Masatoshi Hamada of the comedy duo "Downtown" recently attended a press conference in Tokyo for the popular variety show "Pre-Bato!!" (MBS/TBS, Thursdays at 7 PM), in which experts evaluate and rank the hidden talents of celebrities. The press conference was held after the recording of the "500th Anniversary 3-Hour Special" to commemorate the show's 500th episode, which began airing on October 11, 2012, on August 14. Hamada, who serves as the show's MC, revealed his feelings about the 500th episode, saying, "It feels like we've done it for 500 episodes. I'm surprised because I didn't think it would continue this long."
Hamada and MBS announcer Shimizu Maya are the MCs for "Pre-Battle!!". The "Talent Assessment Ranking" began in November 2013, about a year after the show first aired, and has since assessed entertainers' talents in a variety of genres, including the popular "Haiku Talent Assessment Ranking", in which haiku poet Natsui Itsuki, also known as "Natsui Sensei", assesses haiku, as well as "Washi Paper Collages", "Watercolor Painting", "Eraser Stamps", "Ikebana", and "Plating".
Hamada honestly shared his thoughts, saying, "(The program) didn't even have a set format at first, so I think that's why it's been going on so well. It wouldn't have been strange if it had ended halfway through. Who was it that first noticed haiku? That's where it started. That's why I'm surprised that it has reached 500 episodes. I never thought it would continue this long."
"The level of the people appearing on the show has improved tremendously, and as a result, the main roles are played by the people who appear. I don't do anything myself. My role is just to praise them, thinking that they draw amazing pictures or that their haiku must be amazing," he said modestly. When asked what he keeps in mind as the MC, he revealed, "There are times when I make a joke thinking that it's for the good of the show, but I worry that some people might go home annoyed afterwards (laughs). I don't remember saying anything I shouldn't have said, but sometimes I say things knowing that they'll be edited out (laughs)."
When asked about the guest who made the biggest impression on him during the 500th broadcast, he replied, "There have been a lot of guests, but in the end, I think it was Umezawa Tomio," and added, "There are quite a few new guests who make you think, 'Wow, this kid is so talented,' so of course it's a surprise." When asked about the most memorable theme, he said, "Recently, he did hair flower art with flowers on his head. What was that?", drawing laughter from the audience.
Furthermore, when asked what theme he would try on the show, he confessed, "If I were to try haiku or painting, I would think it would be on the final episode," and joked, "Well, maybe toast art would be easy. That seems difficult in its own way though (laughs)." Announcer Shimizu also attended the press conference.
