"Please be my friend, despite our age gap" [Kosuke Ozaki]

Contributor: Kosuke Ozaki, a Nagahama City employee who loves Thailand

There are doors in life that only open the moment you summon the courage to push them.

For me, the person on the other side of that door was Osamu Matsumoto, the creator of "Knight Scoop" and a legendary producer.

A wish whispered with a trembling voice on the night of the wrap party

We met 27 years ago at a wrap party for the "Kita-Omi Mugenjuku" theater group, which was active in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture. At the time, I was a staff member at the cultural hall and was in charge of lighting for the troupe.

Mr. Matsumoto, who attended every performance as an advisor to the troupe, was truly someone beyond my reach. During my self-introduction, I spoke passionately to him about my days as a backpacker and how, even after starting my career, I kept visiting Thailand, captivated by the local women and the wonderful cuisine.

To my surprise, Mr. Matsumoto found my stories very interesting. Carried by that momentum, I took a leap of faith and said:

"Mr. Matsumoto, please be my friend, despite our age gap."

I was 22 and he was 49—the age difference between a parent and child.

Everyone around us must have thought,
"What a rude guy to say that to Mr. Matsumoto."
I'm sure that's what they thought.

I was so nervous my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my mouth,
but that was the one thing I managed to squeeze out.

Mr. Matsumoto softened his expression and said, "Sure."
From that moment on, a strange and luxurious "friendship" began.

Hot pot in a dilapidated apartment of unknown age

From then on, Mr. Matsumoto would invite me out, saying,
"I know a good place, why don't we go together?"
and we ate so many delicious meals together in Osaka, Fukui, and Shiga. After I got married, my wife joined us for meals, and he even invited us to the recording of "Knight Scoop"...

When I first got married, I lived in a run-down apartment near Nagahama Station, so old that its construction date was unknown. We weren't wealthy by any means, but looking back, the time we spent inviting Mr. Matsumoto to that cramped room, sharing a hot pot, and laughing together was richer than any meal at a high-end restaurant.

I also once set him up on a date with a wonderful woman I thought would be perfect for him, which is a fond memory I smile about now.

The "Hamburger Bento" incident stolen by a kite

One memory of Mr. Matsumoto that still makes me laugh is when we went to the Sea of Japan for some "rock pooling."

We were excited to go out and catch abalone, sea urchin, and turban shells. It was lunchtime, and just as Mr. Matsumoto opened his hamburger bento, which he had been looking forward to, and reached for his drink, a kite swooped down from the sky and snatched the main hamburger right out of the box.

I loved the expression on Mr. Matsumoto's face as he stared blankly at the sky, eating the remaining side dishes with such disappointment. I adored how human and charming this giant of the television world was.

The midsummer trip to Thailand that finally came true

Every time I talked about my hobby of traveling to Thailand, Mr. Matsumoto would say,
"If you love Thailand that much, I'd love to go with you."
That promise was finally fulfilled in the summer of 2023.

We finally visited Thailand together as we had hoped. Sharing stories about our lives and dreams, and spending time with my wife and children, became an irreplaceable and precious memory.

I want to travel to Thailand with him again, gaze at the blue sea, and feel the slow passage of time. I truly want to praise myself for having the courage to ask to be his friend at that wrap party all those years ago.

Mr. Matsumoto, I hope this strange bond continues forever.

Let's go to Thailand together again!