Freelance Announcer Aika Kanda: “How many points will I have in 2025?　Let’s do the math!

Was it a perfect score of 100?

It was a year that flew by. I was able to go on seven of my favorite overseas trips, and I appeared on 344 programs during the year, the seventh most among female entertainers. In this world where you want to work but can’t do so without a request, I can’t believe that I was allowed to live such a fulfilling life. I am truly grateful. So at first glance, my year 2025 seems to have been a hundred point year.

But in fact, there were many points to be deducted. Of all the things I declared in this column as my “goals for this year,” I was unable to complete two of them. One is to study English so that I can talk to any person I want. The other is to find a restaurant that my husband and I would like to go to every month and eat out together.

The first half of the year went well for me, as I began taking English conversation classes in January and attended at least six classes each month. In July, however, my favorite instructor temporarily returned to the US. During that time, although it was only three weeks, I neglected to take classes with the other instructor instead. I lost the habit of attending classes, and five months passed. And here we are today.

After such a long absence, I can’t say the same greetings that I am used to saying, and it is impossible to start from the same page in the textbook. I have to be very mindful to get back on track with …… and my back is so heavy that I may never be able to get up again.

I was going to be able to continue eating out with my husband, but this fall I got my first attempted job on his side and had to stop due to lack of time. This situation will continue until the end of the year, and I can no longer do this either.

So, because I could not achieve these two goals, I lost 10 points each, for a total of 20 points. At this stage, my score for 2025 is 80.

Next, relationships. This was also a very difficult year for me. Communication with the younger generation was not going well, and I spent every night worrying (……) about what words to say and what actions to take to build trust, sometimes in tears.

In addition, there were differences with old acquaintances that created a distance in my heart that could no longer be filled. I thought I might be the cause of the problem and tried to move in the right direction, but I gave up because I could not overcome the problem alone because I was dealing with a partner. Each of them did quite a bit of damage, each minus 15 points, for a total of 30 points deducted. That’s 50 points.

Eh!　My score for the past year is only 50 points!　This is too low, and I feel sad and unmotivated for 2026. Then let’s look for a special plus point!

New Bonds Felt in an Unusual Situation

Just the other day, I had a job interviewing a major politician. I was restless with pressure, so I read a lot of material in advance and made a handmade script for the day of the event. As a result, although I was nervous, I just had a good time, and the other party seemed to enjoy the interview as well. They stayed 15 minutes longer than scheduled, and everyone was smiling. This kind of situation does not happen every year. Therefore, I gave him 15 special points.

Also at this time, the new manager in charge of me stayed close to me all the way until just before the show. The production staff were in black suits in an unfamiliar place. I was almost swallowed up by the heavy atmosphere mixed with SPs from the other side.

But thanks to the presence of the manager, who is “everyday” to me, I managed to grasp that everyday atmosphere and was not swallowed up. Maybe it was just a coincidence. But they became aware of my feelings!　I would like to add 10 special points because it seemed like a good idea, and I was very happy with that sense of teamwork.

This brings the total to 75 points. Well, I calculated this score, but the feeling is much higher. I faced the hard things as best I could with as much time and energy as I had. Was there anything more I should have done?　Oh, no. I can truly believe that I did my best in everything I did, no matter what the outcome. That would be 25 points plus!　A lot has happened, but my 2025 is still 100 points!

I want 2026 to be another year in which I can feel that way. For this reason, I plan to take a good rest during the year-end and New Year holidays and play as much as I can on my travels. I hope to see you all again at the live broadcast of Fuji Television’s “Poka Poka” on January 5.

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).

Her first book, ” Where are you going on the road called Royal Road? is now on sale by popular demand!

From “FRIDAY” January 2, 9, 16, 2026 issue.