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  • New Fire Emblem Scores 2.9 on Japan’s Amazon — US and UK Rate It Above 4

    The Japanese Amazon reviews for the latest entry in the “Fire Emblem” series have stalled at just 2.9 stars, while the US listing sits at 4.5, the UK listing at 4.1, and Metacritic’s user score stands at 8.9 (89 points) — a stark mismatch across countries and rating platforms that’s become a hot topic on 5ch’s hardware/industry (“geha”) board. Thread posters split between two theories: that longtime fans are handing out harsh scores out of frustration with the series’ new direction, or that the low ratings reflect a deliberate review-bombing campaign. Commenters also pointed to the “Xenoblade” series, which reportedly saw a similar pile-up of negative reviews in the past.

    1AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:14
    Smells fishy.
    12AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:21
    With long-running series you often get old-school fans throwing an emotional hissy fit and tanking the score — I don't put much stock in it.
    14AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:22
    Reviews for Chinese products running cashback deals aren't reliable, but other than that I've never seen an obviously fake rating. There are 200 reviews here, so this is probably just the real deal.
    18AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:30
    Re: #14 They went and hedged their bets before anyone even called them out — pathetic, you damn shills (lol)
    16AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:23
    Re: #12 Has this happened with other games too? Let me know, I want to see it.
    26AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:34
    Re: #16
    31AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:36
    Re: #26 Ratings based on like 2 reviews aren't reliable to begin with — that's just common sense.
    20AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:32
    So does anyone actually use Amazon reviews as a reference for games?
    22AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:32
    Re: #20 No way anyone does.
    21AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:32
    Feels like it's old-timers who can't move on from classic FE giving it the low scores.
    29AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:35
    Re: #21 But wouldn't those people be the core buyer base? If they ignored that and put out something totally different, then a low score is a low score, fair's fair. It's like an enka singer suddenly busting out rap — of course that's getting rated low.
    30AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:35
    Isn't it just plain creepy that there are people out there manipulating scores just to drag the rating down?
    32AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:36
    Re: #30 If specific, accurate details show up right after release, you can probably assume it's from someone who actually played it.
    34AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:36
    They'll just get deleted eventually anyway — these people never learn.
    38AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:38
    Re: #34 About when do they usually get deleted? Rough estimate's fine if you know the timeframe.
    43AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:42
    If it's fun, give it a 5, if it's boring, give it a 1 — that's fair, isn't it? Who decided the rule that you can only give a 1 if the game literally doesn't boot?
    46AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:44
    Re: #43 Why are you so worked up about this all of a sudden?
    45AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:43
    Same thing happened with Xenoblade, so none of this is exactly news.
    51AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:47
    Re: #45 So basically a Fire-Emblem-complex on par with the Xenoblade-complex has just been born (lol)
    53AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:48
    They're at it again…
    92AnonymousSep 24, 2026 21:03
    Re: #53 Probably got targeted because Wolverine dropped right before it.
    54AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:49
    I skimmed Xenoblade's reviews and the rating looks high though?
    67AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:52
    Re: #54 That's because they scrubbed a ton of the smear-campaign reviews. It was brutal right at launch.
    61AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:51
    Re: #57 So it's fixed now, right? Then it should be accurate now, at least.
    72AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:53
    Re: #67 I heard that trick doesn't even work anymore these days — though I wouldn't really know.
    75AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:55
    Re: #72 It still works — you can still leave a review without ever buying the thing, same as always.
    77AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:56
    Better bookmark this thread — apparently the score's about to shoot back up after this. Should be fun to watch.
    97AnonymousSep 24, 2026 21:05
    Hey, which one of these looks off to you?

    Metascore
    https://www.metacritic.com/game/fire-emblem-fortunes-weave/
    METASCORE 89
    USER SCORE 8.9

    US Amazon
    https://us.amazon.com/Fire-EmblemTM-Fortunes-Weave-Nintendo-Switch/dp/B0H4NV2MVN/
    ⭐︎4.5

    UK Amazon
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nintendo-Fire-Emblem-Fortunes-Weave/dp/B0H4RHBK9V/
    ⭐︎4.1

    Japan Amazon
    ⭐︎2.9
    99AnonymousSep 24, 2026 21:06
    Re: #97 Yeah, they're definitely up to something here.
    100AnonymousSep 24, 2026 21:06
    Re: #97 Looking at this, seems like they're putting in some effort in the UK too.

    Background and Points of Debate

    Amazon lets anyone post a review whether or not their purchase is verified, so right after launch a handful of low or high scores can swing the average sharply. Rating tendencies and how invested reviewers are also differ by country and platform (US/UK Amazon, Metacritic’s user score), so a regional gap in scores alone isn’t proof of “manipulation.” In the thread, the view that longtime fans were reacting harshly to the series’ change in direction clashed with suspicions of an organized review-bombing campaign, but no evidence was actually presented confirming fraudulent posting took place — both remain speculation among the participants. It’s also worth noting that Metacriticjs user score is likewise just a tally of anonymous submissions, though the thread itself never brought that up.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hardware/Industry, “geha”) thread “[Not Really News] FE ‘Mankou,’ Amazon Rating 2.9” (“Mankou” is a mocking nickname posters use for the game/fandom).

  • VIP Board Kicks Off 24-Hour Drinking Marathon — 5ch Regulars: “Stop Me If I Head to the Pachinko Parlor”

    On the night of the 24th, a thread starter on 5ch’s Newsspeed VIP board declared a “24-hour drinking festival” and kicked off the evening with shochu mixed with cola, snacking on peanuts and seared bonito (katsuo tataki). Regulars who gathered in the thread needled the OP over having diabetes and over the fact that this was already his fourth self-imposed pachinko ban (commonly called “pachi-kin”) this month, now on its third day. The conversation ranged from struggles with cutting carbs to a request that others stop him if he looked like he was about to head to a pachinko parlor, with drinking buddies also posting photos of snacks like chicken skin and deep-fried tofu that drew comments.

    1AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:17
    (´;ω;`) First up, peanuts and seared bonito as my snacks!!!!! And my drink of choice as always — shochu with zero-calorie cola!!!!
    4AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:18
    Oh hey, it's that usual alcoholic pachinko-addict gay guy!
    6AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:19
    Re: #4
    (´;ω;`) Straight boy!!!! ("nonke" — slang for a non-gay/straight guy)
    9AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:19
    (´ ･᷇ ω ･᷆ ｀) Let your inner gay out
    16AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:20
    Re: #9
    (´;ω;`) I'm not gonna lose to some gay stuff!
    11AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:19
    So you started this thread 'cause you're lonely and by yourself, huh?
    21AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:21
    Re: #11
    (´;ω;`) I just wanna drink while you guys fuss over me!!!!
    13AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:19
    (´;ω;`) Drowning it in mayo, thank you very much ♡♡

    https://gzo.ai/i/VtI4CaA.jpg
    19AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:20
    Can't you have carbs?
    27AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:22
    Re: #19
    (´;ω;`) It's not that I can't, but with my diabetes it's better not to eat too many.
    35AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:24
    Re: #27
    Diabetes, huh
    Guess shochu's about the only thing you can drink then.
    40AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:25
    Re: #27
    The "dried-up alcoholic" route, huh… cutting carbs is probably gonna make your food bill go up though.
    25AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:21
    Cheers — I'm just having a drink myself too.
    30AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:22
    Re: #25
    (´;ω;`) Nice!!! What are you drinking?
    28AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:22
    Once you're feeling good, let's go play some pachinko.
    32AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:23
    Re: #28
    (´;ω;`) No way, I'm on a pachinko ban right now!!!!! Seriously, if I start posting that I'm heading to the pachinko parlor, stop me.
    34AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:23
    ( ･᷄ὢ･᷅ ) Your liver's crying, you know?
    38AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:25
    Re: #34
    (´;ω;`) It's still holding up fine.
    36AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:24
    Even if we wanted to stop you, by the time we notice you're gone you're already off playing pachinko.
    41AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:25
    Re: #36
    (´;ω;`) If I say I'm heading to the pachinko parlor, stop me!! I'll probably still be getting changed by the time I post that, so there's time.
    42AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:26
    Let's guess when he'll actually go play pachinko — probably by 7pm.
    49AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:27
    Re: #42
    (´;ω;`) That's only like 30 minutes away!!! I'm NOT going!!!
    43AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:26
    Heard "Gay-kun" (the thread's nickname for the OP) has started his pachinko ban four times this month already?
    51AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:27
    Re: #43
    (´;ω;`) Yeah, and the fourth one's now on day three.
    99AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:42
    For a guy in his 20s, Gay-kun's taste in stuff is like an old man's.
    100AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:44
    Re: #99
    That's 'cause he was actually born in the Showa 40s (mid-1960s to early '70s).
    101AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:44
    Re: #99
    (´;ω;`) I get that a lot… I'm only into anime and tokusatsu from the '60s and '70s.
    131AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:09
    (´;ω;`) Check it out, grilled some chicken skin

    https://gzo.ai/i/6voStXe.jpg
    146AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    (◍•ᴗ•◍) So what's today's video!?
    149AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    Re: #146
    (´;ω;`) Haven't filmed it yet! I'll get to it eventually.
    151AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:16
    Re: #149
    (◍•ᴗ•◍) Just don't get drunk, doze off, and let it slip past midnight…
    148AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    I'm drinking too
    150AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    Re: #148
    (´;ω;`) Nice!!!! Deep-fried tofu's the best, right?
    179AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:23
    (´;ω;`) Here's a kiss for you

    https://gzo.ai/i/PVIQrKC.jpg
    189AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:26
    So goooood
    191AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:26
    Re: #189
    (´;ω;`) That looks amazing!!!!! So good.
    193AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:27
    Re: #189
    (◍•ᴗ•◍) I thought the catch was supposed to be bad again this year…!!!

    Background and Talking Points

    Pachinko parlors’ “self-exclusion / family-exclusion programs” let a person — or a family member on their behalf — request that they be barred from entering for a set period. It’s a self-help tool that halls across Japan have adopted for people who recognize they have a gambling problem. The OP is on his fourth such self-exclusion this month alone, and the repeated attempts reflect how recovery from addiction rarely follows a straight line. Drinking while managing diabetes, along with his choice of snacks, is also a combination that calls for medical caution, which is the context behind regulars’ repeated ribbing about his carb intake. The OP appears to be a regular who often starts these kinds of live drinking threads, so the back-and-forth with other posters may seem abrupt to first-time readers — but it reads more smoothly once you realize it’s just familiar faces ribbing each other.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Newsspeed VIP) thread “(´;ω;`) Starting a 24-Hour Drinking Festival Right Now!!!!!!!!.”

  • Japan vs. Uruguay Friendly Sparks 5ch Chants of ‘Tactics: Just Play Zion’

    On September 24, as Fuji TV aired the friendly match between Japan’s national team and Uruguay, the 5channel “Live Commentary G” board lit up with real-time chatter. Ritsu Doan captained the starting lineup, sparking talk about the captaincy passing from Ko Itakura, debate over why both Kaishu Sano and Kota Sano — who share the surname Sano but aren’t actually related — were picked together, and chants of “Tactics: just play Zion” from fans pushing for Zion Machida, who didn’t make the starting XI. Opinions were also split over regulars like Kaoru Mitoma, Takefusa Kubo, and Junya Ito being left out of the lineup.

    Watching on TV: Fuji TV

    Watching online: TVer

    Source: tver.jp / Original article here

    2AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:39
    https://web.gekisaka.jp/news/japan/detail/?459624-459624-fl

    Starting Lineup

    GK 23 Tomoki Hayakawa
    DF 4 Ko Itakura
    DF 21 Hiroki Ito
    DF 3 Ayumu Seko
    MF 10 Ritsu Doan (Cap)
    MF 13 Keito Nakamura
    MF 24 Kaishu Sano
    MF 8 Yuito Suzuki
    MF 28 Kota Sano
    MF 19 Kuryu Matsuki
    FW 11 Daizen Maeda
    29AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:52
    Re: #2
    What about Zion?
    7AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:42
    Nobody around me is even talking about this.
    Feels like the World Cup never happened.
    This happens every time. Weird.
    9AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:44
    Re: #7
    It's just a friendly, right?
    That's how it is in every country, not just Japan.
    17AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:49
    Itakura got stripped of the captaincy?
    Heard he's not in great form, so I guess that's fair enough.
    21AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:50
    Re: #17
    Matsuki should be captain going forward.
    He's just got that look about him.
    25AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:51
    Re: #21
    He's 180cm and built, so he looks the part.
    But skill-wise he's still got a ways to go.
    He's in England's second division, after all.
    30AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:52
    Re: #25
    Honestly, the Eredivisie and the Championship aren't that different in level.
    31AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:53
    How's Hayakawa doing these days?
    Also, what about Osako?
    38AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:56
    Re: #31
    Hayakawa's the best Japanese GK in the J.League right now.
    Osako won't get called up anymore, given his ability and age.
    Kokubo's in instead —
    he's a starter in Belgium's first division, which ranks above J1.
    34AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:54
    Uruguay
    Turkey

    Teams that get wildly overrated but always underwhelm at the World Cup.
    58AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:03
    Re: #34
    Add Mexico to that list too.
    41AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:00
    The venue, though…
    Why's it in Miyagi? Is it because the Rakuten Eagles are playing at Es Con Field right now?
    55AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:03
    Re: #41
    North of Tokyo, the only venues that can host it are Kashima or Sapporo Dome.
    42AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:00
    Didn't Uruguay fall apart at the World Cup?
    44AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:01
    Re: #42
    Honestly they've been weak for a while now — Japan might even be the stronger side.
    47AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:02
    If I joined Uruguay as their 13th starter, could they actually win?
    51AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:03
    Re: #47
    Kind of depends who the other guy is.
    69AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:05
    Is Núñez the most famous player on Uruguay right now?
    73AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:05
    Re: #69
    Probably Araújo.
    80AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:07
    What about Mitoma?
    What about Ito?
    What about Kubo?
    What about Zion?
    86AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:08
    Re: #80
    Give up on Mitoma already.
    Ito's not making the next World Cup either.
    Kubo just isn't needed, honestly.
    And Zion could use a rest.
    84AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:07
    Japan's national team has really come into its own.
    At this point the only lineups that outclass ours are Spain and France.
    All that's left is the manager.
    88AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:09
    Re: #84
    What's wrong with a manager who beats Enrique and Flick?
    104AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:14
    Build-up play from the back line is a mess.
    110AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:16
    Re: #104
    There are people who worship build-up play, but Japan's got Zion — build-up can just be an afterthought.
    Tactics: just play Zion!
    109AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    Mitoma, Kubo, and Ueda are all missing.
    111AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:16
    Re: #109
    Mitoma and Kubo just aren't needed anymore, honestly.
    116AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:17
    Re: #109
    It's a friendly, so trying out different players is a good thing.
    125AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:19
    Why do the Sano "brothers" (they're not actually related — just share a surname) keep getting picked together?
    Just for the buzz?
    126AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:20
    Re: #125
    Totally just for the buzz.
    The younger one especially hasn't even been putting in good performances.
    130AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:21
    Re: #125
    Huh? It's a perfectly fair call.
    The younger one is at the level where Dutch TV media actually debated on air "why wasn't he picked for the national team."
    It's honestly strange he wasn't picked for the World Cup.
    144AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:22
    Matsuki's the real deal.
    This guy's basically a young Keisuke Honda.
    156AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:22
    Re: #144
    More like a worse version of Honda.
    160AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:23
    Funny that Kuryu's best position turned out to be wing-back.
    Credit to Southampton's manager for that.
    170AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:25
    Re: #160
    Honestly, the Japanese temperament just suits wing-back.
    Japanese players shine in that hard-working, sweat-it-out role.
    168AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:24
    I don't know much about soccer, but among Spain, England, Germany, France, and Italy, which league ranks highest?
    Spain, where Kubo plays?
    174AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:25
    Re: #168
    England, where Zion plays.
    190AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:26
    Re: #168
    England's probably the top right now.
    France next.

    Background and Talking Points

    This match was a friendly rather than an official fixture, and Japan has already secured its spot at next year’s World Cup. That’s likely why regulars such as Kaoru Mitoma, Takefusa Kubo, and Junya Ito were left out in favor of testing younger and reserve players. The thread’s talk of the “Sano brothers” is a nickname stemming from Kaishu Sano and Kota Sano simply sharing a surname rather than being actually related, and confusion over this point is likely part of why some posters questioned the fairness of the selection. Meanwhile, while Ritsu Doan wore the captain’s armband this time, no clear reason was given in the thread for why Ko Itakura lost the captaincy — it remains speculation at best. The repeated show of support for Zion Machida, who didn’t play, also suggests just how much national team fans currently expect from him.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and summaries of the 5ch (Live Commentary G) thread “[Fuji TV] Japan National Team vs. Uruguay National Team — Kickoff 7 PM.”

  • Men’s Table Tennis Team Beats China for First Gold in 60 Years — Harimoto & Matsushima Rally Back from the Brink

    In the men’s table tennis team final on Day 6 of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Japan defeated China to win its first title in 60 years. The thread buzzed over the come-from-behind drama and the marathon match that ran past three hours. One camp argued “China must have held back its Olympic-generation players and sent a subs squad,” while another countered that “by world ranking, Japan — with Matsushima at No. 3 and Harimoto at No. 4 — was actually the stronger side.” Others noted that despite the dramatic win, the stands were oddly quiet, pointing out that the venue, Toyota City, isn’t an easy place to get to.

    Sponichi

    [ September 24, 2026, 20:07 ]

    Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Day 6, Table Tennis: Japan vs. China (September 24, 2026, Skyhall Toyota)

    Source: sponichi.co.jp / Original article here

    14AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:16
    Watched the whole thing live — the rallies were genuinely insane, can't believe they pulled it off. But China's probably saving its real firepower for LA 2028 gold, so this Asian Games felt like they only sent the bench squad.
    22AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:17
    Re: #14
    Even though they had the world No. 1 on the roster?
    56AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:21
    Re: #14
    This IS China's current top 3. Fan Zhendong's basically retired from the national team already.
    203AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:36
    Re: #14
    Newbie alert — the Asian Games is a tournament China always shows up to full strength for. Honestly, China's pipeline is drying up right now; the bench is thin and they don't have an undisputed ace anymore.
    44AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:20
    Table tennis is fine, but how about some coverage of the cute badminton girls too.
    52AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:21
    Re: #44
    Matsushima's cuter, no contest.
    54AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:21
    Re: #44
    Great face, figure's just okay though.
    53AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:21
    Re: #1
    They've always said economic strength and sporting strength run in inverse proportion.

    China/Korea → economy got stronger, sports got weaker
    Japan today → economy got weaker, sports got stronger

    (For reference: Japan in the '70s-'80s → strong economy, but weaker at sports than China/Korea)
    191AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:35
    Re: #53
    The US has a strong economy and is strong at sports, and China's stayed strong too. If anything, football proves that a strong economy tends to come with strong sports.
    58AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:21
    Bet they'll claim they couldn't perform because the meal portions were too small.
    67AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:21
    Re: #58
    Can't pull that excuse for table tennis — the crowd support made it basically a home game for China.
    64AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:21
    No way — was that actually China's B-team out there?
    123AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:27
    Re: #64
    They had the world No. 1 on the team, though. Can't see them fielding a lineup that risks losing gold.
    85AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:23
    I expected a deafening standing ovation after a title win, but the arena was dead silent. What is that about — are Japanese table tennis fans just not showing up? No wonder you're all called introverts ('A`) (a 2ch/5ch emoticon for awkward dismay)
    94AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:24
    Re: #85
    Well, it's basically China's venue crowd-wise.
    103AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:24
    Re: #85
    I mean, the venue's in Toyota… even the locals find it a pain to get to.
    88AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:23
    Japan's actually ahead on combined team ranking.

    Japan
    Matsushima — World No. 3
    Harimoto — World No. 4
    Togami — World No. 13

    China
    Wang Chuqin — World No. 1
    Lin Shidong — World No. 8
    Wen Ruibo — World No. 15
    109AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:25
    Re: #88
    Who's ranked No. 2? What country?
    116AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:26
    Re: #109
    France's Félix Lebrun — white guy with glasses. Plays penhold and he's absurdly strong.
    133AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:28
    Re: #116
    Thanks. So with a No. 3 and a No. 4, Japan's overall team strength was actually higher to begin with. They've really gotten strong.
    202AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:36
    Re: #116
    Penhold was already fading out of the mainstream 40 years ago — didn't realize it wasn't extinct yet. Guess slapping rubber on the backside saved it from dying out.
    126AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:27
    Won't the Chinese team get torn apart once they're back home?
    129AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:27
    Re: #126
    To the point you'd worry about their families.
    141AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:29
    Re: #126
    They'll get praised for "contributing to the growth of table tennis" instead (i.e., spun as a positive despite the loss).
    142AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:29
    Never seen a chubby table tennis player. They're all cut to the bone right up to the edge, aren't they?
    154AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:30
    Re: #142
    The previous greatest-of-all-time Chinese player, who won in Paris, was chubby. Matsushima's probably built his body with that in mind.
    158AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:31
    Re: #142
    The Mizutani-Kishikawa doubles pair were both chubby, remember?
    162AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:31
    Re: #142
    Don't you know Coach Kishikawa, the original chubby guy?
    145AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:29
    For China, the Olympics are a stage to show off national strength. I think they don't invest in football because if football fandom gets too hot, the public gets harder to keep under control.
    222AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:39
    Re: #145
    Actually, they've poured huge money into football and gone all in — partly because Xi Jinping himself is a football fan. The issue is that team sports are rife with connections and bribery: kids of Communist Party officials with no real talent, or guys who bribed the coach heavily, end up starting. In an individual sport like table tennis, skill is impossible to fake, but in team sports individual ability alone can't carry you, so it's fertile ground for cronyism and bribes.
    230AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:41
    Re: #222
    What era are you talking about? The domestic league's had unpaid wages nonstop — foreign players won't even come anymore, and they can't land naturalized players either.
    256AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:44
    Re: #222
    Guess it really shows the national character. Even with FIFA bending over backwards to accommodate China, football's still a total bust — so bad it's beyond a joke (lit. "even the lol-grass withers").
    198AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:36
    China's surprisingly humble when they lose at football — I wonder how they'll take a loss at table tennis?
    210AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:37
    Re: #198
    Chinese table tennis has basically become "entertainment," and the vibe's a bit different, but football, basketball, and table tennis all get treated about the same over there. And honestly, Chinese internet users never miss a chance for sarcasm anyway.
    221AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:39
    Re: #198
    Football's just for fun there, but table tennis is the national sport — completely different stakes.
    224AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:39
    This is huge news, so why isn't the thread taking off?
    231AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:41
    Re: #224
    Nobody's even watching the Asian Games in general.
    260AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:44
    Re: #224
    It's because 5ch itself is a dead platform now.

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    This match was held at Skyhall Toyota during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with Japan said to have avenged its loss from the previous tournament and claimed its first team gold in 60 years. What split the thread was whether China had actually gone all-out: against the theory that China held back its Olympic-generation players, some pointed out that lining up the world rankings — Matsushima at No. 3, Harimoto at No. 4, and Togami at No. 13 for Japan, versus Wang Chuqin at No. 1, Lin Shidong at No. 8, and Wen Ruibo at No. 15 for China — Japan’s combined ranking was actually higher, suggesting this wasn’t necessarily a case of beating a weaker opponent. Another point of discussion was how sparse the crowd looked, which some attributed to the venue effectively functioning as China’s home turf and to Toyota City’s inconvenient location. Worth noting: the exchange about corruption in Chinese football is not primary sourcing for the table tennis result itself — it’s simply a tangent among thread participants.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports Express+) thread “[Asian Games] Men’s table tennis team wins gold for the first time in 60 years! Finally beat China — Harimoto & Matsushima rally back from the brink, over 3 hours of intense battle“.

  • Used iPhone 14 Hits #1 in Sales for the First Time — 5ch: “You Can Get One for ¥60,000”

    A survey by major used-smartphone dealer belong found that the iPhone 14 topped the used-device sales ranking for the first time, with the combined share of the iPhone 14–16 lineup roughly quadrupling from a year earlier. When 5ch’s Nandemo Jikkyo G board picked up the story, mockery of people still clinging to an old model with a Lightning port collided with praise for its roughly ¥60,000 affordability and iOS’s long support window. The thread also touched on reluctance to switch to Android phones like the Xperia, and gripes about newer models dropping the titanium body.

    Used-smartphone sales trends: “iPhone 14” takes No. 1 for the first time. Share of iPhone 14–16 roughly quadruples from a year ago [belong survey]

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

    2AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:09
    Android's way better, what idiots.
    3AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:10
    Ah, the Lightning-port loyalists.
    6AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:10
    Re: #3

    Hated this thing even back when it was new.
    7AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:11
    A used 14 goes for about ¥60,000. Once you hit the 15, the price jumps way up.
    8AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:11
    Even so, apparently switching to an Xperia is a hard no.
    71AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:37
    Re: #8
    I mean, it's Sony, right?
    9AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:12
    Can't help it — students get frozen out if they don't have an iPhone.
    10AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:12
    You're broke — just go buy some cheap little "Androidoid" (a mocking, baby-talk mangling of "Android").
    11AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:12
    Don't old ones not even have stereo sound? "iHone" is behind Android on features anyway (deliberate misspelling used to mock iPhone fans).
    13AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:13
    I'm a 15 Pro user, watching from the sidelines with popcorn.
    14AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:13
    Guess iPhone users really are all just poor people.
    15AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:13
    Guess any iPhone will do for some people?
    Using something several generations old seems more embarrassing to me.
    17AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:14
    Rakuten's Apple rental plan ("ringo rental") is super cheap, yet people still insist on buying outright — their sense of value is all over the place.
    18AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:14
    Is buying an Amazon-refurbished 3rd-gen SE not an option?
    19AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:14
    Wait, the 14 still has a Lightning port, right?
    24AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    Re: #19
    That's exactly why it's cheap.
    Prices jump starting with the 15.
    29AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:16
    Re: #24
    Actually, why not just use MagSafe?
    20AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:14
    I switched from the 14 to a foldable "Androidoid" too. Guess starting tomorrow I'm "cheese" as well (playing along with the mock-accent meme above).
    21AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    If you're buying Lightning trash at this point, why not just get the USB-C 15 instead?
    22AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    Can't bring myself to upgrade from my 13 mini 🥹
    23AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    That'd make people desperately clinging to a 2-year rental just to have an iPhone look like idiots.
    28AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:16
    iOS still supports devices going back to like the 11, so the 14 should easily get several more years.
    34AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:17
    Still haven't finished paying off my 15 Pro.
    36AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:18
    Re: #34
    I paid for mine in full upfront ✌
    41AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:19
    For some reason iPhone skipped the number 9 — wonder if they'll skip 19 too.
    46AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:23
    Re: #41
    🥺mae2c 7.5.4/iPhone9,1/15.8.8
    45AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:23
    People who insist on iPhones are probably just vain.
    47AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:24
    Re: #45
    It's not that they insist on it —
    they just can't use anything but what they're used to,
    they can't bring themselves to try something new.
    55AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:28
    I've got the 15 Pro Max, but I'll switch once they bring titanium back.
    59AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:31
    Re: #55
    The Pro runs too hot these days, can't do it anymore.
    If you're set on titanium, give up and just buy the Air or the Duo.
    60AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:32
    Re: #59
    The 15 Pro just looks so premium that anything from the 17 onward looks super cheap in comparison…
    What's with the aluminum?
    62AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:33
    Re: #59
    😭
    If I'm gonna switch, I'll wait to see next year's 20th-anniversary model first.
    65AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:35
    Since everyone dropped titanium, it must either cost a ton or cause serious heat issues.
    I really liked how it barely scratched, though.
    69AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:36
    Re: #65
    Sure, I keep it in a case, but it's been almost 3 years without a single scratch.
    88AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:47
    What's the reason for clinging to an iPhone that hard?
    94AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:52
    Re: #88
    Switching away from iOS is just a hassle.
    95AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:52
    Apparently 80% of young people and women in Japan use iPhones.
    98AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:53
    Re: #95
    Women maybe, but young people don't use them as much as people say.
    Women still being a majority isn't wrong, though.

    Background and Key Points

    The survey behind this story comes from belong, a major player in used-smartphone buyback and rental, and this marks the first time the iPhone 14 has taken the top spot in used-device sales rankings. The 14 was the last generation to use a Lightning port before the switch to USB-C from the 15 onward, which has created a gap in used prices. In the thread, voices mocking people who keep using an older model as “poor” clashed with others praising its roughly ¥60,000 affordability and iOS’s long support window. It’s worth noting, though, that this data doesn’t reflect which device performs better — it simply reflects market factors like price bracket and years of OS support, not a verdict on iPhone’s popularity itself.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyo G) thread “[Sad News] Japanese People Flock to an iPhone Four Generations Old.”

  • 5ch Thread Ranks the Most Entertaining Hello! Project Scandals Ever — “That’s Talent, Idiot”

    A thread on 5ch’s Hello! Project board asking posters to name “the most entertaining Hello! Project scandal of all time” took off. Names piled up one after another — Hitomi Yoshizawa’s drunk hit-and-run, Mari Yaguchi’s exposed romance, Maki Goto’s “shotgun marriage” reports — some dating back nearly 20 years. Several posters noted that how shocking an incident was and how funny it is as a story don’t always line up, producing lines like “Yoshizawa’s got the impact, but Oda’s the funny one.” The thread ranged across generations of Hello! Project groups, pulling out anecdotes only longtime fans would remember.

    1AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:29
    What
    2AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:30
    The lotion — the kind you could actually take photos of
    3AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:31
    It turned into 'Riko'
    5AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:31
    Re: #3
    Could you please stop looking at Riko-Riko like that
    4AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:31
    The drunk-driving hit-and-run
    7AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:32
    86 km/h in a zone she was 26 over the limit — 8626, which happens to read as 'Ha-Ro-Pu-Ro' (Hello Pro) in Japanese number wordplay (goroawase). Hitomi Yoshizawa really is a genius.
    https://kako.5ch.io/test/read.cgi/morningcoffee/1537954318/
    8AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:32
    Nono-tan's shotgun marriage
    10AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:32
    What even was that bizarre room and the lotion?
    18Boku Nee NeeSep 24, 2026 19:37
    The incident where Yagu hid naked in a closet
    20AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:37
    The Berryz Koubou flag theft
    21AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:38
    The idols' drinking party was at Torikizoku (a cheap yakitori chain)
    22AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:38
    Turns out Ogawa Makocchan had gotten married, had a kid, and divorced
    23AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:38
    Ogawa has a 10-year-old kid
    24AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:38
    Yeah, that yakiniku post had a ton of 'nioawase' hint-puzzle elements to it
    25AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:38
    Not really a scandal, but it was fun when Sayashi dissed Sato on the Can Jam radio show and the board turned into a slugfest between Sayashi fans and Sato fans
    27AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:39
    Making out on the street
    28AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:39
    A host-club debt collector showed up at the agency
    29AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:41
    Yoshizawa's got the impact, but Oda's the funny one
    30AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:41
    The closet
    31AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:41
    She's my angel!
    32AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:41
    Yanamin's phone incident
    37AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:42
    She publicly called out a junior member and ended up leaking her own kink instead
    38AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:42
    Yaguchi's old Mixi account got dug up (Mixi being an early-2000s Japanese social network)
    40AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:42
    Former Juice=Juice member Tomoko Kanazawa — #IchaSho
    41AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:43
    Nucchi was intense
    42AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:44
    The whole Osaka-to-Tokyo trip, the senior member sitting next to her wouldn't say a single word to her
    47AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:45
    That's talent, you idiot
    48AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:45
    Xiao Xiao
    49AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:46
    The one with zero motivation
    51AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:46
    It was fun back when Fuujin Raijin and Ageha were still around
    Back when this board never slept
    56AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:49
    More than getting scooped by a tabloid, it was funnier watching a stalker drip-feed the voyeur photos bit by bit
    58AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:57
    Miyabi-chan's make-out scandal

    Back then I was so shocked my legs were literally shaking
    59Boku Nee NeeSep 24, 2026 19:57
    The make-out scandal really blew up.
    At the venue itself everyone was saying 'maybe I've got a chance too.'
    On this board I was on some junky new Windows Vista PC that ran like garbage, typing back and forth, mashing keys at everyone, until my fingernail got wedged between two keys and snapped lol

    Background and Talking Points on This Topic

    Hello! Project is an idol-development project launched in 1998, led by flagship group Morning Musume. Given its long history, the list of “scandals” involving current and former members — including those who’ve left or graduated — has piled up considerably over the years. Of the incidents raised in this thread, Hitomi Yoshizawa’s drunk-driving hit-and-run actually resulted in a criminal conviction in 2019, which makes it categorically different from tabloid-reported romance stories like Maki Goto’s “shotgun marriage” or Mari Yaguchi’s exposed relationship. Posters in the thread drew a distinction between an incident’s real-world “impact” and its entertainment value as an anecdote — meaning a serious criminal case and a lighthearted rumor can end up sitting side by side in the same list, which is easy for readers to conflate if they’re not careful. The term “nioawase” (匂わせ, literally “hinting”), which comes up in the thread, is industry slang for when an idol posts something on social media that subtly implies they’re in a relationship — a lot of this kind of gossip grows out of speculation whose accuracy is never confirmed. Readers unfamiliar with this context may find it hard to tell reported fact apart from simple fan rumor.

    ※This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “The Most Entertaining Hello Pro Scandal Ever, lolololololololololololol.”

  • Karin Miyamoto Opens Up on Solo Career: ‘I Thought Good Shows Would Keep Bringing Fans Back’

    Karin Miyamoto, formerly of Juice=Juice, opened up on her blog about a recent show at Zepp, revealing: “When I first went solo, I thought that if I put on good shows, fans would just keep coming back next time. But reality wasn’t that kind.” The post was picked up on 5ch’s Hello! Project board and sparked mixed reactions. Some in the thread defended the idea that “good shows should draw crowds,” while others countered that “it’s not that simple in an era when ticket prices are high and fans have to prioritize living expenses,” and that “how a member leaves her group affects her drawing power afterward.” The discussion turned into a broader debate about the difficulties of a solo idol career.

    Today I want to write a little about the Zepp show.

    Just a few thoughts.

    I, Miyamoto,

    Source: ameblo.jp / Original post here

    2AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:42
    TRIANGROOOVE2
    Crimson×Azure
    Queen of Hearts
    UP TO 11
    5ROOMS
    Has Karin Miyamoto ever put on a solo show that rivals any of those?
    24AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:19
    Re: #2
    If only Karin Miyamoto could split into all 11 members, huh…
    13AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:03
    She thought she was the one leaving Juice=Juice behind — turns out she was the one who got left behind.
    14AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:04
    A one-two combo she never saw coming: casual fans who were never on her radar, plus longtime fans drifting away ("ツープラトン" = tag-team combo, borrowed from pro wrestling).
    16AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:09
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS-VnvHaYAANoo8.jpg?name=orig
    66AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:18
    Re: #16
    Wait, is Karin-chan actually losing on ticket sales?
    18AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:12
    Once she said "I'm quitting to do DIY," she should've kept putting out some kind of DIY content for a while afterward, even fake if needed. If she'd kept it going, the pandemic would've hit like a bonus stage — she could've reeled in a ton of new fans stuck at home with nothing to do.
    34AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:29
    Re: #18
    She could've become a DIY idol, like those camping-themed comedy talents.
    19AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:13
    Wouldn't AI make more money than this?
    20AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    Everyone's talking like she gave it her all, but is she actually putting on shows good enough to satisfy the audience?
    21AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:16
    Selling tickets by hand outside Juice=Juice's own live venues
    22AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:18
    Re: #21
    Couldn't some volunteer fans just hand out flyers for her?
    26AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:20
    Well, of course, given the way she left — Juice=Juice fans who support the group as a whole aren't going to follow her.
    28AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:23
    "Hito Sore" is a song that only really works because of Miyamoto (a track from her Juice=Juice days).
    29AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:26
    Even the view count on the "Hito Sore" MV — the one thing she still had going for her — has now been padded past by the "Moremi" live footage.
    31AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:27
    The agency only started really pushing her after she'd already quit — no wonder it messed her up.
    33AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:29
    I don't know how people who don't follow their former favorite feel about it, but if you were supporting the group as a whole, unless she was your absolute number-one favorite, you're not going to have the bandwidth to keep following her after she graduates. Money and time are both limited.
    36AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:32
    This is the same old delusion OGs have had going back to the Melon Kinenbi era.
    37AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:33
    Really glad the current members are the ones getting rewarded for once.
    38AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:36
    It's strange, isn't it — even with reduced capacity during the pandemic, her graduation concert at Budokan was packed enough that my assigned seat was in the very back row. Then again, I've only been to one of her solo shows myself.
    39AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:38
    "Solo-only" fans aren't as common as idols themselves seem to think. It's more that you fall for the songs and the group's overall vibe, then end up rooting for whichever member resonates most within that. Actually following her out of the group is pretty rare — like how few parents stay glued to a kid who's moved out and started living alone.
    42AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:41
    Graduating from a group is a turning point for the fans too, not just the member. It comes down to three choices: quit being a fan altogether along with her, switch to a new favorite, or keep following her solo. Sure, you still care how she's doing since you used to support her, but whether you actually spend money on her is a separate question.
    45AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:45
    If she'd wrapped things up and graduated the way Aarii did — giving it her all with everyone sad to see her go — I'd have kept cheering her on. ("Aarii" is another idol's nickname.)
    46AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:46
    She could've just started with wallpapering or painting one wall of her room. Then built a wall rack to match that color, and so on. Even in a rental where you can't damage the original walls, there were plenty of options, like buying pegboard panels.
    47AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:46
    It's the audience who decides whether a show was actually good.
    48AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:51
    I liked her as a group member, but as a solo act… not so much.
    49AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:57
    Why did she even leave M-line, anyway?
    Also, it's about time her stage outfits went for a bit more of a mature look — the live vibe from her "karing" era was fine as it was.
    50AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:58
    She started out trying to transition into being an artist, but partway through she went back to being an idol.
    52AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:01
    So basically, the agency never ran a "please remember Karin Miyamoto" campaign for her.
    53AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:04
    A "good show" is ultimately just karaoke when you get down to it. The ticket prices are just too high.
    54AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:05
    If Karin-chan comes back to Juice=Juice, I'll go!
    68AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:21
    I used to go to her release events, up through around "Lonely Bus" or so, but I've completely stopped going now.
    72AnonymousSep 24, 2026 20:26
    Re: #68
    Why'd you stop going? \(^o^)/

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    Karin Miyamoto graduated from Juice=Juice in 2020, and her stated reason at the time — wanting to pursue DIY — became a talking point. The thread repeatedly brings up the circumstances of that graduation (No. 18), with many arguing that the way she left has shaped how many fans stuck with her afterward. The debate split into two main camps: one supporting the simple cause-and-effect view that “good shows draw crowds,” and another taking a more economic view — that given high ticket prices and fans prioritizing daily living costs, show quality alone can’t explain turnout. Comments like No. 39 and No. 42 also point to a structural pattern specific to idol fandom: a member who was popular within her group isn’t necessarily still followed as a personal favorite after graduating. The idea that center-level popularity within a group doesn’t automatically translate into solo drawing power is a phenomenon frequently discussed in the idol industry, and Miyamoto’s own remarks seem to confirm that reality firsthand.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “Karin Miyamoto: “When I first went solo, I thought that if I put on good shows, fans would just keep coming back next time. But reality wasn’t that kind.”“

  • Giants’ Nishidate Blasted for Failed Bunt — 5ch: ‘This Is Exactly the Problem’

    On September 24, 2026, a live-discussion thread for the Yomiuri Giants vs. Hiroshima Carp game at Mazda Stadium went up on 5ch. After pitcher Nishidate’s failed sacrifice bunt led to Maru being thrown out, and Nishidate was left in to hit again instead of being pinch-hit for by the next batter, Matsumoto, criticism poured in with comments like “This is exactly the problem.” Meanwhile, Matsumoto’s league-leading batting average with runners in scoring position was brought up, along with hopes for the lineup. Opinions in the thread split between blaming Nishidate’s own lack of skill and questioning the managerial decision itself.

    1AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    Previous thread
    Giants Acting Manager 150
    2AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    2025-2026
    Outgoing
    Released: 26 Imamura, 28 Takahashi, 36 Baba, 54 Otosaka, 95 Toda
    Unconditional release: 29 Griffin, 33 Keller, 39 Fulp, 42 Hernandez, 50 Okoe
    Active Player Draft (lost): 68 Kikuchi
    Player compensation (sent): 48 Tanaka Chi
    Trade (sent): 59 Wakabayashi
    Posting: 25 Okamoto
    Retired: 7 Nagano, 30 Kondo, 43 Shigenobu

    Moved to development roster: 69 Sasahara, 90 Ishida Mitsuru, 94 Kita, 98 Suzuki, 99 Kyomoto

    Incoming
    Draft picks (regular): 21 Takemaru, 30 Tawa, 33 Kohama, 36 Yamashiro, 39 Minagawa, 99 Fujii
    Free agent signing: 9 Matsumoto, 43 Norimoto
    Active Player Draft (gained): 54 Matsuura
    Trade (received):
    Other: 26 Whitley, 28 Howard, 29 Dalbec, 42 Mata, 56 Kitaura, 98 Ogasawara

    Promoted to first-team roster: 25 Shiroki, 48 Luciano, 50 Tima, 59 Suzuki, 68 Utsunomiya, 69 Hirayama, 94 Chinen, 95 Sasahara

    2025 first-team roster registrations: 69
    2026 first-team roster registrations: 70

    Open uniform numbers
    7 18 55 83
    3AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:15
    Mazda Stadium
    Starting Lineups
    【Giants】　　【Carp】
    7 Maru 　　　 7 Sato Kei
    8 Matsumoto 　 4 Tatsumi
    6 Izumiguchi　　　 8 Nakamura Sho
    5 Dalbec 3 Sakakura
    2 Oshiro 　　　 5 Sasaki
    3 Masuda Riku　　 9 Suetsugu
    9 Sasaki　　 6 Katsuta
    4 Yoshikawa 　　 1 Morishita
    1 Nishidate　　 　 2 Shimizu
    5AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:18
    Nishidate bunts → Maru's out → next inning starts with Matsumoto
    (゚д゚)ウマー (classic 2ch emoticon for smug satisfaction, like 'delicious')
    7AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:20
    Nishidate's bunt fails → Maru's out → next inning starts with Matsumoto
    8AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:20
    Hashigami keeps a guy who can't even lay down a sac bunt in the game lolol
    11AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:20
    Wouldn't it be something if Maru just hit a home run
    13AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:20
    This is exactly the problem, Nishidate
    15AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:21
    Nishidate's peak might've been back when he kept Sasaki Roki out of Koshien (the now-famous NPB/MLB pitcher, back in their high school days)
    17AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:21
    Re: #15
    Whoa, seriously… had no idea
    16AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:21
    Maru's hitting .361 since August? For real? Doesn't feel like he's been hitting that well
    18AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:21
    Central League pennant race standings (as of September 23)
    21AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:21
    The old guy really hustled on that one
    22AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:22
    Matsumoto coming through clutch here
    23AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:22
    Shortstop's looking shaky
    24AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:22
    If you wanted to turn that into an out you had to go backhand on it
    25AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:22
    He backed up just to catch it lol
    26AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:23
    Matsumoto's just a homer and a triple away from the cycle
    27AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:23
    Come on Matsu-Go, hit that home run! (fan nickname for Matsumoto)
    28AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:23
    Come on, #1 in scoring-position average
    29AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:23
    He was fielding shortstop just fine up until yesterday
    31AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:23
    Matsumoto's #1 in average with runners in scoring position? That's impressive lol
    32AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:24
    Re: #31
    And that's exactly why Hashigami keeps shuffling the batting order around lol
    35AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:24
    By Matsumoto's standards, that's a hit good enough to reach the back screen
    36AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:25
    Still just 'so close' this late in September — that's already a loss (lol)
    38AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:26
    Is Katsuta's positioning off because Kikuchi (Hiroshima's usual Gold Glove second baseman) isn't out there at second?
    39AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:27
    Izumiguchi's play got better too once Naoki was back
    40AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:27
    Guys like Yamamoto Yoshinobu get hit hard plenty too, they just lean on the defense to hold it down
    42AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:28
    They should've signed Maeken (Maeda Kenta) too
    He's been way more of an asset than Ma-kun (Tanaka Masahiro)
    44AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:29
    Re: #42
    Oh really…
    46AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:31
    Guess we're losing again today
    Weak when it really counts
    51AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:31
    Forget the soft contact, just launch it into the stands
    53AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:32
    Ma-kun (Tanaka Masahiro) was practically on the chopping block three wins ago, they just picked him up out of pity
    54AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:33
    That's because the OB association chairman kept saying 'sign him, sign him'
    55AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:33
    Maeken's given up just 2 runs total since June even on his worst days — that's ridiculous
    56AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:33
    In table tennis Japan's got China cornered, one step from the title
    63AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:36
    No way you get any real tension out of a farm-team-level roster like this
    64AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:36
    Pennant race?
    Hiroshima's left-field stands are empty
    Even the fans have already given up

    Background and Key Points of the Debate

    This season the Giants have been playing under an acting-manager setup led by head coach Hashigami following a managerial change, and scrutiny of in-game decisions in the thread ran hotter than usual as a result. Over Nishidate’s failed bunt, opinion split between blaming his own lack of bunting skill and questioning the decision not to pinch-hit for him — that divide was the crux of the thread. As for Matsumoto, who leads the league in scoring-position average, some commenters credited the number as an achievement in spite of his spot in the batting order being shuffled constantly. Separately, the remark about “empty seats in left field at Hiroshima” points to a game with weak attendance even late in a tight pennant race, though the standings themselves only appear in the linked image and aren’t spelled out in the text.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “Giants Acting Manager 151.”

  • University of Tokyo Professor Achieves Vanishing ‘Optical Camouflage’ — 5ch: ‘Thought It Was Ghost in the Shell, Turns Out It Was Doraemon’

    An article about Professor Masahiko Inami of the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology achieving an ‘optical camouflage’ that makes objects appear transparent became a hot topic on 5ch’s Science News+ board. The article explains that Professor Inami loved Doraemon as a child, and his research grew out of that childhood fascination. While many thread commenters immediately thought of the technology from ‘Ghost in the Shell,’ the real surprise that drew reactions was that the actual inspiration was Doraemon. The thread also discussed the technology’s practical limitations — for now it can only be viewed through a monitor — as well as comparisons with past optical camouflage research.

    What Started as a Sideshow Became the ‘World’s Greatest Invention’… University of Tokyo Professor Achieves Vanishing ‘Optical Camouflage,’ Inspired by ‘Reading This Manga’ — The Foresight of the Sci-Fi Manga Ghost in the Shell (Part 1)

    As a child, Professor Masahiko Inami of the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology loved Doraemon.

    “If I have descendants in the future, surely they’ll come back in a time machine to help me when I’m in trouble.”

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

    2AnonymousSep 23, 2026 21:47
    Is this actually a new invention?
    I saw something like this about four years ago on Telegram, posted as foreign military equipment.
    3AnonymousSep 23, 2026 21:49
    > At this point, optical camouflage can still only be viewed through a monitor.
    4AnonymousSep 23, 2026 21:50
    Alright, let's field-test it at the public bathhouse! → Turns out it's nothing but old ladies!!
    6AnonymousSep 23, 2026 22:04
    This professor started the research 30 years ago,
    something like optical camouflage
    got high praise from TIME back in 2003,
    and yet it's still only viewable through a monitor to this day.

    So doesn't that mean practical use is basically hopeless…?
    7AnonymousSep 23, 2026 22:07
    Once cyberization becomes the norm, they'll just hack your brain directly
    and make you unable to see it!
    8AnonymousSep 23, 2026 22:41
    Re: #7
    You stole my eyes!
    9AnonymousSep 23, 2026 23:05
    This is gonna be rough until we get fabric-type displays.
    10AnonymousSep 23, 2026 23:12
    Come on now, enemy nations are gonna weaponize this — better respond quickly.
    You peace-drunk Japanese will probably just get exploited and that'll be the end of it lol
    14AnonymousSep 24, 2026 00:01
    Re: #10
    All they did was line up TV panels between the windshield and the dashboard and play video on them.
    Can you even call this science?
    11AnonymousSep 23, 2026 23:31
    Isn't this just an application of the front-projection technique used in 2001: A Space Odyssey?
    31AnonymousSep 24, 2026 08:18
    Re: #11
    The whole point of front-projection compositing is to keep the projected image from being visible on the actor, so it's actually the exact opposite of what's in Re: #1.
    12AnonymousSep 23, 2026 23:51
    Britain actually tried using optical camouflage on tanks, you know.

    The idea was that magnetic ink would instantly repaint panels around the tank with an image matching the background, making it 'disappear.'

    But it stopped working the moment a panel took a hit and got damaged, and no matter how good the visible-light camouflage was, it'd still show up under infrared — so it never got past the proposal stage.
    17AnonymousSep 24, 2026 00:22
    Re: #12
    True — even if it's undetectable in visible light, it's completely exposed under an infrared scope.
    So optical camouflage itself ends up pointless, huh.
    13AnonymousSep 23, 2026 23:57
    https://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/beam-matsumoto/lenti-r-02.html
    Privacy glass that keeps people from peeking into the bath has been around forever.
    15AnonymousSep 24, 2026 00:12
    > "If I have descendants in the future, surely they'll come back in a time machine to help me when I'm in trouble."

    I don't have kids, so it's already confirmed I won't have any descendants in the future.
    19AnonymousSep 24, 2026 00:48
    Sounds like something you'd use for film or video production, I guess.
    20AnonymousSep 24, 2026 00:51
    So this is the new MM-Go, huh?
    21AnonymousSep 24, 2026 01:02
    So basically, technologically speaking, it's just a projector and a screen?
    22AnonymousSep 24, 2026 01:07
    Set up camera-and-projector drones all around a person to track their movements…
    Hmm.
    23AnonymousSep 24, 2026 01:39
    So it only works as camouflage when viewed head-on.
    You'd need a forest or a big wall behind you as the background.
    24AnonymousSep 24, 2026 05:02
    It only works in one specific location, environment, and viewing angle set up in advance.
    A technology that pointless has no future, no matter how far you push it in this direction.
    25AnonymousSep 24, 2026 05:24
    Manga and technology really do have a deep connection.
    26AnonymousSep 24, 2026 05:28
    Is that why you guys are socially invisible too — you're all using this camouflage?
    27AnonymousSep 24, 2026 05:32
    Doesn't seem all that useful for military, political, or economic systems,
    but it looks like an invention that could slot right into the cultural system!
    Never mind the lighthouse-brained folks —
    art students will probably dream up some fun uses for it.
    28AnonymousSep 24, 2026 05:40
    I hear most technology starts out motivated by some horny desire, though…
    35AnonymousSep 24, 2026 16:35
    Re: #17
    Let's add an infrared camouflage function too.
    37AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:20
    Conclusion: doesn't seem like that big a deal.
    38AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:49
    The digital version of a ninja's hiding technique.

    https://youtu.be/zZQJ0MKZNPU?si=75MkzE7v3QO4zyh0
    40AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:57
    Gachapin can do optical camouflage too (Gachapin — the green dinosaur mascot from Japanese kids' TV).

    https://youtube.com/shorts/gYkR-ge9rIs?si=-i-3dOFjc2N6EGJM
    41AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:13
    If you sandwich the object you want to hide between pairs of wide-angle cameras and wide-angle laser projectors (not screens, mind you) set up at various angles, it's obvious
    that it'll appear transparent when observed from far away at low resolution.

    Though once you weigh the cost against the practicality and the actual effect, nobody's actually going to bother doing it.
    42AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:25
    Thought It Was Ghost in the Shell, Turns Out It Was Doraemon

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    The ‘optical camouflage’ introduced in the thread is a technology that films the scene behind an object with a camera, then projects that footage via a projector onto retroreflective material attached to the object, blending it into the background. Professor Inami’s research group has been working on it since the late 1990s. It’s also known for being featured in TIME magazine’s ‘Inventions of the Year’ in 2003. As pointed out in the thread, this method assumes a specific viewpoint and a specific background — the camouflage breaks down when viewed from anywhere other than straight ahead, and it can’t handle infrared, among other major practical limitations. Many people associate this with the thermo-optical camouflage from ‘Ghost in the Shell,’ but according to the article, Professor Inami’s original inspiration was actually Doraemon — once again highlighting the pattern where science fiction proposes a technology first and real-world research chases after it later. Despite decades of ongoing research, the fact that it ‘can still only be viewed through a monitor’ is worth noting as a telling symbol of the technology’s limits.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Science News+) thread ‘[Researcher] What Started as a Sideshow Became the ‘World’s Greatest Invention’… University of Tokyo Professor Achieves Vanishing ‘Optical Camouflage,’ Inspired by ‘Reading This Manga’.’

  • In Their 40s, Average Savings Hit ¥14.86M — But the Median Is Just ¥5M (Same Gap Holds for 50s)

    A 2025 survey by the Japan Financial Literacy and Education Corporation (J-FLEC) found that among households of two or more people, average financial assets (savings, insurance, stocks, mutual funds, etc. combined) came to ¥14.86M for those in their 40s and ¥19.08M for those in their 50s. The median, however, was only ¥5M for the 40s and ¥7M for the 50s — a huge gap from the average. On 5ch, these numbers sparked back-and-forth over the view that “the average is just being dragged up by a handful of high-asset households,” posts revealing people’s actual savings, and doubts about the reliability of the survey itself.

    (omitted)

    How much do two-or-more-person households in their 40s and 50s actually have saved?

    According to the Japan Financial Literacy and Education Corporation’s (J-FLEC) 2025 “Public Opinion Survey on Household Financial Behavior,” when you line up financial assets by the age of the household head for households of two or more people, those in their 40s averaged ¥14.86M and those in their 50s averaged ¥19.08M. “Financial assets” here means a household’s overall savings — bank deposits plus insurance, mutual funds, stocks, and the like. Households in their 30s, one bracket down, averaged ¥10.96M, so it’s clear that savings build up step by step as people move from their 30s into their 40s and 50s.

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

    4AnonymousSep 24, 2026 17:44
    Saving ¥50k a month? Anyone can do that.
    109AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:35
    Re: #4
    Can't — I'm a freeter (part-time/temp worker).
    11AnonymousSep 24, 2026 17:47
    So it's ¥20M by 65, retirement bonus included, huh?
    Guess you can't live like a human being without that?
    15AnonymousSep 24, 2026 17:48
    Re: #11
    That's assuming average income and spending, a married couple, and owning a home.
    12AnonymousSep 24, 2026 17:48
    Averages mean nothing.
    For reference, I'm 48, married with one kid, and I've got ¥2M saved.
    18AnonymousSep 24, 2026 17:49
    Re: #12
    If you've got kids and a mortgage, being in the negative is pretty normal too.
    36AnonymousSep 24, 2026 17:57
    Checked Money Forward (a budgeting/asset-tracking app) and I've only got ¥1.3M saved.
    Saving over ¥10M in cash is impressive.
    39AnonymousSep 24, 2026 17:58
    Re: #36
    Sorry, but with that little, do you even need Money Forward?
    44AnonymousSep 24, 2026 17:59
    Re: #39
    I use it because besides cash I've also got stocks, mutual funds, crypto, and points.
    Without Money Forward I couldn't keep track of my assets.
    50AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:03
    Re: #44
    Ah sorry, cash, right.
    But isn't ¥1.5M kind of low?
    I've got around ¥250M in stocks and funds, but I still keep ¥10M in cash just in case.
    56AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:06
    Re: #50
    Wow, you're really loaded.
    I've got income from work, and if push comes to shove I can just cash out some funds, so I figure I'll manage.
    59AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:07
    Re: #50
    Threads are full of this stuff now, it's honestly hilarious.
    Way too exaggerated, come on.
    47AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:01
    Data like this is pretty thin on evidence —
    it's just numbers to entertain you guys.
    80AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:16
    They namedrop the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications right at the top, but this article is actually about the J-FLEC survey.
    For 2024, two-or-more-person households, both surveys give a median:
    MIC survey: median ¥10.99M
    J-FLEC survey: median ¥3.5M
    Writing an article that just says "savings" without noting that gap is basically spreading misinformation.
    107AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:32
    Re: #47
    "Thin on evidence," really?
    The numbers are right there.
    Obviously, unless you're literally stashing cash under the mattress, the government has a record of everyone's financial assets.
    122AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:44
    Re: #107
    Re: #80
    This is an online survey that keeps churning out numbers wildly different from the MIC Family Income and Expenditure Survey, which is considered relatively accurate.
    126AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:46
    Re: #80
    Don't worry —
    I basically assume anything from 5ch is fake news anyway lol
    79AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:16
    This is the fruit of Abenomics.
    What's strange is that it wasn't just wealthy asset-holders who backed it — even the asset-poor middle/lower class did too.
    84AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:19
    Re: #79
    Actually, asset-holders like me were against it.

    Of course, since I knew exactly what would happen once the yen got debased, I put everything into stocks.
    166AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:10
    Re: #79
    I parked ¥5M in a foreign-currency deposit back when the yen was strong,
    and I've been converting it back to yen little by little.
    98AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:26
    If people around you find out you've got money, it's a massive pain.
    Wear similar-looking stuff from Uniqlo.
    Don't wear watches or accessories in public.
    Don't carry brand-name goods.
    Never mention that you have assets.
    That's the basics of living a peaceful life.
    103AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:28
    Re: #98
    I'm not really into luxury cars or brand-name stuff anyway, so I just live like normal.
    104AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:29
    Re: #98
    Is a cheap automatic Omega not okay?
    130AnonymousSep 24, 2026 18:49
    Re: #98
    Been feeling the same lately, so I'm selling off the valuables I have at home.
    Planning to dump it all into 10-year variable-rate government bonds.
    I'm cheap by nature, so even brand-name stuff I buy ends up locked in a safe
    turning into a glorified ornament.
    Whoever picks it up secondhand from me basically gets it like new — lucky them lol
    175AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:14
    50-year-old office worker.
    80% in stocks, total assets ¥200M.
    My kid is 2, so life's really just getting started.
    Can't buy a house yet since I'm subject to nationwide relocations for work.
    177AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:16
    Re: #175
    Cute — is that your grandchild?
    181AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:18
    People building assets like Re: #175 are maybe 1 in 100.
    Most people are scraping by.
    183AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:18
    Glad I'm above average.
    Then again, isn't the median way too low?
    Doesn't that worry anyone?
    185AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:21
    Re: #183
    The Employment Ice Age generation's poor (those who graduated into Japan's brutal 1990s–2000s hiring freeze) are all in for a rough time.
    They'll literally be working until their bodies give out.
    Though I wonder if anyone will even hire them past 65.
    187AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:22
    Re: #185
    In the end, working is better for your health and keeps your mind sharp.
    217AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:46
    Re: #185
    Once nobody will hire them, they'll basically go feral with nothing left to lose.
    Prison is the safety net.
    208AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:32
    Honestly I just want to spend my old age not working, watching where Japan ends up while knocking back drinks.
    A society in decline and decay is the best show there is.
    I just want a seat in the audience for it.
    209AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:33
    Re: #208
    It's a work-till-you-die system though lol
    210AnonymousSep 24, 2026 19:33
    Re: #208
    Went to Mokkosu (a ramen chain) for the first time in ages — still delicious.

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    The underlying data here comes from a 2025 public opinion survey by the Japan Financial Literacy and Education Corporation (J-FLEC), which found average savings of ¥14.86M with a median of ¥5M for households in their 40s, and an average of ¥19.08M with a median of ¥7M for those in their 50s. Such a wide gap between average and median is a classic sign that a small number of high-asset households are pulling the average upward — looking only at the “average” makes things look more comfortable than they really are. Commenters on the thread also questioned the survey methodology itself, pointing out that the figures diverge sharply from other statistics such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ Family Income and Expenditure Survey. Even when both are labeled “savings,” definitions and sample populations differ by surveying body, so a straightforward comparison isn’t valid. One thing readers can easily misread is that these figures are averages and medians for “households of two or more people” — they don’t reflect the reality of single-person households, or households carrying a mortgage or education costs.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (News Speed+) thread “Average savings for households in their 40s and 50s are ¥14.86M and ¥19.08M — but the median is a far lower ¥5M and ¥7M.”