Masaki Aiba Gets Muddy Harvesting Lotus Root on TV
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Japanese entertainer Masaki Aiba recently appeared on a TV program where he worked to harvest fresh lotus root. Lotus root is a vegetable that grows underwater in muddy fields.
During the harvest, Aiba became completely covered in mud. The task required a lot of physical effort, and he struggled as he tried to pull the roots out of the thick mud.
Another entertainer, Sawabe, from the comedy duo Harai-ichi, joined the program as well. Aiba made a humorous comment about the timing of Sawabe's arrival, which added a light-hearted moment to the show.
Beyond the harvesting activity, Aiba also opened up about his personal life. He spoke about how he handles moments when he feels down or emotionally low, giving viewers a glimpse into his private side.
The program combined physical challenge with personal conversation, showing a different side of Aiba beyond his usual entertainment work. Fans were able to see both his effort in the muddy field and his honest thoughts about difficult emotional moments.
This kind of program format, which mixes outdoor activities with personal interviews, is common in Japanese variety television, allowing audiences to connect with celebrities on a more personal level.
Vocabulary10 words
- lotus root
- a vegetable that grows under water in mud
- harvest
- the act of collecting crops from the ground
- down
- feeling sad or unhappy
- muddy
- full of soft, wet dirt
- comedy duo
- two people who perform jokes together
- physical effort
- hard work using the body
- humorous
- funny; making people laugh
- opened up
- talked honestly about private feelings
- variety television
- TV shows with different kinds of entertainment mixed together
- glimpse
- a short look at something
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Lotus root 2. Sawabe from Harai-ichi 3. How he copes when he feels down
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Japanese entertainer Masaki Aiba recently appeared on a TV program where he worked to _____ fresh lotus root. Lotus root is a vegetable that grows underwater in _____ fields.
During the harvest, Aiba became completely covered in _____. The task required a lot of _____, and he struggled as he tried to pull the roots out of the thick mud.
Another entertainer, Sawabe, from the _____ Harai-ichi, joined the program as well. Aiba made a _____ comment about the timing of Sawabe's arrival, which added a light-hearted moment to the show.
Beyond the harvesting activity, Aiba also _____ about his personal life. He spoke about how he handles moments when he feels _____ or emotionally low, giving viewers a _____ into his private side.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think TV shows combine physical challenges with personal interviews?
- Have you ever tried harvesting vegetables yourself? What was it like?
- Do you think celebrities should share personal feelings on TV? Why or why not?
- What do you usually do when you feel down?
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