LIGHTHOUSE Viewing Report

1. From Application to Meeting

It all started with a tweet from TV producer Mr. Sakuma.

A call for audience members for a talk show.
Other than the date and time, what kind of show it was, who would be appearing, and what the content was—
everything was a mystery. It was suspicious... way too suspicious...

Even so, as a die-hard fan who regularly listens to Mr. Sakuma's radio show and is captivated by the programs he has created, such as Goddotan, Talk Survivor, and Ougon no Teishoku, I had absolute trust in him and decided to apply without hesitation.

When I opened the form, there were several questions in addition to things like my name.
・Who is your favorite celebrity?
・Do you have any worries you would like to consult about?

The fact that there were questions like this made me think, maybe I could be selected based on this questionnaire...? It was the first time in my life I had written a questionnaire so seriously. Of course, I also made sure to write down Gen Hoshino and Masayasu Wakabayashi. At the time, I never imagined that these two would actually appear.

About a week later, the email that arrived contained the word 'Selected'!!
However, at this point, there were no details at all about the meeting time or location; it only stated that I had been selected and included a warning that they would be checking my ID properly! The details would be sent by the day before, apparently. I vaguely thought it was quite strict.

The email with the details arrived on February 9th, two days before the recording.
February 11th (Sat) 15:00 meeting
Location: Toshima City Ikebukuro Station South Bicycle Parking Lot

A bicycle parking lot?? Not a studio or something??
Wait, is this a prank where the viewers are like in Kaiji, being put on the Espoir and forced to play a death game?
And Mr. Sakuma is watching and enjoying it?
Is this the 'no longer satisfied with ordinary entertainment' pattern?

I imagined Mr. Sakuma looking down at me as I crossed a steel beam wearing a black shirt.
It somehow suits him... Mr. Sakuma...

That said, I was really looking forward to the recording. Ever since I found out I was selected, I told my wife over and over again that I would be able to watch a show produced by Mr. Sakuma, and I left the house in high spirits on the day.

When I arrived at the bicycle parking lot, a few people were already lining up.
After waiting in line and having my identity verified, I was handed a consent form.
On it were the words 'Netflix'.

Netflix!?

I thought it was Kaiji, but it was Squid Game. The level of grotesqueness had increased.
I imagined Mr. Sakuma wearing a green tracksuit.

I signed the consent form promising not to tell anyone until the information was officially released, and killed time until the meeting time. The meeting place was the Theater Green BIG TREE THEATER. I like theater, so I've been there a few times. It's a small theater with a capacity of about 150 people.

If it was Mr. Sakuma on Netflix, maybe it would be Talk Survivor? Would the two members of Chidori be talking? I walked around aimlessly to kill time while thinking about things like that. Come to think of it, I can't remember the temperature that day at all. It was February, so maybe it was cold? But I don't think I was wearing very heavy clothes. My memory must have been blown away by the shock.

When the meeting time arrived, I headed to the theater and joined the line that had already formed. Before long, we were guided into the theater.

2. Into the Theater

I entered the theater and took my seat. As luck would have it, it was a seat in the front center. The theater had a set with a sandy beach, and a lighthouse against a starry sky in the background. The sign said 'LIGHT HOUSE'. There were two benches in the center. Under the benches were two bottles of water. I think I remember hearing the sound of waves, but that might have been a sound my brain created. Anyway, it was incredibly stylish.

At this point, I started to feel that it definitely wouldn't be Chidori talking. Hmm, but even so, the fact that there were two water bottles meant it was a talk between two people. A talk show on Netflix with Mr. Sakuma...

Sakuma-san's warm-up talk begins.
"Uh, thank you all for applying after seeing my nonsensical tweets today."

Even during the warm-up, it isn't revealed who will be appearing.
"You might have some idea of who is coming out..."
No, I have absolutely no idea. Someone involved with the sea?

When the warm-up ends, a staff member suddenly replaces one of the water bottles.
With a black tumbler.

It's a black tumbler!!!!

I've seen that black tumbler before!! I have!!!!

I've even looked up what brand it was because it looked so cool!!!! That's why I know!! Who that tumbler belongs to!!

That is Gen-san's tumbler. Wait... is Gen-san... about to come out...?
I thought it was Kaiji, but it was Squid Game; I thought it was Squid Game, but it was CUBE.
I didn't have the luxury of imagining Sakuma-san doing quick mental arithmetic.

Sakuma-san and Gen-san. The two of them co-starred in a streaming event called "Gen Hoshino's All Night Nippon Listener Appreciation Party." Wait!?
Didn't they talk about a talk show featuring Gen-san and Wakabayashi-san there!?
They also co-produced a jingle for the 55th anniversary of All Night Nippon, so Wakabayashi-san has to be coming out too, right!!!!!!

What should I do!! I've figured it out!! As I was fidgeting with that thought, the stage lights came up and the recording began.

3. Recording Starts

Without any signal, as softly and naturally as if you could hear a faint breeze, Gen-san and Wakabayashi-san appeared on stage from the left and right. My brain had predicted it, but my body hadn't caught up. I got goosebumps.

The recording begins. My two favorite people are talking right in front of me. A conversation that feels like they are pouring out the very depths of their hearts. And yet, strangely, there is no dark or unpleasant feeling at all; if I had to describe it with a color, it would be a pale orange. And it's warm. I want to just drift in this space. Maybe this is what it felt like in my mother's womb.

Why is it that even when the word "hate" comes from the two of them, it feels somewhat gentle? I want to be like that.

Anyway, I stared at them from head to toe, determined not to forget this scene, so Gen-san's red sneakers are etched into my memory.

As you know, since it has already been streamed, the content is:
・They meet once a month to talk.
・Gen-san is supposed to write one song each time.
・Wakabayashi-san wrote rap lyrics. Gen-san wants to make the track.
And so on, a series of surprises. And above all,

Keep this a secret until it is announced. Please carry this burden alone.
Carry the same cross as us.

What a heavy cross to bear... I went to a theater in Ikebukuro that only holds about 100 people, and Gen-san and Wakabayashi-san came out and talked. I have such a powerful piece of information, but I can't tell anyone.

When I get home, my wife asks, "What was the recording for?" Don't ask! I think to myself, while saying something nonsensical like, "Oh, it was just... some young comedians? People you probably wouldn't know even if I told you." I'm a terrible liar.

"Wait, you were meeting a woman?"

That's not it, but well, I suppose that's what one might think.

Wondering what to do with this cross to bear, I started writing an email. The address was "gen@allnightnippon.com"
Yes, for Gen Hoshino's All Night Nippon.

I love radio, but I almost never send emails. I'm just terrible at writing, I can't think of anything funny, and I have no talent for making jingles.

But this time, I had time to spare. I put the email, which I didn't know when I'd be able to send, into my drafts, and like a treasure, I would open it from time to time to rewrite it a little, add to it, or change it back.

I spent my days like that, and before I knew it, five months had passed.

4. Announcement and Radio

July 11th, 6:00 PM. The information was finally released. I felt a complex mix of "It's been so long... thank you..." and "You're not announcing the song yet?!"

And this day was a Tuesday. From 1:00 AM, Gen Hoshino's All Night Nippon would be on air. The day had finally come to send the email that had been my own personal treasure. When I pressed the send button, the email moved from my draft box to my sent box, saying "Thank you for everything until now."

1:00 AM.
"Good evening, this is Gen Hoshino."
The broadcast began, and the topic was, of course, the announced LIGHTHOUSE.

"Radio name: Yosuke Iwai"
Gen-san called my name. I turned up the volume on radiko, making my ears and the radio one. Gen-san read the email I had kept as a treasure and laughed.

"It's a Neburi-bo."
My email was chosen for the program, and I was even able to receive the program novelty that Gen-san only gives to people he wants to give it to.

After that, there was an announcement about the song, the distribution started, and I put down the cross I had been carrying for five months.

No, actually, there is one more thing.

The recording lasted a little under two hours.
Episode 4, which shows the public recording, is 36 minutes long.

Yes, there is a part that hasn't been released.

There is something Mr. Sakuma said to us when the recording ended.
"I think there are many parts that won't be streamed, but consider that a souvenir for those of you who came here today."

This souvenir has also become one of my treasures.

The end
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I intended to write this casually, but it turned into a long post once I started. Thank you for reading until the end. Sorry, please let me make one announcement.

I am someone who is usually so incredibly unsuccessful that it almost looks like I'm successful, but as a result of my love for radio taking a strange turn, I host an event called the 'Radio Listener Fes' once every year.

Both venue tickets and streaming tickets are still on sale, so please check them out if you are interested. I hope this event will be an opportunity for you to encounter new radio shows you don't usually listen to.

"Radio Listener Fes 2023"

Date: Sunday, September 3, 2023
Time: Starts at 12:30 PM (Doors open at 12:00 PM) / Scheduled to end at 4:30 PM
Venue: Euro Live (KINOHAUS 2F, 1-5 Maruyamacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
Tickets
・Venue: 3,000 yen (https://eplus.jp/sf/detail/3929900001)
・Streaming: 2,000 yen (https://eplus.jp/sf/detail/3929920001)

<Performers>
A-Masso Murakami / Kei Takamoto (MBS Radio & Radiotalk)
Yasuyoshi Asuwa / Albuquerque / Ryo Ochiai / Hiroaki Terada / Boutique Ayumi
Suspenders
Dekami-chan / Ryohei Yano / Daigo Iizuka
Minamikawa / Yasutomo Oshima
Miyashita Kusanagi: Kanetaka Miyashita / Yonsen-toshin: Hiroki Tsuzuki

MC: Yutorikko-tachi no Tawagoto / Daiki Haraguchi

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