Japan Reacts

Latest from Japan

From our other sites

JapanTroveJapan travel & shopping
Dewa Sanzan: A First-Timer’s Guide to Yamagata’s Three Sacred MountainsNikuman: Japan’s Convenience Store Steamed Buns and the Winter Checkout Ritual
海外ChOverseas reactions (JP)
「GOG版だけ発売が遅いのはなぜ」海外ゲーマーが分析、海賊版対策説も「三位一体は結局多神教では」4chan史学板で神学論争
即まとchJapanese 5ch threads
大阪のPS5体験イベントに5ch「渋谷のアレより盛況」GMO熊谷社長「犯人特定の情報入手」とSNS投稿　5ch「満面の笑みで自撮りとか」

  • PS6 “Would Dominate If Under ¥100,000”? 5ch Pushes Back: “Maybe Stop Dreaming?”

    In response to the thread starter’s prediction that “if the PS6 launches under ¥100,000, PlayStation will become the undisputed dominant console,” skeptical voices piled up on 5ch’s Hardware/Industry (“Geha”) board. Posters repeatedly pointed out that the current PS5 Digital Edition (¥55,000) is already losing out to the Switch 2 in sales, with many arguing that price alone won’t turn that around. On the other hand, some took the view that a AAA-scale title like GTA6, if it delivers high performance and visuals, could sell globally even around ¥150,000. As the discussion went on, it shifted away from price itself and toward the substance of the software lineup.

    1AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:43
    Combine PS6 and PS5 sales and we might finally hit the dream 15-15 split.
    【2026】
    SILENT HILL: Townfall: September 24
    4AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:48
    If FF17 is a PS6 exclusive, Sony takes total dominance overnight
    9AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:51
    Do that and SIE (Sony Interactive Entertainment) goes bankrupt in about two years — if you're fine with that
    10AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:51
    PlayStation hardware isn't gonna sell as long as they keep releasing on Steam too
    11AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:51
    Meanwhile with an MS (Xbox) subscription you can just play the same games straight from your phone
    12AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:51
    The ¥55,000 PS5 Digital Edition is
    already getting crushed by the Switch 2,

    so maybe it's time to stop dreaming?

    And if you're gonna dream,
    do it while you're asleep.
    14AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:54
    Just look at the PS5 Pro's price and sales numbers — that alone tells you the reality
    15AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:54
    Even if it's priced the same as the PS5, I think it'd still be tough…
    17AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:55
    Don't look away from the fact that Japan-only titles are stuck at 4-digit weekly sales right now
    18AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:56
    I'm not paying more than ¥50,000 for it
    19AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:57
    What exactly would they have to cut to hit that price?
    20AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:58
    Even at ¥55,000 — cheaper than the Switch 2 — it's not selling
    21AnonymousSep 22, 2026 16:59
    The launch PS5 had amazing value for the money, so they'll probably price this one reasonably too, but they can't go lower than the PS5 Pro either — it's over…
    27AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:00
    If it could run Switch 2 games too,
    sure, it'd sell.

    Can it, though? No, right?

    Not happening.

    I mean, right now
    they're already churning out garbage
    like Wolverine,

    so yeah, not happening.
    31AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:06
    Re: #27
    There's still stuff like a new Uncharted left, though
    37AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:13
    Like I said, it all depends on what games come out.
    Doesn't matter how powerful it is — if there's barely anything to play, nobody's buying it.
    46AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:23
    Re: #37
    You could survive on anime-style Chinese gacha games alone:
    Genshin (Impact)
    Star Rail
    Zenless Zone Zero
    Wuthering Waves
    Endfield
    NTE
    Ananta
    Azur Promilia
    Silver Castle
    Nexus Anima
    Peti Planet
    57AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:32
    Re: #46
    So basically every premium (buy-once) game listed in Re: #1 is trash, got it
    59AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:32
    Re: #46
    That's not what Sony fans want.
    You get that, right?
    Those titles have never once come up in the news threads.
    Wonder why that is?
    44AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:22
    It would.
    They should absolutely release it.
    47AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:23
    Re: #44
    Trying to bankrupt Sony?! You're an anti(-fan), aren't you
    65AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:38
    Sounds like they want Sony selling at a loss, so why not just try the price range they're asking for
    78AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:58
    Well, to put it mildly—
    PS6
    ¥129,980 (¥142,978 tax included)
    PSP Vita 2: ¥89,980 (¥98,978 tax included)

    And the games are all stuff nobody's ever heard of


    No way this works.
    88AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:07
    Re: #78
    If GTA6 runs at RTX 5080-equivalent visuals in 4K120 and costs ¥150,000 ($1,000), that alone locks in 50 million units worldwide.
    Once RAM and SSD prices drop back to half of today's around 2031-2032, they can roll out a slim model starting at $600 (~¥90,000) and aim for 100 million units.
    95AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:13
    My guess, tax included:
    Japanese version: ¥99,800
    Multi-language version: ¥169,980
    Something like that.
    107AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:19
    Re: #95
    That's way too optimistic.
    Reality check: even the Japanese version is ¥198,000,
    and the multi-language version is ¥298,000 or $2,000.
    104AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:17
    Hey 'Buu-chan' (derisive nickname for Nintendo fanboys), Sony's selling the PS5 — ten times more powerful than your 'Buhitch 2' (mocking nickname for the Switch 2) — for just ¥55,000, you know that?
    109AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:23
    Re: #104
    But it's selling worse than that 'Buhitch' thing, though? 😛
    108AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:19
    Quit fantasizing and go buy Wolverine already
    110AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:23
    Re: #108
    That one was a letdown.
    If you're buying something, get Trails in the Sky SC (2nd Chapter) instead.
    111AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:24
    Re: #108
    Isn't 'it'll cost ¥200,000' also just a fantasy?

    Background and Key Points of This Debate

    As of September 2026, Sony has made no official announcement about the PS6, so its specs and price remain unconfirmed. The figures floating around the thread — ¥99,800, ¥198,000, ¥298,000, and so on — are all guesses from 5ch users, not information released by Sony. The debate split into two camps: those who believe “if the hardware is powerful enough, it’ll sell” versus those invoking “the lesson of PS4 to PS5,” with the latter pointing out there’s no precedent for a numbered successor becoming dominant on specs alone. Underlying this is the shared perception that the ¥55,000 PS5 (Digital Edition) is already struggling against the Switch 2 in sales, which fuels the pessimistic view that “even under ¥100,000, it’ll be tough.” On the other hand, some optimists argue that a AAA blockbuster on the scale of GTA6 could sell well even at a high price if the hardware performance backs it up. In the end, the argument converged less on price itself and more on the point that it all comes down to the software lineup.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hardware/Industry, aka “Geha”) thread “If the PS6 comes out under ¥100,000, it’ll instantly become the undisputed king of consoles.”

  • Juice=Juice’s Ishiyama Sakura and Endo Ayakari to Appear on “Hachitsu GAMES” on 9/29

    Juice=Juice’s Ishiyama Sakura and Endo Ayakari will appear on “Hachitsu GAMES,” streaming on YouTube’s “Famitsu Game Livestream Ch.” and niconico’s “Famitsu Channel” from 21:00 on September 29, 2026. Billed as a “Two-Person Super Co-op Games Special,” the pair will play “Log Riders,” where players balance on a log while racing for the goal, and “Super Bunny Man,” where they roll, jump, and scramble around in bunny costumes. On 5ch, commenters mostly focused on the fact that other Hello! Project events overlap with this date, along with reminiscing about past member pairings from the show.

    1AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:01
    [Hello! Project] Juice=Juice's Ishiyama Sakura and Endo Ayakari to Stream "Hachitsu GAMES" on September 29, 2026 — Playing "Log Riders" & "Super Bunny Man"
    3AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:02
    Just the 'Sakuringo' duo (Ishiyama Sakura & Endo Ayakari), by themselves?
    4AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:02
    From 21:00 on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Famitsu will stream "Hachitsu GAMES," a game livestream show featuring Hello! Project members, on its "Famitsu Game Livestream Ch. (YouTube)" and "Famitsu Channel (niconico)."
    　
    　This time, Juice=Juice's Ishiyama Sakura and Endo Ayakari will appear. Under the theme "Two-Person Super Co-op Games Special," they'll play two games where teamwork is key.
    　
    　First up, the pair will take on "Log Riders," riding a log together and balancing their way to the goal. They'll call out to each other and sync up to clear obstacles. In the latter half of the main show, they'll also play "Super Bunny Man," rolling, jumping, and grabbing their way forward in bunny costumes. Don't miss seeing how they play off each other!
    　
    　A bonus members-only stream is also planned after the main broadcast. Be sure to watch that all the way through too!
    5AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:02
    [Hello! Project] Juice=Juice's Ishiyama Sakura & Endo Ayakari on "Hachitsu GAMES." Two-Person Super Co-op Games Special! [Log Riders / Super Bunny Man]
    Broadcast Date & Time
    Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 21:00~ (live)

    Streaming On
    YouTube (Famitsu Game Livestream Ch.)
    niconico (Famitsu Channel)
    *The members-only bonus segment is scheduled to stream on niconico live's "Famitsu Channel."

    Appearing
    Ishiyama Sakura (Juice=Juice)
    Endo Ayakari (Juice=Juice)
    7AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:03
    Isn't this kind of soon? Is it just going in rotation order?
    9AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:04
    09/29 (Tue) ANGERME Autumn Tour at Chiba
    09/29 (Tue) Juice=Juice Ishiyama & Endo game livestream 👈
    09/29 (Tue) M-line Sato fan club event at Hitotsubashi
    11AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:04
    Ishiyama Sakuraaa!!
    12AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:05
    Bring back the Kansai team again too
    that one was hilarious.
    13AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:05
    The schedule density today is nuts, right?
    14AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:06
    It's INORAN's birthday too (the LUNA SEA guitarist).
    15AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:08
    No Nina this time, huh?
    16AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:10
    Other pairings are fine, but
    Ebatako (Endo Ayakari & Oda Sakura) vs. Sakuringo (Ishiyama Sakura & Endo Ayakari) was my favorite.
    Co-op's nice, but bring back the head-to-head format too.
    68AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:24
    This isn't Juice favoritism, it's straight-up demand.
    78AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:27
    Are these two actually funny together?
    85AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:29
    Re: #78
    When the chemistry clicks, yeah.
    89AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:30
    Wasn't that legendary Super Bunny Man episode the one that pulled Dojima Kohei out of a slump?
    Might end up hooking someone new this time too.
    98AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:31
    Lots of shippers in here.
    105AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:32
    When in doubt, break out Bunny Man.
    116AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:49
    This combo's a guaranteed hit.

    Background and Talking Points

    “Hachitsu GAMES” is an ongoing series produced by Famitsu, streamed on its YouTube and niconico channels, in which Hello! Project members play games together. Past episodes have featured various member pairings in both head-to-head and co-op formats, and in the thread, commenters reminisced about other pairings — like “Ebatako (Endo Ayakari & Oda Sakura) vs. Sakuringo (Ishiyama Sakura & Endo Ayakari)” — while others called for the return of the competitive, head-to-head format. The thread also noted that September 29 is a crowded day for Hello! Project events, with ANGERME’s autumn tour stop in Chiba and an M-line Sato fan club event both falling on the same date, which fans found notable. “Super Bunny Man” was mentioned as a game that produced memorable reactions in a past episode, though it’s worth noting those details come from posters’ recollections in the thread rather than any official statement from the show.

    *This article was compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “[Hello! Project] Juice=Juice’s Ishiyama Sakura and Endo Ayakari to Stream “Hachitsu GAMES” on September 29, 2026 — “Log Riders” & “Super Bunny Man”.”

  • M!LK’s New Single Written & Composed by Aoi Yamazaki, Arranged by Tomohiro Sumigama — Same Lineup as Juice=Juice

    It’s been revealed that Aoi Yamazaki (lyrics/composition) and Tomohiro Sumigama (arrangement) — the duo behind Hello! Project group Juice=Juice’s hit “Moré! Mi Amore” — have also been brought on for the new single by M!LK, an idol group under a different talent agency. On 5ch’s Hello! Project board, fans reacted to the rarity of a popular songwriting duo being used across agency lines, with the discussion spreading to cover differences in release pace and worries about Hello! Project losing its songwriters.

    1AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:36
    A second 'Moré Mi'
    3AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:44
    Better to stay on good terms with Stardust Promotion
    4AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:46
    Key change straight out of REDLINE, lol
    They really paid off that foreshadowing
    6AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:49
    Which one's the new song?
    There's so many I can't keep track
    7AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:50
    It's fine if this pushes toward 'the song and performance have to be good,'
    but if it gets too formulaic it kills the vibe lol
    Choreography's probably by Sako Makita anyway, right? Not that I'd know
    9AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:53
    It's a buzzkill when another agency does a total copy-paste of the formula
    12AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:55
    Dunno if it's true but they should've skipped this
    If they write a song for red-hot M!LK and it doesn't blow up, they're gonna get slammed hard
    13AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:56
    I mean they're releasing stuff nonstop so one or two songs isn't a big deal
    Actually M!LK's been a bit shaky since that dating scoop broke — are they okay?
    16AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:02
    Well, it'll probably sell
    https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2102424095564668928/vid/avc1/1920×1080/UC4GjC7n9EKwJOfC.mp4
    24AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:10
    Re: #16
    Nice, that's exactly what an anime theme song should sound like
    18AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:04
    It's already blowing up like crazy
    19AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:05
    Guess Hello! Project won't get to have them write anymore
    20AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:06
    It's going viral under the angle of 'the amazing person who writes for the famous Juice=Juice'
    23AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:09
    One's a Jump anime tie-in, the other's some picture-book-style ('kamishibai'-looking) saint story
    Even though they're both anime tie-ups with the same Aoi on lyrics
    25AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:12
    I can already picture a future where Stardust poaches both Ameko Kodama and Aoi Yamazaki
    26AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:12
    Milkies (M!LK's fandom) are starting to notice Juice=Juice, this is gonna turn into something huge
    27AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:12
    I can totally picture this song showing up on TikTok
    28AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:13
    Let's have whoever made 'Metsu' (?) write Juice's next song instead
    30AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:17
    Re: #28
    Can't happen the other way around, no budget for it
    29AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:13
    It's all built around a script where they perform together at Kohaku
    31AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:18
    I hear songwriters are lining up wanting to write for Juice=Juice though
    32AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:19
    Why does Juice get stuck with an anime worse than Ocha's or Rosy's?
    33AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:19
    RUSH EYE, who made Juice's anime song, has also provided songs for M!LK
    34AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:19
    Hoping Juice gets a new song written and composed by Aoi Yamazaki too
    37AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:21
    Moving to Sony Music Entertainment RED in 2026.

    Seriously? Guess they won't be writing for Hello! Project anymore
    38AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:21
    Hello! Project's bleeding talent like the Hiroshima Carp (a team notorious for losing its stars to free agency)
    40AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:22
    Oh, so it's the 'Moré Mi' crew huh

    That's how it is, huh

    (´∀｀*)ｳﾌﾌ
    41AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:22
    There's a ton of other options out there like Tsunku♂ & Hirasho
    42AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:24
    Didn't M!LK also use Ameko Kodama recently?
    Is there a Hello! Project otaku on their staff or something?
    44AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:24
    Re: #42
    They probably figured out
    how sweet it is to do 'Hello! Project' with someone else's resources
    45AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:24
    So this kind of thing happens too huh
    Same pattern as how Dance Man blew up
    48AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:30
    They got hired because 'Moré Mi' went viral, right
    49AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:31
    Good for Aoi-chan, she's really made it big
    50AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:32
    M!LK keeps their momentum going by dropping new songs back-to-back whenever they go viral, but doesn't it feel like Juice is held back by the single-release format and has weaker release momentum?
    51AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:32
    Was 'Dantotsu de Aishite' (By Far, I Love You) being a crap song just because they phoned it in?
    52AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:33
    Juice=Juice "Moré! Mi Amore" — Lyrics/Composition: Aoi Yamazaki, Arrangement: Tomohiro Sumigama
    M!LK "That's! Chojo" (Supernatural) — Lyrics/Composition: Aoi Yamazaki, Arrangement: Tomohiro Sumigama
    ⬆ Yep, guaranteed banger, guaranteed to blow up 😊
    53AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:33
    It's a strategy where two in-demand acts, Juice and M!LK, team up for a synergy effect
    Has nothing to do with the rest of Hello! Project
    54AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:33
    The gap between a Jump anime and a kamishibai-tier anime is rough
    61AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:39
    Angerme's 'Celebration' is actually a pretty good song though
    69AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:46
    Re: #61
    Yeah the song itself is good, the song is

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    The duo of Aoi Yamazaki and Tomohiro Sumigama has a track record of producing a hit with Hello! Project’s Juice=Juice single “Moré! Mi Amore” (called “Moré Mi” in the thread). With the same duo now handling M!LK’s new single, thread posters reacted to the rarity of a popular songwriting team being used across agencies. Opinions split on whether to view this positively or as a sign of songwriters drifting away from Hello! Project, with some voicing concern that if the song for red-hot M!LK doesn’t become a hit, the duo will face heavy backlash. Some replies noted that Yamazaki is moving to Sony Music Entertainment RED in 2026, which may be part of the reason behind this cross-agency pairing. That said, whether this ties into a planned joint appearance at Kohaku, or what the future relationship between the two groups will be, remains speculation within the thread rather than anything officially confirmed.

    ※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “M!LK’s New Single Written/Composed by Aoi Yamazaki, Arranged by Tomohiro Sumigama.”

  • “Once-in-a-Millennium Beauty” Mami Kamura Announces Marriage to Former Japan Footballer Daigo Nishi

    Actress Mami Kamura (33) announced on X on September 22 that she has married former Japan national team footballer Daigo Nishi (39). In a jointly signed handwritten statement, she wrote “we have gotten married” and expressed her intention to keep facing their respective careers with sincerity going forward. On a 5channel Geinou/Sports News+ (an entertainment and sports gossip board) thread, discussion centered on the origin of Kamura’s “once-in-a-thousand-years beauty” catchphrase and comparisons to Kanna Hashimoto, cited as the precedent for such a title, along with exchanges asking about Kamura’s career history and Nishi’s current activities.

    Actress Mami Kamura (33) updated her X account on the 22nd, announcing her marriage to former Japan national team footballer Daigo Nishi (39).

    She posted a document bearing both of their handwritten signatures, announcing: “This is a personal matter, but we would like to report that we have gotten married.” She added her thanks, writing, “We’ve been able to keep working in our respective fields thanks to the support of so many people. Thank you so much.”

    Regarding the future, she said, “Going forward, we hope to support each other while continuing to face our respective work with the same sincerity as always,” adding, “We’d be grateful for your warm support. Thank you for your continued kindness.”

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

    24AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:10
    "Second most beautiful girl in a thousand years"—who was the first one, then?
    What an oddly weak catchphrase to get saddled with.
    27AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:11
    Re: #24
    Probably Kanna Hashimoto, I'd guess.
    By the way, the perennial also-ran for this title is AKB48's Yui Oguri.
    28AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:12
    Re: #24
    I think the "first one," Kanna Hashimoto, is fairly well known.
    25AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:10
    Huh? Second in a thousand years?
    First I've heard of it…
    29AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:12
    Re: #27
    Never heard of the AKB one either.
    44AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:23
    Re: #29
    Realistically, Kanna Hashimoto has this kind of nickname all locked up.
    Plenty of others got slapped with similar catchphrases afterward, but almost none of them stuck in anyone's memory.
    31AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:13
    Wasn't "once in a thousand years" supposed to be Rina Asakawa?
    32AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:14
    Aaaaaaaaaah~!
    I passed like 50 girls who looked just like that on my way to the supermarket earlier to buy croquettes.
    (⁠⑉⁠⊙⁠ȏ⁠⊙⁠)
    34AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:17
    More like 1,000 a year, then.
    46AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:24
    Re: #34
    Even that's an exaggeration.
    48AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:25
    Re: #34
    More like third-cutest in her class, tops.
    37AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:18
    So what does she actually do?
    57AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:31
    Re: #37
    She was a longtime assistant on a TVK music show — the successor to "Sakusaku," the show Kaela Kimura used to host.
    71AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:49
    Re: #37
    She's the girl who appeared in the commercial for the opening of the Harry Potter area at USJ (Universal Studios Japan).
    87AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:37
    Re: #37
    She's the one who was dancing like crazy in that Amazon commercial.
    41AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:23
    First time seeing her, but she's quite the looker.
    43AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:23
    So Nishi got married.
    If Kanazaki ties the knot next, maybe Yuma Suzuki can finally get married too.
    56AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:30
    Honestly, Nishi's got way more name recognition than this "second in a thousand years" woman
    The trash media (マスゴミ, a jab combining "mass media" and "garbage") is seriously underrating the J.League and Kashima Antlers.
    59AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:33
    She was in Kannai Devil, so she's probably more famous than some soccer player.
    61AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:34
    Re: #59
    Nobody outside Kanagawa Prefecture has ever even seen that show.
    64AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:35
    Anyway, first I've heard that Kamu-nee (a nickname for Kamura) was ever called that.
    65AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:37
    Re: #61
    She had a fairly important role in the Sentai show "Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger."
    78AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:08
    A 39-year-old soccer player doesn't have much upside left, huh
    Is she prepared to follow him around to some regional J2/J3 club?
    82AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:28
    Re: #78
    He's already retired.
    85AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:31
    Kamura is from Iwate, and Nishi's last club was Grulla Morioka, so there's an Iwate connection.
    Isn't Nishi living in America these days? That's why he was reporting from over there during the recent World Cup.
    90AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:39
    Re: #85
    Not sure where he actually lives, but I recall him saying the place was just something a few of them rented together for the World Cup period.
    And it sounded like the World Cup was just a stop along a round-the-world trip anyway.
    A world tour before getting married—must be nice, having money.

    Background and Discussion Points

    The phrase “the most beautiful girl born once every X years” is a promotional catchphrase often used in the entertainment industry, not necessarily based on any official survey or statistic. The thread saw reactions like “never heard of it” and “no idea what the criteria even are,” highlighting how differently people react to this kind of tagline. At the same time, Kanna Hashimoto’s name came up repeatedly as the precedent, since she’s the example that stuck most widely among similar nicknames — with commenters noting that most people given the same label afterward are barely remembered. The article confirms Nishi has already retired from active play, but where the couple will be based and what their lifestyle will look like after marriage can’t be determined from Kamura’s announcement, so that remains speculation from the thread rather than confirmed fact.

    *This article is compiled as excerpts and a summary from the 5channel (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “‘Once-in-a-Millennium Beauty’ Mami Kamura Announces Marriage, Partner Is Former Japan National Team Soccer Player.”

  • All-New ‘Resident Evil’ Scores the Franchise’s Best-Ever US Opening, Tops $100 Million Worldwide

    Capcom’s hit game franchise gets a full reboot on the big screen: the all-new “Resident Evil” opened across US theaters on September 18 and pulled in roughly $60 million (about ¥9.4 billion) over its opening three days, setting the highest opening ever for the live-action film series across all 8 entries dating back to the first film in 2002. It got off to a hot start even before that, with preview-night earnings of about $8.8 million — also a series record. On 5ch, reactions were split between bewilderment at how boldly the film departs from the source material (the mansion, the puzzle-solving — almost none of it appears to be here), comparisons to the old Milla Jovovich-led series, and hope that “they’re seriously trying to make a horror movie this time.”

    September 22, 2026

    “Resident Evil” (opening in Japan nationwide on October 9), a complete reboot of Capcom’s smash-hit game franchise, opened in US theaters on September 18 and earned roughly $60 million (about ¥9.4 billion) over its first three days, debuting at No. 1 on the US weekend box office chart. That makes it the biggest opening in the history of the live-action film series — all 8 entries going back to the first film in 2002. These three days alone outgrossed the total domestic US lifetime gross of 6 of the series’ previous 7 films. (Figures per Box Office Mojo and The Numbers; converted at ¥157 to $1.)

    Directed by Zach Cregger, who helmed the horror hit “Weapons” (2025), the film had already been generating buzz as a centerpiece of the 2026 horror movie season. Thursday night previews on September 17 alone brought in about $8.8 million (roughly ¥1.38 billion), a series record for preview-night earnings. Opening day, Friday September 18, then pulled in about $26.3 million (roughly ¥4.13 billion) including those previews.

    Source: cinematoday.jp / Original article here

    3AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:18
    Feels like they changed a bit too much from the source material.
    8AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:19
    Did they completely lose the rights or something? lol
    11AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:23
    Re: #8
    Huh?
    Columbia = Sony.

    Isn't this just Capcom and Sony teaming up in Japan?
    12AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:25
    Guess that's the studio Sony picked up a while back. This company's strong in movies too.
    14AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:25
    So is the Milla Jovovich Resident Evil series just not canon anymore?
    30AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:37
    Re: #14
    I think it's fine to just write that one off as a dark chapter — I personally stopped watching once Alice started using superpowers.
    15AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:27
    That series turned into basically The Matrix, nothing like the source material.
    The mansion doesn't even show up in it.
    31AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:37
    Re: #15
    At that point, is there even a reason to keep borrowing the name?
    43AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:51
    Re: #15
    Do you really want to watch puzzle-solving scenes that badly?
    19AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:31
    Even Rotten Tomatoes — turns out critic scores overseas aren't exactly reliable either.
    39AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:41
    Re: #19
    I mean, criticism in any field is really just one person's personal taste.
    20AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:31
    Is there gonna be some random J-pop track playing over the ending?
    22AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:32
    Re: #20
    That's the game you're thinking of.

    The legendary one where they shot the cutscene footage on the banks of the Tama River lol
    77AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:52
    Re: #20
    Like that bit in First Mission where someone sings in Japanese lol
    21AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:32
    So are the Jovovich movies just being erased from continuity?
    23AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:33
    Has the Resident Evil game series actually wrapped up at this point?
    27AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:34
    Re: #23
    Not yet — the newest one, Requiem, just came out, and next year Code: Veronica turns 30.
    24AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:33
    Once you've got the name and the setting, you can churn out as many of these as you want.
    Stick too close to the source material and people just end up fixating on the parts that don't match.
    25AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:34
    Re: #22
    Apparently the guy playing Wesker turned out to be the nicest one on set.
    Meanwhile the actress playing Jill supposedly had a rough time — panicking over all the bugs swarming the riverbank at night.
    29AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:36
    Re: #25
    Back then, "a live-action tie-in for a video game!?" felt like such a wild gimmick.

    Of course, looking back now… yeah, it looks pretty cheap lol
    26AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:34
    Capcom really lands a massive hit like clockwork, huh.
    28AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:35
    Available now at your local Yume Group (a Japanese discount TV-shopping retailer, often the butt of "cheap and tacky" jokes)
    33AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:38
    Re: #28
    That commercial came at it from a completely unexpected angle lol
    35AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:40
    The trailer doesn't scream "Resident Evil" exactly, but you can tell they're seriously trying to make something scary.
    Has to be better than the old series, which basically turned into a photoshoot for the director's beloved wife (Jovovich).
    37AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:41
    Watched the new trailer, looked pretty good.
    Though it's a little concerning that critics loved it but scores dropped once it opened to the general public.
    Also sounds like there's a comedic streak running through it despite being a horror movie
    — kind of an Evil Dead II vibe?
    66AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:19
    Re: #37
    American movies love a good corpse-comedy bit — comedy woven into horror is just business as usual over there.
    76AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:51
    Re: #37
    Apparently there was a lot more comedy mixed in at the test screenings, but it didn't go over well, so they cut most of it.
    38AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:41
    Tyrant: takes rocket launcher hits, weak but relentless.

    Nemesis: dodges rocket launchers, strong and even more relentless.
    40AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:46
    The director's already got a proven track record in horror, so it's basically guaranteed to be good.
    Whether it actually feels like Resident Evil is a separate question, though
    — doesn't look like game characters like Leon are even showing up.
    41AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:47
    Rotten Tomatoes doesn't have the greatest reputation.
    Wasn't there that thing with Interstellar? Rotten Tomatoes had it around 70%, but once it opened to the public, everyone rated it way higher than the Tomatometer suggested.
    42AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:50
    Honestly the Jovovich one-woman-army style feels more like what Resident Evil is now.
    Is this one going for a horror route like RE7?
    44AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:51
    Apparently what's good about this new Resident Evil is that the lead isn't some superhero with supernatural powers
    — just an ordinary, unremarkable person.
    52AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:00
    Capcom's already got Pragmata lined up as a hit ahead of Onimusha…

    What happened, Square Enix…
    56AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:03
    Re: #52
    Guess there's no choice but to split the company after all.
    78AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:56
    If the zombies aren't ferociously vicious and fast like in 28 Days Later, the scare factor gets cut in half.
    Those wimpy Walking Dead zombies could be wiped out easily if anyone actually tried.
    80AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:58
    Re: #78
    They were running in the very first trailer lol. There's a shot from the second-floor window of an empty house
    — the guy just hit a woman with his car and goes inside to borrow a phone.

    Thought to myself, you don't see a scene like that very often lol

    Background and Key Points on This Story

    This new film is a complete reboot made by a different creative team from the live-action series that’s run since 2002, directed by Zach Cregger, known for films like “Weapons.” The earlier live-action series starred Milla Jovovich across 6 films, and counting 2021’s “Welcome to Raccoon City,” that’s 7 films total — making this new one the 8th entry overall. The “best in franchise history” being discussed here refers specifically to the opening weekend’s three-day box office haul, not to lifetime gross surpassing earlier films — an easy point to misread. In the thread, opinions split between confusion at how little of the source game survives (the mansion, the puzzle-solving, the characters) and hope built by trailers suggesting the filmmakers are “seriously trying to make something scary.” There was also talk about a gap between critic scores and general test-screening reactions, but that’s based on posters’ personal impressions — official figures for that weren’t included in the original source article.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “All-New ‘Resident Evil’ Scores the Franchise’s Best-Ever US Opening, Tops $100 Million Worldwide.”

  • Itakura Opens Up on Asian Cup Call-Up Dilemma, Reveals Marriage to Actress Haruna Kawaguchi and Her Pregnancy

    Japan national team defender Kou Itakura (29, Borussia Mönchengladbach) opened up about the controversy surrounding his call-up to next January–February’s Asian Cup, revealing that his marriage to actress Haruna Kawaguchi and her first pregnancy have given him “something with a higher priority than soccer.” He made the remarks on the 22nd at the national team’s training camp ahead of the match against Uruguay (on the 24th). On the forum, while some praised his candor for speaking so frankly, others—pointing out that his club has been struggling since the start of the season—speculated about a link between the timing of his relationship/marriage and his slump, sparking debate over whether he should even be called up.

    [Japan National Team] Kou Itakura Conflicted Over Asian Cup Call-Up — Also Addresses Marriage to Haruna Kawaguchi and Her First Pregnancy

    Japan national team defender Kou Itakura (29, Borussia Mönchengladbach) has spoken out about the call-up issue for next January–February’s Asian Cup (Saudi Arabia).

    On the 22nd, Itakura took part in the Japan national team’s practice session held in Chiba City ahead of the international friendly against Uruguay (24th, Q Stadium).

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

    7AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:31
    Re: #1
    Why would he just come out and say that?
    He could've just kept it vague, like blaming it on being under the weather.
    21AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:36
    Re: #7
    Not bothering with pointless lies — that kind of integrity might be exactly why he landed a popular actress.
    10AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:32
    He's basically already FIRE'd (financially independent, retired early) in spirit.
    His form has been in the pits for like the last two years now.
    Even now his stats are all red.
    42AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:45
    Re: #10
    Mixed feelings, since it turns out his slump kicked in right around when he started dating Haruna Kawaguchi.
    At first I figured it was because he stopped hiring a personal chef around then — maybe he ditched the chef because Kawaguchi's around now.
    23AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:37
    So that's the real reason behind his recent drop in performance.
    Then he should just turn down this call-up too.
    Actually, is it even okay for a pro to say something like that?
    26AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:38
    Re: #23
    Is there actually a problem with that?
    He's just that kind of player, that kind of person, that's all.
    Forcing your own ideals onto other people is a classic trait of someone whose own life didn't work out (not saying that's you).
    31AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:41
    Once he's given up something as a pro, they don't need him anymore.
    32AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:41
    Now we know why Itakura's been off his game lately.
    37AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:43
    Re: #32
    The reason Itakura's performance has been poor for over a year now is that he's treating a herniated disc with conservative therapy, so he's just not in good condition.
    38AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:43
    Re: #1
    Last time they lost because of him, and now this, lol.
    59AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:49
    Re: #38
    That Iran match was brutal to watch.
    I thought he might be throwing the game.
    It got overshadowed by the injury talk and Zion Suzuki, but he was genuinely awful.
    48AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:46
    Doan was on the fence about a Middle East move to cash out and "FIRE," but backed off,
    while Itakura's basically FIRE'd by marrying the loaded Haruna Kawaguchi.
    50AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:47
    Re: #48
    Itakura and Kawaguchi probably pull in about the same annual income — like 700 million yen or so.
    57AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:48
    Re: #50
    Kawaguchi's earning window as a celebrity probably extends further than the age range a soccer player can still draw a club salary.
    62AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:50
    Re: #50
    There's no way he's making that much.
    If he were pulling in 700 million like some baseball star ("yakyu" — internet slang mocking baseball players' salaries), he'd have already donated 50 million to earthquake relief.
    54AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:47
    Honestly, I feel like getting picked for the World Cup squad owes a lot to Moriyasu's leniency.
    Would be nice if he showed enough backbone to let Moriyasu go out on a high note, at least.
    79AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:56
    Re: #54
    If there's some flower-bouquet send-off ceremony,
    I want every player who hands him a bouquet to get absolutely roasted for it.
    61AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:50
    Re: #57
    It's just that right now they happen to earn about the same.
    Whether she scales back her work in Japan like Airi Taira did is something only the two of them would know.
    66AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:51
    Re: #61
    Itakura can probably only earn his current salary until his mid-30s.
    Kawaguchi will likely still be earning well past 40.
    70AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:52
    Skipping a match to be there for your wife's childbirth is pretty common among soccer players, so I can't really bring myself to criticize that.
    71AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:53
    Re: #70
    Judging by this thread, the ones criticizing him don't seem like soccer fans — more like, well, you-know-who.
    72AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:53
    Re: #69
    Airi Taira didn't have that many acting jobs and worked mostly as a variety-show personality,
    but Kawaguchi does tons of acting roles and commercials.
    73AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:54
    Re: #72
    Airi Taira was in plenty of commercials too, though.
    75AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:54
    I wonder if Kawaguchi will actually go abroad with him and manage his diet and stuff?
    77AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:55
    Re: #75
    He's earning enough to hire a personal chef outright, so I don't think she'd need to do that herself.
    81AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:58
    Yeah, that's probably true, but…
    keep that one to yourself, man…
    82AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:58
    Re: #81
    I think "family matters more than soccer" is something plenty of people say.
    84AnonymousSep 23, 2026 01:59
    He's been terrible at his club too.
    93AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:05
    Re: #84
    Four straight losses since the season opener, dead last, 16 goals conceded.
    Itakura's been racking up the lowest match ratings one after another.

    He's a certified culprit for the losses.
    Forget the national team, he's not even in shape for that.
    86AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:00
    His wife is Haruna Kawaguchi.

    Just that fact alone probably makes all the hate from 5ch anti-fans sound like nothing more than a loser's howl.
    89AnonymousSep 23, 2026 02:01
    Re: #86
    Being able to stay mentally settled is important, yeah.

    Background and Key Points of This Story

    Next year’s Asian Cup, scheduled for January–February, also serves as a benchmark for national team selection ahead of the next World Cup, so debate over the call-up list tends to flare up every time. What split opinion in this thread was less the bare facts and more how to take the fact that Itakura publicly ranked his family circumstances above soccer — some praised him for “speaking honestly instead of lying,” while others argued “a professional shouldn’t say that kind of thing publicly.” It’s true that Itakura’s club has struggled since the season opener, but the claim that his slump is tied to the timing of his relationship and marriage remains speculation within the thread — the original interview itself never cites that as the cause. As a matter of record, it’s probably more accurate to keep the facts (the call-up issue, and the announcement of his marriage and pregnancy) separate from Itakura’s individual struggles at his club, rather than casually linking the two.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports Express+) thread “[Soccer] Kou Itakura Conflicted Over Asian Cup Call-Up, Also Addresses Marriage to and Pregnancy with Haruna Kawaguchi: “Something Came Up With a Higher Priority Than Soccer”“.

  • Former KAT-TUN Member Junnosuke Taguchi Announces Marriage, Reveals First Child

    Former KAT-TUN member Junnosuke Taguchi (41) announced on September 22 that he has gotten married and that his first child has been born. Taguchi was arrested in 2016 on suspicion of violating the Cannabis Control Act and subsequently left KAT-TUN; his relationship with former actress Reina Komine (46), which was known to continue even after his arrest, drew renewed attention. On 5ch, speculation centered on whether Komine is the bride, with some arguing that given her age and inactive status it’s more likely an ordinary, non-celebrity woman — splitting opinion.

    September 22, 2026, 18:35

    Junnosuke Taguchi, formerly of “KAT-TUN,” announced his marriage on the 22nd. He also revealed that his first child has been born.

    Source: sponichi.co.jp / Original article here

    10AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:48
    Re: #4
    Well if that's the case, congrats then.

    Just don't you two go and do it again.
    29AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:55
    Re: #10
    That's not really a 'congrats' situation. After his drug arrest and release on bail, he even did a full dogeza (kneeling apology bow), and netizens were rooting for him thinking 'it'll be rough, but hang in there' — then he let them down by declaring he wouldn't break up with Komine.
    12AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:49
    Didn't Komine retire? If so, she'd count as an ordinary civilian now.
    14AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:49
    Googled her — turns out she's already 46.
    18AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:50
    Re: #14
    So maybe it's not her after all. I had the impression they had a bond strong enough that they didn't split even after the arrest, though.
    26AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:54
    Re: #14
    You don't need to look that up to know it.
    15AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:49
    Did Reina Komine become a 'regular woman' now?
    16AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:49
    He already broke up with her, so who is it then?
    Guess this'll shrink his already tiny fanbase even more.
    19AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:50
    Hey, make another one already — 'The Man Who Can't Get Married.' (nod to the TV drama title)
    20AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:50
    If there's a kid involved, it's probably not Komine — she's 46.
    21AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:52
    If it was going to end up like this, he should've broken up with Komine way sooner.
    22AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:52
    How's he even making a living these days? He ran a restaurant or something and closed it pretty fast, didn't he?
    40AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:57
    Re: #22
    Running a bar for the 'men-chika' underground idol scene or something? (men-chika = underground male idol groups) Come to think of it, I saw him on YouTube recently.
    23AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:52
    Re: #11
    Reina Komine is listed as a 'former actress' with no current activity, so it's possible.
    27AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:54
    There were rumors he had a kid with Komine — wonder what became of that. Did they break up?
    30AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:55
    Because of you, 'Legal High' got shelved. (referring to a TV drama he was in)
    33AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:55
    Given her age, it'd be tough for Reina Komine to give birth.
    67AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:04
    Re: #33
    His senpai Uekusa from Shonentai remarried at 47, but that was a shotgun marriage to a longtime fan the same age as him.
    34AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:56
    It's most likely not Reina Komine — but if that's true, what was her whole life up to now even about?
    36AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:56
    Delayed the announcement out of consideration for Kamenashi lol
    38AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:57
    Huh?? 'You're the one who makes zero sense.'
    39AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:57
    The only memory I have of him is coming out of the police station to apologize.
    Inomata looks headed for a similar fate.
    41AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:57
    When I saw him at the press conference after his release, I was floored by how good his physique was.
    44AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:58
    Should've just gotten married the moment he quit Johnny's. Guess pandering to fans for work is rough.
    46AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:59
    Re: #37
    Nah, that's a stretch.
    Taguchi's still on the good-looking side.
    66AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:03
    Re: #46
    Taguchi's got that spineless-guy image working against him,
    but he's actually pretty handsome.
    If he just kept his mouth shut, he could pass for prince-type F4 material from Boys Over Flowers.
    48AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:59
    Ugh, I'd be so shocked if it's not Reina Komine.
    51AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:00
    Re: #4
    If it's a younger, ordinary woman, then it's probably not her.
    55AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:01
    Re: #51
    Wait, so that means Komine got dumped?
    58AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:02
    Re: #51
    Ugh… that's way too pitiful.
    54AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:01
    Actresses who nailed the 'mean bully girl' role sure seem to retire or see their work dry up a lot, huh.
    Same with Reina Komine, but also Kanako Enomoto,
    Saki Fukuda, Mayuko Iwasa — they were incredible at playing vicious bullies.
    69AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:05
    Re: #54
    Enomoto retired because she got married,
    so that's a different situation from the others.
    65AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:03
    Wasn't announcing a marriage and a child at the same time supposed to be bad luck?
    68AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:04
    Re: #65
    You can't lump a Johnny's center member in with an underground idol.
    77AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:06
    Couples who do meth together always end up doing it again,
    so breaking up is for the best — Noriko Sakai managed to quit after divorcing too.
    Her ex-husband, though, got arrested three more times after the divorce.

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    Junnosuke Taguchi was arrested in 2016 on suspicion of violating the Cannabis Control Act, after which he left KAT-TUN. It was reported that he continued his relationship with former actress Reina Komine, whom he was dating at the time, even after the arrest. Following this announcement of marriage and the birth of his first child, opinion on 5ch split over whether Komine is the bride. Some argued it’s probably not her, citing her age (46), while others said it would make sense if it were Komine, pointing to the fact that the two didn’t break up even after the arrest. However, neither the source article nor the thread reveals the bride’s real name, so any identification of the partner remains purely speculative. It’s worth noting how easily speculation on anonymous forums can spread as though it were established fact.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News Plus) thread “[Former KAT-TUN] Junnosuke Taguchi: “I got married” — also reports birth of first child [Ailuropoda melanoleuca★].”

  • Report: Julie Fujishima Fumes Over M!LK’s MAJ Win — 5ch: “Your Agency Doesn’t Even Get a Seat at the Table”

    STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny’s & Associates) finds itself at the center of several overlapping controversies. timelesz member Shuto Inomata was arrested on suspicion of assault and has been suspended from activities, while separately, Bunshun Online and other outlets report that STARTO representative Julie Keiko Fujishima is fuming over Stardust-affiliated group M!LK’s win at “Music Awards Japan,” a music award that prides itself on judging without favoritism — reportedly declaring, “We won’t be entering our kids again.” On 5ch, reactions were split for and against Fujishima, alongside talk of the overexposure of Johnny’s-affiliated talent on TV and reflections on the history of male idol groups nurtured by other agencies like Stardust.

    STARTO ENTERTAINMENT is in turmoil.

    On September 19, Shuto Inomata (25), a member of the eight-member group timelesz, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of assault after allegedly injuring a woman he knew. STARTO announced the same day that Inomata would be suspended from activities for the time being, with formal disciplinary action to be decided once the authorities’ ruling is finalized. Inomata reportedly denies the allegations.

    The other seven members of timelesz issued a statement saying, “We are all at a loss for words over the shock of this.” As STARTO scrambles to respond to the arrest of a member of one of its most popular groups, another story concerning the male idol world is also drawing attention.

    Source: pinzuba.news / Read the original article here

    8AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:13
    Honestly, I'm with Big Sis Julie on this one — these guys are just novelty song-comedy acts.
    135AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:32
    Re: #8
    Johnny's talent who can't even pull off a novelty song bit should just stay quiet.
    13AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:14
    Which agency is M!LK even with?
    19AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:15
    Re: #13
    Stardust.
    15AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:14
    So she's still meddling after all
    It's just Johnny's under a new name
    They should be forced to disband
    Criminal agency!!!!!
    34AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:17
    Apparently back in the day, non-Johnny's male idol groups had a brutal time debuting at all because of pressure from Johnny's.
    53AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:21
    Re: #34
    w-inds. used to bill themselves as a "hip-hop dance unit" (to dodge being called idols).
    39AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:18
    Not just Stardust — Amuse, Watanabe Entertainment, and Avex should all throw male units into the ring too
    K-pop agencies are already muscling into Japan, and the cutesy "shotacon"-style boy idols aren't going to cut it anymore
    50AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:20
    Re: #39
    Is Monaki's (idol unit referenced upthread) target audience middle-aged women?
    55AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:21
    Re: #39
    It's not that easy to just whip one up
    Even Ebidan took more than ten years before they had a hit
    46AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:20
    Sorry but I genuinely thought they were a Johnny's group
    108AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:29
    Re: #46
    Same here
    Guess not
    59AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:22
    Yeah, she just went underground and kept pulling strings behind the scenes lol
    64AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:23
    EXILE's HIRO said that whenever his agency debuted a new act, he had to personally go to Johnny's office and explain, "This is a dance & vocal group, not an idol group" — otherwise they couldn't get on music shows
    71AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:25
    Re: #64
    It wasn't until around FANTASTICS that they finally started going the same route
    73AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:25
    It's shifting from "We won't enter our kids again"

    to

    "There's no seat at the table for your agency, period"
    102AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:28
    Re: #73
    But pretty much every TV network is saturated with Johnny's talent right now
    Yesterday afternoon alone was nauseating
    Johnny's on Nippon TV's Hirunandesu
    Johnny's on Fuji's Poka Poka
    There's a Johnny's guy dispatched to some show literally every single day

    The only place you ever catch M!LK is on Gocchi

    Since Nippon TV is Johnny's-saturated too, M!LK will probably get cut by the end of the year
    116AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:29
    Re: #102
    Sounds like Johnny's talent have a string of jobs lined up starting this fall
    Though after this arrest, the networks are probably regretting it
    117AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:30
    Re: #102
    Weekday mornings are just as bad
    They're on every channel you flip to
    76AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:25
    Someone from Sakanaction said MAJ plays no favorites
    So maybe Johnny's groups just genuinely weren't popular enough?
    93AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:27
    Re: #76
    Yeah, they did say that
    Though doesn't Julie not actually hold real power anymore?
    Does she even have the authority to say "we won't enter our kids"?
    88AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:26
    So what's actually different between M!LK and a Johnny's idol group anyway?
    96AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:27
    Re: #88
    Ebidan: fans buy CDs in bulk for the meet-and-greet perks, since they're "idols you can go meet"
    Johnny's: fans buy CDs in bulk out of an almost religious fear of embarrassing their oshi (favorite member)
    98AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:27
    Re: #71
    Wait, aren't the vocalists and dancers separate roles there?
    101AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:28
    From what I've seen on set, guys like Kenty (Kento Nakajima) and Ren Meguro seem to genuinely dote on the M!LK members like they're agency juniors, though…
    146AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:33
    Re: #101
    Huh? They've worked alongside Korean idols too — doesn't mean there's any real sense of camaraderie
    111AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:29
    Commercial broadcasters kowtow to Johnny's so hard that history's probably going to repeat itself before long
    124AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:30
    Re: #111
    Heard TBS is giving M!LK their own daytime show
    TBS was also the first to report on the Inomata incident
    123AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:30
    Attendees of the 60th birthday party:

    Masahiko Matsuoka
    Jun Matsumoto
    Sho Sakurai
    Masaki Aiba
    Tadayoshi Okura
    Shigeaki Kato

    Fuma Kikuchi
    Ryosuke Yamada
    Shunsuke Michieda
    Ryusei Onishi
    Joichiro Fujiwara
    Kazuya Ohashi
    Raul
    Shota Watanabe
    Genta Matsuda
    Ukyo
    and others
    138AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:32
    Re: #123
    Feels like a lineup of guys who just want to stay under the umbrella of whoever's in power

    Someone like Ninomiya, who started his own agency and built real clout with hits like VIVANT, doesn't bother showing his face at these things
    Though he's probably sent an obligatory congratulatory message at least
    142AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:32
    It's Bunshun so who knows if it's even true, but if it is, that's incredibly out of touch for this day and age
    148AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:33
    Re: #142
    When M!LK actually won an award, she'd stepped out of her seat
    Guess she genuinely didn't expect them to take it

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    “Music Awards Japan (MAJ)” is a relatively new music award founded on the principle of judging without favoritism, aiming — as referenced in the thread via a comment attributed to someone connected to Sakanaction — for evaluation criteria detached from the power dynamics of traditional talent agencies. M!LK’s agency, Stardust, is a longstanding company that has spent years trying to break into the male idol market effectively monopolized by Johnny’s (now STARTO), and the rise of acts like EXILE and the Ebichu (Ebisu Muscats) lineage is part of that same broader trend. On the STARTO side, meanwhile, the extent of Julie Keiko Fujishima’s continued involvement has repeatedly come into question even after the company’s name change following the former Johnny’s sexual abuse scandal — and the thread’s own observation that “she may not actually hold real authority anymore” is worth bearing in mind before taking the reporting’s premise at face value. It’s also worth noting that the timelesz member’s arrest, reported around the same time, is an entirely separate matter, and posters in the thread are careful not to conflate the two.

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “[STARTO ENTERTAINMENT] Julie Keiko Fujishima Reportedly Furious Over M!LK’s Meteoric Rise… Said to Be Fuming and Unhappy Over Their ‘MAJ’ Win, Declaring “We Won’t Enter Our Kids Again” [Ailuropoda melanoleuca★]“.

  • Debate erupts on 5ch over how to lower blood pressure — “Seriously, just go see a doctor”

    On a 5ch message board, users traded tips on “how do you actually lower your blood pressure?” In Japan, a reading above 140 systolic / 90 diastolic is generally the benchmark for recommending a doctor’s visit, and the thread ranged widely — from concrete fixes like cutting salt, exercising, and taking blood pressure medication, to the view that rising blood pressure with age is a natural process not worth obsessing over. Opinions split, though, on whether blood pressure that’s gone up can truly come back down, and on what counts as a healthy target for elderly people — and in the end, the recurring refrain was “don’t trust amateur judgment, talk to an actual doctor.”

    1AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:37
    Guess I'm done for…
    4AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:39
    Take your meds.
    If they're the right ones, you'll be back to normal in three months.
    Mine went from 160 down to 117.
    5AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:41
    Mine was 124 over 87…
    10AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:43
    Re: #5
    Wait, don't tell me — are you the guy who's always making those "I have no motivation, I want to die" threads?
    7AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:42
    Isn't it pointless unless you fundamentally change your lifestyle?
    Even if it drops, it'll probably just bounce right back.
    8AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:42
    Should I go to the hospital and get medication for cutting fat too?
    9AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:42
    Honestly I still don't really get why it goes up in the first place.
    13AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:48
    Apparently you're supposed to raise your "butt pressure" though (a pun — ketsu-atsu sounds almost like ketsuatsu, "blood pressure")
    14AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:49
    Quit all soft drinks and sugary sodas (including the zero-calorie kind).
    If you absolutely need something like that, mix carbonated water with unsalted tomato juice half and half.
    If it's not punchy enough, add a splash of Pokka Lemon 100 (bottled lemon juice).
    16AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:53
    Re: #1
    Take medication.
    Do cardio every day.
    Fix your diet (cut salt, eat potassium-rich vegetables).
    18AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:53
    These days they tell you to see a doctor once you hit 140.
    23AnonymousSep 22, 2026 20:06
    Re: #18
    Mine was flagged just from the bottom number hitting 90.
    20AnonymousSep 22, 2026 19:54
    Drink one glass of no-salt-added tomato juice a day.
    The potassium flushes out excess salt while the lycopene helps lower blood pressure.
    Also natto — it helps keep calcium and other stuff from building up inside your blood vessels.
    28AnonymousSep 22, 2026 20:12
    Re: #20
    Won't that spike your blood sugar though?
    22AnonymousSep 22, 2026 20:06
    Lately everyone around me has high blood pressure.
    31AnonymousSep 22, 2026 20:17
    Re: #22
    It's aging.
    As you get older your blood vessels stiffen, so your blood pressure rises even if you're living a perfectly healthy life.
    You don't need to obsess over it, but you do need to manage it.
    24AnonymousSep 22, 2026 20:07
    Honestly, it's more dangerous if it drops too low.
    25AnonymousSep 22, 2026 20:08
    Re: #24
    "Dangerous" doesn't even cover it — that's heart disease.
    37AnonymousSep 22, 2026 20:31
    In the end, talking to an actual doctor beats amateurs like us speculating and googling around.
    39AnonymousSep 22, 2026 20:39
    Re: #37
    Do they ever tell you anything besides "take your meds"?
    46AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:03
    You've actually got the logic backwards.

    You're not unhealthy because your blood pressure is high —
    your blood pressure is high because you're unhealthy.

    Don't make lowering the number your goal, aim for a healthy body instead (´・ω・｀)
    48AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:04
    Re: #46
    In the end it really does just come down to good food and reasonable exercise.
    52AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:06
    Once blood pressure goes up, it never truly comes back down.
    If the number looks like it's dropped, some other part of your body is just compensating for it.
    56AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:10
    Re: #52
    No, come on…
    Just losing weight alone will lower it, for example.

    The volume of blood that needs pumping goes down, so the pressure needed to pump it goes down too.
    53AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:08
    Heard my uncle's blood pressure was 200 — too high, so they couldn't operate on him until it came down.
    60AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:15
    Re: #53
    Apparently if you get hurt while drunk, they can't operate until the alcohol's out of your system either.
    54AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:08
    Seriously though, just go see a doctor.
    I doubt anyone here is dumb enough to actually take health advice from random strangers on a board like this, but still.
    57AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:13
    Re: #54
    Yeah, that's right.
    Safest bet is to see an internist and then get guidance from a registered dietitian.

    I'm actually a licensed nurse myself, but this kind of thing really is case-by-case.

    If it's caused by kidney trouble, the whole treatment approach changes. (Cutting salt is still the basic diet advice, but you'd also need to limit protein.)
    58AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:14
    The doctor at the blood donation center said it's fine even if it's high.
    61AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:16
    Re: #58
    It's fine for donating blood, but it's still a health problem.
    High blood pressure itself is a sign something's off with your circulatory system.
    72AnonymousSep 22, 2026 21:58
    It's fine for young people to sit around 120 over 80, but isn't it weird to apply the same standard once you're old? Blood vessels stiffen with age, so staying the same just isn't realistic (obviously actual extreme values are still bad).
    I've also heard that elderly people with low blood pressure often can't walk properly and decline mentally faster, while running a bit higher keeps them active and sharper.
    Both for the country and for families with elderly relatives, dying suddenly while still active ("pin-pin korori" — living healthy right up until a quick death) beats years bedridden.
    76AnonymousSep 22, 2026 22:14
    Re: #72
    Blood pressure rises as you age — that's natural, so it's not really a problem.
    74AnonymousSep 22, 2026 22:05
    My autonomic nervous system is wrecked so my pulse won't come down.

    82AnonymousSep 22, 2026 22:46
    The daily salt limit is supposed to be 7.0g (6.0g if you already have high blood pressure).
    One bowl of ramen: 7.5g (5.0g of that from the soup alone)
    One plate of "Napoleon": 6.0g (likely meant to say napolitan spaghetti)
    One cup noodle: 4.5g
    One plate of homemade yakisoba: 3.5g
    One plate of homemade curry: 2.5g
    A convenience-store sandwich (the 3-piece kind): 2.5g of salt
    A convenience-store rice ball: 2.0g
    Soy sauce, one tablespoon: 2.0g
    83AnonymousSep 22, 2026 22:48
    Re: #82
    "One plate of Napoleon" — what's that supposed to mean? You mean the whiskey?
    88AnonymousSep 22, 2026 23:23
    I've had migraines since I was young, but ever since I started taking blood pressure medication, they've completely gone away.
    93AnonymousSep 23, 2026 00:04
    Re: #88
    That's like saying "I got anesthesia and now nothing hurts."

    Background and key points of this discussion

    Japan’s diagnostic benchmark for high blood pressure is a reading of 140 systolic over 90 diastolic, and going past it typically prompts a recommendation to see a doctor. In the thread, opinions split between lifestyle fixes — cutting salt, eating potassium-rich foods, doing cardio — and treating it mainly with blood pressure medication. Notably, claims that elevated blood pressure never truly returns to normal were met with pushback pointing out that losing weight reduces the volume of blood that needs pumping and therefore lowers the pressure required — anecdotes with no real expert backing sitting side by side. There was also debate over whether the same standard should apply to the elderly, given that hardening blood vessels naturally push blood pressure up with age, with some arguing the real goal should be overall health rather than just chasing a lower number. A few posters in the thread claimed to be nurses or registered dietitians, but these are all anonymous, self-reported claims — any actual treatment plan needs to be based on an actual doctor’s diagnosis.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from a 5ch “Hardware/Industry” board (nicknamed “Geha,” a board known for console-war-style threads) thread: “So, how do you actually lower your blood pressure?“

  • Otoha’s police-uniform look sparks reaction — 5ch: “She looked classy, seems like she’s got a great personality”

    TV personality Otoha appearing in a police officer’s uniform at the launch ceremony for the “Autumn National Traffic Safety Campaign,” held at the Nagano Prefectural Government building, became a hot topic on 5ch. Otoha is taking part in the campaign as its “Traffic Safety Campaign Promotion Ambassador,” and her Instagram post has been getting a warm response. Alongside comments on the uniform look itself, the thread filled up with posts fondly recalling her marriage to former husband and comedian Takashi Fujii, with users reminiscing about how the two got together and praising her character.

    Tue, 9/22, 5:20 PM

    TV personality Otoha updated her Instagram by the 22nd. When she showed off her look in a police officer’s uniform, fans showered her with praise.

    On the 19th, Otoha attended the launch ceremony for the “Autumn National Traffic Safety Campaign” held at the Nagano Prefectural Government building. As “Traffic Safety Campaign Promotion Ambassador,” she called for safe driving while dressed in a police officer’s uniform.

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

    6AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:34
    This is probably what Hashikan (Kanna Hashimoto) will look like once she's older
    8AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:35
    Policewomen just have that skirt image, don't they
    12AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:37
    I liked Otoha, but I also liked the guy she ended up with, Takashi Fujii, so even back then I thought they made a great couple
    23AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:46
    Re: #12
    Same here
    I congratulated the two of them from the bottom of my heart
    45AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:23
    Re: #12
    Same, but figured if it's Takashi Fujii, I'll let it slide
    14AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:40
    Forget who it was, but some actress once said she was shocked at how pure-hearted and kind Otoha was — almost too good for a celebrity
    17AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:42
    Wasn't it Tsutomu Sekine who played matchmaker between Otoha and Takashi Fujii
    18AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:42
    Really glad she never fell into AV (adult videos)
    19AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:43
    There was a mook (magazine-style photobook) with a bundled bag sold at convenience stores that had a photo of her with her kid — they looked happy
    21AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:44
    Her face hasn't sagged with age
    57AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:47
    Re: #21
    Maybe it's because she's got a tanuki face (round, raccoon dog-like features)
    22AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:45
    Don't wear the cap pushed back like that
    tuck your bangs in, show some spirit!
    24AnonymousSep 22, 2026 17:46
    She's great
    you can just tell she's got a good personality
    one of the rare healing-type celebrities
    Haruka Fukuhara might be next in that lineage
    32AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:00
    Back in elementary school there were Otoha and Kaori Manabe DVDs displayed behind the register at the 7-Eleven, way out of reach for a kid like me, so I kept buying Tirol chocolates over and over just for an excuse to look at them
    37AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:11
    Back in the day there was ASCII art of her
    drawn in that Sazae-san family character-design style
    39AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:15
    This witch-face type really shows its age hard once they get older
    41AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:19
    She hasn't changed much
    probably because her face hasn't sagged that much
    though I think it has a little
    42AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:20
    Pretty classy for a gravure idol, seemed like she had a good personality
    55AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:44
    Re: #42
    Landing her must have given Takashi Fujii a huge ego boost
    60AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:49
    When Fujii first proposed, Otoha was going through a rough patch with family issues, so she told him she might not be thinking straight and asked him to wait a year. He waited, and a year later she told him she'd fallen even more in love with him, and they tied the knot
    Way too enviable
    64AnonymousSep 22, 2026 18:51
    Re: #60
    That's some next-level scheming…

    Background and Talking Points

    Otoha debuted as a gravure idol in the late 1990s, married comedian Takashi Fujii in 2003, and divorced him in 2008. The “Traffic Safety Campaign Promotion Ambassador” role Nagano Prefecture gave her is a standard local-government move — enlisting celebrities for publicity — and having them wear a police uniform is a common touch for this kind of campaign. Alongside favorable comments about the uniform look itself, the thread was dominated by posts nostalgically recalling how the former couple got together, though an unverified rumor also circulated claiming her contract had been “premised on an AV (adult video) debut,” which another poster flatly denied as “completely false.” Since no source was given for this rumor about her personal history, it shouldn’t be taken as established fact.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “Otoha (45) draws reaction for smiling police-uniform photos — “So freaking cute”.”