Sports and information program “Going! Nippon Television Rena Ichiki, who is appearing in “Sports & News”
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Nippon Television’s sports and information program “Going! Rena Ichiki announcer who has been in charge of Sports & News since October. He is also a former member of the popular idol group Nogizaka46, and has made numerous achievements in dance, such as participating in world competitions in competitive dance when he was a student. We asked Rena Ichiki, who has experience as an athlete, to talk about the impressive 2021 sports scenes and how she was prepared to send out episodes and sports news during her time as a competitive dancer.
──There were various sports scenes this year, but please tell us about the famous scenes that left a lasting impression on you.
There were many famous scenes this year, so it was hard to choose, but I was particularly impressed by Hifumi Abe (66 kg class for boys) and poetry player (52 kg class for girls) at the Tokyo Olympics and Judo. It is a gold medal for the brothers and sisters of women’s wrestling Risako Kawai (57 kg class) and Yukako (62 kg class). Looking at them, I felt the warmth of the bonds between my family and people. That’s because people are always strong, but there are always parts that they can’t live on by themselves. I think I’m moving forward with the help of someone or the support. I felt that through the activities of Abe brothers and sisters and Kawai sisters, and I thought again, “Oh, sports are such a wonderful thing.”
In terms of wrestling, Takuto Otoguro (men’s freestyle 65 kg class), who also won the gold medal, was watching with great support. Actually, I met Otoguro before the epidemic of the new coronavirus, after recording the “Consultation Center where you can make a line” that I am in charge of. I used to come to see the program with my brother Keisuke.
──Are you watching, not as a guest with your brothers?
That’s right. At that time, I heard that my younger brother Takuto was a fan of Nogizaka46. I greeted him after the program was recorded. At that time, while taking a picture together, he said, “I will do my best to aim for the Tokyo Olympics,” but he said that he not only realized that word, but also won a gold medal. That’s why the final match was nailed to TV. In my heart, I was cheering while yelling “Otoguro-kun!” (Laughs). Now, the photos I took with me are my treasure, and they are very powerful. If I have a chance to meet again someday, I would like to say “Congratulations” directly.
──Many medalists appeared as guests after the Tokyo Olympics at the “Counseling Center where you can line up”.
Yes. Among them, Sakura Yosozumi, a new type of female skateboarder, was impressive. Of course, at the young age of 19, and winning a gold medal on that big stage is amazing, but I was shocked by the “certain word” in the program. At one point, my family asked me, “Do you want something?”, But Yosozumi replied, “I don’t need anything else if I can skateboard.” I think I would say “I want that, I want this too” (laughs), but I would say that at that young age. Skateboarding is so important to her and she is full of love for competition. The pure and straight feeling was so beautiful.
Also, Evelyn Mawuli, a women’s basketball player who won the silver medal, and Wolf Aaron, who won the gold medal in the judo men’s 100 kg class, also came as guests, but since they are both of the same generation as me, they co-starred. There was something deeply emotional at the time. According to the story, it seems that many athletes born in 1995 participated in the Tokyo Olympics. I was born early in January 1996, but I got the power just because my generation was active in the Olympics.
──There are many other athletes in the 1995 generation, such as Yui Ohashi, who is a swimmer, and Yoshihide Kiryu, who is on land, so it can be said that he is already a golden generation.
surely! In that case, I would say that, three years later, the Paris Olympics will pay attention to the success of the 1995 generation. It seems that there is a group line of the same generation, so I’m not an athlete, but one day it became my dream to join. However, it seems that Wolf Aaron has not been called for some reason. In the program, I was rushing into saying “I’m not in the group line there” (laughs).
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