Free Announcer Aika Kanda, “The Olympics Gave Me Time with Mistill

The man of my dreams is 20 meters away: ……

As soon as I walked in, a few techs looked at me with a “hmm?” but I returned with a smile and a “Thanks for your hard work,” and we were clear. Next, a director I knew came up to me and said, “You’re rehearsing! I said, “Oh Kanda! Oh yeah, making radio comments, right? You can see it from over there.

I replied coolly, “Yes, sir,” while in my mind I thought to myself, “Yes!　I got permission!) I exclaimed. All was now clear. I went to the place where they told me to go. And finally, …… was there. He was standing on a white platform about 20 meters away from me. I couldn’t tell if he was backlit by the strong lighting from behind or if his aura was too bright to be backlit. But the line of his pitch-black shoulders was definitely Kazutoshi Sakurai. Rehearsal began. What did I look like? Was I breathing properly? It felt like twice as long as it actually was, but I had no memory of it. Between the shifting lights, I could see his face clearly, and tears welled up in my eyes. （I was glad to be alive. I was glad that I had worked so hard. I am grateful to my parents and to NHK (……). I felt a deep sense of gratitude in many directions, and I felt like my life had been closed out.

Thanks to this event, I now know that the Olympic Games can move us in places and forms we never imagined, not only through the competitions, but even after they are over. I want to enjoy the Paris Olympics as well, although there will be days when I have a hard time sleeping. And when my dream of becoming a news anchor comes true, I want to convey the excitement in my own words.

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 16, 2024 issue of FRIDAY