It was revealed on May 10th that the popular group SixTONES will serve as charity partners for Nippon Television's charity program "24-Hour Television 49 - Love Saves the Earth -" to be broadcast on August 29th and 30th. The announcement was made on the same day's broadcast of "Golden SixTONES," and when announcer Asami Miura appeared from the set to make the announcement, the six members looked surprised.
It was also revealed that the charity T-shirts designed by Gosho Aoyama , known for the popular manga " Detective Conan ," will be available in a record-breaking six colors: yellow, pink, blue, purple, white, and family green.
◇Comments from SixTONES members
--You will be serving as a charity partner this year. Please tell us how you feel about it.
Juri Tanaka: I'm really happy. I've been watching it on TV for so long, so I'm a little nervous. I hope we can do our best to explore what we can convey with our own abilities.
Yugo Kochi Kochi: I feel a sense of responsibility and I have to do my best. I'm going to renew my resolve and do my best this summer.
Jesse: We tried not to make it too heavy, and while we wanted to show what makes SixTONES unique, the theme this time is "family," and we (SixTONES) have always been like family, so even though we're not related by blood, we hope you'll enjoy watching it thinking of each of us as "family."
Taiga Kyomoto: This program has been passed down through so many senior members, so we have always admired it. I think one of the reasons SixTONES was chosen is because of our usual cheerful and lively personality, so I hope we can contribute to the program in that way as well.
Hokuto Matsumura: I think the impression viewers get can change quite a bit depending on the charity partner, so I want to keep that in mind and do my best with love.
Shintaro Morimoto: It's really important for us to convey our strength and energy in our own way, and I've always thought, "This program is amazing," when I've watched it, so I want to do my best to properly convey that feeling I've had as a viewer to everyone.
--This year's charity T-shirt was designed by Mr. Aoyama for 24-Hour Television, just like last year. Furthermore, it has the most color variations yet, with six different colors available. What are your impressions of the T-shirt?
Everyone: She's so cute! And stylish too!
Kochi-san: It's rare to see so many characters gathered together on a T-shirt!
Kyomoto: It's rare to see a T-shirt featuring Eri Kisaki, so I'm personally very happy! Since the theme is family, I think this couple will also appear.
Jesse: (Kyomoto) loves Detective Conan!
--It looks like it's going to be an enjoyable 24-Hour Television, but are there any anxieties or worries you have right now?
Jesse: I think I'm going to cry a lot.
Tanaka: Jesse is the most easily moved to tears. He's afraid of not being able to properly express what he wants to say.
Jesse: That's right. I get emotionally involved very easily.
Matsumura: Write down the comments you think they'll say on a card, and if they start crying, just show them the card!
Everyone: (laughs)
--This time, Mitsuyoshi Uchimura will be serving as the main host. What are your impressions of Mr. Uchimura?
Everyone: That's kind of you.
Tanaka: Kochi, Uchimura is like a father figure to you, right?
Kochi: That's absolutely true. He's known me since I was a complete amateur. Uchimura-san may seem kind, but he's also very strict and stoic, so I feel like I'll be able to learn a lot from him up close during this 24-Hour TV program. Also, he's a cool senior who always delivers when it matters, so I'd like to learn a lot from him firsthand.
--The theme for this session is "My Family Story - Who do you think of?", so do you have someone in your life, both at work and in your personal life, who is like family to you?
Tanaka: To be honest, I've spent more time with these members than with my own family for the past 10 years or so. So we see each other more often than with our families, and we know more about each other than with our families. It feels like we have a separate "SixTONES family" from the "Tanaka family," like one big family, so having all the members here this time is reassuring.
--Since you've been together this much, do you know each other's families well?
Tanaka: Of course I understand!
Kyomoto: (To the members) Did you all know? It looks like the moms of "Oyaanzu" are having a dinner party tonight!
Tanaka: We call SixTONES' parents "Oyaanzu".
Morimoto: Not this time, but last time, my mother made T-shirts with the children's names and the date the group was formed on them, and gave them to the "Oyaanz" (old men).
Kochi: (My parents) sent me a group photo of them wearing it! (laughs)
Kyomoto: Shintaro often makes music for SixTONES too!
Tanaka: We do similar things, don't we!
Kyomoto: He looks like Shintaro!
Morimoto: They're definitely parent and child!
Matsumura: You've started to look a lot like your mother!
Everyone: The other way around! The other way around! (laughs)
Tanaka: So your mom is leaning right over to Shintaro!? (laughs)
Everyone: (laughs)
--And this year's 24-Hour Television, the "Oyaanzu" members as well...
Jesse: I'll come out! (laughs)
Kochi: I don't know why, but it's kind of embarrassing for us too (laughs).
Jesse: We take a break and then we say, "Okay, it's time for the evening show!" (laughs)
Tanaka: I'd love to see the "Oyaanzu" (old men) get together and stay awake for 24 hours!
--Could you tell us again about your aspirations for 24-Hour Television?
Jesse: SixTONES will be serving as a charity partner. Personally, I think I'll be very moved and cry, but I hope that with the power of SixTONES, we can turn everyone's tears into smiles, get through this summer together, and make it a great success. Let's all become a "family"! Thank you for your support.
