Anchors Kuniyama Hasen and Ueshige Satoshi Struggles and Clear Contrast

The reality after transitioning to freelance

The most popular position at a TV station is undoubtedly that of announcer. Popular announcers are as well known as celebrities, and their income increases dramatically when they go freelance.

In fact, former TBS announcer Kuniyama Hasen (34) boasts that his income has doubled.

“Hassen aspired to join the television industry because it was everything he was interested in and wanted to do. He was entrusted with prominent programs like Akko ni Omakase! and news23, and was actively working at the forefront. However, in 2022, he left TBS. He did not want to remain confined to the structure of the TBS organization, but the reality he is facing now is a far cry from his expectations.

He has appeared as a commentator on ‘Wide na Show’ (Fuji TV) and as a guest on variety shows, but he has only managed to carve out a position as a replaceable guest. Was this really what he wanted to do? It’s a harsh way to put it, but his self-image and the image others have of him are likely to diverge more and more, and it may become increasingly difficult moving forward.” (TBS employee)

In an interview with a magazine, he said, “I can’t see what will happen 10 years from now, but it is because I can’t see it that I am so excited, and I think that is why I was able to make the decision (to leave the company) because I am attracted to it,” and he was very bullish to no end.

On the other hand, Satoshi Ueshige (44), who left Nippon Television at the end of March last year, immediately followed up with the famous words: “May was almost like Golden Week” and “This was the first time I thought Golden Week was this long.”

“As the ace of PL, he faced off against Daisuke Matsuzaka (44) at Koshien and achieved a perfect game during his time at Rikkyo University. His career was smooth sailing until reports of interest-free loans for purchasing a condominium and free car loans from the founder of ABC Mart. It’s such a waste. Sponsors prioritize the talent’s image. It should have been predictable that quitting would lead to every day being Sunday.”

While the private broadcasters’ programming staff are harsh, a key station producer sympathizes, saying, “Even if he had stayed at Nippon TV, he wouldn’t have had a chance to occupy the positions held by Shinichi Hatori (53) or Takahiko Fujii (53). He likely made the decision to leave after considering his future as an announcer.”

“Uejima set his position lower and is trying to work his way up from what he can do. He might have concerns about the future, but if he’s happy, leaving Nippon TV was probably the right choice.”

Yuta Tomikawa (48) was once promoted to the main anchor of Hodo Station, but seeing how he was treated by TV Asahi afterward, it’s believed that he switched to Toyota. “He also left an organization when he saw no future. While his public recognition has decreased and viewers may forget him, he secured a stable position with a fixed salary at Toyota Times, an owned media outlet. Still, seeing the low viewership numbers of Toyota Times, it feels like they aren’t getting results compared to their advertising costs. I wonder if Toyota is okay.”

In contrast, there’s Minoru Aoi (44), who left NHK almost at the same time.

“Aoi, despite his seemingly rigid appearance, was known for his flashy behavior, having been spotted at clubs in Shibuya. He was entrusted with News Watch 9 and was expected to have a promising future, but as the heir to the Marui Group, he’s financially secure.

He probably wanted to do more exciting work, which led him to leave. Now, he’s doing the evening news for Fuji, where his annual income is probably close to a million yen. He has solid support from those around him. Among male announcers who transitioned to freelance recently, he is one of the successful examples, alongside his senior Shinichi Takeda (57).”