Category: Entertainment

  • TBS Announcer Erika Yamamoto Explains Why She Chose a Common-Law Marriage: “I Felt Resistance to Legal Marriage”

    TBS announcer Erika Yamamoto (32) once again explained her reasons for choosing a common-law marriage on a radio program broadcast September 2. When she first revealed the arrangement on a different show on June 9, she said the main reason was that “both of us wanted to become a family without either of us changing our surname,” adding that she would have opted for a legal marriage if Japan had a selective separate-surname system for married couples. On 5channel, the thread mixed skepticism about why she disclosed this at all, debate over the selective separate-surname system itself, and concerns about how the child’s surname and family registry would be handled — with the discussion eventually spilling over into broader political debate.

    9/4 (Fri) 21:28

    TBS announcer Erika Yamamoto (32) appeared on the station’s radio program “Jane Su: Seikatsu wa Odoru” (weekdays Mon-Thu, 11:00 AM), broadcast on the 2nd, and once again explained why she chose a common-law marriage.

    She first revealed the common-law marriage on the station’s radio program “Ogiue Chiki’s Session,” broadcast June 9. She explained her reason for not pursuing a legal marriage: “The main reason is that both my husband and I wanted to become a family without changing our surnames.” She added that if the selective separate-surname system for married couples existed, “I would have chosen a legal marriage.”

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

    12AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:04
    She seems like she's got a strong personality, huh?
    36AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:12
    Re: #12
    Toshihiko Tahara
    "Yeah, because I got scolded for touching her hand on the radio."
    18AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:06
    She's just copying overseas celebrities.
    The legal process is different, and it's not even an international marriage.
    20AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:08
    Eh, it's fine, isn't it? Freedom, freedom!
    25AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:09
    As expected of her —
    she's not like some random nobody announcer.
    30AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:10
    Young people only grow by surpassing those who came before them.
    Anyone who clings to old folks' "common sense" like it's sacred is just a fool.

    We should keep pushing forward and trying new things.
    40AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:13
    What about the kid's surname, huh?
    Don't just do whatever's convenient for yourselves.
    44AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:13
    Re: #40
    They're not legally married, so it'd be the mother's surname, since she's the one who gave birth.
    41AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:13
    If she's really got that much resistance to legal marriage,
    she shouldn't get married even if the selective separate-surname system gets introduced lol
    43AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:13
    >>"I felt strong resistance to legal marriage"

    I get that, honestly.
    48AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:14
    An acquaintance of mine who was openly in a common-law marriage decided in advance whose surname the kid would take, then filed the marriage registration just for the birth and divorced again right after.
    51AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:14
    If she didn't want to change her surname, she should've just found herself a guy named Yamamoto to begin with.
    52AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:15
    Wishing prosperity upon the Yamamoto clan.
    I can feel her strong resolve.
    53AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:15
    It's pretty impressive that both sets of parents are on board with this too.
    62AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:18
    >"I don't want to be the one who 'joins' his family, and I don't want to force that on my partner either"

    That makes no sense.
    There are idiots out there who say things like "we filed in" (a common Japanese phrase for getting married), but what actually happens is a new household register gets created for the married couple. The only requirement is that you pick one of the two surnames for it.
    73AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:21
    She said she absolutely didn't want to change the Yamamoto surname, but she could've just had her husband take the Yamamoto name instead.

    If he refused, they're just not that into each other to begin with. They should get divorced.
    75AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:21
    Can she even get single-mother welfare benefits like this?
    77AnonymousSep 4, 2026 22:22
    Guess TBS really does screen new hires for their ideology, huh?

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    Japan’s Civil Code requires married couples to unify under a single surname when entering a legal marriage, and common-law marriage is often chosen precisely as a way around this requirement. At the same time, common-law marriage typically doesn’t carry many of the rights granted under legal marriage — the spousal tax deduction, inheritance rights, and child custody among them — so real constraints remain for those who choose it. Some comments in the thread conflated the current system, under which a maiden name can still be used professionally as a “common name,” with the separate legal requirement to unify surnames on the family register. The debate over a selective separate-surname system has also stalled in Japan’s parliament for years, and this thread included posts tying the fate of that legislation to individual politicians’ private lives — but that’s a separate matter from Yamamoto’s own explanation, and it’s worth noting these claims were stated as fact without confirmation.

    *This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5channel (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “TBS Announcer Erika Yamamoto, Who Revealed Her Common-Law Marriage: “I Felt Strong Resistance to Legal Marriage” — Decided to “Want to Have a Child” While Waiting on Separate Surnames.”

  • ‘Legal High’ Starts Streaming on FOD — Fans React to Discovering Ai Yoshikawa’s Child Actor Role

    With the drama “Legal High” now streaming on Fuji TV’s “FOD” service, discussion on 5ch’s Geinou/Sports News+ board turned to praise for the show itself, starring Masato Sakai and Yui Aragaki, as well as the discovery that popular actress Ai Yoshikawa had appeared as a child actor. Yoshikawa went on to appear in acclaimed works like “Gonzo,” “Antarctica: A Chef’s Tale,” and “Suzuki Sensei,” before later breaking through as the lead in an NHK morning drama. The thread drew a wide range of reactions looking back on the show, including comments from people who signed up for the ¥100 first-month campaign, complaints about the FOD app running slowly, and regret that a sequel was never made.

    September 1, 2026

    “It’s streaming now so I watched it again for the first time in a while — genuinely still great.”

    “Nice one, Fuji TV!”

    Source: news.livedoor.com / Original article here

    4AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:49
    I wish it were on Amazon Prime
    24AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:00
    Re: #4
    Same, Netflix would've worked too
    6AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:49
    Ai Yoshikawa's in it too, you know (´・ω・`)
    8AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:50
    Shame there's no season 3
    16AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:55
    Re: #8
    Is it because Taguchi was in it?
    12AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:52
    Ai Yoshikawa shows up in it too, back when she was a child actor
    14AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:53
    Re: #12
    That role was really great, wasn't it
    She was basically the definition of a child prodigy actor
    13AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:52
    Sakai and Gakki were great, but would I actually pay to watch it again? That's the question
    17AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:56
    Fuji TV's old dramas were great, but paying for them now is a different story
    18AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:57
    This is the legendary drama that cemented Yui Aragaki's popularity with male fans
    20AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:57
    Only rich people subscribe to such a niche service
    23AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:59
    Re: #20
    It was ¥100 last month
    21AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:58
    Didn't know anyone ('yashi' — old-school 2ch slang for 'guy') actually subscribed to FOD
    22AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:59
    I signed up for FOD right when it was ¥100/month, same as Amazon Prime, so I might watch it before it runs out
    I was in it for Galileo, but once they recast the partner role it got kind of meh
    26AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:02
    This kind of vibe is unbearably cringe, I dropped it after episode 1
    27AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:02
    Karin Ono was in it too?
    Wonder if that was before or after Antarctica: A Chef's Tale
    51AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:19
    Re: #27
    Also, in order:

    Gonzo (2008)
    Antarctica: A Chef's Tale (2009)
    Suzuki Sensei (2011)
    Legal High Special (2013)
    That's the sequence, and besides those she's kept appearing in pretty famous dramas and movies every year since her child-actor debut
    95AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:54
    Re: #51
    Oh, the kid from 'Is There Love There?'
    99AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:59
    Re: #51
    Oh, that's her all grown up
    I've seen every episode but never noticed
    Guess I'll rewatch
    28AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:03
    I remember it was still watchable on Amazon Prime for a while even after Taguchi got arrested
    29AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:03
    There were a ton of wooden-acting actors playing the rival lawyers, which just made Masato Sakai stand out more and Gakki's cuteness really pop.
    31AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:06
    So the ¥100 first-month campaign was running until September 2nd
    You could've told me sooner
    32AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:06
    There are quite a few people who reluctantly signed up for FOD this year just to watch F1
    33AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:06
    Karin Ono was in Antarctica: A Chef's Tale too, right?
    That movie got re-released recently and she made a surprise appearance at an event for it
    58AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:26
    Re: #33
    That brings back memories — I watched Antarctica: A Chef's Tale on opening day at a Shinjuku theater hosting an event, right after pulling an all-nighter for work
    Couldn't catch the stage greeting though
    Wasn't expecting much, but the movie was so good I ended up wishing I'd seen the event afterward
    Glad I got to see footage of it recently lol
    38AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:12
    Signed up thinking I could watch Legal High for ¥100, but FOD is a pain to use
    On top of that, it just spins and spins at night and won't play at all
    No other service does this
    This is exactly why Fuji TV gets mocked
    44AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:15
    Re: #38
    U-NEXT buffers a lot too
    41AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:14
    I've got discs I rented and painstakingly burned back in the day
    Wonder if my player still works
    45AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:16
    Re: #41
    You should just convert them all to mp4
    55AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:24
    FOD recently started streaming 'No Money!' too, so I was tempted to subscribe
    56AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:25
    Re: #55
    And it was ¥100 just a few days ago
    57AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:26
    This drama should've gotten a follow-up, but Fuji never managed it — typical incompetence
    65AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:33
    Re: #57
    But that's how we got Confidence Man JP instead
    You could say they made money off the box office and by selling the overseas remake rights
    And it let them make the anime Great Pretender too
    60AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:29
    Masato Sakai's intensity in this show was incredible
    The chemical plant episode was the best
    62AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:31
    Re: #60
    The part where he rile up the old man, I could watch that on repeat
    68AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:34
    I want to watch it, but where's part 2?
    70AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:35
    Re: #68
    All the specials are up too

    Background and Discussion Points

    FOD often runs limited-time campaigns, such as a ¥100 first month, when it begins streaming existing titles, and it seems many people in this thread signed up specifically because of that. The main focus wasn’t so much the show’s content as the discovery that Ai Yoshikawa had appeared in it as a child actor — replies went on to trace her subsequent roles in acclaimed works like “Gonzo,” “Antarctica: A Chef’s Tale,” and “Suzuki Sensei,” turning the thread into a rediscovery of her career before she broke through in an NHK morning drama. At the same time, several commenters flagged the FOD app’s sluggish performance, making complaints about the viewing experience more prominent than complaints about the show itself — a notable feature of the thread. There were also plenty of comments looking back on the series itself, including reassessments of Masato Sakai and Yui Aragaki’s performances at the time and speculation on why a sequel was never made, giving the thread more depth than a simple nostalgia trip.

    ※This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “Drama “Legal High” Starts Streaming on Fuji TV’s “FOD” — The Popular Morning-Drama Heroine Who Actually Appeared as a ‘Junior High Student’ Before Her Breakthrough.”

  • TBS Teases ‘VIVANT’ Movie Adaptation, Show Going on Break Sept 20 & 27 — 5ch Reacts: ‘Don’t You Dare Lie to Me…’

    On September 4, at a program lineup briefing, TBS was asked about reports of a film adaptation of the Sunday Drama series “VIVANT,” starring Masato Sakai, and commented, “We can’t go into detail about the production process of individual programs.” At the same time, the network revealed that broadcasts on September 20 and 27 will be suspended due to coverage of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with the show resuming as normal from October 4. Reactions on 5ch were divided — some posts jokingly riffed on the show’s famous line, others sorted out the Season 2 plot summary or shared where to catch up via streaming, while still others questioned the realism of the staging and how the production budget was being spent.

    Fri, Sep 4, 4:58 PM

    On September 4, TBS held a briefing on its October 2026 program lineup changes. During the event, there was a moment touching on a possible film adaptation of the TBS Sunday Drama series “VIVANT” (airing Sundays at 9:00 PM), starring actor Masato Sakai.

    When a reporter asked about reports of a “VIVANT” film adaptation during the Q&A, Daisuke Kishida said, “We can’t go into detail about the production process of individual programs, so we hope you’ll keep enjoying the drama.” It was also revealed that, due to broadcast coverage of the “Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya,” the show will be off the air for two installments on September 20 and 27, with normal broadcasts resuming from October 4.

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

    3AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:34
    DON'T YOU DARE LIE TO MEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
    4AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:34
    That scene where the Thai police open fire on him — bullet holes evenly spread all over his body, cracked me up. Normally you'd aim for a vital spot, right? The viewers are dumb too, so the quality's low.
    13AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:39
    Re: #4 Yeah, it is kind of contrived, but then again Shinjo isn't even dead to begin with.
    61AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:32
    Re: #4 Not a single headshot in the whole scene, huh.
    5AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:34
    So basically… they're saving the ending for the movie?
    6AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:35
    I want to check out VIVANT but where's it streaming? Is it on Amazon Prime?
    12AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:38
    Re: #6 Season 1 is on Amazon Prime.
    33AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:47
    Re: #6 U-NEXT.
    7AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:35
    So the Asian Games is apparently a bigger ratings draw than VIVANT, worth pausing the show two weeks in a row for?
    8AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:35
    Honestly I can't really follow the story.
    15AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:40
    Re: #8 It's actually super easy to follow — Season 2 is just about rescuing the captured Bekuhan (special-ops) agents who got caught. It's stupidly simple.
    26AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:45
    Re: #15 I mean, middle-aged One Piece otaku are raving about it, so…
    14AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:39
    The reason the drama feels cheap from relying so much on AI (a CG-recreated character) is probably because the budget got spent on the movie instead.
    18AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:41
    Re: #14 Apparently the drama itself isn't short on budget either.
    22AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:43
    Re: #14 Not sure exactly why, but they've been doing tons of overseas location shoots, so the budget's probably reasonably high. The problem is none of that spending translates into it actually being interesting.
    24AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:44
    Fine, make the movie if you want, but wrap up the TV story properly first. If they build to a big climax and then go 'the rest is in theaters,' I'm gonna be pissed.
    25AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:44
    I thought it was mod(126,000,000 yen, π), but it turned out to just be a plain multiplication.
    27AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:45
    I don't really get the story anymore, but I'm only watching to see how exhausted Masato Sakai looks lol
    28AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:45
    Well, they've gotta claw back the losses from that bloated production budget somehow.
    29AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:45
    It's nothing but betrayals and deception so I never really got attached to any of the characters, and with the AI character and Sakai machine-gunning out dialogue so fast, a two-week break and I'll forget everything. Even when Season 2 started I was like 'wait, huh? what was going on again?' totally lost, and I'm only just now starting to piece it back together.
    35AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:49
    Re: #29 No… there's no betrayal or deception in Season 2? They just went to Thailand and back to rescue the Bekuhan agents. Even Nozaki blew his own cover as an undercover agent almost instantly.
    31AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:46
    They should just rerun it from episode 1 late at night ☺
    32AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:47
    Re: #18 Such a waste of money. They didn't need that whole 'AI Hayato' set.
    37AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:53
    So, are the four abducted Bekuhan agents still alive?
    42AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:57
    Re: #37 Everybody's alive in this show. The only confirmed death is Sakota.
    50AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:12
    Someone on the live-thread board was saying 'there's absolutely no way there's a movie, director Fukuzawa is committed to TV,' and yet…
    54AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:17
    Re: #50 He's already left the production.
    55AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:17
    They're padding things out because there are so few episodes — they call it two cours, but it's really only a cour and a half.
    59AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:24
    Re: #55 Old dramas used to run about 10-13 episodes per cour, but these days it's more like 7-9 per cour.
    63AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:45
    Re: #61 In that scene, they were ordered to aim only for the arms and legs so as not to kill him and avoid an international incident. But one guy hit him near the heart, and that ends up being the fatal wound in the story. They even threw in a clunky line from the Thai police like 'Who was it?! Who's the one who actually hit him!' It was probably Nogi who did it — to fake the death, of course.
    67AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:59
    Re: #63 'Arms and legs,' sure, but get shot in the thigh and you can die.
    74AnonymousSep 4, 2026 19:06
    > The first question is whether the Bekuhan agents get safely rescued. Sorry, but I don't care about any of the background Bekuhan extras besides Tori Matsuzaka — they can just wrap that up quickly, I don't mind.
    81AnonymousSep 4, 2026 19:20
    Re: #74 Yeah, viewers have zero attachment to those four.

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    “VIVANT” is the TBS Sunday Drama that became a hit with its Season 1 in 2023, known for its large budget tied to overseas location shoots. What TBS actually addressed this time wasn’t whether a movie adaptation would happen, but stuck to the boilerplate line that “we can’t discuss production details” — it did not officially confirm a film, something easy to misread from the headline alone. The September 20 and 27 breaks are also unrelated to the quality of the new season, simply a scheduling matter tied to broadcast coverage of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. On the thread, opinions split between those who found Season 2’s plot “easy to follow” and those who found it “hard to keep up with,” alongside debate over how realistic the gunfight scene was and how the production budget — including the overseas shoots — was being spent. The movie speculation itself has so far been driven by media reports, with no official announcement yet from TBS.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[TBS] Masato Sakai-starring “VIVANT” — comments on film adaptation, broadcasts paused Sept 20 & 27, resuming normally from Oct 4.”

  • Kura Sushi x Chiikawa Tea Cups Leaked on Mercari Before Release — Company Investigating

    Kura Sushi’s collaboration with Chiikawa began handing out limited-quantity “original tea cups” starting September 4, but it turns out multiple listings for them appeared on the flea-market app “Mercari” even before in-store distribution began — and some had already sold. In response to an inquiry from Bengo4.com News, Kura Sushi said it is treating the listings as illegal “no-stock” sales and is proceeding with reports to the platform operator. On the 5channel Geinou/Sports News+ thread, reactions ranged from criticism of Mercari’s lax seller verification, to discussion of the odds of winning the in-store lottery, to pointed reminders that past figure giveaways saw the same kind of trouble.

    Kura Sushi’s collaboration with Chiikawa began handing out limited-quantity “original tea cups” on September 4. But before distribution even started, multiple listings turned up on the flea-market app “Mercari,” and it turned out some had already sold.

    Why were goods that supposedly hadn’t even been handed out in stores yet already being sold?

    On September 4, Kura Sushi told Bengo4.com News that it was aware of the pre-distribution listings, saying, “We are treating these as illegal ‘no-stock’ listings and are reporting them to the platform operator.”

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

    4AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:56
    Lol, in all this chaos you could probably sell knockoffs and nobody would even notice
    19AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:01
    Re: #4
    It's actually pretty well-made though, so a fake would probably get spotted
    5AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:56
    Come on, Kura Sushi…
    38AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:05
    Re: #5
    Same with McDonald's Happy Meal toys — they call it random but you always pull the one you least want. Never the one you're actually after. Makes you wonder if the good ones get quietly pulled out beforehand.
    64AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:13
    Re: #5
    Head office is involved in this, so the investigation's just going to get quietly buried.
    17AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:00
    Honestly, shutting down Mercari would be the most effective fix here…
    84AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:20
    Re: #17
    With scalping this out of control already, wouldn't a second or third Mercari just spring up, or people would simply deal with each other directly?
    21AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:01
    Still scalping more of these even with all this uproar going on? Must have nerves of steel.
    29AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:04
    Re: #21
    More like "sell it all off before the store officially bans resale." Probably thinking, "everyone's doing it anyway, there's no way they'll actually hand out harsh punishment."
    22AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:01
    Wouldn't it make more sense to just buy it on Mercari than actually go to Kura Sushi?
    30AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:04
    Re: #22
    People who genuinely love Kura Sushi's not-that-great sushi will still go and enjoy it. At a store where nobody's skimming the prizes, you can still win figures from the "Bikkura Pon" lottery game, and honestly the seared cheese salmon is pretty good too. And at some rural location far from the station that you can only reach by car, the prizes tend to go unclaimed anyway — probably no shady staff siphoning them off there either (wishful thinking).
    28AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:03
    Re: #1

    Even the in-store banner flags (not for sale) are being listed

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HRRZK38bYAE6_lH.jpg
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HRRZK4zaAAAYMB6.jpg
    39AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:06
    Re: #28
    What a world we live in. Though it does prove there's a huge fanbase for this all across Japan. And it's been popular for quite a long stretch now too — rather than fading out, the fandom looks like it's still only growing.
    99AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:22
    Re: #28
    What are people even going to do with it after buying it? Five years from now they'll dig it out of storage and think, "why on earth did I buy this?"
    40AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:06
    Re: #1
    Last time, with the figures, the part-timers already figured out it's all talk with no real follow-through (and management can't afford to have staff quit over it), so this is basically hopeless now. Guess they've got no choice but to let it be a lawless zone lol. Chiikawa's a Fuji TV thing, right? Both sides are so sloppy that nobody can rein it in.
    65AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:13
    Re: #40
    The anime airs on Fuji TV, but the rights are firmly held by the original creator, so Fuji has zero involvement here this time ('A`). More importantly, regarding Kura Sushi's shambolic prize management — there's a theory going around (lol) that the creator got so fed up she drew a manga about it. This might be the end of the Kura Sushi tie-up, and worst case Chiikawa could end up moving over to Sushiro or Hamazushi?

    https://x.com/ebichiri365591/status/2095510318323806506
    Tried to direct-link the manga image and it already triggered a multi-post warning — guess it's been reposted that many times already.
    109AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:25
    Re: #40
    Same goes for Demon Slayer, also a Fuji property — Ufotable got a one-year prison sentence and a 30-million-yen fine for hiding merchandise sales revenue.
    58AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:10
    Isn't this the kind of thing that's supposed to be tracked by lot numbers, with head office paying to buy up the suspicious listings themselves to identify the culprit?
    61AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:12
    Re: #58
    If the company managed things that thoroughly, this wouldn't be happening in the first place.
    73AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:16
    Re: #58
    Anyone who's worked a part-time job at a restaurant or similar knows — there's no way they manage giveaway items like this with that kind of strict control.
    59AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:11
    It's first-come-first-served for a million people, so there's really no need to pay a markup for it.
    98AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:22
    Re: #59
    At most about 2,000 per store — it's a scramble.
    62AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:12
    Every 5 plates gets you one "Bikkura Pon" lottery draw
    ↓
    You actually have to win (feels like about a 20% chance)
    ↓
    Then out of that pool, you still have to land the specific figure you actually want
    63AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:12
    Wouldn't this whole thing die down if Kura Sushi's head office just announced, "These are suspected stolen goods, and buyers may be investigated by police for receiving stolen property"?
    66AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:13
    Re: #63
    Given Mercari's notorious reputation, that would actually land, wouldn't it?
    75AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:16
    Re: #69
    According to Kura Sushi, the items are stored somewhere part-timers can't get to — meaning it'd have to be the store manager or a full-time employee.
    91AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:21
    Re: #75
    And what exactly is the problem? Resellers ("sedorā") get the item to real fans who are willing to pay for it. They price it specifically so it doesn't end up in the hands of broke NEETs. Enough with the slander already.
    92AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:21
    Re: #75
    They're not the police or a bank — there's only so much control they can exercise here.

    Background and key points of this discussion

    Kura Sushi’s collaborations with Chiikawa have repeatedly stirred controversy before over how figures were distributed and over uneven stock between stores, and this time’s tea cups — another “first-come, first-served” giveaway item — have a structure that practically invites resale. The thread split between those suspecting store staff of quietly diverting stock, and those who saw it as simply someone exploiting a loophole through “no-stock” listings. No-stock listing is a method where a seller lists an item without actually having it in hand, only acquiring and shipping it after it sells — a violation of the flea-market app’s terms, but in practice there’s little effective way to identify and stop the sellers doing it. Kura Sushi has said only that it’s treating this as an illegal listing and pursuing reports, and as of September 4 it hasn’t been confirmed whether any internal wrongdoing was actually involved in smuggling out the goods. This piece leaves out posts that name and expose specific store employees or individuals, but it’s worth keeping in mind, as a reader, that this is exactly the kind of topic where speculation-driven finger-pointing spreads easily.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “Kura Sushi’s Chiikawa tie-up causes another stir — this time limited-edition Chiikawa tea cups appeared on Mercari before distribution even began… some already sold, company investigating.”

  • Titanic’s Akira Ishida Dub to Air Over Two Weeks on Friday Roadshow, Sept 4 & 11

    The Akira Ishida-dubbed version of the movie Titanic (1997) will air over two weeks, on September 4 and 11, on Nippon TV’s “Friday Roadshow” (Kinyō Road Show). The preview also highlights first-half moments, including the story behind the “Heart of the Ocean,” the 56-carat diamond that serves as the film’s key plot item. On 5channel, the thread was split over whether it’s appropriate to refer to dubbed versions by the voice actor’s name, while other posters compared this version to the one starring Satoshi Tsumabuki and Yuko Takeuchi, and reminisced about how much Leonardo DiCaprio has changed.

    2026-09-03 12:00

    Titanic (1997), starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, will air over two weeks on Nippon TV’s “Friday Roadshow” slot: September 4 (9:00–10:59 PM, extended by 5 minutes) and September 11 (9:00–10:54 PM). Ahead of the broadcast, here’s a look at the highlights from the film’s first half.

    The story opens with the search for a legendary treasure said to have gone down with the Titanic: a 56-carat diamond called the “Heart of the Ocean,” once worn by Louis XVI. The undersea expedition, however, fails to find it. In the film, the diamond is the gift Rose receives from her fiancé aboard the Titanic, making it a key item in the story.

    Source: oricon.co.jp / Original article here

    8AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:45
    If they split it into two parts, does the first half even end before it sinks?
    9AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:46
    I wish they'd do it in Katsura Kotaro's speaking style (a Gintama character also voiced by Akira Ishida)
    10AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:46
    This is basically like that one-off event from back then — it's probably not that interesting watching it now.
    11AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:46
    If they keep stubbornly re-airing the Ishida version, the Tsumabuki & Takeuchi 'dark history' version might end up becoming the rare one, and a day may come when people are begging to see that one instead.
    12AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:48
    Whenever I read the name 'Akira Ishida,' I always think of Non Style. (a comedy duo with a member of the same name, different kanji)
    13AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:48
    And here I was in the mood for Whisper of the Heart tonight…
    14AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:49
    If it's split into two,
    does the first half star 'Tita'
    and the second half star 'Nic'? (a joke splitting タイタニック/Titanic into タイタ and ニック)
    15AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:49
    That name rings a bell —
    he's in anime too, right?
    16AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:50
    Leo-sama has really turned into a
    bearded, pudgy middle-aged guy.
    Still a great actor, though.
    17AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:51
    The Satoshi Tsumabuki version
    The Yuko Takeuchi version
    37AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:00
    Re: #17
    Anything but the 'Bukky' one, please. (nickname for Satoshi Tsumabuki)
    18AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:51
    Recorded in 2003 — that's around when he was voicing Athrun, huh? (Athrun Zala from Gundam SEED)
    20AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:52
    Spoiler: the Titanic sinks.
    23AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:53
    Re: #20
    Don't spoil it!
    25AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:54
    Please stop calling dubs 'the so-and-so version' by voice actor name.
    It makes it sound like the voice actor is actually in the movie.
    And the diehard fans genuinely seem to believe that, which is just embarrassing.
    31AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:56
    Re: #25
    If there were only one dub, you'd just call it 'the dubbed version,' but that's not the case here, so what else are you gonna call it?
    40AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:02
    Re: #25
    When a popular film has multiple dubs,
    naming them after the voice actor is just the clearest way to tell them apart.
    This 'diehard fan' accusation is ridiculous.
    26AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:54
    Hasn't it been a while since they aired Laputa too? I'd love to watch it one more time before heading back to my home country, New York…
    30AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:56
    '97 was a stacked year — this one for foreign films, and Princess Mononoke plus the Evangelion movie for Japanese films.
    32AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:56
    Honestly, I think Akira Ishida's voice suits Leo-sama pretty well.
    43AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:04
    It's wild that this disaster happened just two years before WWI broke out.
    48AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:07
    It'll be boring watching the Ishida version anyway.
    Just show us the Tsumabuki version.
    56AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:16
    The Tsumabuki and Takeuchi version was really good — anyone trashing it must be some kind of voice-actor otaku or something.
    58AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:18
    Re: #56
    That one's on par with Kumiko Ohba's Star Wars dub. (a famously maligned celebrity dub)
    57AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:17
    73AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:35
    All-time Japan box office
    #1 starring: Akira Ishida #2 starring: Akira Ishida #4 starring: Akira Ishida
    75AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:36
    Re: #73
    Exactly this.
    He only did the voice, yet people seriously mistake him for the lead actor.
    79AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:41
    Nobody asked for creepy anime-voice-actor dubs.
    81AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:42
    Re: #79
    I'm with this camp too.
    I get not wanting TV talents doing it,
    but just have a proper stage actor do the dub.

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    Titanic has been rebroadcast on Nippon TV’s terrestrial channel numerous times, and each broadcast has historically used a different dub cast from the theatrical release. This “Akira Ishida version” is one such dub recorded later for television broadcast, alongside others like the Satoshi Tsumabuki and Yuko Takeuchi version. Referring to dubbed versions by the voice actor’s name rather than the film’s title has become standard practice on online forums, but the thread saw a split between those pointing out that “it’s misleading since the voice actor doesn’t actually appear in the movie” and those countering that “since there are multiple dubs, distinguishing them by voice actor name is simply the clearest method” — the debate never reached a resolution. Note that the “Heart of the Ocean” diamond featured in the film is a fictional plot device, not an actual gem recovered from the Titanic wreck site.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (Geisports Sokuho+) thread “[Friday Roadshow] Titanic’s Akira Ishida Version to Air Over Two Weeks on Terrestrial TV — First-Half Highlights“.

  • Hiroyuki Points to the US-Japan ‘Uber vs. Self-Driving’ Gap — Why Is Japan Getting Poorer?

    Businessman Hiroyuki Nishimura posted on X by September 4, explaining why he thinks Japan is “gradually growing poorer.” Nishimura pointed out that while Japan hasn’t even properly rolled out ride-sharing services like Uber, the U.S. is expanding driverless taxis and trucks. A Yahoo News article covering the remarks was picked up on 5channel’s Geinou/Sports Breaking News+ board, sparking a split thread over how widespread driverless driving really is in the U.S., who’s liable when accidents happen, and why ride-sharing hasn’t caught on in Japan.

    Fri, Sep 4, 3:35 PM

    Businessman Hiroshi “Hiroyuki” Nishimura, 49, updated his official X (formerly Twitter) account by the 4th, laying out why he thinks Japan is “gradually growing poorer.”

    Nishimura posted: “Japan can’t even get Uber’s ride-sharing off the ground, yet in America both taxis and trucks are going driverless.”

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

    2AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:59
    Some bottom-tier college dropout (Fラン, slang for a low-ranked university) is spouting nonsense
    3AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:00
    Hurry up and make self-driving cars a reality already
    4AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:00
    America's history is short — most of its residential areas are only a few years to a few decades old. Roads there are wide and simple, which makes self-driving a lot easier to pull off.
    9AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:02
    Re: #4
    Japan got burned to the ground in the war — did they seriously not do any proper city planning afterward?
    6AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:00
    Re: #26
    Come on, Horie! Aaaaah!!!! (referring to entrepreneur Takafumi Horie, a.k.a. "Horiemon")
    26AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:15
    Because driverless taxis have no heart
    7AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:01
    Huh? Driverless trucks in America? Are you dreaming that up or something?
    10AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:03
    Mikitani
    Horie
    Hiroyuki

    Where did they end up going such different ways? (three famous Japanese entrepreneurs: Rakuten's Hiroshi Mikitani, Takafumi Horie, and Hiroyuki Nishimura)
    12AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:05
    It's hidden by the ultra-weak yen, but inequality and poverty in America have gotten seriously bad. That's exactly what's fueling the Trump phenomenon and the Democratic Party's leftward shift.
    13AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:06
    Hiroyuki always talks about one narrow slice of an issue like it's the whole picture, so I've completely stopped trusting anything he says.
    14AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:06
    Huh?

    In America, people are losing their homes even as their incomes go up — that's the actual situation. Is this guy an idiot who only looks at the raw numbers?
    15AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:06
    America's underclass has ballooned so much the place is practically on the verge of collapse.
    16AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:07
    They're not even running that widely yet — it's only operating in a very limited number of areas. The only self-driving thing an ordinary guy like Hiroyuki would ever run into is taxis in a handful of regions.
    17AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:07
    Re: #1
    It's "chotto-zutsu," not "chotto-zutsu" spelled the old way — scary that the writer's Japanese is this shaky. (the article uses an outdated/incorrect kana spelling of "little by little")
    18AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:07
    Feels like deflation did a number on us — more and more broke people who just won't pay for service anymore.
    20AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:09
    America's poor have it worse than Japan's.
    21AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:09
    Suppose it's true that, over the same distance driven, human-driven cars kill more people in accidents than self-driving cars do. Fine — but in the cases where a self-driving car did kill someone, who's taking responsibility for that accident? Who's going to prison?
    23AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:11
    Re: #21
    Even if it's self-driving, the owner is still a company or a person, and they're probably carrying serious insurance, right?
    28AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:16
    Driverless trucks in America… won't they just get looted?
    29AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:17
    Re: #1
    With the yen this weak, "gradually" doesn't even begin to cover it — and by the way, it's "chotto-zutsu," not "chotto-zutsu" the way you spelled it. Your Japanese is the impoverished one here lol
    31AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:18
    METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry): "By 2040, Japan will have declined to emerging-economy status — below Africa."
    https://x.com/24newseveryday/status/1783342167240409126
    33AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:20
    Re: #1
    Comparing Japan to America nonstop is the mistake to begin with.

    People who worship America are the ones dragging Japan down. Compare it to Germany or Italy instead.
    34AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:21
    Let's start by digitizing restaurants — scan a QR code, browse the menu, order, and pay right there on your phone, done. That would cut down on needing foreign staff too.
    88AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:23
    Re: #34
    Places like that already exist — foreign staff do the cooking and serving. The only Japanese person involved is an owner nobody's ever even seen.
    35AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:21
    I don't think Uber will ever be possible in Japan — the demand for safety here is just too strict.
    36AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:21
    Taxi drivers these days don't even know the roads anymore, so explaining directions is a hassle, and I can't get anywhere I don't already know myself. A driverless AI that actually knows the roads would be great.
    37AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:22
    Re: #36
    What are you even talking about (エアプ, "fake experience" — slang for someone clearly bluffing)? That's what the navigation system is for.
    39AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:25
    It took over 30 years to get this poor, but the last few years it's really sped up.
    45AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:28
    Re: #39
    Thai tourists are literally coming here saying "Japan is so cheap!" — it's over.
    64AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:49
    Re: #39
    Well yeah, working hours dropped sharply all at once. Of course that happened.
    40AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:26
    Re: #1
    > Human-driven cars kill more people in accidents

    Where's that stat from (lol)? Don't tell me that's raw counts and not rates?

    And besides, self-driving cars aren't even running on the tangled, nerve-wracking roads that put human drivers on edge in the first place.
    42AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:26
    Aren't there way more people turning to fentanyl to escape their problems in America?
    69AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:56

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    Japan did lift a conditional “Japan-style ride-share” system in 2024, but it can only operate under a taxi company’s management — a direct-matching model like Uber’s isn’t permitted. Meanwhile, U.S. driverless taxis, run by companies like Waymo, have only gone commercial in a handful of cities such as Phoenix and San Francisco, so the impression that “driverless cars are everywhere in America” is somewhat more exaggerated than reality. In the thread, opinions split over how to interpret the data claiming self-driving reduces accidents, and over who bears responsibility when an accident does happen. Note that several replies aimed personal attacks at specific politicians over frustration with the weak yen and rising prices; those have been excluded from this article.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (Geinou/Sports Breaking News+) thread “Hiroyuki says Japan is “gradually growing poorer” — what’s the big difference with the U.S.?“

  • 13-Year-Old Mecha-Ike Clip Goes Viral Overseas, Sparks Backlash Against Cast

    A clip from Fuji TV’s hit variety show “Mecha×2 Ike-teru!” has resurfaced and gone viral on overseas social media 13 years after it first aired. Extreme stunts — including kicking an idol in the head — are spreading alongside criticism like “Is this normal in Japan?” and “This is crazy,” and backlash against the cast is intensifying. On 5ch, reactions ranged from the scene of an AKB48 member being kicked, to the later revelation that the entire show was scripted, to similarly extreme segments from Tunnels and Nippon TV around the same era, with some raising the question of whether it’s fair to judge the past by today’s ethical standards.

    September 3, 2026, 9:24 PM

    Old TV footage suddenly blowing up on social media is nothing new — and this time, the target is the once-hit Fuji TV variety show “Mecha×2 Ike-teru!”

    It’s not unusual for clipped scenes from old variety shows to rack up millions, even tens of millions, of views on social media. Nostalgic highlights and shocking moments spread easily, and posts apparently aimed at farming impressions keep popping up.

    Source: news.livedoor.com / Original article here

    2AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:51
    Watching Showa-retro exploration videos on YouTube is way more fun than watching Omiya Park's Peace-kun (a local park mascot).
    5AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:52
    I never once got what was supposed to be funny about "Bakuretsu Otousan" (Exploding Dad).
    20AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:55
    Re: #5
    That segment was never about being funny — it was about enjoying watching young women make pained faces, wasn't it?
    6AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:52
    Guess the idol face-kick hasn't leaked yet, huh
    10AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:53
    The marathon crossing the finish line right before the show ends —
    foreigners should call that out too
    12AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:53
    The industry's full of casting-couch stuff to begin with, so this is tame by comparison
    13AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:53
    It was basically channeling the public's anger at AKB's marketing tactics
    14AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:54
    Ah, the show Hamaguchi let slip was entirely scripted, even the cast's lines?
    15AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:54
    Honestly, that's a sweet deal for an idol.

    Do you know how many people would kill for a spot like that one-in-tens-of-thousands seat, lol
    16AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:54
    Bakuretsu Otousan and Yomogida-kun were the only funny bits, honestly lol
    19AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:55
    Tunnels' old-school variety shows were way worse —
    every kind of harassment you can imagine was in there
    25AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:56
    Re: #19
    Yeah, they went wild on middle schoolers
    22AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:55
    Wasn't that the promo-guest segment where they'd spin you on the giant swing while you plugged your new CD?
    Kind of like the old "boiling-water commercial" bit
    23AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:55
    Wasn't the one that blew up the AKB head-kick clip?
    Bakuretsu Otousan caught plenty of flak back then too, if I remember right
    26AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:56
    What a messed-up country, seriously
    to think people actually enjoyed watching this kind of assault
    30AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:56
    Mecha-Ike and shows like it were all scripted anyway
    61AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:01
    Re: #30
    The dark part is they hid the fact that everything — down to every single reaction — was locked into the script when it aired, while touting themselves as "the Heisei-era Hyokin-zoku" (a legendary show famous for being totally freestyle and unscripted)
    32AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:57
    I seriously can't stand Kato Koji, Kinashi, Horiken, and that whole crew
    43AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:58
    So 2013 still passed as okay?
    Wonder what changed — even movies stopped showing nudity around then
    51AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:00
    Once you start digging into the old stuff

    Nippon TV is gonna be in serious trouble lmao
    73AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:03
    Re: #51
    Most of Nippon TV's hidden-camera prank show was staged —
    the UFO/alien stuff, the psychic powers stuff, all of it
    57AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:01
    You shouldn't judge the ethics of the past by today's standards
    no matter how trashy the Fuji variety team and cast were back then
    72AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:03
    Re: #57
    People were already saying that back then
    128AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:11
    Re: #57
    But the important question is whose ethical standards those were at the time
    63AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:01
    Gaki no Tsukai, Mecha-Ike, all of them —
    in the end none of them could beat Tunnels' shows
    77AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:03
    Re: #63
    Same thing. All of them were tasteless
    90AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:04
    Re: #63
    Mecha-Ike broke through the 30% ratings wall that Tunnels could never clear no matter what they tried, and Ishibashi actually praised them for it
    93AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:05
    2013 isn't really that long ago, is it?
    Twitter was already around back then, not just 2channel

    Didn't it cause an uproar at the time?
    116AnonymousSep 4, 2026 18:09
    Re: #93
    It did blow up back then too — that's why they later did a follow-up skit where Mayuyu got to beat up Kato in return

    Background and Talking Points

    “Mecha×2 Ike-teru!” was a popular Fuji TV variety show that aired from 1996 to 2018, and the clip now circulating appears to be from around 2013 — roughly 13 years before this backlash. In recent years, it’s been noted that clips isolating only the most extreme moments from old shows tend to rack up views for the sake of farming impressions on social media, and this controversy fits that same pattern. Opinions in the thread were split over whether such stunts can be excused as simply reflecting “the ethical standards of the time,” especially since it later came out that even the cast’s reactions were scripted — a wrinkle that makes “it was a different era” too simple an answer. The thread also contained some unverified posts about a specific celebrity’s private life, but since these could not be substantiated, this article does not cover them.

    *This article was compiled by excerpting and summarizing the 5ch (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread ““Is this normal in Japan?” “This is crazy” — 13-Year-Old Mecha-Ike Clip Spreads Overseas, Sparking Backlash Against Cast.”

  • Yakushimaru Hiroko & Matsuda Yusaku’s ‘The Detective Story’ Streaming Free on YouTube Starting October 2

    Kadokawa Pictures’ The Detective Story (1983) has been confirmed for free streaming on the YouTube channel “Kadokawa Cinema Collection” from 20:00 on October 2 through 19:59 on October 16. Starring Yakushimaru Hiroko as a college student and Matsuda Yusaku as a down-and-out detective, it’s a bittersweet romantic suspense story based on the novel by Akagawa Jiro. On the 5ch Geinou/Sports News+ thread, nostalgic posts poured in comparing the film to other Kadokawa releases from the same era — Sailor Suit and Machine Gun, The Tragedy of W, and The Targeted School — along with trivia about the cars and motorcycles of the time, and talk of how well Matsuda Yusaku is still remembered since his death.

    The hit film The Detective Story, starring Yakushimaru Hiroko and Matsuda Yusaku, has been confirmed for free streaming on YouTube. It will be available on the YouTube channel “Kadokawa Cinema Collection” for a limited two weeks, from 20:00 on Friday, October 2 through 19:59 on Friday, October 16. A slightly bittersweet romantic suspense story about a college student and an unimpressive detective who get tangled up together by chance. Based on the novel by Akagawa Jiro.

    [Story]

    Arai Naomi is a college student summoned by her father, set to leave for America in a week. Now that the time has come, she’s starting to have second thoughts. Noticing her unease, Hasenuma, her father’s former secretary, hires a detective named Tsujiyama to act as her bodyguard. To Naomi, this man in his thirties is the picture of a hopeless old fogey. Even as his persistent tailing wears her down, she starts to notice a clumsy, very human warmth in him. Then a major incident erupts around Tsujiyama: his ex-wife Sachiko, suspected of killing the heir to a yakuza family, comes running to his apartment for shelter. With yakuza enforcers closing in, the three of them manage to escape thanks to Naomi’s quick thinking. Once they finally make it back to her house and hear Sachiko out, Naomi believes in her innocence — and, driven by her sense of justice and a bit of a taste for adventure, decides to hide her at home while she and Tsujiyama go looking for the real culprit together. Before long, Naomi realizes she’s strangely drawn to Tsujiyama. “No way, that old fogey. He’s way too old for me, and we don’t even match in height… but still…”

    Source: amass.jp / Original article here

    2AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:32
    3AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:32
    The one with Matsuda Yusaku in it — THAT Detective Story! キタ━━━━(゚∀゚)━━━━!! (net slang for 'IT'S HEEERE!!')
    22AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:45
    Re: #3
    Matsuda Yusaku managed to hang on to some relevance through the Heisei era, but once Reiwa rolled around he became a completely forgotten figure of the past.
    Though it's not just him — Ishihara Yujiro and Misora Hibari became relics of the past too.
    5AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:36
    So it's just a movie where Yakushimaru Hiroko is cute?
    Of course, that alone makes it plenty worth watching.
    9AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:39
    Why did she end up falling so far behind Harada Tomoyo?
    79AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:52
    Re: #9
    Hint: check two posts down lol
    10AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:40
    The kiss scene drags on forever for no reason.
    Also, Kudo-chan's not in this one. (nickname for a fellow actress of the era)
    13AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:41
    There's that scene with Matsuda Yusaku and the actress where you only hear their voices during the love scene, right?
    14AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:41
    Remember when people used to say 'ojin' and 'oban'? (old-fashioned slang for 'old geezer' and 'old hag')
    16AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:42
    I remember watching it, but I don't remember the story nearly as well as I do 'Sailor Suit and Machine Gun.'
    18AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:44
    I like both Matsuda Yusaku and Yakushimaru Hiroko.
    Yakushimaru Hiroko's songs are all classics, so I still listen to them to this day.
    19AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:44
    All I remember is that it was boring.
    Right up there with 'A Homance' in the boring department. (another Matsuda Yusaku film)
    20AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:44
    Kishida Kyoko and Zaitsu Ichiro rounding out a solid supporting cast.
    27AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:48
    There just aren't actors with that kind of presence anymore.
    38AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:00
    There was that half-erotic manga called 'Tantei Momogatari' (a peach-themed pun on 'Detective Story'), right?
    Pretty sure it even got a one-off TV drama adaptation.
    43AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:09
    Re: #38
    The one where Horii Yuji wrote the story under a pen name, right? (Horii Yuji, later famous as the creator of Dragon Quest)
    41AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:07
    They basically built Kadokawa Shoten's Iidabashi Fujimi building with the money Yakushimaru Hiroko brought in.
    82AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:55
    Re: #41
    Kind of like how Shueisha managed to rebuild their headquarters thanks to Kurumada Masami, huh lol (creator of Saint Seiya)
    42AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:08
    I have a faint memory of catching this in theaters ages ago.
    I think the double feature was 'The Second Generation Is a Christian.'
    47AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:17
    Re: #42
    When it originally came out, the double feature was actually 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.'
    50AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:22
    I'd love to see 'The Targeted School' again.
    I loved the original novel — I feel like the protagonist was a guy in that version — but I still went to see the movie back then.
    Those big white earrings Yakushimaru Hiroko wore were the trend at the time.
    Wonder how they'd look watching it again now.
    54AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:26
    Re: #50
    I loved the original novel of 'The Targeted School,' so I was floored when I saw the movie.
    57AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:31
    Re: #54
    'I am the universe!'
    58AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:31
    Re: #54
    Can't believe Minegishi Toru actually took that role…
    Even playing the same final-boss character, Honda Yasuaki was a lot better looking in the TV drama version.
    52AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:26
    The film 'The Detective Story' (1983)

    Heavily featured vehicle: Honda VT250F (1st generation, 1982)
    72AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:48
    Re: #52
    That reminds me of the BE-FREE.
    61AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:36
    'Sailor Suit and Machine Gun' (1982)
    63AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:37
    'The Tragedy of W' (1984)
    65AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:38
    'Like a Savage' (1985)
    68AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:42
    'The Targeted School' (1981)
    70AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:46
    Never seen this one — worth watching?
    86AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:59
    Re: #70
    Might've only worked because it was that era — hard to say how it'd land watching it now.
    It's a romance built on a mystery-thriller foundation.
    '83 gave us this one.
    '86 gave us 'Seven Men and Women: A Summer Story.'
    The settings probably shifted a lot in those few years, so whether it's your taste, I couldn't say.
    75AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:49
    My lips move like I'm crying out in a dream,
    but the words just turn into wind.
    I love you — but, well, maybe.
    Surely.
    78AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:51
    Re: #75
    Songs with lyrics this poetic have really disappeared, huh.
    76AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:50
    Watanabe Noriko
    'Someday, Someone Will Be Killed' (1984)

    Honda MBX50 (1984, later model)
    60km/h self-regulated model (7.2ps → 5.6ps)
    81AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:54
    That was the golden age of Kadokawa, when they became the darling of the era starting with the Yokomizo Seishi series.
    84AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:58
    Re: #81
    Basically, the Japanese film industry barely survived thanks to Kadokawa Haruki, lol
    90AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:01
    'Stained Hero' (1982)


    Yakushimaru Hiroko / Harada Tomoyo
    Yamaha YZR500
    Factory machine from the 500cc class of the Road Racing World Championship (WGP)

    s://i.imgur.com/4o1F8Pl.jpeg
    92AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:03
    Re: #90
    Rosemary Butler (79) — looks like she's still alive.

    Background and talking points

    This film was released in 1983, based on a novel by Akagawa Jiro, and produced by Kadokawa Haruki Office as one of its “Kadokawa Pictures” — a series built around pairing Yakushimaru Hiroko with Matsuda Yusaku. The same title, The Detective Story, was also used for a TV drama starring Matsuda Yusaku that aired in 1979, but the two share neither story nor source material, so they’re easy to mix up. On the thread, the movie version was the main topic, drawing plenty of posts comparing it to other Kadokawa films from the same period, like Sailor Suit and Machine Gun, The Tragedy of W, and The Targeted School. Kadokawa films of that era were built on a strategy of pairing a leading actress’s idol appeal with the name recognition of the original novel, and Yakushimaru Hiroko, Harada Tomoyo, and Watanabe Noriko were at the center of that approach. Opinions in the thread split between nostalgic affection for the film and the view that it was actually pretty thin on substance — not a simple like-it-or-hate-it divide. Some comments noted that Matsuda Yusaku’s name recognition has faded since his death, though this came up more as a remark on generational turnover than a judgment of the actor himself.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “Yakushimaru Hiroko & Matsuda Yusaku co-star — Free YouTube streaming of the film ‘The Detective Story’ confirmed, starting October 2 at 20:00.”

  • Sakanaction’s Ichiro Yamaguchi Claps Back at ‘Too Old-Man’ Radio Talk Criticism — 5ch: ‘Sea-Monkeys Are Still a Thing’

    Sakanaction’s Ichiro Yamaguchi pushed back on Nippon Broadcasting’s “All Night Nippon” against a listener email claiming the conversation was “too old-man, nothing’s getting across.” On the show, Yamaguchi had been reminiscing about nostalgic items from his youth like Korokoro Comic, Comic BomBom, and Sea-Monkeys, when another listener chimed in with “that’s what you’d call a generation gap.” On the 5ch Entertainment/Sports News Flash+ board, users debated the article covering this exchange, split over whether the facts even held up — since shrink-plastic crafts and Sea-Monkeys are apparently still sold today — and over whether there’s really a generational divide in enjoying an older guy’s nostalgic stories.

    On the September 1 broadcast of “Sakanaction’s Ichiro Yamaguchi All Night Nippon” (Nippon Broadcasting), Sakanaction’s Ichiro Yamaguchi pushed back against an email calling the conversation “too old-man.”

    Earlier in the show, prompted by an email from a junior-high-age listener, Yamaguchi had rattled off one nostalgic topic after another from his own childhood — things like Korokoro Comic, Comic BomBom, and Sea-Monkeys.

    Then another listener wrote in: “The conversation is way too old-man. Nothing’s getting through. Sorry, but this is what they call a generation gap.”

    Source: sirabee.com / Read the original article here

    5AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:49
    Shrink-plastic crafts are still popular — college kids and up make their own lightweight keychains out of them.
    8AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:51
    Might as well just argue about whether you prefer Temu or Shein.
    9AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:51
    You chose to tune into an old guy's radio show, what are you even complaining about?
    Just shut up, listen to the music, and dance.
    48AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:24
    Re: #9
    That sums it up.
    You could just laugh it off like "lol, what an old man" — why say it straight to his face?
    Guess they thought it'd be funny.
    64AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:42
    Re: #9
    The generation raised on YouTubers and Niconico Live streams
    just assumes content gets tailored to them as a given.
    10AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:51
    The radio show he used to do with Chiharu from the comedy duo Bacardi was actually pretty good. Once it turned into just the duo's own show without him, it stopped being interesting.
    11AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:52
    Online news articles really don't capture the vibe of the actual radio broadcast at all.
    12AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:53
    Honestly thought for a second this was gonna be a thread about the Imokin Trio… lol (a retro '80s comedy trio)
    13AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:53
    Isn't Bon-Bon Drop Seal the trendy thing these days? Never even heard of "puku-puku" puffy stickers.
    14AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:53
    Sea-Monkeys? Only people 60 and up even know what that is.
    21AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:56
    Re: #14
    No way.
    I'm in my late 40s and know it easily.
    34AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:07
    Re: #14
    Both Sea-Monkeys and shrink-plastic sheets are still sold today.
    89AnonymousSep 4, 2026 17:03
    Re: #14
    The generation below that grew up with the triops kits from Gakken's "Kagaku" science magazine.
    16AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:53
    TV and radio are where you soak up bits of knowledge about earlier eras just from listening to older people's stories and analogies, lol.
    18AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:56
    Re: #16
    I used to enjoy listening to old guys' stories.
    I guess for kids these days, if it's not tailored to them,
    nothing's good enough.
    17AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:54
    Just talk about the Chunichi Dragons being in last place and everyone will get it.
    19AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:56
    The Bacardi stuff isn't really about a generation gap — isn't it more like admiration for adults?
    There's no way kids back then understood Tunnels' raunchy fart-joke bit either.
    20AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:56
    The Dragons must be losing so much it's just become a source of stress.
    22AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:57
    You guys are on this side too, right?

    Yo-yos, Gundam models, Rubik's Cubes, Kinnikuman erasers,
    Bikkuriman chocolate, Transformers, Choro-Q, Donjara,
    Game & Watch, Famicom,
    Chogokin toys, Monchhichi, Sylvanian Families, Mini 4WD, Zoids, Namennayo cats
    25AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:59
    Re: #22
    Sonosheet flexi-discs, Dakko-chan dolls,
    Clackers, hula hoops, pogo sticks,
    Space Invaders, hanging chin-up bars
    26AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:59
    Re: #22
    That list's way too mainstream, lol

    Throw in something more obscure or nobody's gonna bite.
    37AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:09
    Re: #22
    Throw in Dokidoki Gakuen and Carddass too.
    23AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:57
    The microwave's actually one of the newer things on that list, lol.
    28AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:59
    Drawing on shrink-plastic sheets and popping them in the microwave!

    …They still sell all kinds of kits for that at the 100-yen shop these days.
    29AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:00
    He's a middle-aged guy, so of course his conversation sounds like a middle-aged guy's, lol.
    30AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:00
    But he's totally into Konatsu Kato, right?
    33AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:06
    Re: #30
    He's actually way more into Koji Kato than Konatsu Kato, you know?
    35AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:07
    Old stories are basically history itself, so I'm happy to listen~
    36AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:08
    Sea-Monkeys, now that's nostalgic.
    If you've got rice paddies nearby, you can go out at night with a flashlight and might actually spot some in the wild.
    I remember being kind of moved the first time I saw one.
    38AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:09
    Sakanaction has plenty of fans even in the generation above them.
    39AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:09
    Both sides are half-joking here, come on.
    Don't start a whole thread over one moment from a radio show.
    40AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:10
    A lot of today's high schoolers grew up with two working parents and after-school programs, so plenty of them can actually do kendama and spin tops.
    41AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:13
    Re: #40
    Isn't it the Beyblade era now?
    51AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:26
    Isn't it more cringe when a middle-aged guy tries to talk about what's trendy now?
    61AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:39
    Re: #51
    The comedy duo Ogiyahagi were just talking about this on their radio show — "Nothing's more cringe than a middle-aged guy talking about or copying young people's trends."

    They went on: "The second a middle-aged guy takes interest in what young people are into, the trend dies on the spot! Once an old guy gets close, the boom is over! Maybe we should just get into everything you kids are into and kill it for you!" — that was a pretty funny take.
    71AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:46
    How old is this guy anyway? He's spot-on the same age as me, lol
    86AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:57
    Re: #71
    Born in '79, and he didn't break out until around age 30. The UVERworld guys look young too, but they're around the same age.
    81AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:52
    I'm an old guy myself and I don't even know this Sakana-whatever band.
    83AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:55
    Re: #81
    Guess that makes you more of a grandpa then.

    I'd love to know what bands you DO know.

    Background and Points of Contention

    Sea-Monkeys and shrink-plastic crafts (plastic sheets shaped and shrunk in a microwave) were popular items in the 1980s and ’90s, and the criticism in the article centers on a generational divide — the so-called “jenegya” (generation gap). But several replies pointed out that both Sea-Monkeys and shrink-plastic sheets are still ordinary products sold today, suggesting the topic may not be as dated as the critical listener assumed. Opinion in the thread split between those who see it as natural to build up generational knowledge by listening to older people reminisce, and those who argue the streaming generation has come to expect content tailored to them — a divide that could reflect the gap between one-way radio and the two-way, on-demand online broadcasts younger listeners grew up with. For the details of exactly how Yamaguchi responded on air, see the original article.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Entertainment/Sports News Flash+) thread “Ichiro Yamaguchi Pushes Back After Listener Calls His Radio Talk “Too Old-Man”: “Shut up. I have no idea what you’re talking about with your Puku-Puku Stickers or whatever”.”

  • Tunnels’ Kinashi Noritake Roof-Sitting Controversy: Rapper ACE Laments ‘I Miss the BIG3 Era’

    On the April 25 broadcast of ABEMA’s show “Kinashi Record,” Tunnels’ Kinashi Noritake climbed onto the roof of guest rapper SHO’s gold Mercedes-Benz, laughingly banging on the bodywork and saying, “Oh, this dents, doesn’t it?” On September 3, fellow rapper ACE weighed in on X, saying “both hip-hop and comedy have gotten so small-minded” and “this has become an era where I miss the BIG3,” sparking a wave of discussion. On 5ch, some pointed out that in the actual footage SHO himself had invited Kinashi over, saying “It’d look cool if you sat here” — leading to a split between those defending the incident (citing that repair costs and an appearance fee were covered) and those criticizing it as “Showa-era sensibilities that don’t fly anymore.”

    9/3 (Thu) 4:27 PM

    Rapper ACE posted on X on the 3rd, commenting on the controversy surrounding Tunnels’ Kinashi Noritake (64), who climbed onto the roof of fellow rapper SHO’s car during a joint TV appearance.

    The scene in question is from an episode of ABEMA’s “Kinashi Record,” streamed on April 25. Kinashi climbed onto the roof of the gorgeous gold Mercedes-Benz belonging to guest SHO, laughing as he thumped the bodywork with a dull thudding sound and said, “Ah, this dents, doesn’t it?” SHO, meanwhile, looked visibly tense, saying, “That might be a little dangerous…”

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

    4AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:22
    More importantly, what's going on with Ishibashi?
    5AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:24
    If it happened to him, he'd probably lose it ten times harder.
    6AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:24
    >In the actual show, SHO himself introduced his car to Kinashi and encouraged him to sit on it, saying, 'It looks cool if you sit here.'
    8AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:25
    Impressive — he's rhyming "tagataga" with "gatagata."
    (a play on "takadaka… de gatagata" — roughly "don't kick up such a fuss over a mere car")
    9AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:25
    He was just sitting there normally, then got told "climb up a bit more." Something about the vibe, so he climbed up, and then, "oh, this dents." In the end it's all about how it's edited, isn't it?
    10AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:25
    It made me stop and think — is "don't kick up such a kada-kada over a mere car" deliberately swapping "gata-gata" (rattling/fussing) for "kada-kada" as a pun on "takadaka" (mere/just) and the "ka" in "car"?
    11AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:26
    So rappers bow down to the powerful (big-name celebrities), huh.
    12AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:27
    First off, it'd be good to clarify whether everyone commenting has actually watched the show.
    13AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:27
    Sucking up to power — and even Sanma himself denounces this stuff nowadays.
    15AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:27
    Hip-hoppers lining up one after another to cash in on the publicity.
    19AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:31
    If some junior celebrity did that to his own Porsche, he wouldn't find it funny.
    21AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:31
    Even if he had prior consent and the network promised to cover repairs or gift him a new car, wrecking someone else's car just isn't comedy anymore.
    27AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:33
    Re: #21
    The power-harassment generation will find this hilarious. ("gebageba" — a nod to old-school rowdy Showa-era TV comedy)
    22AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:32
    Someone around him really needs to tell him Showa-era sensibilities don't fly anymore… Being such a big name, he's turned into the emperor with no clothes.
    25AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:32
    Only throw stones if you'd be totally fine with someone stomping on something precious of yours just because you'd get paid for it.
    28AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:33
    Re: #25
    If it were really precious to him, he wouldn't have invited someone to climb on it.
    26AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:32
    Well, true — if you're a rapper, you'd want that "I can replace my car anytime" kind of swagger.
    29AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:34
    Even back in the heyday of the Comedy BIG3, trashing some unknown rapper's car wouldn't have been funny.
    30AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:34
    SHOwa-style laughs, going all in — here we go, HipHopper♪ (a pun on his name "SHO" and "Showa")
    31AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:34
    Yeah, when it comes to bags, it's gotta be ACE. (a pun — ACE is also a famous Japanese luggage/bag brand)
    32AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:35
    Every industry these days has gotten so small and buttoned-up.
    34AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:36
    A rapper getting flustered over a car scratch is pretty uncool, true — though Kinashi did take it too far.
    36AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:38
    So Kinashi's the victim now? People are piling on too hard — guess it's a generation that doesn't know the "Range Rover Golf" bit. (likely a reference to an old Tunnels comedy skit)
    39AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:44
    https://imgur.com/Oe8NkWm.jpg
    42AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:46
    https://imgur.com/NKTJ12O.jpg
    47AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:47
    https://imgur.com/f2q2MpT.jpg
    https://imgur.com/RrEYSEY.jpg
    48AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:47
    He got paid an appearance fee on top of the repair costs — what's the problem?
    52AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:49
    Re: #48
    So you're saying it's fine to break someone's bones as long as you pay medical bills plus consolation money?
    51AnonymousSep 4, 2026 15:48
    If the real Takeshi did it, everyone would just shut up, right?
    68AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:02
    Re: #51
    Takeshi and Sanma themselves have said that wrecking cars for laughs is outdated now.
    77AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:10
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GS6C7i4a4AAFb-j.jpg
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6-r_VNX0AEg-Oa.jpg
    78AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:11
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxgvRlEUUAE1N70.jpg
    86AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:15
    The ACE I know is some flashy pretty-boy type — who the hell is this guy?
    89AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:21
    Re: #86
    Aren't you mixing him up with t-Ace?
    87AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:18
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HHjlNdcbsAAAj1u.jpg
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJQSH7eV4AEzB5B.jpg
    90AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:25
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HKfjDDkbkAArCBS.jpg
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ea2GpXGU0Acj04w.jpg
    96AnonymousSep 4, 2026 16:30
    https://imgur.com/HDgmwam.jpg
    https://imgur.com/lOfpclU.jpg

    Background and Key Points of the Debate

    “BIG3” is a nickname for the trio that has topped Japan’s comedy world since the late Showa era, and there’s a cultural backdrop in which rough, body-on-the-line horseplay was tolerated as a form of affectionate teasing (“kawaigari”). ACE’s comment reflects nostalgia for that era’s atmosphere, but as some in the thread pointed out, it’s easy to overlook that Takeshi and Sanma themselves have recently dismissed car-wrecking gags as outdated — meaning the “BIG3” image ACE idealizes doesn’t quite match how the people involved see things today. It’s also hard to tell from the article alone that, while the show aired in April, ACE’s comment and the resulting online debate only took off in September — nearly half a year later. Taken in isolation, the roof-climbing scene looks high-handed, but the fact that SHO himself encouraged Kinashi to get on the car is an important piece of context driving the split in opinion.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Geisokuho+) thread “Rapper ACE on Kinashi Noritake’s ‘Roof-Sitting’ Controversy: ‘Both hip-hop and comedy have gotten so small-minded,’ ‘I miss the BIG3 era’”.