Saturday, December 31, 2011

No Laughing Airport HOUR TWO

ガキの使い 絶対に笑ってはいけない空港24時!
Gaki No Tsukai Absolutely No Laughing Airport 24 Hours


Guests During Hour Two (7:30pm to 8:30pm): VIEW

This continues my catalog of the numerous guests during the New Year's Eve GnT broadcast.

Once again, since numerous translations of the show are pending, I'm making little effort to collect anything other than background information.

Portrait of Hamada by an anonymous Fine Arts student

I'm presenting these portraits of Hamada here, even though they are not "guests." It was my thought that they still represented some contribution to the show by (perhaps famous) individuals.

This image, however, was not apparently created by anyone of note. It still is rather striking, however.

Portrait of Hamada by a Street Portraitist

Similarly, this image was by a largely anonymous artist. It does still seem to be the most arresting of all the images.

Portrait of Hamada by 楳図 かずお(Umezu Kazuo)

This and the following image were contributed by reputable comic artist (and actor) Umezu Kazuo. I haven't read his work, but as will be noted later, he had a not inconsiderable contribution to this year's Batsu game. Perhaps more than any other guest.

Portrait of Hamada by 楳図 かずお(Umezu Kazuo)


白竜(Haku Ryuu or "White Dragon")

Okay! The next guest appears when Matsumoto presses a white button with the character 竜("Ryuu" or Dragon, as Matsumoto says) on it. This prompts Korean-born actor Haku Ryuu (literally, "White Dragon") to appear.

I really had no notion of Haku before his appearance, but he seems to have been involved in numerous film and television series based upon his character of "White Dragon." It's still unclear whether he's meant to be a fictional character or just an actor. Still, this is exactly the sort of question I'd hoped this catalog of guests would open.


高橋惠子(Takahashi Keiko)

Film actress Keiko Takahashi makes an appearance as the CA (Cabin Attendant) lead trainer, also quite a dominatrix.

Takahashi's appearance is quite well done. She comes in, announces her resume and then begins berate the regulars in quite filthy ways.

千秋(Chiaki)

Chiaki (Endou's former wife, they having divorced in 2007) makes her yearly appearance in the "キャビンアテンダント物語”("A Cabin Attendant's Tale") DVD that Tanaka plays.

Chiaki's participation in this year's batsu game is much larger than it's ever been. I'm unsure what this means, but her portrayal of a young girl trying to become a CA in this ridiculous ドラマ(Drama) parody is quite well done.

As usual, playing alongside Chiaki, is...

新おにぃ(前島浩一)Shin-Onii(Maejima Kouichi?)

Shin Onii continues to display a complete lack of acting ability in this drama parody.

Legend has it that Shin Onii was actually just an extra when chosen to play Chiaki's new husband for the Hotel Man batsu. His performance was such that he was brought back numerous times to amaze the regulars with his strange and inept impressions and acting ability.

Cast of キャビンアテンダント物語 ("A Cabin Attendant's Tale")

The following is a cast list of the Cabin Attendant's tale drama parody. Most are common television drama standbys.
比企理恵(Hiki Rie) as the first CA candidate.
高樹澪(Takaki Mio) as the second CA candidate.
いとうまい子(Ito Maiko) as the third CA candidate.
目黒祐樹(Meguro Yuuki) as Chiaki's (new) father. Her original father is obviously Producer Suga.
伊藤かずえ(Ito Kazue) as Chiaki's mother.
村松雄基(Muromatsu Toshifumi) as Chiaki's step brother.
原日出子(Hara Hideko) as Chiaki's bizarre stepsister.
山下真司(Shinji Yamashita) as another Airline director.
椿鬼奴(Tsubaki Oniyakko) as the woman without hands swearing revenge on Shin Onii.


渡辺直美(Watanabe Naomi) and
黒沢かずこ(Kurosawa Kazuko)

Watanabe and Kurosawa make their appearances doing impressions of Beyonce and Lady Gaga, respectively.

I had previously seen Watanabe do her Beyonce dance on an episdoe of Run For Money, and according to her wikipedia article, she's known as the "Beyonce of Japan."

Kurosawa (also of Morisanchuu) is, in my opinion, the best Japanese comedienne today. Her Shichi-Henge(episode #1066) is some evidence of this, but so is her presence in nearly every Batsu game for the last several years.

具志堅用高(Goshiken Youkou)

A nearly undefeated featherweight world champion boxer from the late 70's, Goshiken hails from Okinawa and has appeared on countless variety and television programs.

This is the first time I've seen him on GnT, but he's certainly been a regular on programs like Hexagon Quiz II and Run For Money.

武田修宏(Takeda Nobuhiro)

Tekada is a former Soccer player and now sports announcer for NTV.

He seems hilariously unprepared when asked to step up to the microphone.

X-GUN("Batsu-Gun")

I think this may be their first appearance in a Batsu game, but certainly 西尾季隆(Nishio Hidetaka, on the right) and さがね正裕(Sagane Masahiro, on the left) are no strangers to GnT or most variety programs. Their most important appearance was probably in episode #145, in which they demonstrated their verbose, uncomfortable, but obviously conceptual and "cutting edge" comedic style.

Here, they argue inappropriately about breaking up their colaboration. And Sagane's breath stinks as well.


No Laughing Airport HOUR ONE

ガキの使い 絶対に笑ってはいけない空港24時!
Gaki No Tsukai Absolutely No Laughing Airport 24 Hours


Approach:

As there will be a blessed surplus of direct translations and subtitled videos available for this episode in no great time, I've decided to try to catalog the somewhat large number of guest appearances during the show's six hours.

I'll be breaking this down into one hour sections to make the work more palatable, and may also record certain vocabulary I look up during the process.

Guests During Hour One (6:30pm to 7:30pm): VIEW

Bananaman

Familiar faces Shitara Osamu (設楽 統, on the left) and Himura Yuuki (日村 勇紀, on the right) appear dressed as young girls gossiping about Japanese Geinin (entertainers or comedians). Much more improbably, they're joined by:

伊藤 一朗 (Ito Ichiro)

Just as he's made appearances during several GnT "Grand-Prix" hidden camera competitions, Ito Ichiro, the guitarist and songwriter for Every Little Thing (ELT), makes an appearance.

大島美幸 (Oshima Miyuki)

The very familiar, odd-looking, though sometimes quite funny comedienne Oshima from the trio Morisanchuu makes an appearance as one of the victims of the underwear thief.

バービー (Barbie)


Barbie, a member of Fall In Love is also chasing the underwear thief. Although she's becoming a more familiar face, I've never seen her do anything terribly funny. Matsumoto seems to have a fascination with her, however.


吉高 由里子 (Yoshitaka Yuriko) and

藤森 慎吾(Fujimori Shingo)


Yoshitaka Yuriko (evidently an up-and-coming actress) and the quite odious Fujimori Shingo appear as a girl and her obnoxious boyfriend. I note this as one of Fujimori's few appearances on GnT (he seems common enough on Lincoln, but has he appeared on GnT before?) That is sweet relief, as he seems one of the most vile and contrived entertainers on current Japanese television. The word used to describe him (or his character) very often is "ちゃらい" (flashy, obsequious), but this has evidently made him somewhat popular on many programs. Regardless, I find him quite unfunny and loathsome.


梅沢 富美男(Umezawa Tomio)


Umezawa appears as Yoshitaka's father, and is abused by Fujimori, prompting him to break character and take mock offense.

I'm unfamiliar with Umezawa, but he's evidently a frequent actor on Japanese drama programs, and also a singer.


岡田圭右(Okada Keisuke)


Now we're talking! Always welcome, Okada from the combi Masuda-Okada brings back his embarassing and enjoyable character Happy Boy for the first time since last New Year's Eve.

This is doubly appropriate as he skipped this year's High Tension The Best of Ten shows. His appearance here, though not as enjoyable as watching him get shot last year, is still quite silly and therefore satisfying.


AMEMIYA and

小籔 千豊(Koyabu Kazutoyo)


AMEMIYA, a quite popular comedian and singer appears with another comedian playing his manager. AMEMIYA had a hit in 2011 with his folk-nonsense song "冷やし中華はじめました"("Begin the Chinese Cold Noodles"). The song introduces numerous odd lyrics into what appears to be a straightforward folk song.

It seems AMEMIYA is considering forming a duet with his friend, who turns out to be...


梅宮 辰夫(Umemiya Tatsuo)


Paying upon AMEMIYA's name, 60's actor Umemiya is introduced a possible partner. The only joke here seems to be the similarity in names, and the depths to which the evidently well-known actor has sunk.

Umemiya has a long filmography, but the only title that seems to stand out (to me, at least) is Kinji Fukusaku's "Battles Without Honor and Humanity."

マツコ・デラックス(Matsuko Deluxe)


Matsuko deluxe, popular obese transvestite newspaper columnist and now entertainer, makes her yearly appearance, although she seems to have graduated from a bus appearance.

As usual, she shows a hilariously inordinate interest in Endou, and a more hilarious hatred for Tanaka.

Matsuko is now seen quite regularly on several variety shows, including 有田とマツコと男と女 (Arita, Matsuko, Man, Woman) on TBS.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Gaki No Tsukai Episode #1085


Episode Title:
2011 ガキの使いおもしろVTRベスト10

"2011 Gaki No Tsukai Funniest Ten Episodes"

Gaki No Tsukai Episode #1085: 2011 Best 10

Broadcast Date:

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

Viewing Links:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzMzODgxNjAw.html

Guests:

藤原 寛(ふじわら ひろし): Fujiwara Hiroshi, former Downtown manager and host of this episode.
ライセンス (License, a "combi" featuring:
  • 藤原一裕 (Fujiwara Kazuhiro)
  • 井本貴史 (Inomoto Takafumi)
中村喜伸 (P中村)(Series producer Nakamura Yoshinobu otherwise known as "P Nakamura").
おばちゃん1号 (浅見 千代子 :あさみ ちよこ):"Obachyan #1"(Asami Chiyoko)
ピカデリー梅田(菅 登未男 :すが とみお):"Picadilly Umaeda" (Suga Tomio)
ヘイポー(斉藤敏豪): Heipo (Saito Toshihide)
新おにぃ(前島浩一):Shin-Onii(Maejima Kouichi?)

Important Vocabulary:

行き成り(いきなり):All of a sudden.
餃子(ぎょうざ):gyoza (crescent-shaped pan-fried dumplings stuffed with minced pork and vegetables).
主将(しゅしょう):commander-in-chief, (team) captain.
企画(きかく):Planning, design.
割り(わり):Sumo (style) match.
にらめっこ: Staring contest.
大相撲(おおずもう):Professional Sumo wrestling.
宅(たく):Home.
振り返る(ぶりかえる):To look back upon.
妄想(ぼうそう):Wild idea,delusion (fantasy).

Episode Summary:

Another year, and another Gaki No Tsukai Best of 10!

The episode opens with former Downtown manager Fujiwara Hiroshi acting in a parody of the new (and popular?) Tokusatsu series "妖怪人間ベム" ("Human-Monster Bem"). After the strange devil creature threatens to kill everyone, Fujiwara chases him off an introduces himself as "Human-Monster Fujiwara-Bera" (Bera being the female lead on the program) and shouts the show's catchphrase "Quickly, I want to become a human being!"

This is Fujiwara's 14th consecutive year hosting this year-end event, which would mean he's been doing it since 1997. This TV parody is quite different from the (very few) other episodes of this type I've seen, in which Fujiwara typically parodies a song popular that year.

The opening titles run over clips from the following episodes:

  • Matsumoto at Karaoke with the "Powered Up" Sherri, Itao's wife in episode #1049 (Broadcast April 10th, 2011).
  • Matsumoto rising from his crypt in episode #1056 (Broadcast May 29th, 2011).
  • Hamada/Matsumoto in an as yet unidentified talk segment.
  • Matsumoto pretending to be surprised by a trick bomb in episode #1069 (Broadcast June 26th, 2011)

As the countdown of the year's best begins in earnest, there is a video bumper played between each episode. This bumper shows clips from the following episodes (note that the background music is from ”マルモのおきて” and can be heard here):
  • Matsumoto rising from his crypt in episode #1056 (Broadcast May 29th, 2011).
  • The climax of this year's "Sayonara Yamasaki," episode #1047 (Broadcast March 27th, 2011).
  • A lewd highlight from Kurosawa Kazuko's Shichi-Henge in episode #1066 (Broadcast August 7th, 2011).
  • A moment from Shoji Murakami's Feudal Lord class in episode #1058 (Broadcast June 12th, 2011).
  • The charming group shot from this year's "High Tension Best of 10" from the end of episode #1079.
Then, listing the top episodes of 2011 from least best to best:

#10 なりきり たけし王グランプリ ("Suddenly Takeshi Grand Prix!")

Episode: #1063,#1064
Broadcast: July 17th, 2011; July 24th, 2011
VIEW:
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjg2MDg4NDg0.html
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjg4NDQxNjQ0.html

#9 TKJグランプリ2 ("2nd Jan-Ken-Pon Tournament")

Episode: #1053, #1054, #1055
Broadcast: May 8th, 2011; May 15th, 2011; May 22nd, 2011.
VIEW:
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjY1Mzc0NzQ4.html
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjY3MzMwNjcy.html
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjY5Mjc3MjE2.html

#8 ベロンベロン酒場 ("BeronBeron Stumbling Drunk Bar")

Episode: #1075, #1076
Broadcast: October 10th, 2011; October 17th, 2011.
VIEW:
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzExMzI5OTI0.html
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzEzNDIyMTky.html

#7 X-GUN 餃子の主将ダメ出し企画 ("BatsuGun King of Gyouzu Unsuccessful Serving Plan")

Episode: #145
Broadcast: March 6th, 2011
VIEW:http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjQ4ODUwMjAw.html

#6 ガラス割りにらめっこ大相撲 ("Great Glass Sumo Staring Contest")

Episode: #1062
Broadcast: July 10th, 2011
VIEW:http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjgzOTY0Mzky.html

#5 へイポー芸人宅へ宿泊&キャンプ ("Heipo's Geinin Sleepover and Camping")

Episode: #1067, #1071
Broadcast: August 14th, 2011
VIEW:
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjk0Nzc2NzAw.html
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzAzNDEyNTIw.html

#4 山崎 昭和を振り返る ("Yamasaki Looks Back Upon the Showa Era")

Episode: #1068
Broadcast:
VIEW:http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjk3MzE5NDQ0.html

#3 遠藤妄想テニス ("Endou's Tennis Fantasies")

Episode: #1051
Broadcast April 24th, 2011
VIEW:http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjYxNjEzMjk2.html

#2 浜田雅功のなぞなぞワールド ("Hamada Masatoshi's World of Riddles")

Episode: #1077
Broadcast: Sunday October 23rd 2011
VIEW:http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzE1NTcwNjIw.html

#1 灼熱の素手地獄!箸なき闘い!!("Red Hot Barehanded hell! Battle without chopsticks!!")

Episode: #1080
Broadcast: November 13th, 2011
VIEW:http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzIyMjU4MjMy.html

Episode Analysis:

Others might not like these episodes, but I love them. As a late admirer of the show, and as episodes can be difficult to track down online, I'm often thrilled at seeing as-yet-unwatched episodes referenced in these end-of-year clip shows.

I also find these episodes thrilling in that it affords a view into which episodes the production staff themselves thought were the most successful. This is illustrative of the style of comedy the producers are aiming for, and getting to the heart of what the show is "about."

As for the rundown, no one is ever entirely pleased by any "top 10" list, but I was especially pleased to see some of my favorites near the top. These include #1068 (Yamasaki's Showa music spectacular), #1075/76 (BeronBeron Bar) and #1080(Battle without chopsticks).

The "top" episode (#1080) is noteworthy in that the moment it went out, there was an immediate flurry of interest in it-- that is, its simple, silly excellence was immediately apparent to anyone watching.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Gaki No Tsukai 七変化 (Shichi Henge) Stats as of Episode #1084


Since last week's episode (#1084) featured the Shichi-Henge of Nakagawa Reiji (the staff thought his performance in the upcoming New Year's Eve "No Laughing in the Airport" was so good, they brought him in for this) I thought rather than blog the individual episode, I'd try to do more of a retrospective of the previous Shich-Henge episodes.



There's a couple of similar lists floating around the internet, but I thought I'd take a stab to increase my familiarity with the series. In collecting the links to the episodes below, I found several that I haven't yet seen.


The following table lists all Shichi Henge episodes of GnT as of December 11th, 2011. Upon subsequent Shichi-Henge episodes (they seem to come once every six months or so) I will update this list and repost.


Episode NumberBroadcast DatePerformer (pronunciation) [Combi] Amount EearnedMisc.
753April 17th, 2005河本準一(こうもと じゅんいち) [次長課長(じちょうかちょう)]
Koumoto Jyunichi from JichyouKachou
¥63,000WATCH
1066 August 7th, 2011 黒沢かずこ[森三中]
Kurosawa Kazuko from Morisanchuu
¥55,000WATCH
941February 8th, 2009 哲夫(てつお)[笑い飯]
Tetsuo from WaraiMeshi
¥53,000
635November 24th, 2002 Bob Sapp ¥53,000 WATCH
887January 13th, 2008 小杉竜一(こすぎ りゅういち)[ブラックマヨネーズ]
Kosugi Ryuichi from Black Mayonnaise
¥48,000 WATCH
1021September 12th, 2010 友近(ともちか)
Tomochika Yukiko
¥47,000 WATCH
994February 28th, 2010 日村勇紀(ひむら ゆうき)[バナナマン]
Himura Yuuki from Bananaman
¥46,000
852April 29th, 2007 原西孝幸(はらにし たかゆき)[FUJIWARA]
Haranishi Takayuki from FUJIWARA
¥45,000 WATCH
487November 7th, 1999 竜泉(りゅうせん)[構成作家]
Ryuusen (TV Scenario writer)
¥44,000
731November 7th, 2004 千原靖史(ちはら こうじ)[千原兄弟(ちはらきょうだい)]
Chihara kouji from Chihara Brothers
¥43,000 WATCH
1084December 11th, 2011中川礼二(なかがわ れいじ)
Nakagawa Reiji
¥42,000 WATCH
978November 1st, 2009 ケンドーコバヤシ
Kendo Kobayashi
¥41,000
387September 28th, 1997 田中直樹[ココリコ]
Tanaka Naoki from Cocorico
¥40,000
695February 15th, 2004 有田哲平(ありた てっぺい)[くりぃむしちゅー]
Arita Teppei from Kuriimushichuu
¥38,000 WATCH
799April 2nd, 2006 後藤輝基(ごとう てるもと)[フットボールアワー]
Godou Terumoto from Football Hour
¥38,000 WATCH
1004May 9th, 2010 設楽統(したら おさむ)[バナナマン]
Shitara Osamu from Bananaman
¥37,000 WATCH
397November 23rd, 1997 腰フリおばちゃん
"Free Hips Obachan"
¥37,000
1041February 6th, 2011 川島邦裕(かわしま くにひろ)[野性爆弾(やせいばくだん)]
Kawashima Kunihiro from Yasei Bakudan
¥35,000WATCH
844February 25th, 2007 藤本敏史(ふじもと としふみ)[FUJIWARA]
Fushimoto Toshifumi from FUJIWARA
¥35,000 WATCH
792February 5th, 2006 岩尾望(いわお のぞむ)[フットボールアワー]
Iwao Nozomu from Football Hour
¥33,000 WATCH
625September 8th, 2002 ふかわりょう
(Comedian) Fukawaryou
¥31,000 WATCH
371June 8th, 1997 大友有一ディレクター
Series Director Otomo
¥29,000 WATCH
945March 8th, 2009 西田幸治(にしだ こうじ)[笑い飯]
Nishida Kouji from Waraimeshi
¥27,000 WATCH
597February 17th, 2002 木村祐一(きむら ゆういち)
Kimura Yuuichi
¥27,000
463May 16th, 1999 宮迫博之(みやさこ ひろゆき)[雨上がり決死隊(あめあがりけっしたい)]
Miyazawa Hiroyuki from AmeAgariKesshitai
¥26,000 WATCH
736December 12th, 2004 千原ジュニア[千原兄弟]
Chihara Junior from Chihara Brothers
¥26,000 WATCH
340September 29th, 1996 磯俣拓生
Isomata Takuo (Downtown manager at that time)
¥25,000
456March 14th, 1999 蛍原徹(ほとはら とおる)[雨上がり決死隊]
Hotohara Tooru from AmeAgariKesshitai
¥19,000 WATCH
386September 21st, 1997 遠藤章造[ココリコ]
Endou Shozo from Cocorico
¥16,000 WATCH
300November 26th, 1995 菅賢治(すが けんじ)
Series Producer Suga Kenji
¥14,000
680October 19th, 2003 品川祐(しながわ ひろし)[品川庄司)しながわしょうじ)]
Shinagawa Hiroshi from Shinagawa-Shouji
¥12,000 WATCH
565June 17th, 2001 山下しげのり[ジャリズム]
Yamashita Genori from Jyarism
¥11,000 WATCH
297November 5th, 1995 山崎邦正
Yamasaki Housei
¥10,000 WATCH
312March 3rd, 1996 堤本幸男
Series Director Dotemoto ("Tsutsun")
¥10,000 WATCH
325June 9th, 1999 中村喜伸
Legendary series producer Nakamura
¥9,000 WATCH
355February 2nd, 1997 高須光聖(たかす みつよし)
Takasu Mitsuyoshi(TV Scenario Writer)
¥7,000 WATCH


Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Gaki No Tsukai Episode #1083


Episode Title: 2012年12月に世界終わる?



In December, 2012, Will the World End? (Talk Episode)
Gaki No Tsukai Episode #1083


Broadcast Date:

Sunday, December 4th, 2011

Viewing Links:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzI5MTc2Nzk2.html

Guests:

None.

Important Vocabulary:

文明(ぶんめい):Civilization, culture.
白髪(しらが):White hair (which may be trendy)
増える(ふえる):To increase, multiply.
平均(へいきん): Average
年齢(ねんれい): Age
老化(ろうか):Ageing
進行(しんこう): Advancement, progression.
老眼(ろうがん):Age related farsightedness.
足りる(たりる):To be sufficient
手術(しゅじゅつ): Operation, (surgical) procedure.
伸ばす(のばす):To lengthen, stretch, extend.
ボケッと: To be stupified. To do nothing.
爆走(ばくそう): Roaring noisily.
強制(きょうせい):Obligation, enforcement.
溶ける(とける): Melt, thaw.
真っ白(まっしろ):Pure white, blanche.
後輩(そはい):Junior at work or school.
理解(りかい):Comprehension, understanding.
言動(げんどう):Speech and conduct.
ガス欠(ガスけつ):Run out of gas.
普段(ふだん):Usual, habitual, ordinary.
正直(しょうじき):Honestly, frankly.

Episode Summary:

The best way to summarize the content of this episode is via the segment captions which are shown at the top right hand of the screen.

Where possible, direct quotes will be shown as follows:

MATSUMOTO!

HAMADA!

ENDOU!

TANAKA!

YAMASAKI!



2012年12月に世界終わる? ("Will the world end in December, 2012?")

Matsumoto uses the often discussed Mayan prediction that the world will end in December 2012 as a jumping-off point for the episode's discussion.

"The Mayans understood what it's like to work with Hamada this long! They understood completely!"

平均年齢44. 最近老化進行中  ("The average age [of the Gaki Regulars] is 44. Undergoing the advancement of old age!")

The conversation soon turns to the age of the Gaki regulars, and the effects of advancing age, including grey hair, vision problems, and changes in taste.

(pointing at Yamasaki's hair) "Here! It's very white!"
"It's fashionable silver hair, isn't it?"
"The silver hairs are increasing!"
...
"I also found a white hair on my pillow once. I thought it was a crab bone."
...
"Of all of us I suffer the worst from age related farsightedness. I can't see at all!"
(pointing to Hamada, and holding his arm out like he's reading like an old man) "Hey, HIS arms aren't long enough."
"He doesn't need so much as an eye operation as an arm stretching."
...
"Sometimes meals give me a bad feeling. I sit there stupefied!
Sometimes eating (sticky) Nato (moving my chopsticks in a circular motion) makes me feel very bad. I'm confused. What am I doing? I just don't understand!"
...
"Have you noticed you can't stretch your forehead [skin]?"
(Touching his forehead and moving the skin) "It's like an orange thawing out after a deep freeze."

2012年12月に世界終わる? ("Will the world end in December, 2012?")

Yamasaki, especially, seems eager to discuss the Mayan end-of-the-world. Tanaka offers some info off the internet regarding the idea that the prediction might refer to an approaching Photon Belt.

"If the world is really going to end, what would you do?"
(After a rude silence from the other regulars) "Was it THAT bad a question?"

後輩芸人チャドの理解できない言動 ("I can't understand Junior Geinin Chad!")

Matsumoto raises some anecdotes regarding an Australian Geinin, and is quite honest regarding his discomfort at some cultural and linguistic difficulties.

"Recently I really went absolutely pale white [with fear]. I was eating with Kimura, Miyasako, and Chad Maren-- he's Australian. You know there I times I can't understand what he's saying?"
"He speaks Japanese very fluently, but after all, he's a Gaijin!"
...
"(We were eating together and) He said 'if I can only have bones, am I a dog? BAOW-WOW! BAOW-WOW! And this was in a half-sized room!"
"That IS scary."

田中を襲った.高速道路でガス欠 ("Advance on Tanaka. Running out of gas on the expressway!"

Tanaka explains an incident in which his driver ran out of gas while on the expressway. He had to wait in the car, where he was seen by about 5000 people, and then when the driver returned with gas, it took him about another hour and a half to pump the diesel into the engine with an injector pump.

普段 会話しない3人がトーク ("The talk of three who don't usually converse")

Hamada, Tanaka and Yamasaki discuss the difficulties of parenthood. Yamasaki discusses his two daughters, but my comprehension is limited in that I can't find what "プリンプリン" means.

Tanaka discusses a humorous incident in which one of his sons used 3D glasses to look at everything like it's "in 3D."

Episode Analysis:

This is the first "all talk" episode since episdoe #1052, which first aired May 1st, 2011. Episodes like this can seem a disappointment from time to time, as they are often (to me, at least) the most linguistically difficult, and culturally opaque. Still, it does reaffirm that the basis of the program was in Manzai style comedy-- which is just talk. Many of the humorous quizzes, jokes and stunts that occupy most of the show in its current form are just excuses to prompt clever talk among the regulars. This seems to be the idea behind Matsumoto's other program "Hitoshi Matsumoto's -blank-blank- Stories," which focuses solely on interesting and funny stories.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Gaki No Tsukai #1082


Episode Title: へイポーが本気で結婚したい女性ベスト30

"Heipo's Real Top 30 Women He Wants to Marry"

Gaki No Tsukai Episode #1082


Broadcast Date:

Sunday, November 27th 2011.

Viewing Links:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzI2OTE4NzAw.html

Guests:

ヘイポー(斉藤敏豪): Heipo (Saito Toshihide)
森下 千里(もりした ちさと): Morishita Chisato. Heipo's unfortunate #1 choice for a wife.

Important Vocabulary:

招待状(しょうたいじょう): Written invitation.
背負う(せおう): To be burdened with, have on one's back.
色っぽい(いろっぽい):Amorous, erotic.

Episode Summary:

The ongoing saga of ”世界のへイポー” (The world's [only] Heipo) continues!

Matsumoto arrives before the GnT taping, and says that since his experience visiting Yoshi Yamada's family (Gaki No Tsukai episodes #1067 and #1071) Heipo, show designer, and everyone's favorite 56 year old perverted cowardly bachelor would like to get married! Matsumoto shows everyone the printed invitation he's created (which says "これから未来の話をしょう" or "Let's talk about where we go from here"). "He's very serious, really!" says Matsumoto. "For some reason he's on my back about it, and I don't really understand it, but... (let's go.)"

Upon arrival, the regulars are treated (if that's the word) to a Steve Jobs like presentation of "The Women Who Can Change Heipo's Future." Thus Heipo takes the stage and lists his "Top 30 Women."

Here's some highlights from his list:

  • In speaking about #30 (Kyoka Suzuki) Heipo says he likes her because she's from the Tohoku region, and he really likes girls form Tohoku.
  • Heipo likes the Kyoto dialect used Misako Yasuda (#26).
  • When discussing #24, Ito Asako (from GnT #1075 and #1076, amongst others) he says he likes a girl who kisses well.
  • When working with #21 (Shimohira Sayaka) she often had an amorous and erotic look in her eye.
  • Heipo enjoyed watching #7 (Mimura Reiko) in her drama bed scenes.
  • Heipo rode the Nippon TV elevator with #39 (Inamori Izumi) where she said she'd seen him on GnT.
  • Heipo has liked #1 (Morishita Chisato) for some time. They've worked together in the past, and one time, when she was wearing a mini-skirt, she let him see her underwear. "There aren't many people who'll let you see their underwear," says Heipo. To which Endou responses, "yeah, ZERO."

The female announcer returns, and says that with the help of Morishita's manager, it has been arranged, without her knowledge, that Heipo will propose to her on hidden camera. "Are you serious?" asks Endou. "Serious," says Heipo. Then it comes out he hasn't seen her for 5 or 6 years. This is sounding very odd, indeed.

The rest of the episode details Heipo's attempt to propose to Morishita. At first meeting, she doesn't remember him. Then after a lot of rambling talk, everyone's patience wears thin, and the Gaki crew invade the hidden camera shoot. In the end Heipo didn't have the guts to propose, and the whole thing falls apart.

Episode Analysis:

At least it can be said that the Heipo episodes of GnT have a coherent and well established narrative thread. From his initial perversions and weird exaggerated cowardice the series had developed into his growing desire to adjust to a more normal life. This episode may be the culmination of this development, with him attempting marriage.

But there can't be any avoiding the fact that Heipo's inability to propose prevents this episode from becoming anything more than a brief, slightly entertaining twenty four minutes. In that respect, I think we can consider it a failure-- for if he had managed to propose, I doubt it's something anyone would soon forget.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Gaki No Tsukai Episode #1065


Episode Title: ドライブは豆知識でGO!50!

"2nd Trivia Drive Go! 50!"
Note that the "go!" in the title may be a pun on the number 5 in 50. 5 is "go" in Japanese, explaining why the previous trivia drive (100) could be "Go!Go!" (50!50!).


Original Broadcast Date:

Sunday, July 31st 2011

Viewing Links:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjkwMjU2Mzc2.html

Guests:

None.

Important Vocabulary:

豆知識(まめちしき):Trivia
大道具(おおどうぐ):Scenery, stage setting.
甲州街道(こうしゅうかいどう):The KoushuuKai-Dou, one of the major Edo period routes tokyo. Now modern route 20.
縞模様(しまもよう):Striped pattern
地肌(じはだ):Texture, grain (so says my dictionary, but I take it to mean skin or hide.
統計(とうけい):Statistics
裏付(うらづけ):Substantiate, prove.
確実(かくじつ):Certainty, reliability.
要素(ようそ):Component, item, factor.
国会議事堂(こっかいぎじどう):The Japanese National Diet Building.
日清戦争(にっしんせんそう):First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)
翻車魚(マンボウ):Ocean Sunfish.
審議(しんぎ):Deliberation.
仰向け(あおむけ):Face up.
固まる(かたまる):Harden, solidify, assemble together.
つばめ: The swallow (bird).
単独(たんどく):Single, solo.
寂しい(さびしい):Lonely
振り付け(ふりつけ): Choreography or a dance competition.
特訓(とっくん):Special training. A crash course.
由来(ゆらい):Origin, source, derivation.

Timestamped Notes:

Each part of this section is headed the following values:
  • Approximate timestamp for the relevant notes in hours:minutes:seconds since start of program.
  • Approximate Latitude and Longitude of the Gaki Regulars' car at said moment. Locations have been verified in Google Maps, but as that site limits Lat/Long precision, Googling the location may result in a spot several meters away from the intended location.

0:0:0 location: +35° 39' 54.18", +139° 45' 35.47"

As many times before, the regulars are standing before the NTV tower in Shimbashi, Tokyo. They recount the previous, more ambitious Trivia Drive (#1025/1026 originally broadcast October 10th and 17th, 2010), and Matsumoto says he'd be happy to do a 100 Trivia Drive again, but for 入江さん( 入江 豊 or Irie Yutaka, scenery handler for the show, currently crouched behind the regulars holding up the show banner). He'd have to stay holding the banner the whole time!
Note that this is the same Irie-san who has a very funny speaking role in episode #1072 concerning how protective he is of his show banners.
The regulars now mention the route and rules of the drive:
  • They will drive west along the KoushuuKai-Dou (Route 20).
  • They must continue until 50 items of trivia have "come out" (been mentioned).
  • Trivia items chosen shall relate (be "themed") to things seen.

0:1:30 location: +35° 39' 56.05", +139° 45' 34.33"

The regulars mark the start of their journey by turning North under the rail line at Shimbashi Station.

0:1:45 location: +35° 39' 58.02", +139° 45' 34.78"

Spotting an advertisement (easily visible if you Google the above lat/long) for Zebra Pens, Matsumoto prompts Tanaka for some of his famed animal trival knowledge. He comes up with:

★ A zerbra's skin color is neither black nor white but gray.

This bit of trivia prompts Hamada and Matsumoto to produce this:

★ In the Tiger Mask Anime Japanese Wrestler Giant BaBa made an appearance as masked wrestler "Great Zebra."

Note that Tanaka did a very funny impression of Giant Baba in GnT episode #922, aired September 21st, 2008.
Tanaka as Giant Baba (Gaki no Tsukai #922)

The bits of trivia are coming so quickly, that it prompts Endou to say "at this rate we'll be finished by the time we're in Shinjuku!"

0:2:52 location: +35° 40' 2.16", +139° 45' 31.86"

The title card shows it's 2:32pm real time, and the regulars are traveling north west along Sotobori-Dori.
Matsumoto asks which members (Gaki regulars) are blood type O. Yamasaki, Tanaka and Endou raise their hands, which surprises Matsumoto. "That many!?". He then asks Endou, if he could change his birth, which blood type would he choose. Endou say's he'd choose A. But Matsumoto says, "If you ask anyone with blood type O, if they could change, they say they'd choose O." The staff don't rate this observation as trivia, however, saying that "Statistical data is difficult to substantiate, for the reason that there are too many factors to verify."
This is the first of several times Matsumoto will flunk out at his attempts at trivia.

0:3:46 location: +35° 40' 21.12", +139° 45' 0.73"

Traveling north along Sakurada-Dori, approaching Kasumigasaki Station.
Matsumoto, presumably referring to his previous attempt at trivia, says hes "Pulled a Yamada Gorou." I'm unaware what this could refer to, however.
Then Matsumoto brings up the surprising cost of one section of Japanese road guard-rail.

★ One meter of highway guard-rail cost on the order of 50000 yen (about 650 dollars)

0:4:55 location: +35° 40' 34.20", +139° 44' 48.95"

They drive past the Japanese Diet Building, which Yamasaki describes as "The Diet Building that Hamada likes" (??). Endou, however, brings up this fact:

★ During the first Sino-Japanese war, the diet was briefly relocated to Hiroshima.

Yamasaki, seeing a white police bike (白バイ) mentions this:

★ Japanese Shirobai (white police motorcycles) were originally Red. They became white in Shouwa year 11 (1937)

When asked WHY they changed color, Yamasaki has no idea. But the reason can be found in this book. It mentions that they became white to increase their visibility on the road.

0:6:03 location: +35° 40' 45.90", +139° 44' 45.97"

Turning the corner past the Shirobai!

0:6:11 location: +35° 40' 56.32", +139° 44' 39.60"

It's now 2:46pm and 9 trivia facts have been mentioned (only 5 of which made it onto the air, however) and the Regulars have officially entered the KoushuuKai-Dou. "There's a lot on the KoushuuKai-Dou," says Endou, hopefully.

0:6:22 location: +35° 41' 11.17", +139° 43' 41.73"

Spotting the Golf sign here, Hamada mentions this about golf balls:

★ Golf balls have dimples because it was understood balls with nicks and flaws went further.

0:7:02 location: +35° 41' 16.35", +139° 43' 22.65"

Matsumoto points out a billboard for 錦松梅 (Kinshobai ltd.) but doesn't have any trivia to offer.

0:7:21 location: +35° 41' 22.31", +139° 42' 10.11"

The regulars enter Shinjuku, near Shinjuku station.

0:7:29 location: +35° 41' 22.77", +139° 42' 13.28"

Hamada notices a sign for Manbo manga and internet cafe. This brings up another bit of Tanaka animal trivia:

★ Among all animals, the ocean sunfish (Japanese: Manbo) lays the most eggs at one time; about three hundred million.

0:7:56 location: +35° 41' 22.37", +139° 42' 10.53"

Passing the DoCoMo sign in Shinjuku.

0:8:24 location: +35° 41' 21.78", +139° 42' 7.56"

Passing Lumine department store in Shinjuku. Still no trivia.

0:8:46 location: +35° 41' 19.89", +139° 41' 58.86"

Endou comes to life. Pointing at the various tall buildings in Shinjuku, he notes this fact:

★ The distinction between tall buildings and SUPER tall buildings (skyscrapers) is 60 meters. Buildings above 60 meters in height must have lights to warn aircraft. This is the reason in Tokyo Disneyland Cinderella's Castle was built to be 51 (Endou says 59) meters tall. The Disneyland Tower of Terror ride is 59 meters tall.

Gaki No Tsukai #1065 Trivia Drive 50! Go!

0:10:07 location: +35° 40' 28.44", +139° 40' 5.19"

Near Sasazuka station, Matsumoto spots a bowling alley, and comes up with this (rather weak) trivia item (but not before the staff say they're "deliberating...":

★ Matsumoto was the one to think up lining guests up along the side of a bowling alley television shoot (for Heyx3).

0:10:17 location: +35° 40' 27.43", +139° 40' 2.06"

Passing a SukiYa Gyudon restaurant, Endou has no trivia, but he mentions that when he divorced from Chiaki in 2007, he used to eat there and cry.
"This has nothing to do with trivia," says the staff.

0:11:59 location: +35° 40' 18.92", +139° 36' 49.51"

0:12:09 location: +35° 40' 21.90", +139° 36' 33.99"

A dove is sighted! Or at least the logo for Hato Moving compnay. This allows Tanaka to mention:

★ If you capture a dove, and surprise it by returning it to face-up very suddenly, it will become petrified and unable to move.

Then a flurry of Tanaka animal trivia:

★ The swallow is the fastest of all birds.

★ The dog's nose is 100 million times more sensitive than a human's.

0:13:19 location: +35° 39' 51.51", +139° 35' 11.83"

Passing a Karaoke parlor, Yamasaki starts to recount a story about comedian 荒井 注(Arai Chuu)... but Hamada's already heard it. "OH, Geinin news!" says Matsumoto. Evidently, he had tried to open a Karaoke BOX establishment, but when the building was completed, they couldn't fit the Karaoke machines through the narrow doorways.

0:13:52 Location: Unknown

Someone spots a plastic rabbit, and Tanaka is back in action:

★ When rabbits used for cooking are transported they will not cry out from loneliness.

And Matsumoto mentions this about Yamasaki's wife:

★ Yamasaki's wife is receiving special training in Lady Gaga and KARA choreography.

0:15:11 location: +35° 39' 23.22", +139° 32' 25.13"

4:11pm, and 10 trivia items to go.

0:15:27 location: +35° 39' 44.45", +139° 31' 37.87"

Driving next to Ajinomoto Soccer stadium, Hamada comes up with this:

★ The term "Hat Trick" is derived from a special present (a hat of good quality) given to a bowler in Cricket for making three wickets.

0:17:02 location: +35° 40' 13.45", +139° 29' 46.16"

Finally, Matsumoto comes up with a good one:

★ On Japanese roads, horses are classified as Keijidosha (light cars or subcompacts) for legal purposes.

0:17:50 location: +35° 40' 17.95", +139° 29' 15.82"

Hamada once again demonstrates a fairly good knowledge of Japanese Manga and Anime:

★ The character on the Anime program 魔法使いサリー (Magic Using Sally) was originally named サニー(Sani or Sonny?) but the name was changed because of its proximity to Sony (Hamada says Nissan, but the point is clear).

0:19:14 location: +35° 40' 22.75", +139° 27' 36.54"

Now endo comes up with one I wish was true:

× The Sanrio company was originally named 山梨王 (Yamanashi-O) but taking the alternate pronunciation of the characters Yamanashi-O became San-Ri-O or Sanrio.

But this is incorrect. The actual origin of Sanrio's name is from the Spanish for "Holy River." Still, the wikipedia entry on Sanrio does make mention of Endou's claim-- might there be some truth in it after all?

0:19:53 location: +35° 40' 24.02", +139° 27' 32.58"

0:20:03 location: +35° 40' 36.90", +139° 27' 4.73"

Seeing a sign for アリさんマークの引越社 (Mr. Ant Mark Moving Company), Yamasaki tries to say that "20% of all moving ants..." but Matsumoto knows it already. Then Tanaka comes to the rescue with the following:

★ It's said that all the ants in the world would weigh the same as all the human beings.

At this point, Matsumoto is asking what we'd all like to ask in similar circumstances, "If you knew something so incredible, why haven't you mentioned it before?"

0:21:11 location: +35° 40' 32.22", +139° 25' 50.09"

4:48pm and only two to go!

0:21:18 location: +35° 40' 21.43", +139° 25' 28.77"

Hamada says this while thinking about baseball:

★ The Japanese term ラッキセブン(Lucky Seven, or the seventh inning stretch) came from an american Major League event when a chance breeze carried the ball to make a home run in the seventh inning.

0:22:40 location: +35° 40' 9.82", +139° 24' 9.82"

At about 5:06pm, Tanaka comes up with this:

★ Only human beings can breathe from both their noses and mouths.

And after 2 Hours 40 minutes, and 38km from their starting point-- that's then end of Trivia Drive 2!

Gaki No Tsukau #1065: Triva Drive 50! Go! Path

Episode Analysis:

Despite the fact that I should be quite humble regarding my poor Japanese language skills I'm rather proud of this blog entry-- I spent some time last summer tracing the Gaki crew's car along Route 20 using Goodle Maps, and stored the data away until the past day or so. I wish I could embellish all my blog entries with a similar level of detail, but often time doesn't permit.
In all, I think this yet another successful "drive" episode, even if it is half as long as the previous Trivia Drive (shows #1025/1026 originally broadcast October 10th and 17th, 2010) it's just as entertaining.
One remarkable part of this episode is how poorly Matsumoto appears to do. It's true the score that is shown for him is just as high as Endou's, but it's difficult to watch this episode and not have the impression Matsumoto had an "off" day. I have a belief that this was originally intended to be a 100 trivia drive challenge, but only later did they decide to cut it down to 50, after Matsumoto's poor performance. The show intro could then have been and insert filmed the next day.
Regardless, I don't think this detracts from the show. Instead, I rather enjoy riding along with the Gaki members through Tokyo, giving the viewer a second hand tour of the city, and making the journey that much more memorable.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Gaki No Tsukai Episode #1081

Episode Number: 1081


Episode Title: 思い入れソング。ドライブー!!

Reminiscence Song Drive!!



Broadcast Date:

Sunday, November 20th 2011

Viewing Links:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzI0ODI1OTI4.html

Guests:

None

Important Vocabulary:

天候(てんこう):Weather
不備(ふび): Defect, inadequacy
ロケ: Location (of a film shoot)
隣(となり):Neighboring, next door.
告白(こくはく): Confession of love
結果(けっか):Result, consequence
フラれる: To be given the cold shoulder. Jilted.
関与(かんよ): To participate in, be concerned with.
脱がす(ぬがす): To help someone remove clothes
充満(じゅうまん):To be filled with, teeming with.
雪洞(ぼんぼり): Paper lantern.
無理矢理(むりやり):Forced, against one's will.
優勝(ゆうしょう):Championship.
喝上げ(かつあげ):Extortion.
愈(いよいよ):At the last minute, at the worst possible time.
トローン: Onomatopoeia for stupefaction (weak in the knees?)
披露(ひろう):Announcement, display.

Episode Summary:

The second Reminiscence Song Drive! This episode opens, like many others, before the Nippon Terebi Tower in Shinbashi, Tokyo, at: +35° 39' 54.18", +139° 45' 35.47"
Before starting, however Matsumoto takes the time to confront one problem pointed out with the previous outing: the weather. Turns out Yamasaki said he wouldn't be able to do another in similar conditions. By the end of the episode, it's a little more clear why this is the case.

Then Matsumoto lays out the rules:
While driving, the five regulars will play CDs that have some emotional attachment to them, and recount the relevant episodes from their lives.
Matsumoto wants to go on-- but Yamasaki is insistent: "that's enough." And they're off!

As the Song Drive begins in earnest, I can see the regulars are driving south-west along Daiichi-Keinen, approximately here: +35° 39' 54.04", +139° 45' 33.37".

First Song: Tanaka

Title: 初恋 (First Love)
Artist: 村下孝蔵 (むらしたこうぞう)Murashita Kouzou
Year: 1983
Tanaka's Age: 11
Tanaka is first up, and recounts how this song reminds him of middle school, and how he grew to like a girl in the next class, and for the first time in his life confessed his love to her. The girl, however, gave him the cold shoulder.
Matsumoto: "What did she say?"
Tanaka: "The way Tanaka-kun walks is gross!"
This episode also concerned Endou (he and Tanaka being childhood friends), and after Tanaka told him about it, he cried and cried and cried-- and at that time this song was playing on the radio.

Second Song: Endou

Title: セーラー服を脱がさないで "Don't Strip Me of My Sailor Suit"
Artist: おニャン子クラブ (O-NyanKo Club)
Year: 1985
Endou's Age: 14
I'd never heard of Onyanko Club, but interestingly this song was fairly recently (2006) covered by AKB48. Similarly, the Onyanko Club was also a large group of Idols (with 53+ members).

Endou's story, strangely, also deals with Tanaka (who is having a rough day). At that time, within the space of one year, Tanaka had grown taller than him. His growth was quite precipitous. Evidently, the class next door said to Endou "Every day isn't Tanaka-Kun getting larger and larger?" Their conversation was filled with it!

Tanaka uses this embarrassing moment to mention Endou dated the girl who broke Tanaka's heart. The other regulars are (humorously) chiding of Endou. "Endou! That just isn't done!" says Matsumoto.

At this point, the regulars are traveling across a bridge, just south of Hanaeda airport-- along Metropolitan Expressway K1, about here: +35° 32' 32.63", +139° 44' 31.88".

Third Song: Hamada

Title: やさしい悪魔 (Sweet/Tender Devil)
Artist: キャンディーズ (The Candies)
Year: 1977
Hamada's Age: 13
The Candies were referenced in episode #1068, where Yamasaki played Ran-Chan saying she wanted to be "a normal girl again."
In reference to the song, both Hamada and Matsumoto make much of the black tights the Candies wore while performing this song. The tights themselves are visible in the link to the song above, or here, and the video seems to confirm Yamasaki's opinion that the tights looked like "Bonbori" or paper lanterns.

The regulars then enter the Haneda tunnel, which is approximately here: +35° 33' 50.03", +139° 45' 8.49". Note that this location is considerably north of their previous location, indicating some of this episode was filmed out-of-order, or it's an insert.


Fourth Song: Yamasaki

Title: TVの国からキラキラ (Sparkling TV Land?)
Artist: 松本伊代 (まつもといよ)Matsumoto Iyo
Year: 1985
Yamasaki's Age: 14

Fifth Song: Matsumoto

Title:燃えよドラゴンズ!! (Blaze, Dragons!)
Artist: 坂東英二 (ばんどう えいじ)Bandou Eiji
Year: 1974
Matsumoto's Age: 9
This is the theme of the Chunichi Dragons. As Hamada explains, when they were growing up in Osaka, everyone wore a Hanshin (Osaka) Giants baseball cap-- EXCEPT THIS GUY (pointing to Matsumoto). He wore a Chunichi (Dragons) Hat. To which Matsumoto responds "for some reason, my Father had bought it for me!" Evidently, he hadn't even thought about it. Matsumoto's father just pointed at one of the hats on sale, and bought it. Thus Matsumoto explains he had become a fan of the Dragons "against my will" that year, the year they won the championship!

Yes, the song was sung by Bandou Eiji, who has appeared in several Batsu games! You might remember him best as the talkative patient in the Hospital batsu.

At this point, they're driving along the Metropolitan Expressway Bay Shore Route, approaching a bridge, about here: +35° 27' 54.77", +139° 40' 39.05".

Sixth Song: Tanaka

Title: James Bond Main Theme (007 Theme)
Artist: John Barry
Tanaka's Age: 11
To this song, Tanaka explains when we was in elementary school (5th grade) he would go to the movies in Umeda, Osaka wearing a pear of Levi's jeans bought for him by his sister. At this time he saw a 007 movie. If Tanaka was born in 1971, then it was most probably "For Your Eyes Only."
Going to Umeda, wearing jeans, seeing 007, he felt like such an adult! Except when leaving the theater, he was bullied for money by a High School student. He ran away. "And the way you ran was weird!" Matsumoto jokes.

Then Yamasaki and Matsumoto joke about the bad clothes they used to get from Akadama western clothing store.

Seventh Song: Hamada

Title: 大空と大地の中で(Between Earth and Sky)
Artist: 松山 千春(まつやま ちはる)Matsuyama Chiharu
Year: 1977
Hamada's Age: 14
"No matter how many times, everyone would always sing along to this song," says Hamada. "If everyone got together, they'd sing this song. No matter what kind of argument they'd had, or whatever incident, everyone would sing this song!"
Hamada then goes on to tell how he would call Matsumoto to bring him money, and they'd meet in 鶴橋駅(つるはしえき) TsuruHashi Station and play hooky. "You never saw such a pair of jerks eating Udon," says Matsumoto.

Eighth Song: Endou

Title: Missing
Artist: 久保田 利伸 (Kubota Toshinobu)
Year: 1986
Endou's Age: 15
Here Endou relates that this was the song he used to used to make the girls fall for him. He'd sing and they'd be insensible with love.

Ninth Song: Matsumoto

Title: のオッサンの唄 "Kawachi no Ossan no Uta"
Artist: ミス花子 (Miss Hanako)
Year: 1976
Matsumoto's Age: 12
The first time Matsumoto heard this song, we was listening with an earphone, trying not to wake his father and brother-- but it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. So funny he couldn't sleep!

At this point, after more than a one hour drive, Yamasaki must go. We soon see the reason he demanded good weather for this drive, as he pulls alongside in a convertible. I take it the car is his own, although I can't make that out especially clearly.

10th Song: Yamasaki

Title: Cha-Cha-Cha
Artist: 石井 明美(いしい あけみ)Ishi Akemi

Episode Analysis:

The previous Song Drive was broadcast in episode #1057, June 5th, 2001. I didn't really take notice of it at the time, but I may go and watch it again. With its details of (more) Showa Era music, and the lives of the young Gaki regulars, I found this episode surprisingly enjoyable.
That is, despite large sections being above my linguistic ability. Through their simple stories, one comes to understand the true, life-long friendships of both Cocorico and Downtown. In that respect it's not surprising that Yamasaki leaves slightly early, as he is, in this respect, somewhat of an outsider (or more independent, depending upon your point of view).
The notion of a Drive (be it Trivia, Song, or Geinin Safari, or some other premise) is very common on the show-- perhaps because of the natural loquacity it seems to encourage among such old friends. Although this time, I must say, I had considerable difficulty tracing their route on a map.