Jun 25, 2008 22:39
「Handshake」
These past few months, I have been conducting interviews in my role as an Olympic newscaster.
I came across a new challenge.
I had an interview with with Japan's Olympic Baseball team's coach, Coach Hoshino Senichi.
Unlike the interviews that I've conducted up till now, this time it's with the coach and not the athletes.
Not someone from the same generation as me, but rather someone who is old enough to be my father.
Above all else, there will be a 10-minute live broadcast.
This will definitely be something very different from the interviews I have done to-date.
The interviews have always lasted an hour.
In order for the so-called "Straight Talk" to happen,
"While eating"
"Must not be holding the interview materials"
"When it's just the two of us, leaving the staff behind"
"Within the hour, the first 10 minutes is for loosening the atmosphere"
these are all the tactics used.
How-e-ver!
For this interview, none of them will work.
So, what shall you do, Sakurai?
What should I do?
...no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't come up with a method.
Well, I have to learn then.
When the time comes, nothing is more important than the precious time in which I will be talking to him personally, ne.
And so.
One hour before the actual broadcast, I went into his dressing room, to get his opinion on the things we will be talking about.
Then, the actual broadcast.
First off, we were not in the usual studio.
It was just the two of us, the coach and I.
We could hear the comings and goings of the studio.
It somehow made me restless.
And not nervous.
I just found it hard to express my thoughts...
That somehow kept me feeling restless.
And after that, the broadcast continued on from another studio...
Then, back to the usual studio, where I was giving some comments...
And then, just when I'm about to reach the other studio again.
Ralph-san, stuck his hand out to me, and gave me a firm handshake.
This is the Ralph-san, that has been in charge of the sports corner all along.
He is not only my senior at school, but Urlph-san is also someone whom I rely on in private and at work.
Oops, I typo-ed.
Ralph-san.
His hand, just held on to mine, gripping it strongly. Not one word spoken. His eyes looking into mine.
What's with the handshake?
Without any words exchanged.
That moment lasted only a few seconds.
With just that handshake, I felt encouraged by him.
It could be due to that, or it could be due to something else. But I found myself unbelievably calm, when the live interview started.
And then, that's the end of the program.
While the CM aired, it was photoshoot time with the coach.
The staff then said "You two, a little bit more please".
Upon hearing that, Coach put his arms around my shoulder.
And then he quietly said.
"Because you are now my son (laugh)".
Maybe it doesn't have any significant meaning, and maybe he meant it as a joke. (if he was serious, I won't know how to proceed from there on)
But.
Really.
I was relieved.
Somehow, that felt like a praise to me.
It took the weight off my shoulders, just like that.
It was that kind of moment for me.
Next we returned to our usual studio.
Susue-san was reading the news in front of the Wall.
When I walked past Ralph-san' side...
We firmly shook each other's hands.
This time, I'm not sure which one of us initiated it.
But we just firmly shook each other's hands.
Not sure what it was for. The handshake.
It's fills in for those times when words cannot express our thoughts.
And so, because! of! that!
It was another day where I had discovered something big.
P.S.
I have finished filming for Yattaman.
Everyone else is still in the midst of shooting, but for me, I am done.
For the kids, they would be playing around, holding on to a toy Hero, saying "Do-n! U-wa~yareta"
Me, I'm an adult.
I was paid.
I gave it my all.
But I felt as if I was having fun all the time.
Is it a dream...or maybe just excitement...
But it was a set filled with childhood stuff.
From the director, all the way to the staff, we all had fun.
So even though we were on set, we all felt happy.
It had been 2 months full of warmth.
I hope that warmth reaches out from the screen (to the audience).
O-tsukare-, me.
8th May 2008
Sakurai Sho
sakurai sho,
j-web