<figure id="attachment_459273" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-459273"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b4cd3a1a"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/03/9ada254cc82f8a487e0766c0641fc058.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-459273" class="wp-caption-text">Kazuo Tokumitsu / Joined Nippon TV in 1963 and served as the first main host of &#8220;Zoom In!! Morning!&#8221;. After becoming a freelancer in 1989, he continued to host numerous flagship TV and radio programs. A true legend of the announcer world, he has held a microphone for over 60 years.</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Was the napping not staged?!</h3>
<p><strong><span class="strongInContent">&#8220;Soo~ Soo~&#8221;</span></strong></p>
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<p data-start="47" data-end="250">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.</p>
<p data-start="252" data-end="340"><strong>“I’m sorry, thank you for waiting. For some reason, I always get sleepy in this seat.”</strong></p>
<p data-start="342" data-end="654">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.</p>
<p data-start="656" data-end="870">On this day, he was filming his show <em data-start="693" data-end="725">Rosen Bus de Yorimichi no Tabi</em> (Route Bus Detour Trip, TV Asahi), which will mark its 15th year next year. Sitting in his favorite back-left seat, he reflected thoughtfully.</p>
<p data-start="872" data-end="1093"><strong>“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].”</strong></p>
<p data-start="1095" data-end="1300">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.</p>
<p data-start="1302" data-end="1330">But is his napping staged?</p>
<p data-start="1332" data-end="1756"><strong>“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 <em data-start="1679" data-end="1695">Route Bus Trip</em> and in general, sitting in the back just makes me sleepy.”</strong></p>
<p data-start="1758" data-end="1842">When asked how many times he has dozed off during filming, he paused thoughtfully.</p>
<p data-start="1844" data-end="2160"><strong>“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.”</strong></p>
<p data-start="2162" data-end="2334">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.</p>
<p data-start="2336" data-end="2675"><strong>“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.”</strong></p>
<p data-start="2677" data-end="2805">Having overcome major surgery, the “immovable MC” will continue bringing comfort and charm to viewers in the show’s 15th year.</p>
<p data-start="2807" data-end="3048" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">The February 27 issue of &#8220;FRIDAY&#8221; (March 13–20 edition) and the paid version &#8220;FRIDAY GOLD&#8221; feature Tokumitsu sharing candid stories of surprising encounters with legends like Shigeo Nagashima, as well as turning points in his life at age 48.</p>
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<p>For more details and multiple photos, click here.</p>
<div data-friday-gold-link-url="https://friday.gold/article/401874" data-friday-gold-link-title="Kazuo Tokumitsu, 63 years as an announcer: &quot;Words of the great stars&quot; that have stayed with me all these years: Shigeo Nagashima, Giant Baba, Hibari Misora, Hiroshi Kume" data-friday-gold-link-excerpt="Soon to be 85 years old! Special InterviewsThe &quot;Side Trip on the Route Bus,&quot; a well-known on-board doze-off, will be in its 15th year next year. I put a pillow between my head and the bus window where the sun shines through the trees." data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-wide="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2026/02/FYS_0904-26153803861690.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=256,height=144/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=prkdt~SRUQ0LeOvgAKfNvmsBmr933NaC~uOEbRwEHTrLv5vW6kxgtNmlkqSiyAFXpZOh4bCT8mU399jm7~lowNQ2HQWKFwoLro5TT6NM6m8HrmWXyB6eWl-kAw38HHJRpP0KtB4dd73GggqvMeIvBwWzkhcpvl8vf0XRk2OG-vLu~r6oZsmBFVCfEWQpj9p0X9IDA82axfFTM143CP4qBCs8uQHL~yf1tGLoIdVUoJaZLiIzYQdr~xUQ4BpL6D3FQ0YI06qLVxN9OiuzMLWDocoRqSuRTtNk4vTR7IUAFImBIcHImtKFLESC6xEZSXyGKJU7dG7fTeockFYya24Nhw__" data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-square="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2026/02/FYS_0904-26153803861690.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=105,height=105/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=INEyMsZ8lBzwLZ82UWRCTLbcPlTghZO0z-JMmEVIu0mtSMmv7yIuG9GvmePZvJSnIihnMySe7vpdkQksW6ll~C8nRhFKB4APiGqSxMAPy5tyUjmlR70z0f2YwKoonGZnTAcRszq059ZFOq8cgEn6Y8YHAbwiupohpV5KL7lmynO~gt3Zl08MGAP9mfYlrzjlMPgGJUXcK9mEbZgLUB147-vFxEg8wU3IWqR4fhtbrd95Q~SLvek2TJePxEQ3AlBffCJ4N~g1GKplK0xSNqAmBO~seTsm6mEsgGGdvA1ribtwezZ8RRC~~rcOm17PoQ5uI37F4YEniRSC9TQX2GFZmQ__"></div>
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<figure id="attachment_459272" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2134px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-459272"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="992d3c7f"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/03/23b92e31e718a34420ccb09ff5a7ad7d.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-459272" class="wp-caption-text">He showed a delighted expression as the destination display lit up with the words Rosen Bus de Yorimichi no Tabi.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_459274" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1663px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-459274"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="140daed4"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/03/0ba3af7faf68e3894f26c9adf7ec07ab.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-459274" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished photo for the magazine: Kazuo Tokumitsu — Special Interview, soon to turn 85!</figcaption></figure>
<p>From the March 13-20, 2026 issue of &#8220;FRIDAY&#8221;</p>


 Yasuko Funamoto

 Kazuo Tokumitsu is the MC of the travel program "A Side Trip on a Bus Route", which will be in its 15th year next year. It is customary for Tokumitsu to doze off in front of the guests...but isn't this "dozing off" in the bus staged? Tokumitsu himself answered the question, "Isn't it staged?

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

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