If we were to compare it to table tennis, it would be the "cut man." The modern tsukkomi conversation technique devised by Morimoto and Kayoko Okubo of "Ton Tsukatan"

It's only been a year since the radio show started, but there's a sense of trust that no matter what I say, they'll pick up on it and do something about it. That's why I can see why they're invited to all sorts of places.

Also, he's not pushy. He doesn't steal the show with his tsukkomi, but rather uses tsukkomi that make everyone feel good and liven things up. I think he's probably from an international school, so he has good manners. Poor people can't get in, after all.

That's a bit harsh (laughs). Well, it's true that tuition fees are expensive.

See, that's what I said just now. By stating the facts, such as "tuition is expensive," it softens the harsh words "poor" and gives a supporting tone. That's what I mean. Maybe the reason I can speak comfortably on the radio is because I'm being helped in this way, without even realizing it.

It's not like I'm consciously correcting them or anything. I'd be happy if they could just relax and do it without any restrictions, thinking, "If it's this guy I'm talking to, he'll rephrase everything and make a comeback." In the end, whether the joke ends up being usable or not depends on the skill of the comedian.

I come from the previous generation of variety shows, so I used to think that the harsher you are, the funnier you are. But I once said to an influencer on a show, "I don't know who you are," and the atmosphere became awkward (laughs). I realized that if I speak based only on my own standards without updating the information, I might say something completely off-putting, so I have to be careful.

Even people who you think you've never seen before can have over a million subscribers on YouTube.

Also, in the past, when I was nervous and couldn't speak well, I was helped a lot by people saying things like, "I don't know what you're talking about, old lady!" But nowadays, it's unthinkable that someone would make fun of someone's appearance to make them laugh.

Customers aren't really receptive to that sort of thing anymore.

So I think that people like Morimoto who don't use old weapons, but can think about how to make jokes by making use of their own individuality, will survive in the future. The older generation, too, those who are still around have all made minor changes.

That's exactly what Ueda (Shinya) from Cream Stew is like, and in the end he brings things together so that the person who spoke doesn't lose out. In the past, the image of a tsukkomi was that of a sadistic person, but now it's the job of a very tolerant person who looks around the room and makes adjustments so that the whole thing runs smoothly.

It's like a cutter in table tennis. The tsukkomi position these days may be specialized in defense. I always take a step back and imagine just returning the ball that comes my way.

My personal rule for tsukkomi is that I want to be the "last line of defense" that saves everyone. I'm not the type to push my way through those around me, and even now I'm not good at it on the stage.

Ah, something like "Lovvit!"

Please don't try to pinpoint areas where I'm not good at!

But when we go out for tea or a meal privately, he's surprisingly unfriendly. He doesn't offer any topics to talk about, and he doesn't even ask, "What would you like to drink next?" Sometimes I wonder, "Hmm, maybe he's really not good at communicating?"

If you say that, it won't be a good advertisement for the book (laughs). But maybe it's precisely because my private life is like that that I can think "Let's go for it!" when it's time to do the straight man job. I want you to read it as a book of know-how that I've acquired through all the failures I've made so far!