN reported that at a HYROX competition — an indoor fitness event — an athlete continued competing despite suffering from diarrhea and went on to win. The athlete later apologized, saying she was “truly sorry,” and voluntarily forfeited the points she had earned. Since the venue and equipment were shared among competitors, reactions on 5ch were split between criticism over hygiene and the impact on other athletes, and praise for the grit of pushing through while unwell — with many posters also citing similar episodes from other sports.

    CNN

    Sat, Sep 19, 15:13 JST

    At a HYROX competition, an indoor fitness event, an athlete continued competing while covered in diarrhea — and went on to win.

    Source: cnn.co.jp / Read the original article here

    2AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:18
    Watching Showa-era retro exploration videos beats watching the Omiya Park mascot 'Peace-kun' on YouTube any day.
    3AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:19
    I mean, stomach cramps happen — can't really be helped…
    96AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:39
    Re: #3
    Accidents happen, sure, that's understandable. But continuing the event and smearing poop everywhere afterward? That's just crappy.
    4AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:19
    Marathon runners run while soiling themselves all the time. If you're drawing a line, I guess pee's fine but poop means you withdraw, lol.
    67AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:33
    Re: #4
    That Daihatsu women's marathon runner finished her race covered in diarrhea too, you know.
    6AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:20
    Nobody wins in this scenario. The athlete should just quietly celebrate, and everyone else should quietly pretend it never happened.
    7AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:21
    If she hadn't apologized and given the points back, she probably would've been banned for life or something.
    8AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:21
    Wait, I thought this was pee — it was actually poop?
    12AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:23
    Japanese athletes have such good manners that when nature calls, they promptly step out of the competition.
    13AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:23
    There's no competition worth continuing through diarrhea. She might've given it her all, but that's honestly way too self-centered.
    14AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:23
    She was saying 'a win's a win' at first — guess the backlash got to her. Well, the poop was interfering with other competitors, so fair enough.
    15AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:23
    Lol, this is turning into an 'Urayasu'-style scandal (apparent reference to some other incident) — still, that's some serious guts.
    19AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:24
    Spreading E. coli and Salmonella everywhere — that's basically bioterrorism.
    20AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:24
    BIOTERROR HAS ARRIVED ━━━━(°∀°)━━━━!!
    21AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:24
    This was an indoor event with other athletes competing at the same time. The floor and equipment kept getting contaminated with diarrhea one after another — not stopping her is the crazy part. Worst case, this could've turned into a norovirus outbreak.
    22AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:25
    Ororororororororororororororororororororororororororo (sound effect for retching/diarrhea)
    25AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:25
    She went through all that trouble soiling herself to win, then just handed the points back lmaooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
    32AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:26
    I heard marathon runners, when they need to poop, just do it mid-run, wrap it in paper, and toss it aside.
    33AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:26
    If this gets a pass, it'll wreck HYROX as a sports business.

    If one athlete soils herself and the event doesn't stop, the other competitors will just drop out on the spot — meaning the one who pooped wins by default. That's a total crap-cheat.
    57AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:31
    Starting tomorrow her nickname is 'Poop Man.'
    81AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:36
    Re: #57
    It's a woman.

    Good or bad aside, that's a different level of guts.
    63AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:33
    In sumo, does wetting yourself count as an automatic loss too?
    73AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:34
    It's rough because the equipment is shared. Other sports probably have similar accidents, but continuing on afterward without disinfecting is rough.
    94AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:39
    Re: #73
    If you've never watched HYROX and don't know what gets shared, you probably won't get it.

    Can't help that a lot of people in this thread don't understand what the actual problem is.
    99AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:40
    This isn't Mario Kart — items should be banned.
    102AnonymousSep 19, 2026 23:40
    Re: #99
    It used to be part of her body, so it's allowed.

    Background and key points of this story

    HYROX is a competition format that alternates between running and functional exercises like carrying heavy loads, and events are typically run with multiple athletes sharing the same indoor venue in rotation. What made this case a real issue — beyond simply being an unfortunate illness — was that the floor and equipment were shared between competitors. In the 5ch reactions, criticism focused less on sympathy for the symptoms and more on the fact that she continued without disinfecting, with the discussion centering on fairness and the safety of other athletes. Some posts speculated about the athlete’s nationality, but the reporting contained no information identifying it, so such claims are baseless assumptions worth noting. Many commenters also cited similar anecdotes from other sports like marathon running, highlighting a broader question for event organizers: where exactly to draw the line between illness and continuing to compete.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports Sokuho+) thread “Athlete continues competing covered in diarrhea, slipping on the indoor venue floor — despite winning, says ‘I’m truly sorry’ and forfeits the points earned.”

  • STARTO Announces Suspension for timelesz’s Shuto Inomata — 5ch Reacts: ‘I Don’t Get Why They Won’t Just Fire Him’

    On September 19, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT announced on its official website that Shuto Inomata of timelesz, one of its contracted talents, had been arrested, revealing that — since the facts of the case have not yet been confirmed — the agency was responding with a suspension and hiatus from activities rather than termination. In the 5ch (Geinou/Sports Express+) thread reacting to the news, voices asking “why not just fire him right away” clashed with those saying “it’s not normal to fire someone while he denies the charges and the facts aren’t established.” Posts also brought up past cases of group members who kept working despite violence incidents, with some questioning the consistency of the agency’s response.

    On the 19th, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT updated its official website to report that Shuto Inomata of the 8-member group timelesz had been arrested.

    ■ Below is the full text of the report posted on STARTO ENTERTAINMENT’s official website

    Notice Regarding Our Contracted Talent Shuto Inomata

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

    2AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:07
    Suspension? Hiatus?
    Not fired?
    What's this 'taking it seriously' supposed to mean?
    7AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:08
    Re: #2
    He's denying it and the facts still aren't confirmed — you don't normally fire someone at this stage.
    15AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:11
    Re: #2
    Couldn't you read the word 'serious'?
    25AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:14
    Re: #2
    This is probably all they can do right now —
    they probably haven't even reached him yet.
    5AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:08
    He got arrested, right?
    Just fire him already.
    His character isn't going to change.
    8AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:08
    Nah, this guy should definitely be fired.
    10AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:10
    No matter how this shakes out, the haters are having the time of their lives lol
    14AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:11
    Once you're outed as a domestic abuser, staying on as an idol is a tough sell.
    17AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:12
    Not kicking him out of the group or terminating his contract —
    such a warm-hearted, model company, that Johnny's.
    20AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:13
    If the details are still unclear, well, fair enough —
    maybe a breakup went sideways, he got scared of ending up a revenge-porn victim, and panicked.
    21AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:13
    Wait, they're not firing him?
    All his fans are gonna jump ship to other agencies.
    29AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:14
    This guy cheated with multiple married women and did meth —
    hasn't changed a bit since his stuck-in-a-rut 'Bulldog' days. Total washout.
    30AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:14
    Suspended until the heat dies down —
    if the charges turn out light he'll probably come back,
    but this one's probably a group exit.
    31AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:14
    If it's already established that he hit someone, I don't get why they wouldn't fire him.
    32AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:14
    Well, one arrest alone probably isn't grounds for firing him.
    33AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:15
    Soshina (the comedian) said this too, but since there's a third party victim involved, it's worse than something like drugs.
    34AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:15
    Not an immediate firing, huh —
    well, once the heat dies down he'll probably leave the group anyway.
    35AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:15
    Honestly, there's no company out there that fires you just for smacking your own girlfriend a bit.
    41AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:16
    Re: #35
    This is a company whose whole business runs on female fans, though.
    37AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:16
    If he's not indicted, it'll end with just a suspension —
    if he is indicted, he's out —
    but yeah, he's probably not getting indicted.
    40AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:16
    It's a bigger blow if she was his girlfriend —
    probably means leaving the agency.
    43AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:17
    Hard to accept getting taken down by someone who never went through the hazing or the Junior years.
    44AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:17
    Nah, for Johnny's fangirls the charge itself doesn't matter —
    whether she was his girlfriend or not is the real issue.
    Since she was his girlfriend, that's a 100% dealbreaker — he's done.
    45AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:17
    Kusanagi and Inagaki both got arrested and still stayed in SMAP, after all.
    48AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:18
    Can't trust someone who never paid their dues coming up through the ranks.
    51AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:19
    Re: #48
    Though there's also a guy who threw a cream puff during his training days and still smoothly landed a Fujiya commercial.
    57AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:19
    Even if they broadcast his release live, most people would just go 'who even are you?'
    67AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:21
    Re: #57
    I misread that as a 'urination scene' lol —
    guess Silver Week's got me subconsciously giddy.
    61AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:20
    At the very least, he's worthless as a commercial spokesperson now.
    70AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:22
    Re: #61
    I want them to swap his Chicken Ramen commercial back to that old 'Ii Jan' anime jingle version just to drive his fans crazy.
    68AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:22
    They already brought Iwamoto from SnowMan back after he committed even worse violence than this guy, so…
    86AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:25
    Re: #68
    Exactly this. Feels like another SnowMan member messed up too.

    With one incident after another, if they don't start firing people the group's image is just going to keep tanking.
    83AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:25
    As soft on this as ever — even though he's causing huge headaches for the sponsors.
    90AnonymousSep 19, 2026 22:26
    Re: #83
    The sponsors want to keep using Johnny's talent too, so they don't want to make a big deal of it either.

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    A “suspension/activity hiatus” announcement is different from termination — it’s a standard agency response that holds off on a final decision until an investigation or trial concludes, much like how Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and Goro Inagaki kept working as SMAP even after being arrested; an arrest doesn’t automatically mean a contract gets torn up. On the thread, reactions of “why not just fire him now” were common, but others noted that he reportedly denies the allegations and that firing someone before the facts are confirmed isn’t typical, so opinions were split. Note that several posts claimed the other party was his girlfriend, but this can’t be confirmed from the full text of the official announcement and appears to be speculation within the thread. Posts also referenced past cases of group members who kept working despite violent incidents, with some questioning the consistency of the agency’s response.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports Express+) thread “STARTO Announces Suspension/Activity Hiatus for timelesz’s Shuto Inomata [Full Text].”

  • Kanō Sisters Reply ‘We Can’t See It’ to 100-Yen Question, Leaving Actor Shuzuka Ōji Speechless — ‘Beasts Clinging to Straw’ Interview

    Asked by actor Shuzuka Ōji, “What would you do if you found 100 yen lying on the street?”, the Kanō Sisters shot back instantly: “We can’t see it.” The moment came from an interview streamed on the Toei Movie Channel as a promotional tie-in for the film “Beasts Clinging to Straw” (opening September 25), and it became a hot topic on 5ch’s Entertainment & Sports News+ board. Commenters lined up to praise the Kanō Sisters’ “sheer dedication” to a consistent celebrity persona maintained for over 30 years, while speculation about their real ages and true faces also flew back and forth, pulling the thread further and further from the original topic.

    September 19, 2026

    “What would you do if you found 100 yen lying on the street?” — Asked this by actor Shuzuka Ōji, the Kanō Sisters answered: “We can’t see it.” A special interview between Ōji and the Kanō Sisters, produced to commemorate the release of the film “Beasts Clinging to Straw” (opening September 25), is now streaming on the Toei Movie Channel (YouTube). To a story built around the temptation of 100 million yen, Japan’s foremost celebrities gave an answer that was both funny and, strangely, kind of touching.

    Playing off the film’s premise of a struggling college-student YouTuber as its protagonist, Ōji carried out a “Big Five” YouTube crossover project, hopping between the channels of Diane’s Atsuhiro Tsuda, Aoki Macho, Dennis, Reiwa Roman, and Kuruma Takahira. The secret guest revealed at the end on the Toei Movie Channel was none other than the Kanō Sisters — arguably the biggest celebrity get in Toei promotional history.

    Source: cinematoday.jp / Original article here

    3AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:56
    Somebody report this to the police box right now
    46AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:42
    Re: #3
    I'm always honest — even the neighbors say so
    7AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:58
    Demon Kogure and the Kanō Sisters' commitment to their characters is straight-up professional.
    Seriously impressive.
    13AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:06
    Re: #7
    What about Madame Dewi Sukarno, Gackt, and Mitsuhiro Oikawa?
    9AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:59
    The Kanō Sisters have been on TV as a duo since around 1990, so that's 36 years in the business.
    If they were 30 or 35 back then, wouldn't that make them 66 or 71 now?
    20AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:13
    Re: #9
    If it's Mika Kanō, she was born in September 1967
    11AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:02
    Never thought much about it before, but they must be seriously smart.
    Keeping a celebrity persona going while never saying anything that'd get you truly hated sounds incredibly hard.
    12AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:03
    Back in the day the Kanō Sisters used to show up at the 24-Hour TV telethon with jars full of coins to donate.
    14AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:07
    Good to hear.
    Lady Kyoko still seems to be doing just fine.
    16AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:10
    Forget all that — I can't sleep at night until someone explains what's going on with those knockers.
    23AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:15
    Re: #16
    Shouldn't that be 'I can only sleep at night'?
    18AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:12
    Mika looks like she's about to burst (´・ω・｀)
    19AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:13
    Re: #13
    Madame Dewi → that's just her natural self
    GACKT → the whole persona is vague except for the looks.
    Mitsuhiro Oikawa → he's just being feminine, that's all.
    21AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:14
    Not sure what exactly they're pros AT, but these two really do give off pro energy.
    24AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:15
    I liked the Kanō Sisters back when I was young.
    So Mika was 36 at the time?
    No wonder she was gorgeous.
    27AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:17
    Are the Kanō Sisters pushing 60 by now?
    28AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:18
    They're so thorough about it that it never comes off as annoying.
    Keeping it up must be exhausting, and living up to expectations every single time even more so.
    29AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:21
    I've always pictured the Kanō Sisters growing up in tough circumstances, like the Little Match Girl, working hard and hard, and eventually getting discovered by someone along the way — that's just my own headcanon, sorry if it's totally wrong.
    30AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:21
    It's amazing they've kept this same stance forever without ever getting dragged for it.
    I genuinely respect it.
    31AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:23
    Feels like they're one of the few real "professional talents" left these days.
    32AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:23
    What's their actual day job anyway?
    35AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:26
    Re: #32
    Full-time persona actors
    33AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:24
    Once they get a bit older they should become Buddhist nuns, like Jakuchō Setouchi.
    34AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:25
    They never use harsh language, which is why they're popular — but I wonder if in real life they ever tear into someone verbally? Probably not even then, huh?
    37AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:28
    They got popular from the 'total cost of your outfit' segment on Downtown DX, right?
    38AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:29
    Re: #1
    Item #2 is showing up as garbled text ('お?焉')
    40AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:30
    There was a time I saw coins scattered in front of an empty bench at the supermarket, but I figured some nuisance streamer might be filming from a distance, so I pretended not to notice.
    45AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:39
    Kyoko Kanō is still alive lol
    There were rumors she was seriously ill.
    47AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:44
    This level of commitment to a character deserves real praise. Pro wrestling heels could learn a thing or two.
    49AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:46
    Kyoko Kanō is 63.
    Mika Kanō is 58.
    That's just how it is.

    Background and Talking Points

    The Kanō Sisters have been continuously on television since the early 1990s; working backward from their publicly stated birth years, that puts Kyoko Kanō at 63 and Mika Kanō at 58. This story stems from a promotional project for the film “Beasts Clinging to Straw” (opening September 25), in which actor Shuzuka Ōji hopped between multiple YouTube channels, culminating in the Kanō Sisters appearing as the secret guest on the Toei Movie Channel. Commenters on the thread mainly praised the sisters for never breaking from their shared “celebrity” persona over more than 30 years, with several posts comparing them to other public figures who maintain distinct personas, such as Madame Dewi Sukarno and GACKT. Some replies also touched on unverified rumors about their real ages, true appearance, and health, but since these claims can’t be factually confirmed, they are not covered in this article. Likewise, a separate tangent about an unrelated money scandal that drifted away from the main topic has been left out as irrelevant to this piece.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Entertainment & Sports News+) thread “Kanō Sisters, what if you found 100 yen on the street? Their next-level money philosophy leaves Shuzuka Ōji speechless — ‘Beasts Clinging to Straw’.”

  • Jiro Sato Sticks to His Diet and Exercise, Still Gains 0.1kg: ‘Sorry, I’m So Shocked I Can’t Even Think of a Comparison’

    Actor Jiro Sato (57) posted on X on the 19th, revealing that despite three straight days of dieting and exercise, his weight had actually gone up by 0.1kg. In the post he wrote, “Sorry, I’m so shocked I can’t even think of anything to compare it to,” expressing his frustration that his efforts weren’t reflected in the numbers. Reactions on 5ch were split, with some pointing out that this falls well within normal weight fluctuation, while others responded coolly, citing his past roles and behavior.

    September 19, 2026, 1:21 PM

    Actor Jiro Sato (57) posted on X on the 19th, reporting a shocking turn of events.

    Sato wrote, “Personally, I’d kept up both dieting and exercise successfully for three days straight, so when my weight went up by 0.1kg, the shock was so big that — sorry, it’s so shocking I can’t even come up with a comparison” — expressing his frustration at facing the reality of a slight weight gain despite his self-restraint.

    Source: news.livedoor.com / Original article here

    2AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:00
    No talk about 'Bayside Shakedown' allowed
    3AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:01
    In a way he's whinier than Ai Hashimoto
    Clingy, sticky, endless self-referential rambling
    4AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:01
    This old guy is way too much of an attention-seeker
    6AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:02
    You never need to appear in the media again, thanks for your service
    8AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:03
    If you're over 80kg, a 2kg swing from water weight alone is just margin of error
    9AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:03
    That's where you're supposed to say, 'Ohh~ patience, patience!' (his own catchphrase)
    10AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:03
    Ohhhh, shocked, shocked (not actually shocked)
    15AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:04
    Re: #1
    While secretly losing it inside from the passive mood he's putting off…
    　　　　／⌒Ｙ⌒＼　　　　uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh
    　　 ／　　　　　　　＼ uh-huh uh-huh riiight, yeah
    　 /　　　　 ∧　　　 ∧　　uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh
    　 |　　从（（　））从　　|　uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh
    　 Ｖ /　 ノ　　ヽ　 Ｖ /　there there, there there, yeah yeah
    　(^Y　 ´￣ | ￣`　 Y^)　uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh
    　 Ｖ 　 ノ ヽ_ノ ヽ 　 Ｖ
    　　|　　（／￣＼）　　|　Patience! Patience!
    　　|　　ꓽꓽ.　　　 .ꓽꓽ　　|
    　　＞ーヽꓽꓽꓽꓽꓽ:ノー＜
    　　|　 　 |　￣　| 　 　|
    　　|　|　 | ￣￣.|　 |　|
    16AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:05
    A lot of actors who came up through theater troupes are pretty immature, huh
    20AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:06
    Did he finally snap? Nothing good ever comes from getting involved with Fuji TV
    22AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:07
    Why does his agency just let this slide?
    23AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:07
    Does every little thing like this really need to become a news article?
    26AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:07
    No other celebrity uses X like this
    How much attention does this guy need?
    31AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:09
    Expect zero results even after sticking with it seriously for 3 months
    33AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:10
    What you're lacking is… that's right!
    Passion! Ideology! Principles! Intellect! Grace! Elegance! Diligence!!
    And above all… you lack patience!!!
    38AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:11
    Re: #1
    What is this guy
    even talking about?!!!!!!!!!!!!
    40AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:12
    If anything, has he ever actually shown patience even once?
    44AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:12
    HAAAAAAAH!!!
    Patience, patience!
    46AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:12
    Opened the thread and it was some utterly pointless content
    47AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:12
    There's a lameness to this that reminds me of Nagisa Watanabe (a TV announcer known for attention-grabbing scandals)
    49AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:13
    He had a way bigger role in Bayside Shakedown than I expected
    61AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:17
    Re: #49
    The Bayside Shakedown movies
    are unpopular with younger viewers, which says it all
    Feel bad for Oda though (lead actor Yuji Oda)
    52AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:15
    Huh?? 0.1kg is just water weight and whatever he ate
    What is with this guy
    53AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:16
    At first, support for Jiro Sato was overwhelming,
    but after making a fool of himself on social media, it's now split fifty-fifty
    60AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:17
    Re: #53
    Fifty-fifty? lol
    Barely anyone supports him at this point lol
    63AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:18
    90% of people who say they can't lose weight are just overeating
    100AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:35
    Re: #63
    True
    That, and lack of sleep
    93AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:29
    Didn't he quit X?

    Background and Discussion Points

    A weight change of around 0.1kg is generally considered well within the margin of error caused by water retention or a recent meal, and many commenters pointed this out. Jiro Sato is known for his usual style of turning his daily life into material on social media and variety shows, and some saw this post as simply more of the same, while many others felt his overly dramatic phrasing came across as “exaggerated” or “attention-seeking.” Sympathetic reactions were dominant at first, but opinions later split following his subsequent posts, reflecting a broader divide over how celebrities’ social media output should be received.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geisports Sokuho+) thread “Jiro Sato Opens Up: “Sorry, I’m So Shocked I Can’t Even Think of a Comparison”.”

  • ‘Hard-Knock Live’ Packs the Venue — Fans Stunned by the Underdog Unit’s Surprise Drawing Power

    On 5ch’s Love Live! board, a thread blew up over a spin-off unit’s live show drawing a bigger crowd than anyone expected. It kicked off with the post “Wait, this is honestly pulling in more people than Liella!,” followed by reports that Keio Arena was about 90% full and that the nearest station, Tobitakyu, was packed with concertgoers. From there, though, opinions split over whether the franchise should lean into voice-actor-led live shows or keep investing in anime and game spin-offs, and things escalated into fans of different units sniping at each other.

    1AnonymousSep 19, 2026 16:29
    Wait, this is honestly pulling in more people than Liella!…
    7AnonymousSep 19, 2026 16:50
    Kinda hard to believe without photos.
    11AnonymousSep 19, 2026 16:57
    Re: #7,10
    Here, proof:
    13AnonymousSep 19, 2026 16:58
    It's packed, see for yourself
    https://imgur.com/a/tW81xkT
    16AnonymousSep 19, 2026 17:02
    Re: #13
    Fullest I've seen since Nijigasaki's shows.
    21AnonymousSep 19, 2026 17:22
    Tobitakyu Station was full of women who'd come for the show.
    That's the power of the 'hard-knock club' right there.
    28AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:00
    Re: #21
    That's just the Ajinomoto Stadium crowd.
    29AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:01
    When's the last time Liella! actually managed a full house?
    45AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:15
    Re: #29
    Day one of the Yokohama Arena 7th anniversary live.
    30AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:12
    Genuinely impressive.
    Thought they'd lose steam by their 2nd live.
    33AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:39
    Re: #30
    Same, honestly. Makes me wonder if a fair number of people got into Hasunosora partway through and now want to go back and watch Love Live! from the very start.
    32AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:38
    Do we even need anime or games anymore?
    They just eat up resources for nothing.

    If the 'hard-knock' unit (a pun on "ikizurai," meaning "rough life," + live) can pull numbers like this without any major activity behind them, why bother?
    34AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:41
    Re: #32
    If there's no anime or app announcement tomorrow, I bet the 3rd live ends up on the scale of Utahime Dream.
    42AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:03
    Not bad at all — if otaku will drop this much money without the company spending big, then management's approach was the right call.
    46AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:32
    Should be wrapping up soon.
    Any announcements yet?
    47AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:44
    Re: #46
    Encore's done — they played a new song, did "Himitsu Michi," and now they're in the MC segment.
    49AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:52
    With 10 members, the MC segment really drags.
    56AnonymousSep 19, 2026 20:00
    Re: #49
    Oh yeah, true. With 11 of them, you'd just head home, huh.
    70AnonymousSep 19, 2026 20:09
    Bailing out early—
    73AnonymousSep 19, 2026 20:11
    Weren't there tickets left over for this one? Did it end up filling up after all?
    Either way, guess "Hoshi" (fan nickname for one of the units) is still the weakest link.
    75AnonymousSep 19, 2026 20:13
    Re: #73
    Of course it fills up when they starve you of any project for over six months to build up demand.
    And on top of that, they just used the μ's name to pull people in.
    Why not have Nijigasaki or Aqours try running lives at the same pace as Liella!?
    Look at what happened with Nijigasaki's "Gala Trip" tour last year, for that matter.
    78AnonymousSep 19, 2026 20:16
    Re: #73
    In the end, neither day sold out.
    79AnonymousSep 19, 2026 20:16
    Was this one also loaded with vocal overdubs ("kabuse" — prerecorded vocals layered over the live singing) again? Last time that ruined it for me, so I skipped the stream this time.
    93AnonymousSep 19, 2026 20:27
    Re: #79
    Pretty sure there was almost no overdubbing this time.
    85AnonymousSep 19, 2026 20:24
    Even if they announce an anime here, nobody's gonna get hyped.
    They're just using the μ's name to grab attention.
    Nijigasaki's finally wrapping up, so stop wasting resources on some spin-off unit.
    90AnonymousSep 19, 2026 20:26
    Re: #85
    The "Gala Liella!" tour is winding down too, though.
    91AnonymousSep 19, 2026 20:26
    Unlike Liella!'s rented stage, the staging here was actually elaborate and well done.
    And unlike Liella!, they've announced tomorrow won't just be a copy-pasted setlist lol
    94AnonymousSep 19, 2026 20:27
    Re: #91
    Nah, the stage was way too cheap-looking.
    They're just papering over it with a few props you could rent for a bit of cash.

    Background and Key Points of the Discussion

    The Love Live! franchise runs several units in parallel — μ’s, Aqours, Nijigasaki, Liella!, and others — and fans frequently compare each unit’s live attendance numbers. The spin-off unit at the center of this thread drew a crowd without any major anime or game tie-in behind it, which is exactly what got people interested in just how many fans a voice-actor-led live show alone can pull in. The thread’s disagreement centered on whether a revenue model built around voice-actor lives — without accompanying anime or game rollout — should be seen as healthy, or as lacking depth as a piece of content; it’s a debate that resurfaces every time a new unit joins the franchise. It’s worth noting that the reported seat occupancy and attendance figures come only from firsthand accounts posted in the thread, not from any official announcement.

    *This article was compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Love Live!) thread “Hard-Knock Live Packs the Venue.”

  • “X-Files” star Gillian Anderson says she’s pansexual

    Gillian Anderson, who played Scully in “The X-Files,” has reportedly said she’s pansexual in an interview with Australia’s The Australian. She explained the term herself, saying it means “being attracted to all genders.”

    The 5channel thread covering the news filled up with nostalgic comments about Mulder and Scully’s famous catchphrases and the show’s theme song, while others asked “How’s that different from bisexual?” and expressed confusion over the constant stream of new labels — opinions split over the distinction between the terms.

    Gillian Anderson, known for playing Scully in “The X-Files,” has said in an interview with Australia’s The Australian that she is pansexual.

    Anderson rephrased the term in her own words.

    “Pan, as in pansexual. Meaning I’m attracted to all genders.”

    Source: eiga.com / Original article here

    2AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:52
    Makes me want to listen to that theme song sometimes, you know?
    13AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:58
    Re: #2
    Don't need it, throw it all away
    Wandering, searching for you, my-sou! (seems to be riffing on/misremembering some old song lyrics)
    66AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:38
    Re: #2
    Yeah, it still plays on variety shows every now and then
    6AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:53
    "Mulder, you're just tired" (the famous line Scully says in the Japanese dub whenever Mulder pitches a crazy theory)
    78AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:49
    So far only Re: #6 and Re: #59 have dropped "Mulder, you're just tired" — not long ago this thread would've been wall-to-wall with ANATA TSUKARETERU NO YO… I can feel the times changing, and this old man's shedding banana tears over it (old-school slang for getting misty-eyed and nostalgic)
    80AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:55
    Re: #78
    Nice one, Mr. Talked-About-Behind-Your-Back (a riff on the old idol group name Ushiroyubi Sasare-gumi, "the group pointed at behind their backs")
    9AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:55
    The band BY-SEXUAL was really bad live, actually
    16AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:58
    Re: #9
    The two guys doing ZIGZO aren't that bad though, are they?
    76AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:48
    Re: #9
    Demon Kogure from Seikima II said the same thing on TV once
    10AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:57
    How's that different from bisexual?
    57AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:31
    Re: #47 Re: #10
    "Bi" is Japanese for "double" (a pun — 倍/bai)

    So it basically means you're into everyone — men, women, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans people, all of it
    14AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:58
    Bisexual, 2, 1

    Sounds like Mulder had a rough time with all sorts of stuff too
    18AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:59
    Well, now I've learned another word I didn't know
    19AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:00
    Bread🍞 is bread🍞
    Bread🍞 pa-bread🍞🥖 ("pan" means "bread" in Japanese — the joke plays off "pansexual")
    21AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:02
    Freddie: "I might be bisexual"
    23AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:03
    This world is a beautiful place, worth fighting for…
    I'll agree with that half of it, at least (a nod to the famous Hemingway/Se7en line)
    25AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:05
    She was a beauty back in the day, but yeah, she's an older woman now
    29AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:08
    Re: #25
    True, but even as an older woman she's still gorgeous
    28AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:07
    Ah, I see — so she likes all kinds of bread, huh (another "pan" = bread pun)
    30AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:08
    Mulder: sex addict.
    Scully: pansexual.

    Man, X-Files really was a wild duo
    43AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:16
    Re: #30
    Mulder was addicted to porn videos
    45AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:18
    Re: #30
    That's exactly the kind of wild energy you need to take on all those mysteries
    46AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:19
    Re: #30
    You fight monsters with monsters
    33AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:09
    Coming out at that age still makes headlines, huh
    40AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:15
    What even is "pansexual"? They just keep inventing new categories
    65AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:37
    Re: #40
    Doesn't discriminate — gay, lesbian, whatever, bring it on
    49AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:21
    In Japan that'd be like… "konnyaku-sexual"? (a jab likening it to konnyaku, the bland, shapeless jelly food — i.e. "takes any shape")
    50AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:22
    Didn't X-Files end on some totally out-there plot twist and then get a follow-up after that? Did it ever actually get a proper ending?
    51AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:22
    Mulder had his own addiction too, right? Guess that makes them a win-win couple
    59AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:33
    You're just tired

    Background and key points of this topic

    “Pansexual” refers to a sexual orientation described as “being attracted to all genders,” which distinguishes it from “bisexual” (typically understood as attraction to two genders). This distinction hasn’t fully taken hold in Japan yet, and the thread reflected that — comments like “how is that different from bisexual?” and reactions treating the two terms as identical stood out. Gillian Anderson, known for playing Scully in “The X-Files,” made the remarks in an interview with an Australian newspaper, which is the source of this report. One common misconception worth flagging: pansexual doesn’t describe a specific sexual kink or promiscuity — it simply describes an identity in which romantic and sexual attraction isn’t limited by gender. Some comments in the thread mocked the topic of sexual orientation; those have been excluded from this summary.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (Geinou/Sports News+) thread ““X-Files” Gillian Anderson says she’s pansexual.”

  • Filming Drone Crashes into Nagoya City Hall Annex — 5ch: “The Organizers Are a Mess”

    A drone that had been filming a light-up display at Nagoya City Hall for the Asian Games and Asian Para Games collided with a nearby government building on September 17, it was learned on the 19th from sources involved in the investigation. The filming was being carried out by an organization whose secretariat is run jointly by Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, but the required flight permit had not been filed with the national government beforehand, and Aichi Prefectural Police are investigating on suspicion of violating the Civil Aeronautics Act. On 5ch, more than the collision itself, many took it as just the latest in a string of mishaps plaguing the Games’ management, and distrust in the organizing body spread.

    A drone filming Nagoya City Hall, lit up for the Asian Games and Asian Para Games, collided with a nearby government building on the 17th, it was learned on the 19th

    from sources involved in the investigation.

    The filming was carried out by an organization whose secretariat is run by Aichi Prefecture and the city. According to investigators, the required advance filing had not been submitted to the national government, and prefectural police are investigating on suspicion of violating the Civil Aeronautics Act.

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

    4AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:29
    Re: #1
    This Games doesn't have Dentsu or Hakuhodo involved,

    so of course the management is a total mess lol (Japan's two biggest ad agencies, usually the ones running big events)
    46AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:52
    Re: #4
    Apparently it's a French company running things —
    the kind that can't even tell North Korea and South Korea apart
    6AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:30
    At this point you have to wonder if Aichi Prefecture and municipal staff can do ANYTHING right
    (´・ω・`)
    8AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:31
    This is just living proof that local governments never had the know-how to hold and run an event like this in the first place
    9AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:32
    Seriously though, what CAN they actually pull off properly?
    10AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:32
    They've humiliated the country on the world stage like this and nobody takes responsibility?
    Everyone involved ought to be thrown in prison over this
    13AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:34
    It's the Japan branch of a French company running the show, right?

    This operation is beyond bad
    62AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:01
    Re: #13
    European companies can be pretty sloppy too, honestly…
    14AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:35
    If they'd just held it in Hiroshima none of this would've happened
    20AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:38
    It's the same French operator infamous for not paying its Expo bills.
    23AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:40
    [Breaking] North Korean anthem played before match against South Korea —
    Another Asian Games hockey blunder
    https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/47a58d551378388ebbcedb650bdbbc6816d471ab
    26AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:40
    Re: #1
    This is just how Nagoya does everything — one screwup and you've seen them all.
    Business as usual
    30AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:43
    Lived in Nagoya for about three years —
    the whole place is basically just a "big countryside town" at heart,
    so I figure fine-grained event management was never gonna happen
    31AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:43
    Nagoya media that never reports on scandals or crimes when it's their own people involved
    32AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:45
    Is there actually a country where you can't even watch the opening ceremony on TV?
    34AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:45
    Re: #1
    The Games management is way too sloppy —

    issues keep popping up all over the place, what's going on here?
    35AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:46
    Japan: the country that can't even fly a drone properly lol
    37AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:47
    How much more is Nagoya going to drag down Japan's reputation?
    The mayor seriously needs to come out and hold a press conference to explain this
    There's shoddy, and then there's this
    39AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:49
    Osaka got trashed the same way last time too — stop holding sports events in Kansai
    Actually, just stop hosting these multi-week Games in Japan at all, it's a waste of money
    48AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:53
    Re: #39
    Aichi isn't even in Kansai
    The only "Kansai" thing about it is that some commuters from Mie Prefecture have a Kansai-ish accent
    52AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:55
    Management sloppy enough to get someone killed
    I had no idea it was this much of a sieve
    Don't you dare bring up wanting an Aichi Olympics after this
    65AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:04
    Re: #52
    Well, the bid for that already failed anyway
    55AnonymousSep 19, 2026 18:58
    The Tokyo Olympics were a disaster too, honestly
    Enough already
    73AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:08
    Re: #55
    The food actually got good reviews there — compare that to what Nagoya's serving up
    83AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:25
    Re: #55
    They spent all that money prepping the Tokyo Olympic marathon course,
    then moved the marathon — the Olympics' headline event — to Hokkaido anyway
    Match times got shuffled around, broadcast schedules got shuffled around
    And the COVID chaos on top of it all
    86AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:27
    Re: #55
    Complaints about the Athletes' Village: "Doesn't feel like the 21st century" — scaled back due to the postponement

    Foreign athletes who moved into the Tokyo Olympics' athletes' village (Harumi, Tokyo) complained about cramped rooms and facilities.
    Russian media raised it at an organizing committee press conference, saying it "doesn't feel like 21st-century Japan."

    "There's no fridge or TV in the village rooms. Five people share a room with only one bathroom. Doesn't feel like the 21st century. It's like medieval Japan."
    At the organizing committee's press conference on the 20th, Russian media relayed these complaints from Russian athletes to committee chair Seiko Hashimoto and others.
    https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASP7P6KVTP7PUTQP00W.html

    Guess everyone will have forgotten about it in another five years
    60AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:00
    Who's actually going to trek out to a venue on the edge of Nagoya to watch kabaddi?
    66AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:04
    Re: #60
    Hey, at least you get to see real kabaddi
    81AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:15
    Everyone already knew a year ago this company was bad news over its unpaid Expo bills — Aichi Prefecture going with them anyway seems pretty dumb
    85AnonymousSep 19, 2026 19:25
    Re: #81
    The Osaka Expo was held last year, but the competitive bidding for the Asian Games was the year before that.
    So the contract was likely already locked in before the unpaid Expo bills came to light

    Background and Key Points of This Story

    Under the Civil Aeronautics Act, flying a drone over densely populated areas or near important national facilities requires prior permission and approval from the national government (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism). The core issue here is that this step was skipped entirely — the focus isn’t on the scale of the collision or any damage caused, but on this basic procedural failure, a missing filing, on the organizers’ part. Many thread comments criticized the company behind the filming or tied it to other mishaps during the Games (such as the wrong national anthem being played), but it’s worth noting those are separate incidents from this drone collision and aren’t directly related to what’s covered in this article. Some commenters also framed this as a “Nagoya-specific” problem, but the article itself gives no basis for that conclusion — operational shortcomings at major international sporting events have also been pointed out at the Tokyo Olympics and other past domestic Games.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[Asian Games Aichi 2026] Filming drone collides with Nagoya City Hall building — possible Civil Aeronautics Act violation tied to the Asian Games.”