FRIDAY Report by Anna Nakagawa Talking with Admired Senior Manaka Kanda About the Future of Announcers

Anna Nakagawa (32), in her first year as a freelance announcer, launches an irregular new series where she seeks advice from prominent figures across various fields.
The first guest is Aika Kanda, whose own column has entered its fourth year. What can Nakagawa learn from a senior who shares many points in common with her NHK background?

[Anna Nakagawa’s FRIDAY Report, Episode 1 – Part 1] NHK Alumni! Learning from Admired Senior Aika Kanda

Matchmaking, Love, and the Sense of Marriage

Nakagawa: In your column, Kanda-san, it says you often went to group dates. Can I ask about that?

Kanda: Group dates were really a place to train yourself. But Anna-chan, aren’t you from a generation that doesn’t go to those?

Nakagawa: No, I did go during certain periods—about a year before going freelance.

Kanda: I see. How about dating apps?

Nakagawa: I haven’t used them. Even if you meet someone, it’d be unpleasant if they wrote bad things about you. Also, I never went to group dates with people from NHK.

Kanda: Really?! The safest option would be group dates arranged by senior colleagues.

Nakagawa: I mostly went out with friends from school or friends at other stations. But as you do more, don’t your ideals for men start to solidify?

Kanda: You may not believe it, but I wasn’t looking for romance in the first place. NHK has transfers across the country, so being in a relationship could make transfers difficult.

Nakagawa: All nine years at NHK? But during that time, did you have a boyfriend?

Kanda: I continued with someone I had dated since university for the first few years, but after that, no one.

Nakagawa: Really?

Kanda: Because it would interfere with work.

Nakagawa: It would!

Kanda: Right? And what about you, Anna-chan?

Nakagawa: I had boyfriends from time to time.

Kanda: Who? What kind of person?

Nakagawa: I value the time spent together, so I’m bad at long-distance relationships. Looking back, every transfer meant farewells and new encounters.

Kanda: Aggressive and admirable. From the start, did you think about marriage?

Nakagawa: No, I didn’t. It’s easier to work hard on my own. I’m 32 now, and I think it would be nice if I could get married by my late 30s. My work as a freelancer is just starting, so stability is very different from before.

Thoughts on Becoming a Freelancer

Kanda: Anna-chan, don’t you get anxious if you have so much work right from the start?

Nakagawa: Of course, there’s some anxiety. I think a big part is that people are reaching out because I’m new and a bit novel. You, Kanda-san, have been freelancing for over 10 years and still work in such diverse ways—you’re unique and I really admire that.

Kanda: I appreciate that, but what I’d want to tell any female announcer at NHK thinking about quitting is: don’t just look at the glamorous side of someone you admire. Even for me, there were periods—eight years, easily—when I didn’t get any offers at all.

Nakagawa: I see. So it’s not just about announcers—you shouldn’t only see the shining parts of anyone’s career.

Kanda: When I got jobs, I tried to show my personality. If someone noticed it, they might call me again for another opportunity. It’s the accumulation of all those moments that brought me here. I wasn’t spectacular right from the beginning.

Nakagawa: By the way, have you ever regretted going freelance?

Kanda: Not at all. That’s why I spent a year thinking it through. If you’re still feeling regret, you’re not ready to leave.

Nakagawa: Do you ever think it would have been better to stay in an organization?

Kanda: Well the advantage of being in an organization is knowing that even if you fail, there’s a next chance.

Nakagawa: Ah, that! Yes, exactly.

Kanda: Someone protects you, someone to consult when you’re in trouble. People to go out for drinks with, colleagues going through the same struggles close by—that was fun.

Nakagawa: True. It felt like we could be with work colleagues without worrying too much about personal stakes.

Kanda: And you could ask a senior who made the same mistakes, “How did you overcome that?” Once you’re freelance, in that sense, it really gets lonely.

Can’t Catch Up to People Who Are Too Amazing

Nakagawa: Not just for freelancers, how do you think announcers will evolve going forward?

Kanda: Honestly, I haven’t really done announcer-like work for years. But I think AI will only replace things like reading the news. For example, program assistants won’t change. There’s chemistry with the main host, and how quickly you can respond with a short, punchy line is something that gets you hired—it’s your personality. AI probably can’t do that.

Nakagawa: You personally mentioned today a few times that you’d like to do reporting. Is that your goal going forward as well?

Kanda: Yes, that’s right. But people like Yuko Ando, who go to war zones or disaster areas and gain experience—they’re just too incredible. I can’t catch up to that anymore. I’m 45 now.

But I think there’s room for news anchors who earn trust through a human approach. It’s not easy, but I believe there are things I can do in my own way. Recently, I interviewed former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba over drinks for a segment. I thought maybe a news anchor could take that kind of approach.

Nakagawa: Starting from a soft approach and drawing out someone’s honest thoughts.

Kanda: Yes. Since I have a science background, I can’t always use rich vocabulary or elaborate phrasing when questioning people. I tend to ask things directly, which can sometimes come off as harsh—but with politicians, it can actually work in my favor. I’d like to leverage that strength.

Nakagawa: I’m looking forward to seeing Kanda Aika as a news anchor someday.

Kanda: I hope a brave producer appears (laughs).

Post-Interview Notes: Nakagawa Anna

When planning the series, the first guest who came to mind was Kanda Aika. We share NHK backgrounds and even worked there for the same number of years. This was my chance to ask her, the senior I admire, everything I’ve always wanted to know about being a freelance announcer.

On the day of the long-awaited interview, I was nervous about being polite but still asking the questions I wanted. First came the photo shoot. Standing next to Kanda-san, she was petite, her face small and sparkling. I was so overwhelmed my expression stiffened. The photographer said,

“Both of you, pull your chins in a little!”

Kanda-san immediately responded, “We’re both chin people!” and everyone laughed. That eased the tension instantly, letting me approach the interview with a relaxed mind.

Her choice of words and thoughtful demeanor taught me an important lesson as an interviewer: the value of putting people at ease.

[Nakagawa Anna’s FRIDAY Report] Want to meet, ask, and learn from that top runner — 1st Guest: Kanda Aika

 

Kanda Aika – Born in Kanagawa Prefecture. After graduating from Gakushuin University, Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics, she joined NHK as an announcer in 2003. She worked at the Fukuoka Broadcasting Station and, from 2007, moved to the Tokyo Announcement Room. She left NHK in 2012 and joined the talent agency Cent. Force. She is currently a regular main MC on the daytime program Pokapoka (Fuji TV).

Nakagawa Anna – Born in Tokyo. She spent her childhood in Finland and Puerto Rico. She joined NHK as an announcer in 2016, working on Sunday Sports and as an on-site reporter for the Paris Olympics. After leaving NHK in spring 2025, she joined the talent agency Horipro and is now active as a freelance announcer and talent.

“FRIDAY,” March 27 and April 3, 2026, combined issue