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.

I’m glad I was born on Earth!

I’m so glad I was born on Earth! If you didn’t see it today, you’re an idiot! I said too much!

“In Berlin, the record wall has already collapsed!”

What are you doing~tame! （What are you doing?

“The incident is happening in Paris!”

“It’s hard to believe that he came in eighth, fifth, sixth…

“Marathon gate cannot be sealed. ！！！！！！”

These are just a few of the many words that fans of “Seiriku” are familiar with, but they are nothing more than “Oda-speak.

But they are no longer just “Oda-speak. At the opening ceremony of the 2007 Osaka Games, he sang “All my treasures” after the world diva Sarah Brightman. At the Daegu Games in Korea in 2011, Koji Murofushi in the men’s hammer throw, whom he had supported for many years, won the gold medal, which he had long wished for in the world land. At that time, Mr. Oda simply exclaimed with tears in his eyes, “Murofushi~~~YATTER~! he exclaimed with tears in his eyes. He jumped out of the broadcast booth and was overjoyed. Many viewers were also moved.

The Japanese athletics federation was so upset by Oda’s exuberance that it made an unusual request to TBS, saying, “We would like you to focus more on the competition.

But even so, the bond between the staff and Mr. Oda was strong. We didn’t want to let Mr. Oda off the board, so we made every effort not to cut in on him during the competition, but that didn’t stop the Athletics Federation from making bitter complaints at every competition. Oda’s sharp remarks gradually decreased.

At last year’s event, where Oda and Nakai celebrated their final moments together, American Sydney McLaughlin won the gold medal in the women’s 400-meter hurdles final with a new world record. Excited by the accomplishment, Oda commented, “There’s nothing more to do. She added that since McLaughlin was newly married, “I’m married, newly married. I’m sure she’s going to have a baby soon already,” she said excitedly. Nakai, as usual, chided him, but he was all smiles, saying, “I can’t stop imagining! I can’t stop imagining!

Of course, this was completely out of line, but Oda’s ability to convey the heat of the scene in his own unique style is sure to have many viewers eagerly awaiting his comeback on “Seiriku.