Free Announcer Aika Kanda, “The length of a meter, which had changed.

This year again, “It’s time to go to the hot springs!”

Finally, the autumn-like temperatures have arrived, and the insects have grown more docile. This makes me want to go glamping or to a hot spring in the mountains right away. As someone who hates insects, the six months between now and early spring are a precious time for me to coexist with the mountains.

Three good friends from junior high and high school who often appear in this series of articles accompany me in this desire every year. As usual, this year, we said, “Let’s go to a hot spring soon! and we planned to stay in a guest room with an open-air bath for one night and two days.

I always take on the role of finding a place to stay. Since I love to travel, it is fun for me to know what kind of accommodations are available. I can also name the inns that I myself would like to stay at.

When I asked them about their requests, they replied, “A place with a nice view from the outdoor hot spring” and “I want to eat delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere. If the inn is reasonably priced, the food is usually good and served in a quiet space like a semi-private room in the dining room. So we decided to respond to the latter request by choosing a slightly more expensive inn than our previous lodging choices.

The problem arose in the process of searching for the former request, an “open-air bath with a view.

A quick look at inns across the country revealed that the view from the inns in Hokkaido was particularly spectacular. （Hokkaido!) ), I sent a group line with suggestions for lodgings near Niseko and Lake Akan.

（I wondered which one would be the best!) ) I was so excited that I immediately received a reply, “Pi-you♪”. Thank you for checking it out! followed by “I appreciate the loose hot springs! I’m so thankful for the loose hot springs!

I decipher from our long relationship that a “loose hot spring” means a hot spring that I can visit casually. In short, I wanted to go to a hot spring closer to home. He said he was too busy with work until the day before and was exhausted on the day of the trip.

（I wondered why he wanted to go to Hokkaido, even though it is so close.) I wondered why he wanted to go to Yugawara, and he replied, “How about Yugawara? How about Yugawara? Yugawara?　That is indeed too close! I couldn’t help but shout. I couldn’t help but shout out. I had to travel a certain distance to feel like I was on a trip. So I replied, “Yugawara is no different from going a few stations away, so I’ll give you a break! I replied.

Then the group LINE stopped. The message was read, but no one replied. It was probably because of the message I had sent. What in the world had I done? I am one of my few precious friends. (I must recognize my mistake and fix it!) ) I desperately tried to think of a reason.

One thing came to mind. During the past five months, I had been on location in Taiwan three times and in Hong Kong twice during the three-day, two-night period from Friday after the live broadcast of “Pokapoka” to Sunday night. I also used that weekend for a private trip to Hawaii once. It is not a hardship for me, but rather a gratifying schedule. However, it has caused a change in my sense of distance.

Self-discipline from blunders

New York and Paris used to be “far away” but now they are “so far away”. I used to think that Hawaii was “somewhat far,” but now I feel that it is “close. So, the nearest place in Japan is …… almost near my home.

Depending on the environment in which each person finds himself or herself, there are differences in the way one perceives things. It is natural and inevitable. However, it is a big mistake to apply the same changes to your friends and force them to do the same. I had made that mistake.

As soon as I grasped this reality, I felt regret and impatience as if to say, “Gosh! I felt a rush of regret and impatience. I hurriedly searched for a place to stay in the Kanto area and sent in a list of potential accommodations.

From then on, the conversation proceeded smoothly. Everyone’s reactions returned to normal, and we decided on an inn in Yugawara, about an hour and a half train ride away.

We have been together for more than 25 years since we were junior high school students. We know each other well and accept each other’s good and bad points. That is why it does not matter if each of us has changed over the years, such as working in the entertainment industry, having a baby, getting divorced, or becoming obsessed with idols. As long as we both remained the same inside, that was all that mattered. But this time, I had forgotten this irreplaceable and important rule and tried to break it. 1m is 1m, nothing more, nothing less. I reminded myself once again not to lose my precious friend.

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 November 15, 2024 issue of FRIDAY