“Ordinary Greetings Are Boring!” — Junji Takada Reveals Secrets Behind Jun Sanpo

The reason behind Takada Junji’s unique way of putting people at ease on Jun Sanpo

“Hello there. I’m the Japanese George Clooney.”

With that cheesy greeting from the charming older gentleman, the entire interview scene instantly relaxes.

Actor, comedian, TV personality—none of those labels quite seem to fit him completely. If anything, he’s best described as an entertainer: Takada Junji (78).

His long-running TV Asahi program Jun Sanpo, where he strolls through neighborhoods in Tokyo, marked its 10th anniversary in September. One reason for its enduring popularity is Jun-chan’s humor-filled banter with people on the street. The “Mr. Easygoing” himself explains:

“Saying ‘Hi, I’m Takada Junji’ is too plain, right? The locals get nervous when the TV camera’s on them, so I’ve got to loosen things up—saying something like ‘I’m George Clooney’ makes them laugh. Once they laugh, they relax.”

Takada’s style of breaking the ice is unique. For example, when a middle-aged woman passes by:

Takada: “Miss, which girls’ university are you from?”
Woman: “How old do you think I am?”
Takada: “I’ll guess—somewhere between your 20s and 80s!”

He explains:
“Filming usually happens in the morning, so there aren’t many students or office workers around—mostly senior citizens. But when you talk to older men, nine out of ten start making dirty jokes! Since it’s a morning show, that stuff gets cut, so I try not to make eye contact with men and focus on talking to women instead.”

It’s hard to tell when he’s serious or joking, but the show actually has no script. His quick wit and improvisation likely come from a life full of unexpected turns.

“My life’s been one setback after another. People don’t believe it, but back home in Kokuryō (Chōfu, Tokyo), I was called a child prodigy in grade school. Always ranked in the top 10. I imagined a steady life—university, then an office job. But, I failed every entrance exam, even after taking a gap year. That was rough. Among my close high school friends, I was the only one who didn’t make it to college. I still have dreams where I can’t find my exam number on the results board.”

After that, Takada secretly quit his job at a jewelry company (without telling his wife) to join a theater troupe. He later shot to fame on Tensai Takeshi no Genki ga Deru TV!! (NTV), and over 40, became known nationwide as the 5 o’clock man from a popular commercial—cementing his Mr. Easygoing image.

Jun Sanpo seems to encapsulate his unpredictable, free-spirited life perfectly.

More of Takada’s relaxed comments and colorful life story are featured in the October 17 issue of FRIDAY (on sale October 2) and its premium edition FRIDAY GOLD, along with a photo spread brimming with his effortless charm.

From the October 17, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”