Tomokazu Seki as Ebisu-sama and Reiji Kawashima as Maneki-neko! Challenging Prize-money Contests with Good Fortune on Their Side in ABEMA's "Say You To Yo Asobi Kin"

On ABEMA, "Say You To Yo Asobi Kin [Tomokazu Seki × Reiji Kawashima] #22" was broadcast from 10 PM on October 31, 2025.

In this broadcast, in keeping with Halloween Week, Tomokazu Seki appeared in costume as Ebisu-sama, one of the Seven Lucky Gods, and Reiji Kawashima as a maneki-neko (beckoning cat). Matching their costumes, they conducted a segment titled "We'll Definitely Win Now! Let's Enter Prize-money Contests~" and challenged themselves to create haiku and senryu on various themes.

Creating Haiku Related to "Cats," Does Seki Display His Haiku Talent?

Within the program, under the concept that the two of them, now having become "synonyms for good fortune" as Ebisu-sama and a maneki-neko, should have "extraordinary good fortune coming their way," they challenged prize-money contests. The contests ranged widely, including "Neko Haiku Taisho" (Cat Haiku Grand Prize), the nationwide "Hagaki de Gomen'nasai" (Sorry by Postcard) concours, and the "Aisuru Anata e no Waruguchi Contest" (Insult Contest for Your Beloved), among others.

First, the two challenged "Neko Haiku Taisho," a haiku contest themed around cats. Seki, while saying "I'm not good at haiku at all, I've never been praised for it," composed the verse "Neko na no ka / Neko ja nai no ka / Neko na no ka" (Is it a cat / Is it not a cat / Is it a cat). Seki explained that this haiku expressed the situation of "when there's a sound, is it a cat? Isn't it a cat? I hope it's a cat." In response, Kawashima replied, "I thought you were talking about my existence (dressed as a maneki-neko)," inducing laughter in the studio. Furthermore, when Seki presented "Ashimoto ni / Kedama korogari / Kyatto naru" (At my feet / A furball rolls / I go 'kyat'), Kawashima praised it highly, saying "Isn't that incredibly good!?"

Challenging the Insult Contest, Kawashima Confesses His Past of Being Blacklisted

Next, the two selected the "Aisuru Anata e no Waruguchi Contest." This contest solicits "loving insults" in any format—poetry, tanka, haiku, senryu, etc.—from people who have difficulty saying what they want to say or who have fought and want to make up. Under the theme that the recipient could be anyone, Seki asked, "Don't you have any unresolved fights?"

Kawashima confessed, "Almost none, but there was a male friend I was sharing a house with who was behind on rent and didn't pay it back, so I went to his dressing room right after a stage performance ended." He further revealed the bitter episode that "I went to the dressing room, but I had been put on the blacklist."

Next, the two challenged the nationwide "Hagaki de Gomen'nasai" Concours de Senryu Contest, with Seki presenting "Otōsan no hage ga boku no jinsei wo terashite ita yo" (Dad's baldness was illuminating my life), and Kawashima presenting "Baraeti de / Gohōbi-kai no tsugi / Omoi kai kun da kedo" (In variety shows / After a reward episode / They bring a heavy episode), among others. Kawashima struggled, saying "Senryu is really difficult, I'm quietly breaking a sweat," and livened up the studio by calling out to viewers, "Please write in the comments section!"

Also within the program, in conjunction with the start of broadcasting the Friday edition of the monthly location program "Seiyuu to Yoasobi Walkers 2025 Say You One More Night" delivered by each day's MCs in rotation, a project was implemented to solicit "songs they want the two to sing." The studio was enveloped in enthusiasm as they sang passionately in response to viewers' requests to "sing while looking cool."

(C)AbemaTV, Inc.