Mitsuho Fukudome Boat Racing Enthusiast Sets Her Goal for the Year

The skilled producer, Nobuyuki Sakuma, was impressed by the Oogiri talent

“I realized that the betting amount for boat races increased by one digit, and I felt that it was selling well.”

 

Fukudome Mitsuho (21), who was a member of AKB48 until July 2022 for about three years, gained significant attention in March 2024 when she appeared on Nobuyuki Sakuma’s YouTube channel “Sakuma Nobuyuki’s NOBROCK TV.”

When Sakuma jokingly asked her to suggest a title like “Drain All the Water from the Pond,” she quickly responded with “Try Cleaning Grandpa’s Belly Button,” which garnered big laughs. Sakuma, impressed by her wit, praised her on his show “All Night Nippon,” calling her a remarkable talent. This led to an increase in her appearances on variety shows like “Odoru! Sanma Goten‼” (Nippon TV), where she rose to fame as “Reiwa’s Oogiri Queen.”

However, when the topic of her Oogiri (Japanese wordplay) talent came up, her usual cheerful smile faded, and she began speaking in a quiet voice.

“Honestly, Oogiri is tough. I still don’t think my answers are funny, so I don’t understand why everyone lifts me up like that (laughs). Every time I do it, the bar gets higher, and the pressure is insane.

Actually, after this interview, I have a ‘NOBROCK’ recording, and I have to do this crazy project where I improvise fake gossip about people whose names were mentioned. Sakuma-san made me famous, so I have to give back. If other shows are at 100%, ‘NOBROCK’ needs to be at 150%, and I’m starting to feel like I’m losing my mind.”

She modestly downplays it, but she continues to leave her mark on various popular variety shows.

“On ‘Odoru! Sanma Goten‼,’ when senior Yuki Kashiwagi (33) tried to talk about songs of the Reiwa era, I made a comment like ‘Maybe we have a generational gap’ or ‘Are you one of the young people?’ in a YouTube-like tone, and people on the internet criticized me, calling me ‘Who is this ugly girl?’ and ‘How rude’ (laughs). After that, I’ve become more mindful of my words and actions to avoid upsetting people who are watching.”

When Fukudome was feeling down, her great benefactor was there to help.

“On ‘NOBROCK,’ when I got into trouble, Sakuma-san used it as material, and he also gave me advice like, ‘You can make fun of others, but make sure to end it with self-deprecating humor.’ I’m really grateful for everything he says.”

 

Fukudome’s fame was further amplified by her unparalleled love for boat racing. Born into a family where her grandfather and father were both fans of boat racing, she regularly visited boat race tracks from a young age. She’s a hardcore fan, even keeping a ticket for her favorite racer, Makoto Busijima (40), as a good luck charm in her phone case.

“Though I don’t get to go to the race tracks much anymore because of my busy schedule, I make up for it by betting online. The only day I absolutely must see the race live is the day of the Grand Prize Championship at the end of the year, so I asked my manager to reschedule my work for that day. Despite loving boat racing this much, I’m never loved back by it, and I always lose. How much have I lost so far? I could probably buy the most expensive TV from an electronics store with all that money (laughs).”

In the October 11, 2024 issue of FRIDAY, Fukudome was featured as a new top variety idol candidate, and the magazine offered her words of encouragement, stating, “The only concern is romantic entanglements.” When she saw the article, she responded:

“I saw it! I thought, ‘That’s really scary!’ to see my name in FRIDAY (laughs). They seem worried about my romantic life with a racer, but honestly, there’s absolutely no chance of that happening, so please don’t worry. Because if I married a racer, I wouldn’t be able to buy boat tickets anymore (laughs). My fans are like my lovers. People who love you unconditionally, no matter what, are really rare, so fans are an important presence in my life.

As for my ideal type? Someone who doesn’t call gambling wasteful money. If they do, even if they’re super handsome, I’ll have to pass. Before, I went to Disneyland with Yuta Maeda (32) from ‘Timondy’ after a show, and then we went to a pachinko parlor. It was really fun. Maeda and I don’t have a romantic relationship (laughs), but if I get a boyfriend, I’d like to go on a pachinko date with him.”

I hope this happiness lasts forever

When asked about her future goals, she thought for a moment before answering.

“I graduated from AKB without being noticed at all, and was living as a NEET at my parents’ house. Thanks to Mr. Sakuma, I’ve been able to start getting work and have my name remembered. It’s nothing short of a miracle. I want this happiness to last forever, so my goal is to maintain the current situation. I would love to try acting, which I admire, but I’m afraid of spreading myself too thin and being half-hearted, so for now, I want to focus all my energy on the work I’m given.”

On January 15th, after this interview, Fukudome announced that she would be taking a break from activities due to health issues. Her fans are eagerly awaiting the day they can see her energetic self again.

From the January 24/31, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”