Episode 83: news okaeri
June 3, 2026
Since April of this year, I’ve been appearing as a bi-weekly Friday regular on ABC TV’s evening news program, "news okaeri." I’m in the studio as a panelist for about three hours, from 3:50 PM to 7:00 PM.
Every single day, something happens in the world. I keep my brain running at full throttle to prepare so that I can instantly come up with comments tailored to whatever topics arise. I really should be reading the newspapers and watching the news on a regular basis... but it’s easier said than done. Quite a challenge. Karim Flam (as the saying goes).
In the past, I’ve done on-location shoots for CBC’s Chanto! in Nagoya, but giving my own opinions live on a news show is a completely brand-new experience for me. As a business manager, a father of two, and a former pro-wrestler—what should I say from these perspectives? What is the right thing to say? I have to think it through carefully before I speak. Yeah, because the feedback on the internet can be pretty harsh (sweat).
However, contrary to my fears, an article on Yahoo! highly praised me, mentioning things like my "easy-to-understand explanations tied to his main profession (pro-wrestling)" and my "warm, approachable character." Reading that made me grin from ear to ear.
In the first place, the catalyst for landing this regular gig happened exactly around this time last year in 2025. I appeared on news okaeri to promote our upcoming Osaka-jo Hall event. Before my segment, I ended up having a great, lively chat about working out with the main anchor, Yokoyama-san. Apparently, the staff thought highly of that interaction♪ So, wait... was it just pure luck?! (laughs).
No, no. It really proves how vital it is to communicate with your fellow performers before a show, including giving a proper greeting. It’s always important to tackle everything with full effort.
I’ll keep doing my absolute best so that I can bring a sense of comfort and security to the living rooms of the Kansai region in the evening. That being said...
I can’t deny that my enunciation remains highly unstable, though! (laughs).