Freelance Announcer Aika Kanda Struggles with Making Friends as an Adult

I’m sick of relationships that are only superficial.

I thought we were friends who had shared hardships and joys. Why did he bother to tell me something depressing? From this moment on, I felt that the good time I had with that colleague was a trivial time, and I strongly thought, “I will not waste any more time of my life! I strongly felt that I would not waste any more time in my life.

Then I went freelance (a chance to change!). I was excited. I made an effort to go out to dinner with a TV personality I wanted to talk to. But to my surprise, when we were alone together, I was completely changed from the image I had before. There were more people talking bad about others than I had expected. Some of them smiled and said, “We are friends and sometimes play together,” when they were talking about the person who had bad-mouthed them so much when we were alone. I was tired of seeing such different definitions of friends ……. Making friends is supposed to be positive and fun, so why do I have to feel sad all over again? (I hate it!!!) And now.

All of these events are from my point of view, and from the other person’s point of view, they may have been caused by me. I can be objective in my head, but the hurt that is deeply engraved in my heart still prevails.

At this rate, how many more friends will I have in the rest of my life? Based on the average life expectancy, I will be single for 13 years after my husband, who is eight years older than me, passes away. Since I have no children, the only people I can count on are my friends. Then it is better to have as many as possible. Should I make friends for my old age, knowing that I will get hurt again?　Should I prioritize my mental health now over my old age?　I wish I could give my mother, who is a good friend of mine, a medicine for immortality. I would like to introduce the only precious friend I have made to you someday.

His first book, “Where is the Royal Road? is now on sale!

Aika Kanda was born in 1980 in Kanagawa Prefecture. After graduating from Gakushuin University with a degree in mathematics, she joined NHK as an announcer in 2003, and left in 2012 to become a freelance announcer. Since then, she has been active mainly in variety shows, and currently makes regular appearances as the main MC of the daytime TV program “Poka Poka” (Fuji Television Network).

From the August 9, 2024 issue of FRIDAY