A “loss” immediately after the start of the event… A look back at the “Oda quotes” left by Yuji Oda at the “World Championships in Athletics

The Budapest World Championships in Athletics, broadcast live exclusively on TBS, came to a close on August 27. The Japanese athletes’ medal haul was limited to two bronze medals: Haruka Kitaguchi (25) in the women’s javelin throw and Masatora Kawano (24) in the men’s 35 km steeplechase. However, Sanibrowne Hakeem (24) in the men’s 100 meters became the first Japanese athlete in history to reach the finals two years in a row, finishing in sixth place, and his 11 medals, the most of any Japanese athlete, raised expectations for the Paris Olympics next year and the World Championships in Tokyo the year after next.

However, the station’s broadcasting system has changed drastically from this year’s competition.

Actor Yuji Oda (55) and freelance announcer Miho Nakai (58), who had been the main anchors for 13 consecutive events until last year’s Oregon Games in the U.S., graduated from their positions after the Games. From this year, announcers Ai Eto (37) and Daihiro Ishii (38) served as general hosts. In addition, the main theme song for the “Seiriku” broadcasts, “All my treasures” by Oda, a well-known song for many years, was replaced by “Seikyutai” by singer/songwriter Hoshino Gen (42), a major change.

Oda and Nakai were not able to be there last year because of the COVID-19 crisis. Considering the achievements of the duo of Mr. Oda and Ms. Nakai, who made minor athletics a major event, we should have at least let them work until the Tokyo Games in ’25. However, TBS was trying to cut costs. However, TBS could not resist the trend of cutting costs and appointed two local announcers. Eto, who already reigned as our “absolute ace,” was dispatched to Tokyo despite her busy schedule and played a major role, but there were no other female announcers who were suitable for the job. However, there were no suitable female announcers other than Ms. Eto to fill the role, and the lack of human resources was exposed.

And now, when the “Seiriku” competition began, there were some comments on the Internet.

I think all of them probably felt that there was something missing.

The good thing about Yuji Oda is that non-Japanese were cheering him on and enjoying the competition.

Oda loss” immediately ensued,

I wish he had at least used “All my treasures” in the show.

Some even said, “I wish they would have at least used All my treasures.

It’s not that Mr. Hoshino’s music is bad, but when a phrase is played before going into commercials during the live broadcast, the impact is incomparable to Mr. Oda’s music. Last year, when Sani Brown became the first Japanese to reach the final of the 100 meters, Oda-san, who is quite an athletics expert due to his experience of covering athletes at length, was completely moved by the emotion and cried. This year, however, he was not so emotionally involved with Eto and Ishii. This may be one of the reasons why the viewers have been suffering from “Oda loss.

Speaking of Oda, what left too strong a “mark” on “World Riku” were a number of quips he casually uttered during the event.