Kazuo Tokumitsu Reveals Reason for Regular Naps on Detour Bus Journey on the Rosen Line

On a sun-dappled route bus, Kazuo Tokumitsu (84), famous for his signature “napping” on the show, dozed off for a few minutes after placing a pillow between his head and the window with practiced ease.

“I’m sorry, thank you for waiting. For some reason, I always get sleepy in this seat.”

Tokumitsu gave a slightly embarrassed, wry smile. He joined Nippon TV in 1963 and served as the first main host of Zoom In!! Morning! for nine years. After becoming a freelance announcer in 1989, he continued hosting numerous TV and radio programs, maintaining his presence on the airwaves for over 60 years.

On this day, he was filming his show Rosen Bus de Yorimichi no Tabi (Route Bus Detour Trip, TV Asahi), which will mark its 15th year next year. Sitting in his favorite back-left seat, he reflected thoughtfully.

“I was surprised to hear it’s the 15th year. Even Tetsuko Kuroyanagi (92) joked, ‘The only ones who earn money while napping are pandas and you.’ I sometimes wonder if it’s really okay for me to be doing this [laughs].”

The show follows Tokumitsu, talent Ritsuko Tanaka (54), and a guest each episode as they ride a bus to local attractions and enjoy regional cuisine. Tokumitsu napping on the bus has become a running gag.

But is his napping staged?

“I really am sleeping. I’m an announcer, so I can’t act. It’s all about the back seat and the bus motion. Normally, when I take the bus from my nearest station home and sit in the front, I don’t get sleepy at all. One day, only the back seat was available, so I sat there—and before I knew it, I fell asleep and missed my stop. I realized that on Route Bus Trip and in general, sitting in the back just makes me sleepy.”

When asked how many times he has dozed off during filming, he paused thoughtfully.

“I’m not sure, maybe 60% of the recordings [laughs]. Sometimes I fall asleep the moment I get on the bus. No matter how interesting the guest, I just ‘whoosh’—I can’t explain it. When I wake up, Ritsuko tells me, ‘You were asleep for five minutes.’ Sometimes it feels like I sleep quite a while, and I even dream.”

Tokumitsu’s genuine personality and the warm, relaxed atmosphere of the show have earned it broad support across generations. Yet last year, he faced a serious challenge.

“At one point, my back pain made getting on and off the bus difficult—I thought maybe it was over. I thought I couldn’t continue the show. But last August, I had a major back surgery. The doctor was amazing, and now I can walk normally again [laughs]. My life seems to always bring me lucky encounters and successful outcomes like that.”

Having overcome major surgery, the “immovable MC” will continue bringing comfort and charm to viewers in the show’s 15th year.

The February 27 issue of “FRIDAY” (March 13–20 edition) and the paid version “FRIDAY GOLD” feature Tokumitsu sharing candid stories of surprising encounters with legends like Shigeo Nagashima, as well as turning points in his life at age 48.