Official merchandise for "Mitsuru Manaka Goes!" has been released. -The show's appeal as told by Mr. Manaka and the producer-

—So, with the first anniversary of "Mitsuru Manaka Goes!" upon us, the first official merchandise has arrived, and I heard that you, Mr. Terashima, proposed the production of these goods.
Terashima: Yes. Since we have entered our second year of broadcasting, I proposed the production as a way to express my gratitude to the viewers who have been watching, and to Mr. Manaka, who has contributed so much to the program.

—I've seen the actual items for the first time myself, and they are all cute (laughs).
Terashima: That's right! I would be happy if people could use them in their daily lives.

—The items released this time are three types: a T-shirt, a tote bag, and a sticker. What was the intention behind this lineup?
Terashima: I would be happy if people stuck the sticker in their favorite places, like on their computers. Also, if we are allowed to put this sticker in the shops we visit on the show, I thought it would serve as a record that "Mr. Manaka's show came here."

—Maybe one day we'll see this sticker in town (laughs).
Terashima: That's right (laughs). As for the T-shirt, I think many of the program's viewers are baseball fans, so I want them to wear it when they go to watch games at the stadium. As for the bag, I made it a large tote bag because I want people to use it a lot to carry their cheering goods, drinks, and so on when they go to watch games.

—Mr. Terashima, you are quite the baseball fan yourself! So perhaps the things you want to use in your daily life are reflected in the merchandise. Do you actually go to the stadium to watch games in your private time?
Terashima: Of course I do! Just recently, I had a shoot in Hiroshima, so I went to Hiroshima (MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima) in the morning, and then I had to rush back on a flight around 3:00 PM to make it to a game at the Tokyo Dome in my private time (laughs). When I was a student, I would watch university baseball at Jingu Stadium during the day, and then go to Hamasta (Yokohama Stadium) at night to watch a night game... I used to hop between games like that. Also, last week, I watched a game at the Tokyo Dome and then went straight to a batting center... (laughs).

—So you don't just watch, you also "play" baseball! (laughs). So these are goods that are easy to use, whether you are watching at the stadium like Mr. Terashima, or just using them in your daily life.
Terashima: That's right. The design is simple and cute, so I think it can be used by anyone, regardless of gender!

Terashima: I think it's the fact that Mr. Manaka's personality comes through completely. His ad-libbed stories are funny, and the scenes where he talks with regular people are also very exciting. That's the same for us staff; during recording, he even makes suggestions like, "Shall we do this for the direction here?" and I feel like we are building the program into something interesting together. Because of Mr. Manaka's wonderful personality, for example, when we were covering the Dragons, even though everyone around us was a Dragons fan, people would gather around Mr. Manaka and call out to him.

—Just watching the program, that charm really comes across. I imagine that by continuing the program for a year, the number of people looking forward to watching it has increased.
Terashima: That's right. On social media, we receive reactions to the program and requests like, "I want you to come to cover my favorite team," or "Please do a ○○ episode next!" and even during location shoots, people call out to us saying, "I watch the show!" Also, Mr. Manaka sometimes posts photos from the show on his official Instagram. When he posted a "bathing shot" at Akiu Onsen during a shoot for the Rakuten Eagles*, it became a hot topic and even made it into online news (laughs).

*The catch-up streaming for "Mitsuru Manaka Goes! ~Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Edition~" is here (free streaming). *You can also watch it on YouTube!▼

We also asked Mr. Mitsuru Manaka for his thoughts.

―Frankly, what did you think when the staff first told you, "We're going to make merchandise"?
Mitsuru Manaka (hereinafter, Manaka): I thought, "Finally!" (laughs)
(Even now, during location shoots, Manaka wears a T-shirt featuring the "Mitsuru Manaka Goes!" logo that he had made himself.)
I took the logo without asking—well, I did get permission eventually (laughs)—and made it myself.
I thought it was a hassle to think about my outfit for every location shoot, so I figured having a T-shirt would make things easier... that was one of the reasons I made it.

―Then, in future broadcasts, we might be able to see you wearing the new official show T-shirt (laughs).
Manaka: That's right. Since there are various types of merchandise, I'd like to use them.

―Thank you. What do you think now that you've actually seen the merchandise?
Manaka: I think they're wonderful.
The T-shirt is simple and looks like something you could wear around town, and the tote bag is cute too.
I think I'll take it with me when I go golfing (laughs).

―Now that a year has passed since the show started, have there been any changes in your relationship with the staff or the content of the location shoots?
Manaka: I feel like the scripts have been getting thinner and thinner as we go on (laughs).
In a way, I feel like I've gained their trust, and with each episode, there's more ad-libbing, and we're challenging ourselves with various things...
In the end, I even ended up riding a go-kart (laughs), and I'm finding it fun.

―"Mitsuru Manaka Goes!" is entering its second year of broadcasting. Could you tell us once again about the appeal of the show?
Manaka: Well, I don't think many people usually get to visit farm team facilities.
But by watching my show and seeing the farm team and other parts that aren't usually seen, I hope people can enjoy a new way of experiencing baseball—for example, enjoying the "flow" of seeing players working hard at the farm and eventually playing on the big stage of the first team.

The interview is also available on HOMINIS!
Please take a look at that as well.

◆Mitsuru Manaka is overjoyed at the completion of the show's original merchandise!

◆Mitsuru Manaka and Sayaka Isoyama discuss the greatness of Yakult's Munetaka Murakami

Message to viewers and readers

―Finally, Mr. Terashima, could you please give a message to those watching the show and those reading this note?
Terashima: "Mitsuru Manaka Goes!" is a free show that anyone can watch regardless of their SKY PerfecTV! subscription. It's a variety show that fans of any team, and even those who don't know baseball, can enjoy, so I would be happy if this show serves as an opportunity for people to become interested in baseball or SKY PerfecTV!.
Please, take a look!

Show Information

Mitsuru Manaka Goes! ~Manaka is Actually Pretty Cool Location Grand Prize! Edition~
Broadcast Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2022, from 21:00
Broadcast Channel: Sports Live+
※Even if you are not a SKY PerfecTV! subscriber, anyone can watch as long as your viewing environment is set up.

You can also watch for free via the Pro Baseball Set app.
For details, please check here.

Purchase merchandise here

You can purchase them from the "SKY PerfecTV! Goods Mall."

Wear Mitsuru Manaka! T-shirt

Go with Mitsuru Manaka! Tote Bag

Mitsuru Manaka Goes! Show Logo Sticker

The SKY PerfecTV! Goods Mall top page is here