Why Yuji Oda Is Missing from the New Odoru Daisousasen Despite His Return for the World Athletics Championships

Oda Returns to “World Championships in Athletics” to Cope with “Oda Loss”!

Actor Yuji Oda (56) has been announced as the ambassador for the World Athletics Championships, which will be held at the National Stadium in Tokyo next September.

Oda has served as a caster for 13 consecutive tournaments since the 1997 World Championships in Athens, Greece, amassing an impressive 25 years in the role. His song “All My Treasures” has been used as the theme song since 2007 and has become well-established.

After stepping away from his role as a caster following the 2022 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, he is making his return just three years later.

“Oda-san has left numerous memorable quotes during the World Championships, such as ‘I’m glad to be born on this planet!’ and has had a strong presence. His departure from the 2022 event was reportedly due to cost-cutting measures. However, the 2023 Championships held in Budapest without Oda garnered little attention, and the media mainly reported on the viewers’ ‘Oda loss.’ With next year’s event being in Tokyo, it seems TBS decided to bring Oda back to ensure a lively atmosphere,” said a broadcasting official.

However, while he will return to the World Athletics Championships, he was unable to reprise his role in his representative work, that particular production.