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  • BEYOOOOONDS’ New Single “Shoshi Senban” (“Utterly Ridiculous”) MV Hits 175K Views in 24 Hours

    The music video for BEYOOOOONDS’ new single “Shoshi Senban” racked up 175,000 views within 24 hours of release. On 5ch’s Hello! Project-related threads, posters acknowledged that YouTube’s view-count system has changed from only counting views of 30 seconds or longer to counting even a single second of playback, but still agreed the growth was substantial. Opinions on the song itself were split, with debate centering on the demanding vocal range, the unconventional arrangement, and theories about why the fanbase keeps growing.

    1AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:01
    BEYOOOOONDS MV 24-hour view counts
    195K — Vitamin ME
    176K — Glasses Boy (Megane no Otokonoko)
    5AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:04
    Couldn't quite break through from 'Yes' to 'No,' huh
    6AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:04
    lol, the gap's so big it doesn't even matter that the counting method changed
    7AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:05
    But I do think it's good they're actually using a new member for the thumbnail —
    better than the 'Ise Hell' incident (apparently a nickname for an earlier thumbnail mishap).
    9AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:05
    That really took off, huh —
    I had the sense OCHA was catching up in momentum,
    but compared to the clearly best song, it's pulling double the score.
    14AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:06
    Surprisingly, it sounds pretty cool through headphones.
    16AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:08
    Wait, didn't the counting method change though?
    18AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:09
    Re: #16
    It used to only count if you watched 30 seconds, but now even a single second of playback counts.
    17AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:08
    Everything except the song is great.
    The song itself is rough, so looping it is tough.
    21AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:10
    Re: #17
    I powered through about 10 listens and started getting used to it.
    36AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:14
    Re: #17
    Try 1.25x speed, it helps.
    19AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:09
    The haters kept spamming 'trash song' over and over, but it didn't mean anything.
    78AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:24
    Re: #19
    It was obvious that was just one person spamming posts.
    20AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:10
    It's a mystery how BEYOOOOONDS fans keep multiplying.
    There aren't even enough fans on Ookami [the Hello! Project discussion board] for it to look like Hello! Project fans in general are flowing over.
    It's their first single in two years and they haven't run any event to pull in new fans either,
    even though they did things like the 'Shinagawa Confinement' (apparently an event nickname).
    23AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:11
    Re: #20
    The YouTube comments section is oddly lively.
    31AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:12
    Re: #20
    And there are oddly a lot of female fans too —
    why is that?
    62AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:20
    Re: #20
    Ookami's full of old-timers, so they probably can't keep up with younger fans' sensibilities.
    22AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:10
    Except for the 'India' part, the melody and the repeated phrases are catchy.
    Asahi-chan's sense fits her generation just right, which is nice.
    24AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:11
    It's not India, it's Arabia, isn't it?
    28AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:12
    True, it does have that Arabian Nights kind of sound now that you mention it, lol
    30AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:12
    Hirai, Seino, and Kojima stood out in a good way —
    shouldn't every group get to do some acting like that?
    32AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:12
    They're stubbornly not splitting the data from before and after the counting method changed.
    It's turned into meaningless data at this point.
    40AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:15
    Re: #32
    It's pulling double the score and you're still making excuses like that?
    47AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:16
    Re: #32
    That's already split out — see Re: #11.
    49AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:16
    Re: #32
    Even looking only at post-change data, the sample size is still too small, so just wait a bit longer.
    33AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:12
    The whole BEYOOOOONDS fanbase seems to have gotten used to 'protest mode' from that 'haito' thing (an obscure in-fandom reference, meaning unclear).
    This time the song's reputation isn't great and you can even see people venting about it, yet it's still pulling numbers like this — if the song selection turns out to be BEYOOOOONDS fans' taste, it could go even further.
    45AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:16
    I thought the vocal range was set way too low, but
    since the lyrics and composition were done by a female singer-songwriter, it's hard to say anything.
    Wonder if that strained feeling from the Hello! Pro concert will smooth out by the release event.
    56AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:19
    I was relieved thinking it was an unsalvageable trash song,
    but then I watched the MV and ended up thinking it was actually good — what's with that?
    61AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:20
    Re: #56
    Even live, the song got criticized but the performance itself was well received.
    65AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:20
    Re: #56
    The members and the production team are amazing.
    66AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:21
    I wonder if they could pull this off with a live band.
    I think it'd come out incredibly groovy and cool.
    70AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:22
    Re: #66
    If they threw in a live sitar, that'd be amazing.
    84AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:26
    Re: #31
    Couch-potato Ookami-board haters wouldn't get it, huh.
    98AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:29
    Re: #84
    So what exactly does that mean?
    92AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:27
    Re: #1
    With the counting method changed, isn't this number kind of weak?
    103AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:29
    Re: #92
    If this counts as weak, every group except Juice=Juice should just disband.
    107AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:30
    Just when you think the chorus is about to swell into something huge, it pulls right back — what is this?
    118AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:32
    Re: #107
    That 'the chorus has to be the climax' mindset is an old-school kayokyoku (retro Japanese pop) grandpa thing.
    Though I'm the same way myself.
    113AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:31
    Guess it's a world us old guys just can't keep up with anymore.
    115AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:31
    Re: #113
    The fact that 'An-Tsuba' (shorthand for ANGERME and Tsubaki Factory) — raved about only on the Ookami board — are Hello! Project's bottom two says a lot, doesn't it.

    Background and Key Points of the Discussion

    YouTube’s view-count system used to only add a view after 30+ seconds of playback, but it has since changed to count a view after just one second, which makes it hard to directly compare view counts with older MVs — a point raised repeatedly in the thread. Some posters noted that since there’s still little data from after this change, opinions haven’t fully settled. At the same time, even though there was plenty of harsh criticism of the song itself, the view count kept climbing regardless, so ‘how well the song is received’ and ‘how fast the view count is growing’ don’t necessarily line up — that became a key point of debate in the thread. As for why the fanbase keeps growing, posters pointed to things like how active the YouTube comments section is, but no one offered solid evidence, so it remained speculation.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “[Breaking] BEYOOOOONDS’ New Single “Shoshi Senban” MV Hits 175K Views in 24 Hours!”.

  • Ohtani Benched for Next Game as De Paula Steps In — 5ch: ‘Still Can’t Beat Ichiro’

    After Shohei Ohtani went 0-for-4 in his most recent game, a 5ch thread reported that manager Dave Roberts told him directly that he’d be dropped from the starting lineup for the next game, with De Paula taking his spot. With the back-to-back champion Dodgers facing a crucial game, the decision split 5ch between an accepting camp (“if the results aren’t there, there’s nothing to be done”) and a defensive camp (“this is on the team for overloading him with the two-way role”). Reports that Mookie Betts had defended Ohtani were also brought up, drawing extra attention to the state of trust inside the clubhouse.

    3AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:00
    Good, good.
    Losing would've been no joke.
    4AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:00
    This is a question of the manager's accountability.
    You only run out a guy who can't hit or field when the game's already decided.
    Honestly, this is seppuku-worthy (i.e., a fireable offense).
    5AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:01
    Benching Ohtani buffing the whole team was already proven back in September.
    6AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:01
    It's a shame, but results are everything, so nothing to be done.
    7AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:01
    Say what you want about the crappy Brewers, their manager's actually competent.
    9AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:01
    It's sad watching the trust erode day by day.
    If De Paula weren't around they'd just keep running Ohtani out there, but once a guy with Soto-level plate discipline AND clutch hitting like De Paula shows up, it's a totally different story.
    The fact that Ohtani didn't hit is on him too.
    10AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:02
    If he could at least play defense, fine, keep starting him — but he's strictly a DH.
    12AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:02
    It's like Piccolo taking off his heavy cape and turban (the Dragon Ball training-weight trick where removing dead weight unlocks hidden power).
    15AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:04
    For Betts to even be concerned about Ohtani's brutal slump says a lot.
    Yeah, that's exactly what this is — he's a DH, after all.
    17AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:04
    Yeah, you can't keep running him out there anymore — there's no runway left.
    18AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:04
    It's not forgiving enough to play through this while hurt.
    Next year, then.
    19AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:04
    Yamamoto: "Please don't play on my start days with legs like that, lol"
    22AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:06
    If he'd gotten even one hit today he'd have stayed in the lineup.
    Going 0-for-4 AND losing today — of course the fans over there are calling for De Paula.
    23AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:06
    He's still got 7 years left on his contract, but he's pressing like it's a contract year.
    Maybe he's just mentally prone to panicking.
    24AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:06
    Trout's waiting for him back in Anaheim.
    25AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:07
    The Dodgers have finally dropped the showing off and gone full power.
    This is where it really starts.
    26AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:07
    If they win 4 straight with Ohtani benched, that'll become legendary lol.
    28AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:09
    The forums over there were in chaos, but most of the comments were "play De Paula."
    Ohtani's trust level might be next to zero at this point.
    Never in a million years thought he'd turn into a completely different player this suddenly, though.
    29AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:09
    This isn't a season where coasting and showing off gets a pass.
    31AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:10
    Just go back and start over from the Nippon-Ham Fighters.
    33AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:10
    Betts is the only one defending Ohtani
    https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/25e296f2f18e0e057d4ab966281802fa4ca48875
    51AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:16
    Re: #33
    Worth noting: apparently once he's out of the lineup, he starts playing like a completely different player.
    78AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:23
    Re: #33 Betts is a good guy — that's the kind of thing you can only say if you've tasted the same rock-bottom slump yourself.
    92AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:29
    Re: #33
    His words carry real weight.
    34AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:11
    Why was he even playing him?
    43AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:13
    Re: #34
    That's just how the contract works.
    64AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:20
    At this point isn't Ohtani basically more powerful than Roberts?
    67AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:21
    Re: #64
    Anyone could fill Roberts' job, but Ohtani generates serious money — though once he can't hit or pitch, he stops generating money too.
    77AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:23
    They're putting way too much on Ohtani to begin with — making him pitch AND hit.
    The other 8 guys need to step up a little.
    81AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:25
    Re: #77
    Quit talking nonsense.
    79AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:24
    Yesterday's commentator Taguchi said his swing mechanics are actually improving.
    97AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:30
    Re: #79
    Mechanics can be fine, but even when he makes contact the ball just isn't carrying.
    Right now just being in the lineup is a waste.
    80AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:25
    If it were Ichiro, no matter how bad the slump, benching him wouldn't even cross your mind.
    The fact that benching Ohtani is even on the table tells you he still can't beat Ichiro.
    83AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:26
    Re: #80
    There's no such thing as a slump on defense — that's the thing.
    91AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:28
    Benching Ohtani is fine and all, but can the Dodgers even win it all without an awakened Ohtani — something they've never actually done?
    100AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:31
    Re: #91
    The Dodgers won it all back in 2020 too, though…

    Background and Key Points of This Story

    Worth noting up front: this was a one-game lineup adjustment by manager Dave Roberts, not a permanent change to how Ohtani will be used going forward. The thread raised comparisons to Ichiro, arguing he’d never have been benched — but Ichiro also delivered value through his outfield defense, whereas Ohtani, playing as a designated hitter (DH), tends to be judged on batting production alone, so the two aren’t really being measured on the same scale to begin with. Commenters also pointed out that the two-way role of pitching and hitting adds extra physical strain on Ohtani, and how much rest to give him during a slump like this is likely to keep coming up as an ongoing issue specific to two-way players. Note that the reactions in this thread are purely speculation and personal opinion from 5ch users, and don’t represent any official stance from the team on his future role.

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyo G) thread “[Breaking] Ohtani Pulled From Next Game’s Starting Lineup, De Paula to Play — Roberts Tells Ohtani Directly“.

  • Ohtani’s Batting Slump: Betts Says ‘It’s Really Hard to Watch’

    Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has fallen into a batting slump, and teammate Mookie Betts was reportedly quoted saying, “It’s hard. It’s really hard to watch.” In the game in question, Ohtani went 0-for-4, and the thread cited a grim stat: just 1 RBI in 121 plate appearances since August 21. Reactions on 5ch ranged from sympathy to jokes mocking the cause of the slump, with some posters looking back at his achievements since translator Ippei Mizuhara’s departure, and others arguing he should focus on resetting his conditioning for next season.

    1AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:55
    They were on a 7-game winning streak until he came back — this is really rough
    2AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:55
    Shohei Ohtani's Slump… Betts Laments: "It's Hard. It's Really Hard to Watch" — Brutal 0-for-4

    https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/25e296f2f18e0e057d4ab966281802fa4ca48875
    4AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:56
    He's dead serious, lol ("草"/kusa = internet slang for "lol")
    Isn't this supposed to be a joke?
    5AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:56
    Seems like Betts has picked up some of that Japanese "wa" spirit (team harmony) from being around Ohtani-san.
    9AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:57
    How many more losses until it's over?
    11AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:58
    Re: #9
    Two more losses and it's over.
    18AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:02
    He eats nothing but junk food, so his blood turns to sludge and his eyesight goes bad.
    19AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:02
    Feels like the injuries are what ended it
    No matter how much talent and hard work you've built up, it's brutal once you're injury-prone or chronically hurt
    Different sport, but it reminds me of guys like former Barcelona B player Hiroki Abe, Kubo, Mitoma, and Tomiyasu
    22AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:03
    He was angling for catcher's interference again today — kind of killed the mood.
    23AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:05
    Looks like he's at 1 RBI total in 121 plate appearances since 8/21.
    33AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:07
    Re: #23
    Seriously, just 1 RBI?!
    That's got to be unheard of for a DH, right?
    24AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:05
    Ohtani's probably cackling and scarfing down a hot dog right about now.
    25AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:05
    Well, last year against the Brewers he struck out 10 and hit 3 homers in the same game, so…
    26AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:06
    This really makes you realize how great Ippei Mizuhara actually was.
    40AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:09
    Re: #26
    He's won MVP twice even after Ippei left, though.
    28AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:06
    Did Ohtani-san say anything when Betts was struggling?
    30AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:07
    Betts himself was hitting around .100 back in June… it's really rough.
    34AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:07
    Betts seems like the type who'd get sulky if someone said that about him.
    35AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:07
    Maybe Ohtani should just write off this season and focus on rebuilding his conditioning for next year.
    38AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:08
    Re: #35
    While eating a hot dog? lol
    44AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:11
    Wow, Ohtani's really that bad off, huh
    Normally he'd be the type to say "I'm fine, I'll start hitting tomorrow."
    45AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:12
    The real question is what Ohtani does once he can't cut it in MLB anymore
    Will he move back to Japan, or retire from pro ball and settle down in the US?
    48AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:13
    Why does he even keep playing?
    57AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:17
    Re: #48
    Because they're paying his salary.
    63AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:21
    Re: #48
    Because someone's pressuring Roberts to keep playing him.
    50AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:14
    Is Betts even hitting well enough himself to be pitying someone else?
    51AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:14
    Come on, everyone has an off year now and then.
    52AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:15
    They said he hit a 140m shot in practice, though
    (via the Ohtani Updates account on X)
    But once it's a real game, even when he does make contact it's just singles — something's off about him this year.
    54AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:17
    Re: #52
    Richard clears the fence all the time in practice too, you know.
    53AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:16
    Yamamoto ("Yamamoro") worked his tail off again this year too, but he lost the big one — guess this is where it ends.
    56AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:17
    The Ohtani faithful ("谷信," short for Otani shinja, i.e. Ohtani stans) are probably irritated at Betts, but even they can't really defend him by saying "but he's still hitting" at this point.
    58AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:18
    At least nobody's saying "Ohtani, I'm so disappointed in you…" — so he hasn't been given up on yet.
    93AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:34
    If anything, enjoying a situation like this is exactly who Shohei Ohtani is.
    95AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:36
    Re: #93
    Uh, he looks pretty irritated to me.

    Background and Key Points of This Story

    Ohtani has fallen into an extreme batting slump as the season winds down, and the stat cited in the thread — “1 RBI in 121 plate appearances since August 21” — is a historically dismal number for a designated hitter, reflecting a stretch where even singles have been hard to come by. Betts’s comment about it being “hard” is reported not as criticism of Ohtani, but as an honest expression of concern from a teammate. Within the thread, posters speculated on the causes from various angles — the gap between practice and game performance, past injuries, and changes in his routine since Ippei Mizuhara’s departure — but these are all speculation from 5ch users, not anything officially explained by the team or Ohtani himself. Given that he’s won MVP twice even after Mizuhara left, it would also be premature to pin the slump directly on “Ippei dependency.” It’s likewise difficult to judge a player’s future based solely on numbers from a short late-season stretch.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyo G) thread “[Breaking] Betts: “It’s Really Hard to Watch Ohtani”.”

  • Yui Aragaki Gives Birth to First Child, Husband Gen Hoshino Announces — 5ch Reacts: “Gakki’s 38 Already?”

    It was revealed on October 13, 2026, that actress Yui Aragaki (38) has given birth to her first child. Her husband, actor and musician Gen Hoshino (45), made the announcement on his official website. The couple married after meeting as co-stars in a TV drama, and the 5ch “Geinou Sokuhou+” thread quickly filled with congratulatory messages. At the same time, plenty of posts voiced concern over her age — “advanced maternal age pregnancies can carry risks down the line” — while others expressed surprise, saying they’d assumed the couple’s relationship had “gone cold.” The thread split between celebration and anxiety over the risks.

    October 13, 2026, 2:06 PM

    It was revealed on the 13th that actress Yui Aragaki (38) has given birth to her first child. Her husband Gen Hoshino (45) announced the news on his official website and other channels.

    Source: nikkansports.com / Original article here

    6AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:16
    Gakki's 38 now, huh (her popular nickname)
    Congrats
    10AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:16
    I honestly thought she'd already had a kid by now
    A first pregnancy at an advanced maternal age can be riskier than people think, so there's reason to worry a bit
    14AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:16
    Seriously?
    I figured they either weren't planning to have kids or couldn't
    23AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:17
    It was an older pregnancy, but I'm glad everything went fine
    Congratulations
    63AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:20
    Re: #23
    Advanced maternal age pregnancies carry risks down the line
    My dad was 46 and my mom was 38 when they had their one kid
    No disability showed up, but that kid never turned into a decent adult
    83AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:21
    Re: #63
    Well, you've got enough brains to post on 5ch,
    so you turned out fine
    98AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:22
    Re: #63
    At least you had a sense of humor going for you, lucky
    24AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:17
    Both Hoshino and Gakki seem like they'd be a handful personality-wise, so I figured they'd divorce eventually…
    At this point Gakki's become even more of a non-issue to me than when they got married
    154AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:27
    Re: #24
    The second I glanced at the thread title, I assumed it'd be a divorce announcement for these two
    As long as they're happy, that's what matters most
    58AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:19
    So does that mean they conceived around Christmas?
    90AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:22
    Re: #58
    How do you know that? Got psychic powers or something?
    60AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:20
    A kid born to this couple basically hit the jackpot on the parent lottery (a slang term, "oyagacha," for the random luck of which parents you're born to)
    71AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:21
    Re: #60
    Personally I'd rather have DAIGO's kid's luck
    61AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:20
    Congratulations!
    And it's shocking that 'We Married as a Job!' (the drama where they met) aired 10 years ago already (´・ω・｀)
    89AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:22
    Congrats!
    Re: #61
    Right…? If a kid had been born back then, they'd already be 10 years old now
    82AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:21
    So I wonder which parent the kid will take after, lol
    92AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:22
    Re: #82
    Whichever parent it takes after,
    those eyes are gonna be narrow either way
    84AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:22
    I always pictured them as a couple who just hadn't bothered to divorce yet, totally cold between them
    105AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:23
    Re: #84
    They just don't talk about their married life publicly, but that got spun into that image online, and articles even ran with it
    So they went out of their way to appear together on a radio show once just to deny it
    101AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:22
    Oh no, I forgot to get reincarnated as their kid…
    111AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:23
    Re: #101
    Haha, I kind of thought the same thing
    Guess this isn't my reincarnation after all
    151AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:27
    Surprised they've lasted this long, not that it's any of my business
    159AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:28
    Re: #151

    They're not gonna stay together till the end

    Background and Key Points of This Story

    Yui Aragaki and Gen Hoshino have rarely discussed their married life in the media, and that reticence had fueled a perception online that their relationship had “gone cold.” The thread notes that the two once appeared together on a radio show specifically to deny rumors of discord, a detail that left those unaware of it genuinely surprised by the birth announcement. As for “advanced maternal age” pregnancy, medically the term refers to a first birth at age 35 or older; while it’s associated with a somewhat elevated risk during pregnancy and delivery, most such pregnancies go smoothly under proper medical care — worth noting given the gap between the level of anxiety in the thread and the actual degree of risk.

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou Sokuhou+) thread “[Breaking] Yui Aragaki (38) Gives Birth — Husband Gen Hoshino (45) Announces [Ailuropoda melanoleuca★].”

  • 5ch Reacts Against Yahoo Article Claiming ‘Nintendo Struggling, Sony Riding the Wave’

    A Yahoo News article published on October 13 claimed that “the tide has turned in the game industry — Nintendo is struggling while Sony’s PlayStation is riding the wave well.” In response, 5ch’s hardware/industry board (Geha) saw a wave of pushback, with posts like “Beating up Nintendo over its stock price while praising Sony on earnings is comparing apples to oranges” and “As long as they’re losing on sales in the earnings report, comparing on performance won’t change the outcome.” The discussion developed further into a debate over the structural difference between Nintendo, whose high ratio of first-party titles ties its results directly to game hits, and Sony, whose platform-style revenue model leans heavily on third parties — with many replies questioning the article’s basic premise.

    Stock Drops After New ‘Kirby’ Title Announcement — the IP-Nurturing Dilemma Plaguing Nintendo

    10/13 (Tue) 7:10 AM

    Japan’s flagship game company, Nintendo, is facing a turning point.

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

    2AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:03
    Not even Tane, not even Kawamura — that's an absurd depth of talent
    3AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:05
    >Even without a first-party hit title
    It's already common knowledge that they're the weakest first party out there now lol
    5AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:05
    So basically Wolverine's the best, huh?
    6AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:06
    Why do people slam Nintendo over stock price but praise Sony over earnings?
    8AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:07
    "Riding the wave," huh?
    Has there been a single successful title since Concord? (Sony's infamous 2024 flop)
    10AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:07
    As long as they're losing on sales in the earnings report, comparing on performance isn't going to change the outcome, is it?
    11AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:10
    They're not in debt, so there's no obligation to prop up the stock price.
    Remember when Sakurai was still working on Kid Icarus: Uprising and they announced a new Smash Bros — that was right when Nintendo had fallen into the red. They don't announce never-before-seen titles unless they're pushed that hard.
    13AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:11
    They're definitely riding the "we want to be like Steam!" bandwagon though
    15AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:15
    Why is it "stock price!" for Nintendo but "earnings!" for Sony?
    17AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:15
    There's a mismatch going on.
    If it were a 30,000-yen console, fine, but for a 60,000-yen console, all they've got is games that make you go "this can't be it."
    19AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:18
    Pundits (識者) really hate Nintendo, huh
    Maybe I should become a conductor (指揮者) too
    Aim for Karajan (wordplay: "shikisha"/pundit vs "shikisha"/conductor)
    124AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:31
    Re: #19
    You're no Karajan — you haven't got the "gara" (stature/build) for it (pun: Karajan contains the word "gara")
    23AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:21
    Didn't know that, but that's not a new character at all
    28AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:27
    Satoshi Fuwa (the article's byline)

    https://shueisha.online/articles/-/250884?disp=paging&page=4
    >Meanwhile, "Genshin Impact" is built to remove player-vs-player competition and cater to casual players. It's low difficulty and character-driven, backed by a lavish voice cast. Ironically, it became a worldwide hit precisely by stripping the heavily monetized gacha elements out of the gacha-game formula.

    Genshin Impact has no gacha elements?!
    34AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:40
    Re: #28
    Can't you read? It says "heavily monetized" [gacha elements], not "gacha" itself
    42AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:58
    I get that Nintendo's in trouble, but "Sony's doing great" is hilarious
    51AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:32
    Stop writing articles about stuff everybody already knows except console-war fanboys (ゲハ豚) and clueless echo-chamber dimwits
    53AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:34
    Re: #51
    You're the one steeped deepest in an echo chamber here
    61AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:39
    Comparing a console in its pioneering phase to one in its mature phase doesn't really hold up.
    If the point is "we should smooth out these cycles," fine, but if it's just a snapshot comparison, the article's worthless.
    64AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:40
    Re: #61
    If we're talking about the "Kusotchi" (derisive nickname for Switch 2, from "kuso"=crap + Switch), it already flopped in that so-called "pioneering phase" lol
    63AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:40
    I'd say Sony's actually in a pretty dangerous spot — their own first-party output has gotten weak, leaving them with third parties by the balls
    73AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:50
    Re: #63
    It's the opposite for a platform business.
    Nintendo, with 80% of its lineup being first-party, is the abnormal one here —
    that means its platform business isn't working well.
    Having to keep landing hits with your own games
    is way too rough a position to be in.
    Not a great business model.
    67AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:42
    This phenomenon where getting steeped in Sony warps people's perception — I genuinely find it impressive
    69AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:43
    Re: #67
    Nah, that's not it.
    The real barrier is just low intelligence.
    Even without Sony, they'd be steeped in something else
    68AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:43
    Re: #60
    If they actually meant to beef up the subscription service, they'd raise the quality of single-player titles and wouldn't need to go out of their way to shut down dev studios.
    Though it's still pretty low compared to mobile-game gacha monetization
    70AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:48
    Re: #68
    No problem, since third parties keep cranking out good games.
    As the platform holder, just providing the venue means the money keeps rolling in
    79AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:02
    Re: #73
    >Nintendo, with 80% first-party share, is the abnormal one

    There's no such fact anywhere in Nintendo's actual financial reports to begin with. Don't tell me that after endlessly ranting "Famitsu this" and "domestic-only data that," you're now basing this whole claim on nothing but Famitsu's numbers?
    81AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:04
    Re: #79
    Then what IS the actual first-party percentage?
    You know it, right?
    Spit it out already
    87AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:10
    It's true the profit structure is shifting toward things like subscriptions and gacha.
    Personally, I want Nintendo to keep pushing its current approach though
    91AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:12
    Re: #87
    If anything, Nintendo's going against the grain, which is exactly what makes it abnormal.
    It's weird how they've gotten stricter on gacha games compared to the Switch era
    93AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:16
    Re: #91
    Calling it "going against the grain" is dumb — Nintendo is the one picking up and growing the player base that Sony/PlayStation abandoned. Sony shrank its own player base, and the result shows up as a losing console at 30-0 (weekly hardware sales tally vs. Switch)
    95AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:17
    Re: #93
    This guy, I swear
    "30-0" lol
    122AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:29
    Re: #93
    By "going against the grain" I mean specifically stuff like getting stricter on gacha games

    Background and Key Points of This Debate

    The source article, a Yahoo News piece published October 13, cites Nintendo’s stock drop following the announcement of a new “Kirby” title to argue how tough it is for a company whose results are directly tied to its own IP. In the thread, the main pushback targeted the mismatched comparison — criticizing Nintendo on stock price swings while judging Sony on quarterly earnings. Some pointed out that Nintendo leans heavily on first-party titles, so a new release’s hit-or-miss fate feeds straight into its results, whereas Sony depends more on third parties and runs a revenue model built around “providing the venue.” Which company is really “riding the wave well” hinges on multiple factors — sales scale, first-party ratio, stance on gacha monetization — making it hard to reduce to a simple win-or-lose call. Worth noting: no one in the thread actually posted concrete figures for Nintendo’s first-party ratio, so the exchange mostly ended in a standoff.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hardware/Industry [Geha]) thread “Yahoo: ‘The Tide Has Turned in the Game Industry — Nintendo Struggling, Sony’s PS Riding the Wave Well’.”

  • Is Backing PS’s Disc Removal While Keeping Switch Cartridges Hypocritical? Nintendo Fans Hash It Out on 5ch

    A comment from a Nintendo fan — “I’m fine with PS dropping discs” — sparked a minor dust-up on 5ch’s hardware/industry (Geha) board. It started when someone pointed out that the same crowd who supposedly supported PS5 dropping its disc-drive models still refuses to give up Switch’s packaged games (Game-Key Cards) — isn’t that a contradiction? That drew a wave of pushback: “Supporting PS dropping discs and demanding Nintendo do the same are two different things,” and “Nintendo never even said it was dropping anything.” The discussion never really connected, since people couldn’t agree on whether the issue was “what users personally support” or “what manufacturers actually plan to do.”

    1AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:15
    Doesn't look like Nintendo's dropping it though (lol)
    3AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:16
    Off-topic aside: name your favorite 'Myriad Colors' (万紫千紅) character below (a stray, unrelated interjection of the kind that often derails 5ch threads)
    7AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:17
    Wait, does Nintendo hardware even use discs?
    9AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:18
    'We're fine with PS dropping discs too' —
    that's literally what was said, right?
    Why do you always twist it? Do you have some kind of disease where you can't survive without lying?
    10AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:19
    So Game-Key Cards aren't discs, so it's totally fine?????? (lol lol lol)
    43AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:30
    Re: #10
    They're not discs though
    74AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:48
    Re: #10
    Exactly right, lmao
    Game-Key Cards aren't discs, you know?
    What is this idiot even saying
    12AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:19
    There used to be those tiny mini-discs, huh (a nod to the GameCube's small optical discs)
    Obviously it's different now, so what are we even talking about?
    14AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:19
    What's this guy even talking about — who's this 'everyone' supposed to be?
    16AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:20
    It means hardware that itself uses discs is in favor of discs being discontinued
    When you think about it calmly, that's a pretty odd stance
    17AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:20
    If PS wants to drop discs, go right ahead
    Nobody's talking about Nintendo here
    19AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:21
    Must've hit a nerve — the reply speed on this one is insane, lol
    20AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:21
    This is way too much of a stretch every single time
    Please actually explain how you got to this conclusion
    23AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:22
    Nobody said that — are you fighting hallucinations?
    24AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:22
    Nintendo already dropped discs though (lol)
    25AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:22
    I don't get why Nintendo keeps getting dragged into a story about Sony
    Sony dropping discs has nothing to do with Nintendo, does it?
    26AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:22
    Is it fun digging up old comments just to dunk on people like this?
    27AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:22
    "I'm in favor of PS dropping discs" — that's exactly the point (´・ω・`)
    Because that'll definitely finish off the domestic market, where physical-copy sales are still strong (lol)
    If Nintendo dropped discs too, though, that would actually be a problem (lol)
    33AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:24
    It's a weekday afternoon and yet this thread is moving insanely fast (lol)
    35AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:25
    I was just all in favor of PlayStation hardware (PSW — 5ch shorthand lumping together Sony's consoles) dropping discs
    so it would finally disappear from store shelves, that's all
    58AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:38
    Well, Nintendo has no real incentive to drop Game Cards in the first place
    That's actually a critical difference versus PS hardware (PSW)
    Because physical copies still sell a million units a year for Nintendo, lol
    If it sells, there's no reason to kill it

    Oh wait, PSW's different, my bad!
    Even something like Wolverine only moves 20,000 copies — garbage-tier sales like that
    So it might as well just die off!
    Stores don't want to carry inventory of trash games either!
    62AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:39
    Re: #58
    Still, overall there's roughly 2 million units a year still selling physically
    and apparently all of that's about to disappear
    76AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:50
    The Famicom Disk System had a lot of classics, didn't it
    78AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:52
    Re: #76
    By the way, a floppy disk has a thin film-like disc inside
    That's why it's called a floppy 'disk'
    92AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:05
    Isn't it just that people support PS dropping discs but oppose Nintendo doing the same?
    Everyone agrees on supporting PS dropping discs, right?
    96AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:10
    Re: #92
    Even when Nintendo officially announced 'We're not discontinuing physical packaging,' nobody pushed back on that

    Background and Key Points of This Debate

    The thread kicked off because a Nintendo fan’s comment — “I’m fine with PS dropping discs” — appeared to contradict their continued support for Switch’s physical releases. Tracing through the replies, though, the real sticking point is that “what users personally support” and “what manufacturers actually plan to do” got conflated. As posts #9 and #92 point out, supporting Sony’s removal of disc drives is a separate matter from demanding Nintendo do the same — post #31’s framing, “Users say ‘dropping it is fine,’ the manufacturer says ‘we’re not dropping it’ — how is that even related?”, sums it up neatly. The fact that the Switch 2’s “Game-Key Cards” work differently from traditional discs or cartridges also muddied the waters, with the back-and-forth in #10 and #43 amounting to nitpicking over that technical distinction. On the whole, this reads less like an industry debate and more like a textbook case of people with different starting positions talking past each other without ever agreeing on what was actually being argued.

    *This article was compiled and summarized from the 5ch Hardware/Industry (Geha) board thread ‘Nintendo Fanboys: “We’re fine with discs being dropped too, what are you talking about? (lol)” — So what was this actually about?‘ (“Nintendo fanboys” renders 任豚/nitabuta, a mocking 5ch slang term for die-hard Nintendo fans).

  • Mosh Pit Halts Gunma-chan Fest — FES☆TIVE’s Official Statement Sparks Backlash

    At an idol fest hosted by Gunma Prefecture, a mosh pit broke out in the crowd during a performance by FES☆TIVE, forcing the show to pause. Afterward, the official X (Twitter) account didn’t explain what caused the stoppage, simply stating it was “the organizers’ decision,” and then added a line promising “a real festival unbound by regulations” — which many read as deflecting blame and showing no remorse, sparking backlash online. On the forum, opinions split between those who felt stopping the mosh pit at a free public event was simply common sense, and those who argued the real problem was the official account’s explanation and PR attitude. The fact that tickets came in three tiers — front-row for ¥10,000, priority for ¥5,000, and general admission free — also became a talking point.

    FES☆TIVE’s Official X Account Under Fire — Backlash Over Mosh Pit Issue and PR Handling After Gunma-chan Idol Fest Halt – coki (Kōki)

    2026.10.13

    At an idol fest hosted by a local government, a performance by one idol group was halted midway through the show. A post from the official account about what happened has unexpectedly stirred up a storm of criticism. Without addressing the cause of the stoppage, it stated only that it was “the organizers’ decision,” then added a line promising “a real festival unbound by regulations” — which was taken as blame-shifting and a lack of remorse.

    Source: coki.jp / Original article here

    4AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:29
    Well yeah, if you mosh in front of the Gunma Kaikan hall or the prefectural office plaza, of course they're gonna shut it down.
    It's a free-entry venue with everyone from little kids to old folks there.
    10AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:41
    Re: #4
    Just walked past the Gunma prefectural office building on my way to work earlier.
    Go do that stuff somewhere like Orion Square back in my home Tochigi 🤣
    5AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:32
    Don't go embarrassing Gunma-chan like that.
    8AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:38
    People who want to be idols and a backwater like Gunma are polar opposites — pretty pathetic doing this just for the money 😂
    13AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:44
    Creepy otaku dudes slamming their bodies into each other is basically hell on earth, lmao
    16AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:46
    Re: #13
    Mosh pits and crowd-surfing are things you do at a live house (small concert venue), not here 🤣
    20AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:57
    Re: #16
    Outdoor festivals are the best for that kind of thing.
    Cramped venues just don't cut it.
    15AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:46
    They probably said that to protect their regular hardcore otaku fanbase.
    The people criticizing now will get bored and forget about it eventually anyway.
    Even when you run an idol event with tax money, it's a hellscape where only otaku show up.
    17AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:47
    Guys who turn their backs on the stage instead of watching it are seriously the worst.
    19AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:56
    They keep posting minor articles from minor sources.
    Please post some normal news too.
    22AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:58
    Other groups' fans were doing it too, but FES☆TIVE was the only one who got stopped.
    23AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:00
    Does FES☆TIVE's fanbase usually mosh and stage-dive?
    I didn't really have that image of them.
    24AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:01
    Otaku bumping into each other as a 'performance' sounds like it'd smell awful.
    25AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:03
    Re: #1
    The official statement itself is pretty bad, right?
    29AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:06
    Re: #25
    Is there even a venue that'll rent to them after putting out a statement like that?
    70AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:11
    Re: #25
    Saying Gunma's fest "wasn't a real festival" — that's gonna earn some grudges.
    26AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:05
    This kind of thing could also be pulled off by people who aren't even fans, just to sabotage the show.
    30AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:06
    【Idol Fest Chaos】

    Banned mosh pit breaks out in the crowd
    ↓
    Performance forcibly cut short mid-show
    ↓
    Event temporarily halted over dangerous conduct
    ↓
    The moshing otaku bow to the floor (dogeza) in apology
    ↓
    Event resumes amid shouts of "Give us our money back!" and "Show some sincerity!"

    #GunmaChanIdolFestival

    Video
    https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2109586165301202944/vid/avc1/2334×1080/h0gptXEf6Hx_bU-o.mp4
    53AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:44
    Re: #30
    I figured they were moshing in a packed-tight crowd, but
    they're actually doing it in an empty space near the back.
    If that's all it was, who cares?
    32AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:10
    So decent fans just drift away because of whoever runs the X account, is that it?
    Guess we'll get an apology soon saying they've 'reassigned the person in charge.'
    35AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:13
    Fans of the other idol groups weren't moshing, though. What an unruly bunch.
    55AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:44
    Re: #35
    I bet they were definitely doing crowd-surf lifts too.
    46AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:31
    Too long, can't be bothered to read it.
    AI, summarize it for me.
    48AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:33
    Re: #46
    The summary's right there in Re: #30.
    50AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:38
    Getting flamed online is one thing, but this situation is honestly too complicated and nuanced for that.
    It's genuinely hard to tell what the actual problem is and what exactly people are criticizing.
    My guess is it's criticism over the fest organizers halting things because the crowd got too rowdy, while the idol side wasn't on board with the stoppage.
    56AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:47
    Re: #50
    They just stopped it because people were doing something against the rules.
    There are plenty of events where mosh pits and lifts are allowed — go do it there instead.
    72AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:13
    Maybe they could just set up a small designated area and let people do it only there.

    Background and Key Points of This Story

    At the root of this uproar is a mismatch between a free, open-access idol event hosted by a local government and the mosh pit/crowd-surf culture that’s standard at live houses (small concert venues). The venue used a three-tier ticket system — front-row for ¥10,000, priority for ¥5,000, and general admission free — and since the free area was designed to admit everyone from children to elderly attendees, many commenters supported the organizers’ decision to halt the show on safety grounds. Where opinion split was over the wording of the official X post, which didn’t clarify the circumstances or who was responsible, stating only that it was “the organizers’ decision,” while also promising “a real festival unbound by regulations” — language that came across as abandoning any accountability to fans and the audience, which became the core of the criticism. A point that’s easy for readers to misunderstand is that mosh pits weren’t banned outright across the board — what drew criticism was that an act prohibited by the event’s own rules was carried out in a free, public area.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geisoku Hōdō+) thread “[Idols] FES☆TIVE’s Official X Under Fire — Backlash Over Mosh Pit Issue and PR Handling After Gunma-chan Idol Fest Halt.”

  • Restaurants Hit by a ‘Triple Whammy’: Consumption Tax Cuts, Liquor Tax Reform, and Staff Shortages — 5ch: ‘Just Abolish Everything Below the Consumption Tax’

    An article highlighting experts’ warnings that the restaurant industry faces a “triple whammy” — the gap between the reduced consumption tax rate and the 10% rate on dining out, the unification of liquor tax rates for beer-type beverages, and chronic staff shortages — became a hot topic on 5ch’s News Express+ board. In the thread, some pointed out how low Japan’s consumption tax is compared to other countries, while others argued that even if the consumption tax were cut, restaurants’ profits wouldn’t change because the input tax credit would shrink accordingly — a claim countered by others insisting that the drop in the total amount paid would still work out as a net gain. This sparked a long, technical back-and-forth over the actual calculations. Views on the Ministry of Finance and the ruling and opposition parties’ handling of tax policy were also mixed in, making it a debate that went well beyond simple yes-or-no positions.

    Expert commentary

    Going forward, conditions surrounding the restaurant industry look set to get even tougher. One major concern is a consumption tax cut on food. If the tax rate on food is lowered, the price gap with supermarket and convenience-store bento boxes and prepared dishes will widen, likely pushing more people to eat out less.

    The liquor tax reform can’t be ignored either. On top of price shifts from unifying the tax rate on beer-type beverages, rising prices and a thriftier mindset could accelerate a shift from drinking at izakayas to “drinking at home” instead, squeezing sales further.

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

    22AnonymousOct 13, 2026 08:48
    Consumption tax rates

    Denmark: 25% (food 25%)
    Norway: 25% (food 15%)
    Finland: 24% (food 14%)
    Japan: 10% (food 8%)

    Japan's consumption tax is already low, so there's no need to cut it or abolish it.
    160AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:45
    Re: #22
    Just abolish everything below the consumption tax — that's the only option.

    Funding source: dismantle the tax office.
    49AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:03
    Input costs would get cheaper too, you know.
    That alone would generate profit.
    70AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:18
    Re: #49
    Even if input costs drop by the consumption tax amount, the deduction shrinks by that same amount, so nothing changes.
    173AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:03
    Re: #49
    Found an idiot. Your actual tax bill goes up.
    52AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:07
    >>'the price gap with supermarket and convenience-store bento boxes and prepared dishes will widen'

    The price gap between supermarkets and convenience-store bento is already widening lol

    Convenience stores are just using inflation as cover to jack up prices.
    56AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:08
    Re: #52
    Packaged rice is getting the same opportunistic price hikes.
    54AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:08
    Honestly, they held up well during the COVID years.
    That was way rougher than this.
    71AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:18
    Re: #54
    Small restaurants were riding a subsidy bubble back then ^^
    Kinda want to go back to those days…
    58AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:10
    I want to ask someone who actually knows this stuff — would a consumption tax cut shrink work for small regional sash (window frame) manufacturers, or even put them out of business?
    60AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:11
    Re: #57
    It's not exactly 'automatic,' but if markets read the tax cut as worsening government finances, the yen and bonds sell off, pushing input costs up even further.
    61AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:13
    Re: #60
    Then the opposition should run on raising taxes as their campaign pledge.
    73AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:18
    Re: #66
    They're raising rates because corporate conditions are good — your understanding is the one that's wrong lol
    75AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:19
    Re: #73
    If that's really what you think, the opposition should just campaign on raising taxes.

    If you're right, that's a change of government right there.
    78AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:23
    Time for a peasant revolt against the Ministry of Finance —
    the Lost 30 Years are on them too.
    79AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:24
    Re: #78
    No, the Lost 30 Years are Komeito's fault.

    Now that they've split from the LDP, we should give the LDP a chance.

    If Komeito ever teams up with them again, that's when we cut the LDP loose.
    82AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:29
    Re: #70
    People assume 'a smaller deduction = a loss,' but the deduction is just a mechanism for getting back part of the consumption tax you paid, so:

    Pay less consumption tax → of course the deduction shrinks too
    But the drop in the amount paid is bigger than the drop in the deduction
    100AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:55
    Input price drops = consumption tax paid also drops

    The deduction is calculated based on the consumption tax you paid

    Therefore:

    Input price drops → the deduction shrinks too, but the drop in the amount paid is bigger, so it's always a net gain

    The claim that 'it's meaningless because the deduction shrinks' is mathematically wrong.
    105AnonymousOct 13, 2026 09:58
    Re: #100
    It's not the input price that drops — it's the consumption tax on the input that drops. The deduction falls by that exact same amount, so it's meaningless.
    114AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:05
    Re: #100
    > 'Input price drops → the deduction shrinks too, but the drop in the amount paid is bigger, so it's always a net gain'

    The input price only drops because the consumption tax drops. In other words, the decrease in the amount paid and the decrease in the deduction are the same amount, so there's no profit from a consumption tax cut.
    117AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:11
    The restaurant industry is just facing headwind after headwind.
    It's brutal for anyone who isn't a major chain.
    120AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:15
    Re: #117
    There are just too many restaurants now.
    Cheap-to-maintain food stalls would've been the right call all along.
    132AnonymousOct 13, 2026 10:57
    Re: #123
    Look, the consumption tax you pay on inputs gets deducted, so even if the input cost drops by the tax amount, the deduction shrinks by that same amount and your tax bill goes up accordingly. So why do you think that's a profit?
    195AnonymousOct 13, 2026 12:58
    Re: #181
    Just abolish the consumption tax itself already 😂😂😂😂😂
    Back in the Showa era, when the Japanese economy was booming, there was no 'consumption tax' or 'export tax refund' to begin with 😂😂😂😂😂
    142AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:17
    Re: #141 Re: #1
    The consumption tax is a system for having everyone — not just the working-age population — share the burden of social security costs, which already eat up more than half the national budget.

    In other words, cutting the consumption tax just means dumping that heavy social security burden entirely onto working-age people.

    If you're going to cut the consumption tax, you need to cut social security spending itself too, or the burden on working-age people won't actually get lighter.
    145AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:21
    Re: #142
    Just raise corporate and income taxes instead 😠😠😠😠😠
    And abolish the Children and Families Agency and the gender-equality programs 😠😠😠😠😠
    149AnonymousOct 13, 2026 11:26
    Re: #142
    Wasn't it the LDP's Motegi who basically threatened the Japanese public, saying pensions would have to be cut by 30% if the consumption tax were lowered 😠😠😠😠😠

    Background and key points of this discussion

    The liquor tax has been undergoing a phased unification of rates for beer-type beverages since October 2020, and October 2026 marks its final stage. As for the consumption tax, dining out remains at 10% while supermarket and convenience-store bento and prepared foods benefit from the reduced 8% rate — a gap widely cited as one reason people are eating out less. The thread’s biggest split was over whether a consumption tax cut would actually boost restaurant profits: the claim that ‘a lower tax on inputs just shrinks the deduction by the same amount, so there’s no real gain’ went head-to-head with the claim that ‘the drop in the total amount paid is bigger, making it a net gain.’ This disagreement stems from differing understandings of how the input tax credit works, and since which side is correct depends on the actual calculation method under the invoice system, it can’t be settled by the thread discussion alone. There was also relatively little background explanation about the liquor tax reform, and posters frequently wove in their own political leanings (views on the ruling/opposition parties and the Ministry of Finance), making it a topic where economic debate and political arguments easily got tangled together.

    *This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary from the 5ch (News Express+) thread “The Background Behind the ‘Triple Whammy’ of ‘Consumption Tax Cuts,’ ‘Liquor Tax Reform,’ and ‘Staff Shortages’ Hitting Struggling Restaurants #ExpertTopic.”

  • Murakami Shoji Sidelined — Kōmoto Steps In to Fill In on ‘Yantan’

    An official announcement from MBS Radio’s “Young Town Saturday” revealed that main personality Murakami Shoji will be absent from the next broadcast, with Kōmoto Jun’ichi of the comedy duo Jichō Kachō filling in for him — news that made its way to 5ch’s Hello! Project board. On the thread, the timing of the announcement set off a wave of concern about hospitalization or health problems, with some pointing to Murakami’s age (71) and warning he “could collapse at any moment.” Meanwhile, opinions split over the show’s weekly “assistant” slot filled by Hello! Project members — some called it a great chance for lesser-known members to get noticed, while others felt it placed too heavy a burden on them.

    1AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:10
    (Announcement)
    Murakami Shoji will be taking a break from the next broadcast. Kōmoto from Jichō Kachō will be appearing in his place! We're looking forward to hearing from all of you!
    ✉ Click here to send us an email!
    3AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:13
    Imagine getting taught 'Konjuppun' straight from 'Kanjuppun' himself (running in-joke nicknames on the thread)
    5AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:14
    Probably shouldn't spend too much time around Sanma (comedian Akashiya Sanma)
    10AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:19
    Glad to hear 'Dekami' seems to have gotten the axe (a nickname used on the thread)
    11AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:19
    The 'Kachō' half of Jichō Kachō was pretty hard on Niinuma Kiku on Yantan before she graduated
    12AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:20
    Bet 'Yokoyan' doesn't even listen anymore
    13AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:21
    Someone explain what's funny about 'Kanjuppun,' like an old Showa-era grandpa would
    18AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:27
    Re: #13
    The thing is, what makes something funny isn't really something you can explain
    14AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:21
    15AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:23
    Can't they just swap the guest for Yokoyan instead?
    19AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:27
    Sanma's especially nice to people who are worn down
    21AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:28
    Forget that, Yumiketa's boring — swap her out for someone like Sugihara
    22AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:30
    I think Rairii and Kojima Hana are fine as regulars
    31AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:42
    Re: #22
    The regular slot is girls-only
    32AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:43
    Re: #22
    Biyo fans have some nerve
    23AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:31
    https://ameblo.jp/morningm-13ki/entry-12786861537.html
    > Went to see Yonsentoushin's live by myself
    Finally got to see them again — both shows were great as always! Had so much fun!
    Watching manzai live is the best!!! Laughed nonstop! (still buzzing after the show)
    29AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:38
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtQbJxdVkAEs0F1.jpg
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHQG9-3UcAAdxxF.jpg
    33AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:43

    34AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:44
    This isn't just some assistant gig — a top entertainment show handing a weekly guest spot to an unknown Hello! Project member on top of the regulars is a level of treatment no other show gives.
    Every other idol group would kill for Yantan's Hello! Project slot
    79AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:06
    Re: #34
    Not really? Only Sanma fanboys say that
    36AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:45
    Give the regular spot to Biyo!
    37AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:46
    Re: #36
    Enough already, you're relentless
    38AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:46
    Re: #31
    Taiyo to Ciscomoon,
    Country Musume,
    Matsuura Aya,
    Melon Kinenbi
    were all regulars too, though
    41AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:48
    Kojima's fine, honestly — she's sharp and quick on her feet
    42AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:48
    I seriously think Sanma drains the life force out of everyone around him
    44AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:48
    Hospitalized, maybe? Announcing it at this timing…
    45AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:49
    He's already 71 — he could collapse any day now
    46AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:50
    So was the Kubota episode last time Murakami's last one?
    57AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:54
    Worried about the substitute's health too
    59AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:55
    Re: #57
    That guy's issue is more mental, I'd say
    65AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:57
    If Sanma ever quits, Hello! Project's probably getting cut and the show turns into something else.
    It originally started as a weekend-only thing because Sanma wanted to keep the 'Yantan' name going,
    but since the weekday 'Appare' got renamed 'Yantan A' this season,
    MBS will probably keep the 'Yantan' name alive going forward the way Nippon Broadcasting does with All Night Nippon
    67AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:58
    Re: #65
    Isn't that only possible because of Up-Front?
    80AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:07
    Accident or illness?
    83AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:10
    Re: #80
    Either way, hospitalized
    85AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:12
    Wasn't there someone else who filled in before too?
    87AnonymousOct 13, 2026 14:14
    Re: #85
    Inoue from Jichō Kachō
    Kawai from Einstein

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    “Young Town Saturday” is a long-running MBS Radio program. As discussed on the thread, the weekday slot “Appare Yattemasu!” was renamed “Yantan A” this season, while the Saturday slot has kept the “Yantan” name going. The reason for Murakami Shoji’s absence hasn’t been disclosed by the show, so thread comments about his age (71) or a possible hospitalization are purely speculation, not confirmed information. Another point of debate is the show’s weekly slot in which a little-known Hello! Project member serves as assistant — some see it as a great opportunity to get noticed on a national broadcast, while others feel it places too much of a burden on them. The fact that Jichō Kachō’s Inoue and Einstein’s Kawai have filled in before shows that Kōmoto stepping in this time isn’t unprecedented.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “Announcement Regarding Young Town Saturday’s Future Activities.”

  • Aibou Shakes Up Its Lead Again: Terawaki Out, Oikawa In as Detective Sugishita’s New Partner — 5ch: ‘Sorimachi’s Comeback Can’t Be Far Off Either’

    It was announced on October 13 that in TV Asahi’s detective drama “Aibou” season 25 (premiering October 21), the role of Sugishita Ukyo’s (Mizutani Yutaka) partner will switch from Kameyama Kaoru, played by Terawaki Yasufumi, to Kanbe Takeru, played by Oikawa Mitsuhiro. This marks the series’ fifth partner change overall and its first in five years. Mizutani commented that “the Aibou world is about to write a new chapter.” On 5ch, reactions skewed less toward celebration and more toward speculation about what’s coming next — including hopes that former partners Sorimachi Takashi and Narimiya Hiroki might return, alongside worries about Mizutani’s age and the show’s sheer longevity.

    It was revealed on October 13 that in the new season of the hit detective drama “Aibou season 25” (TV Asahi, Wednesdays 9pm), premiering October 21, the “partner” of Sugishita Ukyo — played by Mizutani Yutaka — will be handed over at some point this season from Kameyama Kaoru, played by Terawaki Yasufumi, to Kanbe Takeru, played by Oikawa Mitsuhiro.

    Kameyama Kaoru (Terawaki) served as the original partner through the middle of season 7 (2008), then returned as the partner again in season 21 (2022). The hot-blooded, big-hearted Kaoru often clashed with the cool, cerebral Ukyo, but the two became indispensable to each other through case after case. The “golden duo” of Kaoru and Ukyo is now entering its 12th season together in total.

    Following the announcement, Mizutani commented: “From Kameyama to Kanbe — this is something only a show with Aibou’s long history could pull off. In fact, it’s the ultimate move that only Aibou could make. Ukyo himself is quietly feeling his heart race at the thought of the Aibou world beginning to write a new chapter.”

    Source: mantan-web.jp / Read the original article here

    3AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:07
    Guess Sorimachi's coming back eventually too, huh
    10AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:10
    Re: #3
    Before that happens… yeah, that's pushing it a bit lol
    7AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:09
    Just bring everyone back already and make it the Avengers
    8AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:09
    Wait, they're writing Terawaki out again?
    Isn't doing that twice kind of brutal?
    9AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:09
    Sacchii would be fine, wouldn't she
    20AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:12
    Re: #9
    Pu-pu-pi-doo, Mitchy♪
    Pu-pu-pi-doo, Sacchii♫ (riffing on the goofy self-naming lyric from Oikawa's own hit song — "Mitchy" is his longtime nickname)
    11AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:10
    Thought the original partner coming back meant the show was finally ending,
    but turns out we're just starting lap two of partners.
    Dark Kaito's comeback (the fans' nickname for Narimiya's character, a nod to "Dark Knight") can't be far behind now.
    12AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:10
    Things are getting wild.
    Wait, Mizutani Yutaka is 74?
    16AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:12
    Just pair him up with his son-in-law Miyama
    17AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:12
    It's painful watching all these old guys, just end it already 😗
    51AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:18
    Re: #17
    Guess it's just depicting the reality of an aging society
    18AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:12
    Guess bringing him back just didn't click after all, huh
    61AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:19
    Re: #18
    He's been back for four years though, right? Can't really call that a bad fit
    19AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:12
    Once Mizutani Yutaka retires it'll be Terawaki & Oikawa, or Terawaki & Sorimachi, or Oikawa & Sorimachi —
    this is probably just a test run for pairings in a spin-off
    22AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:13
    This franchise has basically become impossible to end at this point
    23AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:14
    Thought he came back just to wrap things up,
    but nah, Sorimachi's return is definitely on the table now
    25AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:14
    Not that it matters, but isn't it about time for retirement at this point
    Even Oikawa's already well past the age Ishihara Yujiro died at (the legendary actor icon who died at 52)
    26AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:14
    Just bring in his daughter already and hand the lead role over
    28AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:14
    How old is Ukyo even supposed to be?
    Wouldn't the Kameyama-Kanbe combo be fine on its own?
    46AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:17
    Even if they could bring Kaito back, figuring out what role to give him would be tricky.
    About the only way to get him involved in cases would be as a private detective.
    72AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:21
    Re: #46
    Well, given how he exited…
    If he does come back, it'd probably be as a criminal helping analyze cases from the inside —
    like a Hannibal Lecter type.
    79AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:22
    Re: #46
    There's already Sugimoto Tetta's character, who went from criminal all the way up to Deputy Superintendent-General
    47AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:17
    It'd only be interesting if Kanbe comes back as Sugishita's boss.
    Since it falls under the jurisdiction of a former National Police Agency deputy chief, it wouldn't be strange for a commander to get sent down from the NPA.
    Just set it up as the endgame lineup already.
    If they don't wrap this up soon, the show's perpetually mumbling Chief of Detectives is going to die of old age first.
    67AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:20
    Re: #47
    He's a career police bureaucrat, so after 15 years he'd automatically have climbed way up the ranks — having him show up as just a regular field partner doesn't really hold up anymore
    48AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:17
    I've rewatched the Oikawa Mitsuhiro seasons a bunch of times.
    Given the era, a lot of the stories are heavy, but the writing is genuinely great.
    105AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:26
    Re: #48
    Wish the writers from that era would come back
    124AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:32
    Re: #48
    "Miss Green" is the episode that made me love Kanbe
    55AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:18
    Kameyama's getting transferred this time, right?
    Don't tell me he's quitting again?
    85AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:23
    Re: #55
    If they pull the "he's quitting again" card after all this…
    Maybe a forced transfer, though that seems easy enough to write around either way.
    Or the ultimate move — killing him off in the line of duty — though I doubt it.
    62AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:19
    Enough already.
    Go make a new "Seibu Keisatsu" instead (a classic 1980s Japanese cop action drama).
    78AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:22
    Re: #62
    Nice, I'm in.
    "Taiyo ni Hoero!" would be great too (a legendary 1970s–80s detective series).
    They're rerunning it on Sunday afternoons where I live right now and it's the best.
    The music and the cinematography are way too cool.
    Shame Yujiro's not around anymore though.
    76AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:22
    From Kanbe Takeru to Kai Susumu… Kai's a convicted murderer in the story, and the actor playing him, Narimiya, has his own real-life baggage on top of that — so even if the character got out of prison, this casting's probably off the table
    103AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:26
    Re: #76
    Well, the writers are probably racking their brains over it right now.
    Odds of a comeback are high — as long as he doesn't touch cocaine again, anyway.
    90AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:24
    Wasn't bringing Kameyama back supposed to be about wrapping up Aibou for good?
    I feel like Mizutani said something along those lines too.
    Anyway, quit dragging this out and just do a final season or a movie finale already
    96AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:24
    Re: #90
    He did talk about Kameyama's return being like destiny or something, didn't he…
    121AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:31
    Haven't been able to watch the recent seasons — was there any hinting that Kameyama was about to "graduate"?
    134AnonymousOct 13, 2026 13:34
    Re: #121
    Funny thing, that exact claim popped up in the TV Asahi drama live-thread about a month ago.
    Everyone figured it was fake and ignored it, but…

    Background and Discussion Points

    “Aibou” has aired since 2000, and over the course of this long-running series the role of Sugishita Ukyo’s partner has rotated from Kameyama Kaoru (Terawaki Yasufumi) → Kanbe Takeru (Oikawa Mitsuhiro) → Kanjo Wataru (Narimiya Hiroki) → back to Kameyama Kaoru, making this the fifth changeover. Terawaki served as the original partner through the middle of season 7, then returned in season 21 — putting his combined tenure at 12 seasons. Sorimachi Takashi and Narimiya Hiroki (“Dark Kaito”), both named in the thread, are actors who have also played Sugishita’s partner in the past; since former partners have a track record of returning to the role, there’s a built-in appetite on the boards for speculating about “who’s coming back next.” As for Kanjo, played by Narimiya, the actor stepped away from entertainment work following a 2016 drug incident, which is the backdrop for why speculation about his return keeps resurfacing. Mizutani Yutaka is 74, and the thread showed real fatigue over his age and the show’s sheer longevity — notably, the dominant interest wasn’t the partner swap itself so much as “when is this actually going to end.”

    *This article is composed of excerpts and a summary from the 5ch (Entertainment/Sports Breaking News+) thread “[TV Asahi] Aibou: Fifth “partner” handoff in five years confirmed — mid-season switch from “Kaoru” Terawaki Yasufumi to “Takeru” Oikawa Mitsuhiro [Ailuropoda melanoleuca★] (the giant-panda scientific name used as the news-bot poster’s handle, a common 5ch convention).”