Hoshino Gen Returns to Airwaves After Illness, Shares Insights on Busy Life
Musician, essayist, and actor Hoshino Gen made a return to the Nippon Broadcasting's show Hoshino Gen's All Night Nippon (ANN) on March 18, 2025, following a sudden absence due to health issues. During the episode, which airs every Tuesday at 1:00 AM, Hoshino reflected on his condition and expressed gratitude to his fans and listeners.
"I had to take a sudden break due to health issues last week. But I have recovered and I'm back here now. Thank you all for your support. Everyone who listened, I truly appreciate it," Hoshino said, recalling his recent experience.
Highlighting the previous week's episode, where he had planned to welcome two guests, Hoshino humorously noted that the broadcast was handled by the guests inste...
Their tone and energy reminded him of the good old days, describing, "It felt like listening to the old All Night Nippon era, which I loved."
During his time off, Hoshino indicated that his health issues primarily stemmed from exhaustion. "It was simply overwork. I had been in a phase where I was not sleeping enough, but I was in a state where I had to sleep, and my body just couldn't move. I thought about taking a break but felt overwhelmed with recording and other commitments," he explained.
He elaborated on his various efforts to combat fatigue, which included relaxing in the bath with calming agents and consuming probiotics like Yakult 1000. "I thought I was doing everything right. However, I just could not seem to get any sleep. Once you are in the zone of working, it’s hard to turn off that switch," he added.
Hoshino likened the demands of his job to an unusual profession, reflecting, "Speaking for two hours into the void at night is a bit insane. It's not the same as having a conversation with someone; I’m talking to a wall for two hours, and somehow that makes a difference in my mind when I try to sleep afterward."
The previous Tuesday, he said, about five hours before the show, he experienced a sudden fever which ultimately led him to miss the broadcast. He said, "I thought I could push through another day, but with my fever spiking, I couldn’t continue. The next day, I just rested and my fever went down quickly."
In his return, he reassured fans saying, "I feel good now, and I’m determined to get back to working hard." He mentioned that quirks of his life as a show host could lead to a challenging adjustment after shows: "After recording, it takes a while to settle in and get to sleep because your mind is still engaged from the performance."
User interaction and a relaxed radio environment is something Hoshino treasures. As he resumed his hosting duties, Hoshino said it was refreshing to witness guests come and go freely on the show, creating a lively atmosphere that he believes is reminiscent of radio's early days. "It's dynamic and spontaneous like how radio used to be," he observed.
Overall, as he settled back into the routine, Hoshino expressed heartfelt thanks towards all the listeners while indicating he is ready to dive back into the world of music production, acting, and entertaining.
As he aptly put it, "I am ready to push forward and make up for lost time." Hoshino's listeners can expect to catch the latest episodes of his show on the 'radiko' platform for a week following the air date.
