On August 3, Yomiuri TV announced the cast for the Kansai segment of its annual summer charity program “24Hour Television 49: Love Will Save the Earth,” which will air at the end of the month.
The Yomiuri TV hosts will be the comedy duo Milk Boy (Takashi Utsumi and Takashi Komaba), along with announcers Chiaki Kuroki and Momo Nishio. Kansai Juniors Toa Shimazaki, Fuga Onishi, AmBitious‘ Takeyuki Mayumi and Leo Nagaoka, and Taiga Watanabe will serve as official supporters.
This year’s overall program theme is:
“My Family Story — Who Are You Thinking Of?”
Through personal stories about family told by individuals, the show aims to explore today’s society and the issues that shape its future.
Additionally, the theme for the Kansai portion is:
“Shine, Kansai Stars! — You’re Our Superstar”
The program will encourage people to express gratitude to family members—feelings that are often too embarrassing to say face-to-face. The word “uchi” in the theme also carries a double meaning in Kansai dialect, referring to both “myself” and “home/family,” expressing the idea that everyone is a superstar both as an individual and within their family.
The local Kansai broadcasts will air live at various times on both August 29 and 30.
Comments from the cast
Takashi Utsumi
“I’ve been appearing on 24Hour Television since 2020, and now I’m 40 years old. At this rate, I think I can keep doing it until I’m about 70.
(To the Kansai Juniors) If there’s anything you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask! I’ve reached the point where I can say that with confidence.
I’ve had so many valuable experiences on this program, but this year I’d like it to feel like the culmination of everything so far—the year where I shine the brightest. Of course, I plan to keep doing it after this year too! (laughs)
Since this is my seventh year, I want people to feel, ‘He’s different now,’ and I’d like to show some growth and try new things.
We’ll be together with the Kansai Juniors for both days, so I’d love for us to become friends—not just during the broadcast, but to build the kind of bond where we can chat whenever we meet at other jobs.
One piece of advice: Chiaki Kuroki has a habit of suddenly throwing impossible requests at you if there’s extra airtime. If time is left over, it can get scary! Once, I ended up saying, ‘Wait, what?!’ right before the live segment ended, and I carried that embarrassment around for a whole year! (laughs) So I hope everyone comes prepared with a strong mentality.”
Takashi Komaba
“This will be my seventh consecutive year on 24Hour Television. I understand how everything works now, so each year I enjoy it even more. I think this year will be even more fun than last year.
I especially enjoy participating in the fundraising activities. The time may be limited, but it would be great if I could visit lots of places. Being able to meet people face-to-face and talk with them is a wonderful opportunity, so I’d love to do more of that.
At the end of the program, when all the regional broadcasts are shown together, I want people to think Kansai was the most energetic. It’s only a few seconds, but every region shows its own personality. Other regions wave flags and do different things, while Osaka tends to keep it simple. I’d like everyone to think together about how we can make our final appearance really memorable.”
Chiaki Kuroki
“This will be my seventh consecutive year serving as MC.
Milk Boy and I have worked together on this program for seven years now, and they’ve become like my 24Hour Television family. They give me a real sense of reassurance.
This year I’ll also be working with our new YTV host Momo Nishio and the members of Kansai Junior, and I hope together we can make this year’s program a success.
The word ‘family’ brings many different images to mind—our own relatives, or people who are as precious to us as family. To me, family is ‘the place where I can return, where I’m accepted no matter who I am.’
What all of those relationships have in common is a connection with someone you can completely trust. That’s what I thought when I heard this year’s theme.
I hope we can create a 24Hour Television that lets viewers feel the warmth of those human bonds. I would be happy if everyone could watch the program while thinking about someone important in their own lives.”
Momo Nishio
“The last time I was involved with 24Hour Television was during my first and second years at the station, when I covered the fundraising broadcasts. This will be my first time participating as a YTV host.
It’s a program with a long tradition, deep meaning, and one that really makes people think. When I was offered the role, I was thrilled, but I also felt the weight of the responsibility.
I hope to face the program together with the performers and the viewers as my genuine self.
This year’s key word is ‘family.’ Since starting my career, I’ve realized more than ever how much my own family supports me, and I’ve come to appreciate their warmth and kindness.
I hope these two days become an opportunity to reflect on the important people in our lives—the people who support us and the warm connections we treasure. I also hope viewers can experience that kind of reflection through the program.”
Toa Shimazaki
“We’re nowhere near as experienced as Milk Boy, but I’m genuinely happy that Kansai Junior has been invited back again this year.
I’m really looking forward to our fans and everyone else finding out that we’ve been appointed as YTV Supporters.
If Milk Boy keeps doing this until they’re 70, we’d love to keep appearing alongside them until then too! This year, the five of us will give it everything we’ve got.
By working together, I hope we can show people that we’re not just energetic—we can also be funny in that uniquely Kansai way.
Our job is usually to make people smile, but this time we’ll be doing it on a live nationwide television broadcast, reaching even more people. I hope we can use everything we’ve learned so far to bring smiles to as many viewers as possible.”
Fuga Onishi
“It’s amazing to think I’ll be appearing on a program that I used to watch at home as a viewer.
Being entrusted with 24Hour Television as Kansai Junior is an incredible honor. We want to carry on what groups like Naniwa Danshi and Ae! group have built and pass that legacy on to the juniors who come after us.
We’ll probably be talking, singing, and taking part in all kinds of segments this year. I want people to see that we can balance both sides of ourselves—we’re idols, but we can also be funny entertainers.
Above all, I think our biggest job is making people smile. At our core we’re idols, so if anyone watching is worried or going through difficult times, I hope our singing and dancing with bright smiles can lift their spirits.“
Takeyuki Mayumi
“As a viewer, I’ve always received so much from 24Hour Television. It’s moved me in many different ways.
Now that I’m participating as a YTV Supporter, I want to join forces with Milk Boy and everyone else to bring energy to people from Kansai.
The first people I want to tell about becoming a supporter are my family—which also happens to be this year’s theme. I couldn’t be doing what I do today without their support.
I grew up in a lively household where everyone talks nonstop. I think that’s why I naturally have endless positivity, and I hope I can deliver 120% of that brightness to everyone watching.”
Leo Nagaoka
“More than anything, I wanted to wear the charity T-shirt, so I’m already about 80% satisfied! (laughs)
First of all, I hope everyone can enjoy 24-Hour Television together.
What do I want to work hardest on? Everything! I’ll give it my all.
I’ve been dancing ever since I was little, so I’ve learned how to express myself. Whenever there’s an opportunity to communicate something to viewers during the program, I’d like to make use of the expressive skills I’ve developed through dance.”
Taiga Watanabe
“Our seniors, like Naniwa Danshi and Ae! group, achieved so much that they’ve passed this opportunity on to us. But I never imagined I’d actually get to do it myself.
I’m very nervous, but I want to enjoy the experience and fulfill my role as a YTV Supporter on such a historic program.
I’m not naturally someone who’s good at talking, but since I’ve been given this opportunity, I want to switch gears and be much more proactive than I usually am.
This year’s theme is family, and my parents are still very much in love, while my younger brother and I have always gotten along without fighting. Because of the warmth and love within my own family, I hope I can share that feeling of family love with everyone watching.”
