The car-enthusiast comedy duo "Ogiyahagi" explores the "car history" of their guests in "Ogiyahagi's Car History: NO CAR, NO LIFE!" (BS Nippon Television, Saturdays at 9 PM). On the April 25th broadcast, actor and singer Katsuhide Uekusa will be the guest.
In 1985, Uekusa debuted as part of the group "Shonentai" alongside Kazukiyo Nishikiori and Noriyuki Higashiyama. Their debut song, "Kamen Butokai" (Masked Ball), swept the awards circuit and made a stunning impact on the music world.
Uekusa revealed that he was originally shy and didn't like being in front of people. He also shared the surprising fact that he didn't apply for the opportunity to debut, and that he kept refusing to join the agency even after passing the audition. "Back then, there weren't any boys who danced. Just seeing boys my age dancing in the practice room gave me goosebumps... I thought, 'I don't want to do this!'" he confessed, honestly describing his feelings at the time.
Soon after joining the facility, he met Higashiyama. "There was this guy who was incredibly pale, tall, and handsome. That was Higashi," he recalls. On the other hand, his encounter with Nishikori was even more shocking, and he reveals his first meeting with Nishikori, who was rumored to be a "genius."
Furthermore, when asked the rather provocative question, "Did you really ever secretly hand out your phone number during the recording of a music show?", she gave a wry smile and said, "I wonder if I should be saying something like that," but then revealed some real details about her love life at the time.
Uekusa's first car was a hand-me-down from a senior colleague at his agency, and Ogi and Yahagi were very interested in it. They traced his luxurious car history, from his long-desired classic car to Porsches, Mercedes-Benzes, and sports cars, showcasing a diverse range of vehicles.
