16.11.27 グッと！スポーツ Gutto-Sports Update – Aiba Masaki [English translation]

11／27 Updated! Today is about Master being MC alone in the episode "Hiroshima・Pitcher Kuroda".

Yesterday we talked about the first-time location filming, today, we shall talk about Master having his first-time one-on-one interview.
Supporter who has been with him was not there.
As the guest was Pitcher Kuroda, the production team wanted to have the interview to be done carefully and thoroughly, with this Master wanted to ask all [he could].

Master was filled with high motivation too!
The topic was baseball which he liked so much, what's more the guest was the legend, he had a high tension.
I have talked about this day ago, Master started the interview with the childhood [of Pitcher Kuroda]…
Smoothly and firmly, he deepened the conversation.
Thus far, it was the supporter who backed up the conversation, then [Master] deepened the conversation,
Master who did it all by himself this time. He shined more than used to be.
He facial expression was more vivid than used to be.
With such a style different from what used to be, after the filming Master also
"I enjoyed it so much~~. To do the interview in such careful way is good~"

For the interview, Master did not ask questions randomly without consideration.
There was an image of the program envisioned by the production team.
[Master] had it in his mind, proceeded the program with such program image but also probed for new discoveries.
If we did everything as expected it would be boring. Because that was something planned.
[Master] was required to add in new discoveries while at the same time the yield rate of the program should be calculated.

This. Really difficult.
I have also interviewed popular [sports] players many times,
Listening to the guest’s answer, my mind had to work fully to think about what to ask next.
We should ask question one-by-one based on the guest’s response, and ask different questions.
There is also time limitation, where [of the conversation] to probe is a question.

This time, Master proceeded the interview with a tactic "private topic = topic about family",
and further deepened the conversation.
Was that bit of spice to the program?
We got a glimpse of the "natural" side of Pitcher Kuroda.
I think when Master asked questions with his smile, his mind must have been turning fully.
But! He was so "professional" that he did not let us feel that.

I hope there would be further opportunity that Master has one-on-one serious contest against the athlete!
I wait for the comments from all of you~~!
There will not be broadcast next week, the next episode will be on 6 December!
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Gutto Sports / NHK
Weekly Tuesday 22:25 JPT
Re-broadcast Weekly Tuesday 0:55 JPT
http://www4.nhk.or.jp/g-sport/

16.11.19 TVStation Best Artist Interview – Sakurai Sho [English Translation]

It is the 8th year for me to perform as the Main MC for "Best Artist". When this program is broadcast there is a feeling that the year-end finally comes. The most impressive memory thus far is that, when I performed the Main MC for the first time in 2009, when Kuwata Keisuke-san appeared on stage. I was thinking if I managed to introduce Kuwata-san's songs. At that time, Kuwata-san mentioned about "NEWS ZERO" (NTV) and I was very happy, this was a very impressive memory.

We start the work meeting of Arashi's performance this time. This year, we would like to sing songs that have not been performed on NTV. And then, 57 Johnny's artists from 10 groups will gather, I have to say that this is a high point too (giggle). Various senpais and kouhais meet, we also look forward the time apart from official filming. We Arashi should be in the very middle of the generations, but there have been increasing kouhais when we are not aware of (giggle). As well, during Johnny's Countdown every year, we all gather, from rehearsal we were clamouring and joyful. We greet each other with "Long time no see~" and such atmosphere is interesting.

There are more music programs at the year-end, I think many families watch them together too. I also have memory of watching [music programs] with my family. But there is no kotatsu [foot warmer] in my family, I didn't have memory of… everyone being in the foot warmer (giggle). From the perspective of performer, the year-end music program to me is "festival". Wearing down (jacket) and going to Makuhari at where the venue of "Best Artist" is located, meeting other artists gives me a concrete feeling that "this year is going to end". The song of Arashi which gives a year-end feeling would be "WISH". There is snow and winter in the image of year-end. There was opportunity to sing "WISH" in Christmas SP, it is a song which is easy to sing in winter.

I think the characteristic of "Best Artist" is that splendid artists appear and perform gradually with a good tempo. Though perhaps many watch this program in order to watch their favourite artists, please also enjoy the performance of other artists. I think live broadcast is one charming point of TV program, artists also seem to have fun by the feeling of "live" during the program, I hope we would make a gorgeous music program.

So from now on, my year-end starts. I am getting busy, there is Arashi's tour, I can eat tasty food in various places (giggle). Encouraged by this I shall work hard!