Because I felt that warmth, I want to sing at the 'NHK Nodo Jiman' preliminary round again

I think it was when I was in kindergarten.
I remember singing a song for my grandmother and mother.
It was Sayuri Ishikawa's 'Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyugeshiki'.
I think I admired the 'NHK Nodo Jiman' program that aired on Sunday afternoons back then.
Or rather, I admired the idea of getting up on a big stage and singing in front of people.
I don't remember the exact details, but even though I only vaguely knew the lyrics, I started singing, 'Since I got off the night train from Ueno...'
And I feel like I sang the rest of the lyrics while my grandmother and mother taught them to me.
Now, more than 40 years later, I find myself remembering that event.

A few years ago, when it was held locally

It was a few years ago that I became interested in 'Nodo Jiman' again.
I received an email on my smartphone from my younger sister.
It was a notice that 'Nodo Jiman' would be held in my sister's hometown, where I still live.
She also said, 'It looks fun, so you should apply to participate.'
But at the time, I didn't usually watch 'Nodo Jiman'.
I applied on a whim. I was quite dismissive of 'Nodo Jiman,' thinking, 'Well, as a local, I'll easily get into the preliminary round.'
And, of course, the result was that I failed the document screening.
Because of this frustration, I started watching 'Nodo Jiman' every week.
I do think I should have watched it at least once before applying, though.

2023, to my first preliminary round

After that, I passed the document screening for a 'Nodo Jiman' in another region and was able to participate in the preliminary round.

But, to be honest, I was quite full of myself at that time.
When I sang my song, in the subsequent interview with the announcer (it was announcer Tomomi Hirose at the time), and in the interview I received from a reporter in the venue lobby, I was acting quite cocky and painful.
Every time I remember it, I feel so embarrassed I want to disappear.

2025, my third application

So, even though I thought I wouldn't participate in 'Nodo Jiman' anymore.
I found out that 'Nodo Jiman' would be held in Shimizu, Hokkaido, a place I could reach from my hometown.
I ended up applying without thinking, damn it!
But the result was a failure in the document screening.
So, even though I had properly cleared my schedule for the preliminary and main event days, it was cancelled.

But, on the day of the preliminary round.
Even though I couldn't sing just because I went there.
I thought, 'I want to participate as an audience member,' and headed to the venue.

The 'Nodo Jiman' preliminary round is free to watch. And, of course, it's free of charge.
Once I sat in an empty seat, the preliminary round began.
The host, announcer Naoki Ninomiya, appeared on stage.
He called out to the participants in the preliminary round.
Announcer Ninomiya: 'Do you want to participate in the main event?' Audience: 'Yeah!'
Announcer Ninomiya: 'Do you want to go to New York?' Audience: '?!'
That's a quiz show from a commercial broadcaster from a long time ago (lol).

The preliminary round itself

The stage manager was in charge of the proceedings. A slim man, estimated to be in his 40s or 50s.
The person singing as number 0 to open the preliminary round was a male staff member from the local station. He sang 'Ora Tokyo sa Iguda' by Ikuzo Yoshi, who is the mentor of Naoki Sanada, the guest for the main event.
The venue was already super excited from that point on.
And then the preliminary participants sang in order, starting from number 1.
By the way, the order of singing in this preliminary round is decided by the alphabetical order of the song titles.
And it's actually very common for the same song to follow one after another.
In particular, there are so many people who sing the signature songs of the singers who are guests on the day!!
About 6 groups sang Mika Shinno's 'Otobune' in a row, and about 3 groups each sang Naoki Sanada's 'Ebisu' and '246'. If you hear the same intro and opening lines several times in a row, you'll naturally remember them.
I wanted to sing 'Ebisu' at karaoke next time. I want to try singing that opening line with strength in one knee.
I also learned the call-and-response in the chorus of '246'. Before I knew it, I was singing '2-4-6!' together with a Naoki Sanada fan I happened to be watching with.

And the preliminary round continued from noon to around 4:30 PM, with a total of 200 groups, taking breaks every 50 groups.
After the 200th person finished singing, Naoki Sanada himself appeared as 'number 201'! We were also treated to a surprise where he appeared in his own clothes (probably) and sang one chorus of 'Ebisu'.

Karaoke contest

The judging takes about an hour, and the results are scheduled to be announced at 5:30 PM.
While waiting for the results, a karaoke contest is held on stage.
Kensho Kajiyama, a personality from the local FM station '{FM-JAGA}', is the MC and conducts the proceedings.
I was surprised because there was no karaoke contest when I participated in the preliminary round last time.

However, for the karaoke contest here, the songs are prepared in advance. Mr. Kajiyama announces the song title one by one, and recruits 'people who want to sing' by raising their hands. Then, the chosen person goes up on stage and can sing one chorus while looking at the installed karaoke monitor.
That said, the prepared songs are mostly famous songs that everyone seems to know. Just remembering them, there were 'Kita Sakaba', 'Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyugeshiki', 'Anpanman no March', 'WINDING ROAD', 'Natsu no Tobira', '2 Oku 4 Senman no Hitomi', etc.
I was relaxing, thinking, 'I'll raise my hand if a song I can sing comes up,' but I couldn't help but raise my hand for '2 Oku 4 Senman no Hitomi'. I wanted to hype up the venue by shouting 'Japan!'. Also, I wanted to do the move of taking off just the shoulder of the cardigan I was wearing at the time, imitating Hiromi Go (lol).
With that, when I looked at the clock, I think it was past 5:10 PM. I thought the karaoke contest would be over soon, but the next song title Mr. Kajiyama announced was 'Hanamizuki' by Yo Hitoto.
Hmm, I only vaguely know the lyrics, but I know the melody, so I can sing it!
I raised my hand straight up.
And, to my surprise, I was chosen.
I stood up from my seat in the back and headed to the stage. Two madams sitting in the row in front of me said, 'Good luck,' and the preliminary participants sitting in the front rows of the venue also welcomed me with warm applause.
And I go up on stage. A staff member hands me the microphone.
When I stand in front of the karaoke monitor installed in the center, the screen shows a 'Connecting' mark.
Well, I guess the lyrics will be displayed when the performance starts.
I declared to the venue with the microphone, 'I'll do my best!'
Wow, I can sing at the 'Nodo Jiman' preliminary round again! (Even though I couldn't participate in the preliminary round)
And the intro to 'Hanamizuki' begins.
Huh?
The screen is still 'Connecting'.
And the opening part started.
Wow! Panic!
For now, I'll sing the parts I remember.
♪ Sora o oshiagete ♪
Oh, I don't know what comes next!!!
The screen is still 'Connecting'.
Ah! Geez! What should I do?!
'Excuse me, the lyrics aren't being displayed.'
I really didn't want to ruin the excited atmosphere of this venue.
But that was all I could say.
Then, what I heard immediately was the singing voice from the audience.
The people who knew the lyrics were all singing the rest of 'Hanamizuki' for me.
♪ Te o nobasu kimi, gogatsu no koto ♪
I turned my body toward the audience and sang while listening to everyone's singing voices.
Looking at their mouths, just vaguely.
Some people even told me the lyrics in a loud voice before entering the next verse.
I thought I remembered from the chorus onwards, but when I tried to sing it, I only vaguely remembered it.
I was helped by the audience the whole time and managed to finish singing.
'Thank you for helping me!'
When I finished singing, I bowed my head.
Someone who seemed to be in charge of the venue's equipment flew over and apologized. But I think I replied, 'It's okay.'
My heart was full. As expected, this 'Nodo Jiman' venue was warm.
I bowed my head again when I got off the stage.
Even though I had already returned the microphone to the staff.
When I thought, 'I want to say one more thing,' the words wouldn't come out.
I stayed bowed and hunched over for a while, so the people in the venue were like, 'Huh?'
The words that finally came out.
'I failed the document screening, so I was happy to be able to sing.'
A little laughter erupted from the venue.
Was I laughed at?
But, well, that's fine.
When I returned to my seat, the madams in the row in front of me also said to me, 'That was good.'
At that time, I was a bit embarrassed, but I was grateful that they said that to me.

After that

Since then, every time a chorus of "Hanamizuki" plays in a TV commercial, I feel like I'm going to cry.
Ah, the venue for "NHK Nodo Jiman" really was warm, wasn't it.
The audience gave generous applause, cheers, and rhythmic clapping for the songs of the approximately 200 groups who participated in the preliminary round.
I hope that someday, I can sing on that stage again.
Next time, if possible, I want to pass the document screening and sing as a preliminary round participant.
Well, I think whether I can make it to the main competition depends on luck (but I would be happy if I could make it someday).

That's right.
I heard that the footage of the preliminary round in Shimizu Town will be broadcast later this month (people outside of Hokkaido can also watch it on NHK Plus).
The karaoke competition itself probably won't be shown, but it might be fun just to watch the digest of the preliminary round.

[Postscript] It has been turned into an illustrated essay