2nd Page Hiroki Yasumoto and Chiaki Kobayashi Struggle with the “Chiaki Kobayashi Just Puts on Prescription Glasses” Segment!? “We're taking it slow. We're buying time.” | VOICE ACTOR

■ Studio Reactions to Chiaki Kobayashi’s Prescription Glasses Look

Yasumoto revealed his thoughts: “When I heard the whole segment was going to be just you putting on glasses today, I thought there’s no way.” Kobayashi responded, “If it was my first time wearing glasses, I could understand, but… it seems the staff are putting their trust in the ‘prescription’ part.” Yasumoto continued, “That’s ridiculous! During the meeting I said, ‘You already wear fashion glasses, so doesn’t this have no point?’ and they responded, ‘But these are prescription for the first time.’ They think they can do a whole segment just on the prescription part. So I’m dragging it out, buying time.” The two struggled with the program’s script development.

The program started with Kobayashi revealing his glasses case. When Kobayashi tried to bring out the case, Yasumoto interrupted, saying, “Hold on, hold on, we need to use up some time! I’ll read the line from the script! ‘Don’t underestimate glasses!’” When Kobayashi replied, “It’s nothing that dramatic,” Yasumoto quipped, “You can’t show it that easily! I wish we could stretch this across a commercial break!” Ultimately, upon Yasumoto’s cue, “Here it is, the case of the first ever prescription glasses Chiaki Kobayashi bought!” a simple black glasses case was unveiled and the studio was filled with applause.

Yasumoto asked, “It’s pitch black. Did you choose this yourself? Was it your only option?” to which Kobayashi replied, “It was my only choice. Oh no…we’re out of things to say…” signaling a struggle in the conversation. Even when Kobayashi said, “Well then, let’s see what’s inside…” and tried to open the case, Yasumoto interrupted again, “No! You can’t just show it that easily!” and added, “We decided to do this entire segment with just this. I have to go along with it. It’s like I’m boarding a sinking ship, even though I know there’s a hole in the bottom. If we can get halfway through, I’ll call it a win,” revealing his mindset for tackling the episode.

[Photos/Images] Hiroki Yasumoto and Chiaki Kobayashi Struggle with the “Chiaki Kobayashi Just Puts on Prescription Glasses” Segment!? “We're taking it slow. We're buying time.” 2nd

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Kobayashi retorted, “Now that I’ve shown the case, the only thing left is what’s inside,” and just when it seemed time to finally reveal his glasses look, Yasumoto said, “Instead of just showing the glasses and being done, wouldn’t it be better to show Chiaki Kobayashi actually wearing them? I’ve got something prepared,” and took out a hula hoop. Yasumoto declared, “With this, I can fill seven minutes,” and performed a bit: “Everyone, this is where we say goodbye to the Chiaki Kobayashi without prescription glasses. From here on, it’s Chiaki Kobayashi with prescription glasses. He becomes a completely different person. His spirit changes. For those who liked the old him, I’m sorry.”

With Yasumoto’s announcement, “This is the first reveal of Chiaki Kobayashi in prescription glasses!” and the sound of a drumroll, Kobayashi appeared from behind a curtain wearing silver-framed glasses. Cheers of “Ooh!” erupted in the studio, but Kobayashi calmly quipped, “Please, that took way too long!” bringing laughter to the end of this lighthearted episode.