Freelance Announcer Ai Kanda Talks Variety Talents and Their Green Room Meals

How a rising star becomes a regular

Here’s how it goes: Every year, a new rising star appears. They’re fresh and intriguing, and are invited to appear on numerous variety shows all at once. However, about 80% of them make some sort of mistake along the way and disappear within two years. The remaining 20% continue to fight for their spot. But their competitors are the regular talents who have been indispensable on variety shows for years. These individuals are incredibly quick-witted, versatile, and talented. Competing against such people to secure a spot is a difficult task, and five years later, only about 1% of them remain. The few who remain continue on for another five years, roughly a decade in total, before finally becoming part of the regular talents. Then, the competition with the established regular talents begins for the title of the true regular. This is the structure I perceive in the world of variety talents.

The same can be said about backstage meals. The regular backstage meals, like those from Asakusa Imahan, Toriku, Kiyoken, and Tsutaya, continued to be served to us, unnoticed, while the popular tempura rice bowls were in high demand. After the tempura rice bowl meals, which had been overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle, disappeared, the regular meals continued to exist as if nothing had happened. And in the end, we kept saying, “These regular meals are great, they never disappoint!” and enjoyed them over and over again.

While I feel concerned about the severity of the bento industry, I also can’t help but wonder, “Which bento do I resemble now?” I can no longer enjoy the daily backstage meals in the same straightforward way.

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 appears regularly as the main MC of the daytime TV program “Poka Poka” (Fuji Television Network).

 ★This series has been compiled into the author’s first book, Where Does the Path of the Royal Road Lead?, which is currently receiving great reviews and is available for purchase!

 

From “FRIDAY” February 21/28, 2025 issue