2011.07.30 +act mini - Interview: Itou Osamu & Iwasaki Yasuji (about Kame)
I love this interview :-)
2011.07.30 +act mini Interview: Itou Osamu & Iwasaki Yasuji
[two producers talk about Kame]
Itou Osamu: born 1969, "Going!" producer
Iwasaki Yasuji: born 1969, "Dramatic Game 1844" [Pro-Baseball Relay] producer
It has already been one year since Kamenashi Kazuya became the baseball special supporter for the popular program "Going! Sports&News". He visits the actual locations of pro-baseball, he continues to collect profound data and to challenge projects that strain his body. This season he also challenges live commenting for the pro-baseball relay "Dramatic Game 1844" on the second sound channel. Having already personally become vital in the world of baseball, ”Going!”'s Itou Osamu and Pro-Baseball Relay's Iwasaki Yasuji talked about the appeal of the baseball player Kamenashi Kazuya with us.
Itou: I first worked with Kamenashi-san in “Gurachan Volley” [1] which I produced in 2005. KAT-TUN participated as special volleyball supporters. After that, Iwasaki and I started “Going! Sports&News” together, and so started to work together with Kamenashi-san. First of all, as our one preamble we had the phrase, “Revival of the popularity of baseball”. Hence it was necessary to think about it from various angles.
Iwasaki: It's the same for the “Pro-Baseball Relay”. Compared to before, the number of terrestrial broadcastings decreased, even though it is exciting in the actual baseball stadium, there are times when the reports we get are unexciting. Therefore, in order to make baseball exciting again, we are trying several new things; we attach cameras to the referees, we try to convey realism, we interview the players during the matches. So we asked Kamenashi-san to appear on the second sound channel, we especially want the young generation to enjoy it. The reason we appointed him to the second sound channel is that above all there is his good record in “Going!” which he has built up in the last year.
Itou: We want to close the distance between players and viewers, we had this sort of concept for the show. Therefore, we have the MC Ueda Shinya-san who can talk from a general point of view, we included Egawa Suguru-san who carries the expert’s point of view, and we asked Kamenashi Kazuya-san who in the role of baseball special supporter takes on both standpoints. He also actually appeared in the youth baseball world tournament. Having Kamenashi-san participating we hope that the generation who had no interest in baseball until now will watch it too. But with a caster’s standpoint he will never beat an experts’, so we considered for him to actually go to the locations, collect data there, and to be involved with the players.
Iwasaki: There are many cases where tarento [2] are collecting data, but after entering the other parties' field of work they draw them into their own field. But Kamenashi-san is not like that. While respecting the players he keeps a sense of distance, he completely keeps the standpoint of a person who is collecting data. He is really splendid, it amazes me.
Itou: When collecting data normally, we would ask and then hear that it's impossible for various reasons, but now we are even asked by baseball teams, "When will Kamenashi-kun come?". Now we also occasionally get unexpected proposals and it’s like, "Will he be able to do that, too?" At the ceremonial first pitch that takes place just before a match, he was allowed to do the opening pitches in a real game, because it's an event where guests also enter, this is normally absolutely impossible. He also participates in referees training and backstage work etc. We normally can’t even do projects showing the backstage, it’s difficult. But precisely because Kamenashi-san was there, more than the wild projects TV-people like us consider, we implement projects that are even more ahead. I even think that this has taken us about 20 years! (*laughs*). Kamenashi-san actually sweats and seriously tackles the data collection, he earnestly wants to convey the charm of baseball. That intent is being conveyed.
Iwasaki: Furthermore, it's not that he just shows his own baseball knowledge, he devotes himself to conveying the charm of baseball.
Itou: When we started the home run challenge about half of the plan came from Kamenashi-san. Furthermore, he didn’t limit it to only the challenge. Because he also proposed, "Even without the program I want to aid the people in the disaster areas", he attained the cooperation of the Touhoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and was also allowed to participated in the coaching of the youth's baseball in the disaster areas. Now, more than we had envisioned, he acquires the trust from the baseball world and is getting approved. In the TV industry and also in the world of baseball he became a major presence.
Iwasaki: This is also felt in the baseball relay. Usually when a tarento takes the commentator position we received complaints from sports fans of the past, "We simply want to watch the match". At first, we were also prepared for such complaints, but miraculously there were none regarding Kamenashi-san. Just now, there was talk that he gained the trust of the baseball world, I think this is evidence that he is also gaining the trust of the viewers.
Itou: Regarding the live commenting, at the beginning there were parts where we were worried. In "Going!" he can tell things based on what he experienced, but when it comes to live commenting he will be out of his element.
Iwasaki: For the live commenting of baseball telling the course of the ball is the most basic of basics. But during a match one can't predict where the ball will fly. It's really difficult. But the announcers were also surprised. Kamenashi-san could do it accurately from the beginning. Perhaps it's because he has been watching baseball relays since he was small, and so its rhythm has pervaded his body. For Kamenashi-san pro-baseball players are shining people of adoration on the sports grounds. He does the data colleting while he even now cherishes that image he has held of them since he was small.
Itou: At the time of the press announcement when his appearance on the second sound channel of the baseball relay had been decided, he was delighted and said behind the scenes of the venue, "Because I have been watching baseball relays all the time, having to do with one myself is amazing!"
Iwasaki: And while he is having such pure/genuine feelings, he also does his work properly. He is looking over the live coverage, he is really checking it out behind the scenes. An normal announcer has scorecards of the whole match, Kamenashi-san copies these scorecards and takes them home. Of course he does it of his own accord. He will look through all of them before the next broadcast on the second sound channel. Precisely because he puts that kind of hidden effort into things he can be active in the world of show business, too.
Itou: It's the same with the "Challenge"-Projects. He will train on his own and on the day before the recording he will eat dinner twice to store energy. The performance of the pro-baseball players is naturally amazing, because in an actual game pro-players play [against each other] that greatness is often difficult to convey. Kamenashi-san is an amateur, but he has considerably high skills and talent/ability. When even someone like him is unable to hit a home run and steal the base, the greatness of the professional players is all the more conveyed.
Iwasaki: The interesting thing is that the players also care about Kamenashi-san.
Itou: Because pro-players are each others rivals there are also things they don't readily tell each other. After Kamenashi-san won in the opening ceremony's first pitch confrontation I heard that he got told by the pitchers he had interacted with, "You throw too many changeup pitches!" (*laughs*). And it's not just people related to pro-baseball teams, but also youth baseball coaches. I also heard stories that they tell their pupils, "Please record the 'Kamenashi Projects' and use them as reference".
Iwasaki: In the beginning I wanted him to have the role of an intermediary for the viewers, even though I didn't ask him, he perfectly understood this role. For example, if a baseball enthusiast watches they think that, "In this setting there is no sacrifice bunt. [3]". Kamenashi who knows baseball ought also to naturally think that, and then change it into a question for the commentator and in this way convey it to the viewers in an easily understandable manner. I am really grateful.
Itou: It looks to me that his image regarding Tokyo dome has also changed. He said that previously it was a concert venue that they used from the position of leading actors, and that now he is involved there from the position of a data collector, it's a different world now. And it’s like this at all locations, he greets the coaches, the players, the staff in charge of the equipment, and also the people from the cafeteria with a, "Nice to meet you I look forward to working with you". He is really a humble/modest idol (*laughs*).
Iwasaki: He is certainly modest (*laughs*). Also during the baseball relay, he enters the location four hours before, greets authorised people/staff of both baseball teams and collects data. He is really amazing. Naturally, everyone drops by spontaneously. That's of course because he himself creates such a setting.
Itou: The moody players also approach Kamenashi-san with a smile.
Iwasaki: I have been involved with the baseball world nearly 20 years, people that have never spoken with us are talking with Kamenashi-san.
Itou: Frankly, at first I didn't imagine he would become such a presence. I heard that at a conference where PR of all baseball team was gathered the following topic was brought up, "What should we do that Kamenashi-kun will come to collect data?" It's something to be thankful for, nowadays nearly all baseball teams are cooperating with "Going!".
Iwasaki: Because he already exceeded our expectations with his work, I don't have any particular requests, but if I were to have a dream in future, it would be that he is drafted (*laughs*). From now on he will continue to challenge various things in "Going!", and we will also make use of them in the baseball relay. Because I think Kamenashi-san's charm will increase more and more, I am counting on him.
Itou: There are still projects we haven't done yet. Because I also received a request from him that he wants to mingle and cheer with the fans in the left field stands, I want to implement as much as possible. I think it's also difficult with the schedules, but from now on I also want him to go to various locations, to move his body [exercise], and together convey the charm of baseball.
[1] Gurachan Volley = NTV show for the World Grand Champions Cup Volleyball
[2] tarento (talent) = star, tv personality
[3] Some kind of baseball expression I don't understand.
2011.07.30 +act mini Interview: Itou Osamu & Iwasaki Yasuji
[two producers talk about Kame]
Itou Osamu: born 1969, "Going!" producer
Iwasaki Yasuji: born 1969, "Dramatic Game 1844" [Pro-Baseball Relay] producer
It has already been one year since Kamenashi Kazuya became the baseball special supporter for the popular program "Going! Sports&News". He visits the actual locations of pro-baseball, he continues to collect profound data and to challenge projects that strain his body. This season he also challenges live commenting for the pro-baseball relay "Dramatic Game 1844" on the second sound channel. Having already personally become vital in the world of baseball, ”Going!”'s Itou Osamu and Pro-Baseball Relay's Iwasaki Yasuji talked about the appeal of the baseball player Kamenashi Kazuya with us.
Itou: I first worked with Kamenashi-san in “Gurachan Volley” [1] which I produced in 2005. KAT-TUN participated as special volleyball supporters. After that, Iwasaki and I started “Going! Sports&News” together, and so started to work together with Kamenashi-san. First of all, as our one preamble we had the phrase, “Revival of the popularity of baseball”. Hence it was necessary to think about it from various angles.
Iwasaki: It's the same for the “Pro-Baseball Relay”. Compared to before, the number of terrestrial broadcastings decreased, even though it is exciting in the actual baseball stadium, there are times when the reports we get are unexciting. Therefore, in order to make baseball exciting again, we are trying several new things; we attach cameras to the referees, we try to convey realism, we interview the players during the matches. So we asked Kamenashi-san to appear on the second sound channel, we especially want the young generation to enjoy it. The reason we appointed him to the second sound channel is that above all there is his good record in “Going!” which he has built up in the last year.
Itou: We want to close the distance between players and viewers, we had this sort of concept for the show. Therefore, we have the MC Ueda Shinya-san who can talk from a general point of view, we included Egawa Suguru-san who carries the expert’s point of view, and we asked Kamenashi Kazuya-san who in the role of baseball special supporter takes on both standpoints. He also actually appeared in the youth baseball world tournament. Having Kamenashi-san participating we hope that the generation who had no interest in baseball until now will watch it too. But with a caster’s standpoint he will never beat an experts’, so we considered for him to actually go to the locations, collect data there, and to be involved with the players.
Iwasaki: There are many cases where tarento [2] are collecting data, but after entering the other parties' field of work they draw them into their own field. But Kamenashi-san is not like that. While respecting the players he keeps a sense of distance, he completely keeps the standpoint of a person who is collecting data. He is really splendid, it amazes me.
Itou: When collecting data normally, we would ask and then hear that it's impossible for various reasons, but now we are even asked by baseball teams, "When will Kamenashi-kun come?". Now we also occasionally get unexpected proposals and it’s like, "Will he be able to do that, too?" At the ceremonial first pitch that takes place just before a match, he was allowed to do the opening pitches in a real game, because it's an event where guests also enter, this is normally absolutely impossible. He also participates in referees training and backstage work etc. We normally can’t even do projects showing the backstage, it’s difficult. But precisely because Kamenashi-san was there, more than the wild projects TV-people like us consider, we implement projects that are even more ahead. I even think that this has taken us about 20 years! (*laughs*). Kamenashi-san actually sweats and seriously tackles the data collection, he earnestly wants to convey the charm of baseball. That intent is being conveyed.
Iwasaki: Furthermore, it's not that he just shows his own baseball knowledge, he devotes himself to conveying the charm of baseball.
Itou: When we started the home run challenge about half of the plan came from Kamenashi-san. Furthermore, he didn’t limit it to only the challenge. Because he also proposed, "Even without the program I want to aid the people in the disaster areas", he attained the cooperation of the Touhoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and was also allowed to participated in the coaching of the youth's baseball in the disaster areas. Now, more than we had envisioned, he acquires the trust from the baseball world and is getting approved. In the TV industry and also in the world of baseball he became a major presence.
Iwasaki: This is also felt in the baseball relay. Usually when a tarento takes the commentator position we received complaints from sports fans of the past, "We simply want to watch the match". At first, we were also prepared for such complaints, but miraculously there were none regarding Kamenashi-san. Just now, there was talk that he gained the trust of the baseball world, I think this is evidence that he is also gaining the trust of the viewers.
Itou: Regarding the live commenting, at the beginning there were parts where we were worried. In "Going!" he can tell things based on what he experienced, but when it comes to live commenting he will be out of his element.
Iwasaki: For the live commenting of baseball telling the course of the ball is the most basic of basics. But during a match one can't predict where the ball will fly. It's really difficult. But the announcers were also surprised. Kamenashi-san could do it accurately from the beginning. Perhaps it's because he has been watching baseball relays since he was small, and so its rhythm has pervaded his body. For Kamenashi-san pro-baseball players are shining people of adoration on the sports grounds. He does the data colleting while he even now cherishes that image he has held of them since he was small.
Itou: At the time of the press announcement when his appearance on the second sound channel of the baseball relay had been decided, he was delighted and said behind the scenes of the venue, "Because I have been watching baseball relays all the time, having to do with one myself is amazing!"
Iwasaki: And while he is having such pure/genuine feelings, he also does his work properly. He is looking over the live coverage, he is really checking it out behind the scenes. An normal announcer has scorecards of the whole match, Kamenashi-san copies these scorecards and takes them home. Of course he does it of his own accord. He will look through all of them before the next broadcast on the second sound channel. Precisely because he puts that kind of hidden effort into things he can be active in the world of show business, too.
Itou: It's the same with the "Challenge"-Projects. He will train on his own and on the day before the recording he will eat dinner twice to store energy. The performance of the pro-baseball players is naturally amazing, because in an actual game pro-players play [against each other] that greatness is often difficult to convey. Kamenashi-san is an amateur, but he has considerably high skills and talent/ability. When even someone like him is unable to hit a home run and steal the base, the greatness of the professional players is all the more conveyed.
Iwasaki: The interesting thing is that the players also care about Kamenashi-san.
Itou: Because pro-players are each others rivals there are also things they don't readily tell each other. After Kamenashi-san won in the opening ceremony's first pitch confrontation I heard that he got told by the pitchers he had interacted with, "You throw too many changeup pitches!" (*laughs*). And it's not just people related to pro-baseball teams, but also youth baseball coaches. I also heard stories that they tell their pupils, "Please record the 'Kamenashi Projects' and use them as reference".
Iwasaki: In the beginning I wanted him to have the role of an intermediary for the viewers, even though I didn't ask him, he perfectly understood this role. For example, if a baseball enthusiast watches they think that, "In this setting there is no sacrifice bunt. [3]". Kamenashi who knows baseball ought also to naturally think that, and then change it into a question for the commentator and in this way convey it to the viewers in an easily understandable manner. I am really grateful.
Itou: It looks to me that his image regarding Tokyo dome has also changed. He said that previously it was a concert venue that they used from the position of leading actors, and that now he is involved there from the position of a data collector, it's a different world now. And it’s like this at all locations, he greets the coaches, the players, the staff in charge of the equipment, and also the people from the cafeteria with a, "Nice to meet you I look forward to working with you". He is really a humble/modest idol (*laughs*).
Iwasaki: He is certainly modest (*laughs*). Also during the baseball relay, he enters the location four hours before, greets authorised people/staff of both baseball teams and collects data. He is really amazing. Naturally, everyone drops by spontaneously. That's of course because he himself creates such a setting.
Itou: The moody players also approach Kamenashi-san with a smile.
Iwasaki: I have been involved with the baseball world nearly 20 years, people that have never spoken with us are talking with Kamenashi-san.
Itou: Frankly, at first I didn't imagine he would become such a presence. I heard that at a conference where PR of all baseball team was gathered the following topic was brought up, "What should we do that Kamenashi-kun will come to collect data?" It's something to be thankful for, nowadays nearly all baseball teams are cooperating with "Going!".
Iwasaki: Because he already exceeded our expectations with his work, I don't have any particular requests, but if I were to have a dream in future, it would be that he is drafted (*laughs*). From now on he will continue to challenge various things in "Going!", and we will also make use of them in the baseball relay. Because I think Kamenashi-san's charm will increase more and more, I am counting on him.
Itou: There are still projects we haven't done yet. Because I also received a request from him that he wants to mingle and cheer with the fans in the left field stands, I want to implement as much as possible. I think it's also difficult with the schedules, but from now on I also want him to go to various locations, to move his body [exercise], and together convey the charm of baseball.
[1] Gurachan Volley = NTV show for the World Grand Champions Cup Volleyball
[2] tarento (talent) = star, tv personality
[3] Some kind of baseball expression I don't understand.