Daily Sports Column トレバーの虎場 version here (日本語)
The Japanese version of this article is quite different, so if you can read both languages, give it a read!
Some of you already know this, but I was able to land a spot on a TV show that aired last week. It was called Hello! Tsurube x Sando ~ Foreigners Living in Japan Are Here ~ (ハロー！鶴瓶xサンド〜ニッポンの外国人がやってきた〜). As the title suggests, the show featured well-known comedians Shofukutei Tsurube and the duo SandwichMan (Mikio Date and Takeshi Tomizawa). The show’s premise is that some foreigners fall in love with an aspect of Japanese culture and just can’t give it up.
You can guess what aspect of the culture I love, can’t you?
Anyhow, the plan was for a film crew to come to Kansai and record me in various scenarios: at my full-time job, at home with my family, and of course, doing Tigers-related stuff. The thing is, university was (and still is) on spring break, so they could not film me in class. My home is not for the world’s eyes to see, so I balked at that offer. And while I had plans to do a lecture previewing the Tigers 2020 season for the Amagasaki International Association, it got cancelled due to COVID-19. I was also going to have a preseason fan gathering like the one I did last year, but that also got snuffed out.
So they ended up not coming to Kansai to see me at all, but I had one more trick up my sleeve. If I showed up in Tokyo a couple of days before the March 13 recording date, I could attend a Hanshin-Yakult exhibition game at Meiji Jingu Stadium. That would give them great footage of me at a game! Alas, that also got ruined when the preseason ended up being played behind closed doors.
What next? Would coronavirus cancel the show, too???
I was actually quite nervous about even going to Tokyo on March 13, given that it would mean sitting on a bullet train for three-plus hours each way. But I took necessary precautions and went for it. In the end, I made it to the studio well ahead of time, and hung out in the green room with the other guests (from a distance).
And what a cast of guests!
First, a Bangladeshi man (right) who has been in Japan for over 30 years and runs his own martial arts dojo. He’s been on TV multiple times before.
Next, a German lady (left) whose love for Tondabayashi, Osaka goes back more than 30 years. Complete and total Osaka obahan, right down to the accent! She also has a multitude of TV experience.
Lastly, a British guy who has been doing film directing in Tokyo for the past 7 years or so. Not only film experience (and an IMDb page), but his full-time job literally has him surrounded by TV/movie stars.
So I’m the outlier, the lone TV virgin. I don’t know how TV is made, how to interact with stars, or how to make my presence known. And it showed. I mean, I was calm and answered all the questions they asked me (including my address, which thankfully got edited out of the finished product), and probably came off sounding like I knew the Tigers really well… but I definitely lacked that TV flare, that zest, that je ne sais quoi. Sources of laughter came mostly from the other guests, and of course, the hosts.
Being on TV has not propelled me to new heights, at least not yet, but it did get me multiple kudos from my friends and acquaintances. In the end, it just adds to my unbelievable experience as a hardcore Hanshin fan, which has put me in the newspapers, landed me a column, and now put me on TV. What’s next, a movie cameo? (Pssst! Already had one of those 9 years ago! From 1:48:18 – 22, in case you ever watch it.)
All this to say, no matter how much the coronavirus has screwed with my (and your) plans, there’s still plenty to be thankful for in this life. Stay safe, everyone.
I should also add that the “family” part of the title refers to what is in the Japanese article. But for those who can’t (or simply won’t) read that one, I basically said this: As disappointed in myself as I was with how I did on the show, that feeling completely vanished when, while watching the show on March 22, my son’s face beamed with pride as he said, “I can’t believe it’s you on TV, Daddy! That’s so amazing!” That, and my wife telling me I did a good job, which essentially reversed my feelings when I got home after the recording on March 13 and told her that it didn’t go well. Family love triumphs over the glory of being on TV.