Akiko Wada Celebrates “Akko ni Omakase!” Turnaround with New Announcer Junna Yamagata

Why did TBS appoint Ms. Yamagata?

“Announcer Yamagata is famous as one of TBS’s top beauties, having been a finalist in the Miss International World competition and also crowned Miss of Miss in the Miss Campus contest. She also has a very strong reputation as a news announcer. However, TBS has been using announcers from other networks, such as Ayaka Ogawa (39) and Takako Zenba (49), as main anchors for news programs, so Yamagata’s opportunities have been limited.

In the past year, she appeared as part of the ‘journalist’ team when covering political and economic topics on ‘Sunjapo,’ and now she’s been promoted to ‘Akko ni Omakase!’ Her analysis and responses to Akko’s comments have been very confident, and inside the station, there’s talk that ‘TBS hired Yamagata to keep the show going.’” (TV show writer)

There are also urgent reasons for TBS not wanting to end ‘Akko ni Omakase!’

“It’s related to the ongoing issues with Masahiro Nakai (52). If things continue this way, programs like ‘Nakai Masahiro’s Friday Smile’ and ‘THE MC3’ are in danger of being canceled. In other words, ending ‘Akko ni Omakase!’ or moving it to BS is no longer an option. Akko was down when she had to apologize for the walrus remark, but once she knew the show would continue for its 40th anniversary, she was overjoyed. Now, she’s renewed her motivation.” (Information program producer)

As a singer, Akko’s collaboration with the Red-and-White Song Contest group “Da-iCE” was announced, and she’s working hard in her primary profession. The “Akko ni Omakase!” call will likely be heard for a long time to come.