Free Announcer Aika Kanda, “Kanda Dai-sensei is in the red!

I’m already in the mood for “Kanda Dai-sensei.

On July 8 this year, my first book of essays, “Where is the Royal Road? was published. It is a compilation of this series of essays, with additions and corrections. When I became a freelance announcer, one of my goals was to get a job as a writer. Writing was something I only had a minimal knowledge of in school, but thanks to everyone involved, I was able to continue writing enough essays to make a book. For this reason, I was very enthusiastic about preparing the book for publication, and I spent a lot of money on it in my own way.

And the other day, the royalties for my first book were transferred from my office. I opened the envelope of the statement I received and was thrilled …… to take out the paper inside, excited …… to unfold it and look at it …… “What!　A deficit!” I thought to myself. What a deficit!

Have you ever been shown a room at an inn where you are traveling and told that “Mr. Fatty was writing in this room before his death”?　From this experience, I have learned that great writers used to stay in “nice hotels” to work on their writings. Every time I saw this, I thought to myself, “Why bother staying there, I can do it at home! ), but I also thought it was kind of cool. So when my book was published and I was given a deadline, my first thought was, “Okay!　I’ve got to get a nice place to stay! I thought.

Now, where should I stay? It would be hard to feel at home in a new place for the first time. Besides, I need a big window to look at the scenery outside and distract myself. If I wanted, a balcony would be even better to catch the breeze. Moreover, since Fuji Television’s “Poka Poka” is broadcast live on weekdays, a location where I can go quickly on weekends would be ideal. After taking these factors into consideration, I came up with …… “Palace Hotel Tokyo! The Palace Hotel Tokyo is located in Marunouchi.

The Palace Hotel Tokyo is located in Marunouchi, about 20 minutes by car from Odaiba, where Fuji TV is located. Moreover, the view from the balcony room was similar to that of Central Park in New York City. COVID-19 crisis that we could not easily travel abroad, my husband and I, who love New York, had stayed there several times to refresh ourselves.

However, it is a very upscale hotel. If you’re holed up from Friday afternoon until Monday morning of the week, that’s three nights. Three nights at the Palace Hotel for one person is not really in our size. (It’s my first book, right? (It’s my first book, right? (It’s my first book, I’ll get royalties later, it’s a necessary expense!) ) So I made a reservation.

Three days in a luxury hotel kept me in a positive frame of mind throughout, and I made more progress than I had imagined. The sheets on the big, white beds were always pithy!　Amenities were always fully stocked!　Once you step out onto the balcony, you are in New York City!　I felt like “Dr. Kanda.

I’ll get royalties, right?”

O-sensei enjoyed a high-class beauty treatment in the hotel to rest his brain on the way. He walks in the pool once a day in the swimsuit he brought just in case. Since he is staying at the hotel to stay cooped up, meals are naturally served in the room. At night, I had a glass-enclosed bathroom and drank in the evening.

But when I checked out, I was surprised at the amount of money. (Even …… gets royalties!). ), I paid the bill.

Then, I completed the first book in my life!　I was really moved when I saw my book on the shelves of a bookstore that I often pass by. （I almost cried when I realized that I had really published a book. I also wanted to give them directly to those who had helped me, so I purchased 150 books at my own expense. At that time, too, I looked at the price and thought, “Ugh… ……,” but then I changed my mind. I changed my mind.

So my personal expenses related to the publication of the essay book ballooned, and as a result of expecting too much in royalties, the actual amount received did not come close to the amount of expenses, leaving me in the red.

It was all my fault. I was holed up in a luxury hotel, I didn’t need an esthetic treatment, and even a cup of ramen was enough for dinner. Even though I have no track record as a writer, I imitated the great teachers of the past and felt like Kanda Dai-sensei …….

If I am fortunate enough to get a second book published, I will work on it at home on my dining room table, on a piece of cardboard I picked up somewhere so that the rattling of the wood grain won’t affect my writing. I’ll do my best!

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 22/29, 2024 issue of FRIDAY