On February 12th, NHK held a press conference at the Broadcasting Center in Shibuya, Tokyo, to discuss "2026 Domestic and International Broadcast Program Changes and Key Program Anchors." It was announced that, starting from the new fiscal year, announcer Maika Otani, who has been with the company for six years, will become the anchor of the documentary program "New Project X: Challengers" (General TV, Saturdays at 8pm).
Otani, who attended the press conference, commented with a smile, "I am really looking forward to being in charge of such a historic program.My father loved this program, and I have been watching it since I was a child."
He continued, "There was a strange connection," recalling how a topic he had covered in his previous post in Fukui was featured on the show. "I really wanted to be in the studio to watch that episode, so I dropped by the studio when 'New Project X' started," he revealed.
"I feel that this is a place where both the announcers and the people being interviewed take on the challenge seriously. I never thought I would be able to serve as the MC, but I think it will be a valuable experience for me as an announcer, and I hope that the younger generation in their 20s and 30s will watch this program and be inspired to do their best tomorrow. I will do my best," she said enthusiastically.
Caster Arima Yoshio, who will be teaming up with Otani, commented, "I just met Otani for the first time, and he said to me, 'You're 60 years old, aren't you?' (laughs). I was worried that I might look like a parent, but I came here anyway. There is an age difference between parent and child, but I am confident that the fresh Otani will bring a new perspective that is different from that of me and the production team, who are from the Showa era, and I am looking forward to it, and I am confident that he will make the studio even more groundbreaking."
The show will be hosted by announcer Hanako Mori, who is affiliated with the Mito Broadcasting Station, alongside anchor Arima. Starting in June of this year, announcer Otani will take over from announcer Mori as anchor.
Otani is from Hyogo Prefecture and joined the station in 2020. After working at the Fukui Broadcasting Station, she was transferred to the Tokyo Announcement Office in April 2024. She currently hosts "NHK News Ohayo Nippon" every other weekday at 5:00 AM.
Also attending the press conference were NHK announcers Kozo Takase and Ai Tsukahara, who will be in charge of "NHK Nodo Jiman" (General TV, Sundays at 12:15pm) from April.
