Hide and Wacky from the comedy duo "Penalty" appeared on "Monday Football" (streaming until 7:00 pm on February 3rd), which started streaming on TVer from January 27th. The two "soccer comedians" were interviewed after the recording.
The two co-starred with Fuji TV announcer Aoshima Tatsuya on the program "Soccer Boy" (1997-2005). Hide said, "Aoshima-san has been very helpful to me with the program, and I accompanied him to the 1998 World Cup. Since then, we haven't had many opportunities to work together, but this time, the three of us, plus announcer Miyamoto (Maaya), joined us. The good old Fuji TV soccer program plus the new atmosphere was so fun and comfortable that we ended up talking for too long." Wacky, who was next to him, grinned and said, "Hide-san was on the hook today (laughs)." Hide looked back on the recording with amusement, saying, "Aoshima-san carried me around (laughs)."
On the show, Hide also shared stories of his time with star players such as Raul Gonzalez and Ronaldinho. On his way back from a visit to Mallorca, Spain for an interview with FC Barcelona, Hide was given a special ride on a Barcelona chartered plane because there were no regular flights in operation, and Ronaldinho asked him if he wanted to take a photo with him. However, Ronaldinho was using ice on his injured leg, so Hide felt bad and declined. Later, Ronaldinho was so touched that he sent Hide a signed jersey.
Hide said with a smile, "I never thought I'd turn it down, but I just couldn't help but feel really sorry...but later I regretted it and ended up with a 10-yen-yen bald spot (laughs). In the end, it led to this story conversation, so I guess it was a good thing."
Wacky revealed an episode that happened before Endo Wataru was appointed captain of the Japanese national team, saying, "We were drinking in Akasaka and we both got really drunk. When I was about to go home, Wataru, even though he was totally drunk, said, 'Wait for me Wacky! I'll call a taxi,' and quickly went outside and hailed a taxi for me. Even after I got in the taxi, he kept bowing his head and saying, 'Thank you for your hard work!' I thought that was amazing, and I really wanted him to become captain of Japan (laughs). He has received a wonderful baton from Hasebe Makoto and Yoshida Maya."
"Monday Football" is a TVer original program that airs every Monday from around 7:00 pm. It delivers hot soccer news, focusing on the results and latest information on overseas soccer matches such as the Premier League.
