Freelance Announcer Aika Kanda and Her Husband Head to Solo Live Show

In early August, there was a solo live show by Banana Man. No matter how busy they are, they hold it every year, and it seems to be around the 30th time. I learned about it after dating my husband, and since then, I have never missed watching it.

One summer before we got married, despite having a big fight, my husband contacted me saying, “Please come to the live show,” and I found him cute and decided to go. There, my husband, dressed only in black sunglasses and a black T-back, performed a dance. The combination of his body shape and movements beyond imagination was incredibly entertaining, and I laughed so hard I cried. For the first time in my life, I saw a human as divine. I thought, “Someone needs to protect this talent,” and realized, “Maybe that’s my responsibility.” Yes, this Banana Man live show greatly changed my life.

With such an experience, the solo live shows are also important to me. During the about one-month rehearsal and performance period, I focus on ensuring that my husband can concentrate on the live show. And in our seventh year of marriage, I finally feel that I was able to support him well.

During the rehearsal period, my husband practices until around 1 a.m. every night before coming home. We, as a couple, usually have a lot of conversations, which we find enjoyable. However, on nights when he comes home after working harder than usual and I’m already asleep, I’d think, “Oh, today was boring again.” To make sure he feels that he had a good time before going to bed, I decided to greet him with a smile no matter the time. Then we chat about the day’s events until he tells me, “Why don’t you go to bed first?” and I go to sleep. This usually happens after 2 a.m. I was sleep-deprived for a month, but I managed to hold on.

Then there’s dinner. Although he eats at the rehearsal site, he snacks on sweets during his home practice, which would make him gain weight. So, I boiled edamame and corn every night for a late-night snack. During the four days of the actual performance, seeking mental stability, we must eat at home. Since he’s so nervous in the morning that he can’t eat, the home dinner becomes the only meal of the day. For my husband, who loves eating more than anything, this one meal is highly anticipated. To ensure he is 120% satisfied, I made slightly elaborate dishes like chicken tomato stew and hamburgers, which I don’t usually cook.

The most important thing, alongside all this, is that I maintain a calm mental state. In fact, this is the hardest part.

Since my husband’s focus is entirely on the live show, the usual chores like taking out the trash and storing laundry stop abruptly. Sometimes even basic tasks like locking up or turning off the lights can be forgotten. Once, he left the stove on and the pot burnt. Luckily, the fire automatically turned off, but the thought of what could have happened was terrifying.

 

If the house is safe, that’s enough.

In the past, I used to get annoyed with these issues and would scold my husband each time. However, nothing changed. On the contrary, when my mood soured, it would spread, leading to some tense years.

So this year, I completely gave up. I decided to handle everything myself and accept whatever happened after I left the house. It took courage and I was anxious until he came home every day, but by making up my mind, the tension between us eased.

Finally, the first day of the live show arrived. As soon as I saw my husband in the morning, looking like he might throw up from nervousness, I was too scared to watch the first day’s performance. I decided to attend the final performance instead.

Wearing my lucky outfit, pink overalls with a metallic purple CHANEL bag slung across my body, I headed to the final show. Nothing bad has ever happened when I’ve worn this outfit before. True to the superstition, the live show was a huge success with lots of laughter. I was filled with relief deep in my heart and was able to leave the venue.

I know the hardest part was for my husband and the others. I understand that. But the past month was also very challenging for me. I supported him desperately, got truly exhausted, and took pride in fulfilling my role as a wife when he needed help the most. Looking up and thinking, “I did a great job,” I saw the “ROPPONGI” sign on the elevated road. (That’s right! We’re in Roppongi. Let’s buy a reward!) I indulged in a shopping spree at Roppongi Hills, buying a new sweater, blouse, and skirt. A reward for myself. And so, my battle this year came to a close.

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

Aika Kanda / Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1980. After graduating from the Department of Mathematics at Gakushuin University, she joined NHK as an announcer in 2003. She left NHK in 2012 to become a freelance announcer. Since then, she has been active mainly in variety shows and currently appears regularly as the main MC on the daytime show “Pokapoka” (Fuji TV).

From the September 6-13, 2024 issue of “FRIDAY