Special Talk Part 2: Aika Kanda and Kayoko Okubo on “Should Okubo Get Married?

Shofukutei Tsurube and Yuko Ando

Kanda You mentioned earlier that you are “anxious” about your future life.

Okubo Nowadays, people in their 60s are still young. You have to be doing something (laughs). (laughs) If I wanted, if I didn’t have a partner and was still needed in this world, I would go on TV in a daze and ask my colleagues or the guys I am doing variety shows with now who are a little younger than me, “Shut up you old hag! I’d like to be the kind of person who gets teased by my colleagues, or by the guys who are a little younger than me and are currently doing variety shows with me.

Kanda You are like Shofukutei Tsurube (73).

Okubo Maybe I am close to him. I would like to avoid being a pain in the ass, or like a tumor that cannot be touched, if possible.

Kanda Mr. Okubo in his 60s sounds interesting. I think it would be a really luxurious life if I could maintain the status quo.

In terms of work, I long to be like Yuko Ando (66), who is trusted by both the viewers and the people on the ground to properly convey the news in a band program. Eventually, I would like to become the one and only hostess like Tetsuko Kuroyanagi (91), who is also a senior NHK staff member. Tetsuko was a bit of a strange girl around her, and she had a difficult time during her time at NHK. I am being cheeky, but there was a link with myself.

Also, if possible, I would like to travel more and more while I am still healthy. I would like to see more of the world that I haven’t seen yet. I hope I can balance work and private life in a good balance.

Okubo That’s true. I am very anxious about my old age, but everyone is equal there, so I have to try not to think about it as much as possible.

Kanda Even if you have a partner, your partner might get sick. Let’s not dwell on it and enjoy the time we can enjoy now.

Aika Kanda
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1980. She joined NHK as an announcer in 2003 and retired in 2012. Since then, she has been active mainly in information programs and variety shows, and currently appears regularly on “Poka Poka” (Fuji TV).

Kayoko Okubo
Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1971. In 1992, she formed the comedy duo “Oashizu” with Yasuko Mitsuura. Currently appears regularly on “Gogosuma ~GO GO! (Fuji) and many other regular appearances.

His first book, ” Where do you go on the road called Royal Road? (TBS), “Nonstop!

From “FRIDAY” April 4 and 11, 2025