<figure id="attachment_428557" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-428557" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="8c3955e4"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/06/6012d21ce8327ede80b23f6e0f69f443.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-428557" class="wp-caption-text">Illustrations drawn by Kanda-san</figcaption></figure>
<h2> MJ&#8217;s Figure&#8221; and &#8220;Pink Gown&#8221;</h2>
<p> On May 29th, I celebrated my birthday again this year, thankful to my parents for keeping me healthy for 45 years.</p>
<p> It was midnight at the moment of the 29th. I was sound asleep when I heard the sound of an explosion in my ear. （What&#8217;s going on?) When I opened my eyes, I saw my husband&#8217;s face staring at me from a close distance. I shifted my eyes to the side and found my husband&#8217;s hand holding a smartphone near my ear.</p>
<p> And little by little, I started to hear the blaring sound and &#8230;&#8230; finally grasped the situation (I am now being played Frank Sinatra&#8217;s &#8220;New York, New York&#8221; by my husband over the blaring sound).</p>
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<p> I love New York City more than ever, and this is my favorite song of the highest order. My husband was trying his best to make my favorite song the first sound I would hear as I entered a new age. I was delighted and said, &#8220;Thank you. I&#8217;m 29 now.&#8221;</p>
<p> Then my husband said, &#8220;What are you talking about?　You&#8217;re 45.&#8221; I replied, &#8220;&#8230;&#8230; that?　That&#8217;s messed up,&#8221; he replied. Somehow, I thought I was 29 at this point and was surprised that I wasn&#8217;t, and went back to sleep. This was the start of my 45th</p>
<p> Morning. When I arrived backstage at Fuji Television&#8217;s &#8220;Poka Poka,&#8221; the walls were covered with shiny, shiny balloons in the shape of letters and hearts saying &#8220;HAPPY BIRTHDAY″. The program staff had decorated the room since early morning.</p>
<p> I like rooms decorated with balloons, and my room at home is decorated that way all year round. Knowing this, the staff members gave me this surprise last year as well. This year it was even more powerful and impressive. （As I was finishing my makeup with a smile on my face, two members of Haraiichi, the comedian and MC of the event, came to visit me with a gift.</p>
<p> Tasuku Sawabe gave us two figures of Michael before and after he became a zombie, as seen in the music video for Michael Jackson&#8217;s classic song &#8220;Thriller. Yuuki Iwai gave us a pink gown.</p>
<p> At the &#8220;earliest Halloween party in Japan,&#8221; which is held every year in early September at our house, there is time for all participants to dance while watching the Thriller music video. I am sure Ms. Sawabe chose this one from her memory of participating in the party.</p>
<p> Ms. Iwai gave me pink slippers for my birthday last year. I have worn them to work every day for the past year. She must have known that and chose a gown for me this year.</p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" I finally realized it!"></div>
<h2>What is conveyed through the gift</h2>
<p> The program has entered its third year, but I have yet to exchange contact information with Sawabe-san. I have managed to exchange LINEs with Mr. Iwai, but he replies to my occasional LINEs with super-polite honorifics.</p>
<p> I sometimes feel lonely because of this distance between the two of us. But when I look at the gifts they choose for me every year, it seems that they know who I am. I was so happy to see that, that when I came home, I opened the presents again and said to my husband loudly, &#8220;You know, those two guys look like they know me really well! I boasted loudly to my husband.</p>
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<p> I received many gifts from the other co-hosts, including vases, socks, Barbie goods, fruit, and sweets. To my surprise, all of them were right up my alley.</p>
<p> I guess I&#8217;m the type of person who can easily choose a gift because I have very clear likes and dislikes. Still, I had no idea that everyone would remember me so fondly, and I was especially touched this year on my birthday.</p>
<p> That weekend. （I wondered, &#8220;Am I doing the same for you?) I thought. Since the program started in the COVID-19 crisis, we have not been able to hold social gatherings as often as we would like.</p>
<p> I used to think, &#8220;You never know who you&#8217;re dealing with unless you drink with them!&#8221; Maybe I was the only one who thought that. I think everyone else has made an effort to observe and get to know their fellow members even under such circumstances. I can&#8217;t believe I finally realized such an important thing. &#8230;&#8230;</p>
<p> Aika Kanda, 45 years old, still immature and pathetic. I am surrounded by such wonderful adults every day, so I must absorb what I can imitate. My main goal at my new age is to grow in mind, even after all this time.</p>
<figure id="attachment_428558" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-428558" style="width: 3004px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-428558 size-full" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/06/695002d97b11ca3cd791054813aeec37-1.jpg" alt="" width="3004" height="3734"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-428558" class="wp-caption-text"> © Kazuki Shimomura</figcaption></figure>
<p> Aika Kanda / 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 NHK 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 &#8220;Poka Poka&#8221; (Fuji Television Network).</p>
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<p> Her first book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4dbWKKN">&#8220;Where are you going on the road called Royal Road?</a> is now on sale by popular demand!</p>
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<p> From &#8220;FRIDAY&#8221; June 27/July 4, 2025 issue</p>
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 Aika Kanda

 On May 29, Aika Kanda celebrated her birthday again this year. While she was excited to receive many presents from the staff and co-stars of Fuji Television's "Poka Poka," she realized something important. And what are the goals she has set for this year?

Freelance Announcer Aika Kanda: “This Year’s Birthday Present Was Amazing!

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