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The Unwavering Passion of SixTONES for Radio - An Interview with Jun Nagahama

The Unwavering Passion of SixTONES for Radio - An Interview with Jun Nagahama, Who Graduated as a Program Producer, on the Charms of Being a Radio Personality with the Group of Six

Source: https://realsound.jp/2023/09/post-1416645_2.html

SixTONES no All Night Nippon Saturday Special" (commonly referred to as "SixTONES ANN"), hosted by SixTONES members, stands out as a particularly unique radio program. Airing on the iconic "All Night Nippon" network, this show has garnered a dedicated following among both SixTONES fans and general radio listeners alike.

Broadcasted nationwide from Nippon Broadcasting every Saturday night, it has become a cherished presence in the lives of its six hosts and their fans. As of July 2023, Jun Nagahama, the producer at Nippon Broadcasting who had been in charge of the show since its special pre-debut era, is graduating from his role. In light of this transition, we spoke with Mr. Nagahama to understand why this radio show has become such a beloved entity and to explore the charm of SixTONES as radio personalities

"We always said, 'We want to do radio.'"

— First, please tell us how you and SixTONES first crossed paths.

Jun Nagahama (hereinafter referred to as Nagahama): It all began with a special program called "SixTONES no All Night Nippon," which aired in August 2019. I had the privilege of working on that, followed by the New Year's special program called "Sutōnzu no Oshaberi," which aired in January 2020. Subsequently, I became involved as the program producer for "SixTONES ANN," which became a regular show in the spring of 2020. However, this July, I was assigned to the Content Planning Department in the Programming Section, which is typically involved in scheduling, and as a result, I will be graduating from the program.

— So, what exactly does the job of a radio program producer entail?

Nagahama: To put it succinctly, it's like being a director on set. I oversee the program while taking care of various aspects such as quality control of content, budget management, and public relations and promotion.

— You've been involved with SixTONES since the special program in 2019, for approximately four years. What were your initial impressions of SixTONES?

Nagahama: I thought they were fresh and passionate young individuals. Even outside of the broadcasts, they spoke fervently about their love for radio and consistently said, "We want to do radio." Personally, I believe that the enthusiasm of both the speakers and creators is essential, so I think people who genuinely love radio should be radio personalities. Therefore, it was heartwarming for me that they conveyed their love for radio so passionately.

— Indeed, it seems that "SixTONES ANN" is beloved not only by SixTONES fans but also by listeners of "All Night Nippon." Could it be that their genuine love for radio is a contributing factor to this?

Nagahama: When they took on the "All Night Nippon" slot, they expressed a sentiment of "We're here as guests." They said, "We're not just here for our fans to listen; we're guests in a program with a long history like 'All Night Nippon,' and we want to create a show that can be enjoyed by a wide range of radio listeners." They genuinely had this attitude of "We love radio, and we want to entertain," and I believe that attitude gradually communicated itself to the listeners.

The Charms of the Six Radio Personalities

— When "SixTONES ANN" became a regular show, the format included having Juri Tanaka as the main MC with different members appearing on a weekly basis. Regarding Mr. Tanaka, what do you find appealing about him as a radio personality?

Nagahama: I think he excels in assessing the situation. He not only keeps in mind the rotating members in front of him but also imagines each and every listener tuning in on the other side of the microphone. He communicates with the staff, maintains eye contact, and steers the program in that context. He's an excellent MC. He doesn't just focus on his own stories; he has a knack for drawing out the charms of others while taking a step back. So, I had a great deal of trust in him in that regard.

— Did you initially sense Mr. Tanaka had the talent to be a radio personality?

Nagahama: I believe he had the potential, but certain aspects of his talent were brought out as he accumulated more broadcast experience. "SixTONES ANN" began its regular broadcasts with all six members, and from the second episode, we had to switch to remote broadcasting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While it was an emergency response, it was a challenging situation because the team hadn't yet fully bonded. He endured quite a bit of stress during this time. However, I think it was precisely because of this situation that Mr. Tanaka came to appreciate the importance of communication with the staff.

— As mentioned earlier, the regular broadcasts feature Mr. Tanaka as the main MC, with different members appearing on a weekly basis. What do you think are the attractive qualities of each member as a radio personality?

Nagahama: Regarding Yugo Kochi, he brings a sense of security. I think that Juri Tanaka tends to want to share his own stories when Yugo Kochi is there. Mr. Tanaka, who always tries to draw out the other person, feels comfortable entrusting his own stories to Yugo Kochi when he wants someone to listen. Yugo Kochi is also someone who is considerate and attentive, making him someone that listeners of various generations can comfortably and trustingly tune into. That's why I think we entrusted him with the morning time slot, which many adult listeners tune into, during the "Radio Charity Musicthon," a charity campaign to support visually impaired individuals. (SixTONES served as main hosts for three consecutive years.)

Taiga Kyomoto, on the other hand, is like a toy box. He has the most excitement and curiosity about what kind of "toys" will come out next. He hosted the solo "All Night Nippon" segment within the "Radio Charity Musicthon," and he has a clear taste in music. He can shine both as a musician and as an actor. I find him to be a very fascinating individual.

— How about Hokuto Matsumura? What do you think of his qualities as a radio personality?

Nagahama: I feel that Hokuto Matsumura is like a scholar. He's always a person with a lot on his mind. He seems to want to show a different side of himself here, distinct from his roles as an artist and an actor. He's particularly someone who has been listening to "All Night Nippon" for a long time, so I believe he approaches it with the intention of being a certain way on "All Night Nippon." Also, he tends to have long conversations (laughs). However, I think that's because he has a lot he wants to convey. If he can harness that and organize it, I believe he'll become an even more wonderful presence.

— Nevertheless, many listeners seem to feel a sense of loss when Hokuto Matsumura's free talk segments are shorter.

Nagahama: Since he thinks about many things, he often delves deeper and deeper into a topic until we don't quite reach a conclusion (laughs). But that might be part of his charm.

— What about Jesse and Shintaro Morimoto, the youngest members of the group?

Nagahama: Jesse is often referred to as the "Sun of SixTONES," and for a good reason. When you hear his voice, it can truly brighten your day and make you forget about various troubles. His laugh is probably the most distinctive aspect. When we combine his laughter with the ideas from our side and Juri Tanaka, it goes from "Ahaha!" to "Ihihi!" and eventually becomes "Uhuhu!" It becomes quite an amusing broadcast. As long as his laughter resonates, it feels like the sun in our hearts won't set.

Morimoto, at first, was the type to come up with a lot of material for free talk during our discussions. He used to share many short anecdotes. However, I think one significant turning point was when he portrayed Ryota Yamasato from the comedy duo "Nankai Candies" in the drama "But, There Is Passion" on Nippon TV. As an individual who loves radio and portraying the life of Yamasato, he started embodying Yamasato in a unique way, which notably improved his storytelling abilities. I've seen significant growth in him, where he can now dig deeper into topics and roll them out humorously.

— When we hear your insights, it's clear that each member has a distinct personality. Having such diverse types of members appear on a weekly basis must be interesting, but it also likely presented challenges in creating the program. Could you tell us about any difficulties you encountered?

Nagahama: At first, we had concerns about whether listeners who tuned in one week would return the following week, among other anxieties. To bring out the members' autonomy and to add an element of unpredictability, we introduced a segment called the "Jingle On-Air Battle," where the possibility of members other than the designated ones for the week also making appearances was included. In today's context, playing back last week's jingles on-air is one of the innovative ideas from those times.

Members other than Mr. Tanaka would only appear on the show once in a while. Finding a way for fans of the members who were on air last week to continue listening this week has always been a challenge. However, I feel that it has gradually changed because individual fans and program listeners, beyond just fans of the group, have grown. I've also noticed an increase in people from other professional fields telling us, "It's interesting," when we meet them elsewhere.

Experimentation and the Establishment of Radio Culture among Fans

— You've been hosting the program for a long time, from the first episode. Are there any episodes that left a particularly strong impression on you?

Nagahama: There are many memorable episodes, but if I were to choose three, the first one would be the episode when we returned to the studio after the remote broadcasts (May 30, 2020). It felt like reuniting with comrades after a battle. The period of remote broadcasting lasted about two months, and it felt much longer than that. So, the sense of excitement and emotion when we returned was remarkable.

The second one would be the "48th Radio Charity Musicthon" episode where we live-streamed "SixTONES ANN" with video for the first time (December 24, 2022). The members had been expressing their desire to do video streaming for a long time, and this time, we were able to make it happen while still being a radio show. Initially, we thought the listeners would focus on the video element, but on social media, we saw comments like, "I want to watch the video, but I still want to enjoy the regular 'All Night Nippon' because that's the way I usually enjoy it." It showed that each listener had their own way of enjoying the show, by listening on the radio, participating on social media, and sharing the atmosphere, all of which are part of the usual enjoyment of the program. Realizing that this regular way of enjoying the show had caught on was truly satisfying. I also won't forget that they sang "Always" as a Christmas present on that day.

The third one would be the episode that aired as part of the "All Night Nippon 55-Hour Special" to celebrate the 55th anniversary of All Night Nippon (February 18, 2023). It was a part of the extensive special program spanning 55 hours with a common theme for discussions: "What you want to tell your past self." In line with this theme, we looked back on the path we had walked so far. It was striking how they talked brightly about the days of struggles and doubts they had faced. Particularly, when Juri Tanaka said to their selves from a few years ago, "I want to tell you about the future, where we have a regular radio show," and Taiga Kyomoto added, "They'll be thrilled," with a smile. It was a wonderful moment. When you spend time together, you sometimes encounter moments that feel like " reconciling with the efforts they had made over the years." It's a precious moment where you can start walking forward again.

— The story about the "Musicthon" episode is indeed amazing. Many people appreciate their visuals, but the fact that they choose audio over video suggests that the culture of "radio" has truly taken root among fans.

Nagahama: It was really heartwarming to know that fans who like SixTONES also appreciate SixTONES' radio, "All Night Nippon," and radio culture in general.

— "SixTONES ANN" being a live broadcast also seems to add to its charm.

Nagahama: I think this applies not only to SixTONES but to all live broadcasts. Sharing at the same time creates a special connection, and listeners can feel that they're spending that moment together.

— SixTONES often do live broadcasts remotely even when they are on concert tours, even if they are far away.

Nagahama: "All Night Nippon" has a culture of being primarily live, and they have a stance of being part of the "All Night Nippon" culture, so they do live broadcasts. I think it can be physically demanding, but I believe they approach the broadcasts with the intention of delivering their current voices. I'm grateful for that.

— Up to this point, we've been talking about the members' discussions. On the other hand, "All Night Nippon" also has a culture that values music. In "SixTONES ANN," how do you think SixTONES' music plays a role?

Nagahama: Since their primary performance stays consistent and their identity as artists is firmly established, I think they can go all out on the radio. I believe music is one of the things that gives them confidence. Sony Music also cooperates with us, and sometimes they choose radio as the place to debut their new songs, like the 11th single "CREAK" released this week. I grew up being told by senior directors that "radio is a treasure chest," and I want to cherish the excitement of listeners opening that treasure chest. Therefore, when we create the contents of this treasure chest together, it's important to be excited, and SixTONES' music becomes an essential element of that.

— As you mentioned earlier, you graduated from the program in July. What kind of role do you hope the listeners, or "Little Stones" (the general term for "SixTONES ANN" listeners), will play in supporting SixTONES as radio personalities in the future?

Nagahama: I believe the existence of "Little Stones" will surely be a support for them. Just as listeners have been a source of strength for me, they may already serve the same purpose for SixTONES. I hope "Little Stones" can be like a stabilizer that allows them to enjoy any challenge they take on, and I would be delighted if the program continues to grow with their support. I also hope that it has a positive impact on their main profession. I'm truly grateful to the six members who love "radio," love "All Night Nippon," and have joined us here. They have passion and strong bonds, so I hope they can run forward with confidence.

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