The Hidden Truth Behind Waruiko Atsumare’s Cancellation

Did it fail to attract yyounger viewers!?

On February 12, NHK announced its new programming lineup for the upcoming fiscal year, revealing that the educational variety show Waruiko Atsumare, featuring members of Atarashii Chizu—Goro Inagaki (51), Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (50), and Shingo Katori (48)—would be ending its broadcast.

In its place, NHK will launch a new program tentatively titled NHK de Yaranasasou na Are, starring talent Yasuko (26). The show will focus on topics and concepts that interest young audiences, aiming to be a fresh, youth-oriented variety program that encourages Generation Z to engage more with NHK.

“Waruiko” originally aired as a special program in 2021 before becoming a regular series in April 2022. With a concept of being an educational variety show that both children and adults can enjoy, it featured innovative segments like Children’s Press Conference, where kids took on the role of reporters and asked guests direct questions. The show gained attention when it first launched.

However, in April last year, its broadcast slot shifted from Saturday mornings at 10 AM on E-Tele to Tuesday nights at 11 PM on NHK General. This change placed it in direct competition with programs like news zero (NTV), news23 (TBS), and London Hearts (TV Asahi), causing its average household viewership rating to drop to the low 2% range. Ultimately, the show failed to attract younger audiences.

Following SMAP’s disbandment at the end of 2016, the three members left the former Johnny’s agency in September 2017, which led to the gradual cancellation of their terrestrial TV programs.

Is the show’s cancellation because of Nakai?

“At that time, it was an unspoken rule that former Johnny’s members could not appear on terrestrial television. The first platform that the three independent members collaborated with was ABEMA, an internet TV station that did not feature any Johnny’s talents at the time and had no need to cater to the agency.

In July 2019, NHK broke the news that the Japan Fair Trade Commission had issued a warning to Johnny’s for allegedly pressuring broadcasters not to use the three former members. Even after this warning, commercial TV stations were slow to hire them, making Waruiko Atsumare their first nationwide terrestrial TV program together.” (Entertainment journalist)

Following the FTC warning, NHK cast Inagaki in the 2019 morning drama Scarlet, the 2021 drama Kirei no Kuni, and the 2024 drama Tsubame wa Modotte Konai. Kusanagi starred in the 2021 taiga drama Seiten wo Tsuke and the 2023 morning drama Boogie Woogie, while Katori led the 2021 special drama London no Yamamoto Isoroku.

Along with the regularization of Waruiko, NHK’s favoring of the three compared to commercial broadcasters was evident. However, some are pointing out NHK’s about-face in canceling Waruiko right after former SMAP member Masahiro Nakai announced his retirement in January due to a personal scandal.

“Some believe NHK heavily featured the three members of Atarashii Chizu with an eye on an SMAP reunion. It’s undeniable that the show’s abrupt cancellation was, to some extent, collateral damage from Nakai’s situation.

However, Atarashii Chizu has established a business model that doesn’t rely on terrestrial TV, and they continue to receive steady CM offers. They are no longer excluded from commercial networks, with Katori currently starring in the Fuji TV drama Japan’s Worst Man: My Family Was Fake. In a way, Waruiko, which initially paved their way back to terrestrial TV, has fulfilled its role.” (Broadcast journalist)

With the three becoming busier, scheduling the show must have also become challenging. In that sense, Waruiko’s end might be considered a progressive conclusion.

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