TV Asahi's documentary program "Paradise of Life" (Saturdays at 6pm) is celebrating its 25th anniversary since it first aired on October 7th, 2000. To commemorate this, a "Thank You! 25th Anniversary Special" will be broadcast on October 4th from 6pm to 6:56pm. Rare and treasured footage of the late Ikariya Chosuke and Nishida Toshiyuki, who served as past "paradise guides" (narrators), will also be shown.
"Paradise of Life" is a program that introduces the daily lives of people living a second life in their own "paradise." It began in October 2000 with Ikariya Chosuke and Ito Ran as "paradise guides," followed by Nishida and Ito in October 2003, and Nishida and Kikuchi Momoko in January 2009. After Nishida passed away in October last year, Kikuchi and TV Asahi announcer Ogi Ippei have taken over as guides, carrying on his legacy.
Over the course of 25 years, the program has introduced a total of 1,256 "residents of paradise." Today, the program not only introduces second lives after retirement, but also introduces the second lives of people of various generations who are embarking on activities such as moving to rural areas or changing careers, and continues to encourage each of them in their endeavors.
The 1,257th "resident of paradise" to appear in the 25th anniversary special is Jin Saito (59) and his wife Akiko (58), who quit their jobs in Tokyo, moved to Nagasaki, and started an inn in the seaside town. The couple both took early retirement at the age of 50 in 2019, and traveled to over 30 places across Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa, before settling on Higashisonogi Town in Nagasaki Prefecture, which they liked the most. When they found out that there were no accommodations in Higashisonogi Town, they decided to open an inn, renting and renovating a vacant building, and we will introduce the couple's struggles in their new home.
As a special feature, we will be showing precious narration footage of Ikariya, the first host, and heartwarming location footage of Nishida, who became the longest-serving host on the show. In addition, we will be introducing the current status of memorable "residents of paradise" from the 1,256 groups that have appeared on the show over the past 25 years.
Regarding her feelings about the 25th anniversary, Kikuchi commented, "It's an opportunity that makes me think, 'Let's do our best again with a new spirit.' We've been doing it for a long time, but now that we've reached the 25th anniversary, it feels like a breath of fresh air has blown in." She continued enthusiastically, "I'll continue to work hard so that I can continue to deliver a sense of security to everyone, always broadcasting at the same time."
Announcer Ogi commented, "It's been almost a year since I started working as a 'guide to paradise.' A year ago, the moment I entered the booth to record the narration for the first time, I felt the presence of Toshiyuki Nishida. I was overwhelmed by the size of his presence and felt intimidated at first, but as I reported on the lives of the various 'residents of paradise,' I began to feel joy, make new discoveries and become immersed in the story, and now I feel excited every time I record." He also expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I will do my best to ensure that the program continues to grow in the future."
