Japan's vibrant entertainment industry is heading toward the New Year with excitement, boasting thrilling television specials and significant music releases. This year, two anticipated events have captured the attention of fans across the nation. The popular television program "土曜はナニする!?" will feature its New Year's special titled "土曜はカニする!? 北海道で大激突SP" on January 3, 2025. Meanwhile, the iconic music unit H Jungle With t has announced the release of their 30th Anniversary Collection, celebrating three decades since their debut.
The upcoming special of "土曜はナニする!?" promises to be packed with fun and engaging activities. Pioneered by the show's MC Ryota Yamasato from Nankai Candies and announcer Natsumi Uga, the special will showcase two teams embarking on thrilling missions across Hokkaido, where audiences will have the chance to win gifts of delicious snow crab.
One team, led by Yamasato, includes popular stars Daigo Nishihata (from Naniwa Danshi), Mizuki Yamashita, and Akira Ishida (from Non Style). They will visit the home ground of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Escon Field Hokkaido, to take on the Struck Out challenge, where crabs can be won based on balls hit. Their Hokkaido adventure continues with visits to the historic Nijyo Market for seafood bowls and snowmobiling excursions.
Meanwhile, Uga’s team, which features Junki Kono (from JO1), Takashi Tanaka (from Ungirls), and Yasuko, will explore winter-themed activities at the Northern Horse Park. One of their memorable challenges includes running atop 15-meter mats floating on the crystal-clear Shikotsu Lake, known for its exceptional water quality.
Upon completing filming, Nishihata expressed, "It was such a fun reward filming! There were gag elements along the way, and I recognized the 'Kantele aroma' at moments (laughs). The seafood bowl was absolutely amazing! I was moved by just how delicious it was. That place was on another level!" He also fondly recalled the thrilling snowmobiling experience, noting, "Experiencing the cold weather and the snowy scenery was something special for me."
Kono’s thoughts on the Uga team mirrored Nishihata's excitement. "The team was full of wonderful individuals, and it felt so peaceful—like I was on vacation with friends. Running on mats and jumping over horses was filled with effort and was quite surprising," he shared. He particularly highlighted Uga's passion during their challenges as inspirational.
Yamashita, on the other hand, revealed new experiences he encountered during their first trip to snowy Hokkaido. "I saw comedians give their all amid snow, and it truly warmed my heart (laughs). It was my first time witnessing such beautiful snowy landscapes, which was amazing. I had never tasted such luxurious seafood bowls for 5,000 yen—unbelievable and so delicious!"
Staying within the entertainment world, another significant event is set to take place as H Jungle With t, the music unit formed by Masakatsu Hamada from Downtown and producer Tetsuya Komuro, celebrates its 30th anniversary. The duo paved the way for their resurgence with the announcement of their new album, "H Jungle With t 30th Anniversary Collection," which will be released on March 19, 2025. This year marks significant milestones, celebrating the influence and legacy H Jungle With t has had since their debut single, "WOW WAR TONIGHT〜時には起こせよムーヴメント," released back in 1995.
The upcoming collection will encompass two CDs featuring their hit tracks and additional content, including the instrumental version of their iconic debut track and new mixes created for karaoke used during their revival performance at the "Gofugobu Festival" held earlier this year.
From their three singles, unreleased music videos from early years and performances from the "avex DANCE MATRIX '95 LIVE ～ TK DANCE CAMP ～" will also be featured as part of the special commemorative Blu-ray. This serves as a treasure trove of memories for long-time fans who have struggled to find physical copies of their earlier works, which are now out of print.
Adding to the excitement, the album will include unique and collectible LP-sized packaging showcasing covers from the three singles, brand new artist photos coupled with pictures taken back during their debut era, along with specially crafted H Jungle With t T-shirts.
With the New Year approaching, fans of both television and music have much to look forward to. The special broadcasting of "土曜はナニする!?" and the upcoming music collection both signify the enduring appeal and multifaceted creativity of Japanese pop culture. These events promise to usher fans warmly and memorably from one year to the next, encapsulating Japan's spirit of innovation and entertainment.
