Nippon Television's new news program, "Tracking Coverage news LOG" (Saturdays at 10 PM), will begin airing on April 25th. We spoke with Mayuko Wakuda, the announcer who left NHK at the end of March to become the main Caster of the program, about what prompted her to go freelance and her enthusiasm for the show.
Wakuda was born in November 1988 and joined NHK in 2011. She has worked as a news Caster for various news programs such as "NHK News Ohayo Nippon," "News Watch 9," and "NHK News 7," and hosted the Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2019 and 2021. In her personal life, she reportedly married in 2019 and gave birth to her first child in 2022 and her second child in 2024.
"Investigative Reporting News LOG" is Nippon Television's first new news program in 24 years. Its concept is to follow the "logs" of reporters' investigations and deliver reliable conclusions as news with truthfulness and trustworthiness. The other main Caster is Nippon Television announcer Keisuke Mori.
◇My experience at NHK is "an irreplaceable asset."
--You joined NHK in the spring of 2011, and this year marks your 15th anniversary as an announcer. Could you tell us the main reason why you decided to go freelance at this milestone?
At NHK, I had the opportunity to work on a wide range of programs, including morning and evening news programs, the Kohaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Song Contest), the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and narrated documentaries, which helped me develop as an announcer. All of these experiences and daily moments are invaluable assets that have made me who I am today. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude once again.
Meanwhile, in my private life, I had two children, and while raising them, I began to vaguely think about the balance between time spent with family and work. As a result, I had more opportunities to re-examine my own work style, and the desire to work in a more flexible way gradually grew, despite some internal conflict, which was a major reason for my resignation from NHK.
-- Do you notice any differences between public broadcasting and commercial broadcasting?
Since I've only recently become a freelancer, I haven't really noticed much of a difference yet. My impression of Nippon Television is that the building is made of glass and lets in plenty of natural light, so it's physically bright and pleasant.
I feel that the production team of "news LOG" is asking us to capture the "perspective of the consumer" more than ever before. Rather than the program unilaterally broadcasting the news, they want to think together with the viewers and share their emotions. The team is full of enthusiasm to be a catalyst or guidepost for someone, influencing how they will act tomorrow and how they will live, and as a member of the team, I deeply resonate with this.
--You must have some anxieties about starting in a new environment, but could you tell us what aspects of it make you feel more excited and hopeful?
To put it bluntly, it's the program "news LOG" itself. I've been involved in various news programs for many years, but the approach of valuing the "process" leading up to the broadcast, and delivering conclusions after revealing everything as it is without concealment, is very innovative and a big challenge for me. I'm not only going to report the results that have been reached, but I'm also eager to convey the passion, struggles, tenacity, and even the gritty details of the reporters, as if I were there to share them with them.
◇In private, he's a laid-back person; he relaxes by watching variety shows.
--The image of "announcer Mayuko Wakuda" that you project through television is widely known. On the other hand, we are also curious about your true self as an ordinary person.
When it comes to work, I'm a cautious person who likes to prepare thoroughly and approach broadcasts without any mistakes. However, I'm actually quite laid-back in my everyday life. It's nothing significant, but for example, even though I pass by my mailbox every day, I sometimes forget to pick up my mail, forget again the next day, and leave important documents there for days. Even when I finally retrieve them, I put them in the kitchen for a while and then leave them there again for a bit (laughs).
Also, I often run out of everyday necessities. I intend to buy them tomorrow, but I keep putting it off and forgetting, and in the end, I don't do anything until they're completely gone. Then, when I actually need them, I don't have a replacement and have to rush out to buy them... I live like this, with the support of my family.
--Do you ever watch Nippon Television programs?
Of course! Besides news programs like "news every.", where Mori-san is the main Caster, and "news zero," which was hosted by her senior colleague Udo (Yumiko), who is from NHK, there are also many variety shows that I love. I watch "Sekai no Hate made Itte Q!" and "Ueda to onna ga hoeru yoru" and laugh to relieve stress. (laughs)
--Now that you have a family and are a mother, have you noticed any changes in how you perceive the news or how you view the world, as you've gained a more "perspective as an ordinary citizen"?
What I've started thinking about most is what kind of society we can leave for future generations. I've become more interested in areas like environmental issues, education, and childcare support, and I've come to see them as more pressing and directly related to my own life.
My perspective on news about conflicts has also changed. In the program, we are forced to report on the big picture, such as the trends in the international community, and we have to dedicate time to that. As an announcer myself, I used to focus on the actions, intentions, and future prospects of the countries involved. But now, I want to empathize more deeply with the fact that each and every person who was living a normal life just like us is in such a horrific situation. The fact that the most vulnerable victims are the children pains me more deeply than ever before, and I feel unbearable sorrow.
◇A program that you can't help but "get engrossed in" rather than one that you "study"
--What are the key features that set "Investigative Reporting News LOG" apart from other news programs?
In this program, we will not only present the conclusions of the news stories, but also the records of the reporting process—the "LOG." We will reveal the stories behind the scenes, including what motivated the reporters to start their investigations, when and where they went, what uncertainties they faced, what obstacles they encountered, and how they made decisions to arrive at the truth. In other words, I interpret this as our pursuit of creating a "news program with a visible face."
Because this unprecedented style values even the process, I believe it reveals new value, transparency, and trustworthiness in news, and I hope you will pay attention to that. I intend to pour the experience I've cultivated as a communicator into this new form of information—the process—and deliver it to you in even more unadorned language than before.
--What are your impressions of announcer Keisuke Mori, who will be your partner as the main Caster?
She is exactly as everyone imagines her through the screen. Not only is she very warm and cheerful, but she also has an exceptionally broad perspective. And her communication skills are outstanding. She never forgets to approach the news from the viewer's perspective, and she is thorough in speaking in her own words, no matter the topic, at a professional level. Speaking in one's own words is surprisingly difficult for an announcer, so I truly respect that about her as a fellow communicator.
It's because of her personality and stance that viewers feel trust and familiarity with her. If I were by Ms. Mori's side, I'm sure I could relax and deliver the news in honest words. She's a truly reassuring senior colleague.
--Saturday nights, when the program airs, are the middle of the weekend. For many viewers, it's a time to relax and rest their minds and bodies. To be exposed to difficult news, to learn about the world, and to reflect on things during that time is, in a sense, "using your head and your heart."
The program will allow viewers to peek into the reality of the reporting field, the worries and struggles of the reporters, and trace their journey together. You should be able to experience an immersive feeling, much like watching a documentary. Rather than watching the news with a sense of urgency to learn, I hope it will be a program that you can't help but watch, and before you know it, you won't be able to take your eyes off it. I myself am looking forward to it.
