DeNA pitcher Kazuki Yamazaki recently took to television alongside his high school classmate, the charismatic host Roland, on the popular Fuji TV show "Poka Poka," airing on January 27, 2023. The episode shed light on their amusing and candid school days, providing viewers with plenty of laughter and insights about their friendship.
During the show, Roland opened up about his memories of Yamazaki from their time at Teikyo High School, where they were both students. He reminisced about how they spent three years together as class mates, sharing secrets and experiences. The atmosphere was light-hearted as Roland teased Yamazaki with the reveal of what he deemed was his shocking inability—writing the letter "E"—which made the studio erupt with laughter.
Roland humorously elaborated on this joke, mentioning how high school was not particularly academically rigorous for them. He stated, "アルファベットのEが書けない," which translates to "He can't write the letter E," capturing the audience's attention and setting the tone for the playful banter. The host also commented on how Yamazaki was considered "めちゃめちゃ頭悪かったんですよ," which means "He was really not good at studies."
This surprising disclosure immediately left the crowd, including host Haraiichi Sawabe, shocked and entertained.
Yamazaki, taking the gentle ribbing with good humor, reflected on his priorities back then. "いやいやいや。でも周りもそういう人多かったです," meaning, "No, there were many like me around too," he explained. Yamazaki candidly admitted to focusing more on baseball than academics, which led to his limited proficiency with English-related subjects. During their tests, which simplified assessing English letters as mere ABCD writing exercises, Yamazaki humorously recounted his own faux pas: he had written the letter "E" using Katakana as "ヨ," resulting in lower marks.
Roland had more tales up his sleeve, poking fun by saying, "“Enough”ってあるじゃないですか、“good enough”とかの。あれを“え、絵具？”って," which translates to "There's the word 'Enough,' right? Like 'good enough.' He thought it meant 'paint'." The studio shared numerous chuckles as they listened to this embarrassing slight from Yamazaki's past.
Their camaraderie was precious, and as they recounted these incidents, it became clear how their paths, though diverged, hadn’t diminished the bond they forged during high school. Yamazaki, now thriving as a professional athlete, responded to concerns about whether this impacted his career. He reassured the audience, "さすがに…いやいや、まさかまさか," indicating, "Surely not... No, no way."
This lighthearted take showed his confidence and acceptance of his history.
The show also delved deep as both shared fond memories of their high school, meeting up at their favorite okonomi-yaki restaurant, and how they were surprised at their contrasting paths—the now charismatic Roland having transformed from the buzz-cut high schooler, engaging with audiences on major platforms. Yamazaki’s incredulity was palpable as he remarked, "もうびっくりして。テレビで見てて本人とは知らなかった," which translates to "I was shocked. I didn't know it was him when I saw him on TV."
Reflecting on their past exploits, it was evident both had memories of support and competition, shaping them through their teenage years. Roland spoke joyfully about how aware he was of Yamazaki's promising future when he was drafted as the number one player. Their playful banter brought to life the charm of high school friendships punctuated with laughter and hospitality.
At the end of this heartfelt reunion on "Poka Poka," viewers caught a glimpse of their genuine friendship. Roland's playful jabs became the thread connecting their anecdotal tales, drawing audiences to reminisce about their own youthful days, filled with struggles and mishaps, much like Yamazaki's memories of grappling with the basics of English.
The episode serves not just as entertainment, but as a reminder of the enduring ties of friendship, no matter how far one reaches their dreams. After all, everyone has their fair share of embarrassing stories, and laughing at them is what truly brings people together.