TV Announcer Ayaka Hironaka Talks About Feeling Rivalry With Close Partner
Listen to the story
TV Asahi announcer Ayaka Hironaka has spoken about her close relationship with her partner.
She said that she often feels a sense of rivalry with them.
Hironaka explained that people who are very close can start to feel like rivals.
This is because closeness can make people compare themselves more.
Actress Mina Tanaka also shared her thoughts on the same program.
Tanaka talked about what she wants people to do when they see her weak side.
She said even simple or cliché words can be comforting at that moment.
The comments were made around the ending of a long-running TV show.
The show, called "Azatokute Nani ga Warui no?", had been a regular program for six years.
It has now reached its final episode.
Both Tanaka and Hironaka appeared as guests for this last broadcast.
Singer Airi Suzuki was also part of the ending segment.
Suzuki became emotional and cried during the final moments of the show.
The finale marked the end of a program that many viewers had followed for years.
Vocabulary8 words
- announcer
- someone whose job is to speak on TV or radio
- rivalry
- a feeling of competing with someone
- rivals
- people who compete against each other
- weak
- not strong; showing vulnerability
- cliché
- a phrase used so often it feels simple or common
- regular
- happening on a set schedule, like every week
- final episode
- the last show in a TV series
- ending
- the final part of a program or event
Quiz
Answer key
1. A sense of rivalry 2. Because closeness can lead to more comparison 3. Six years
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
TV Asahi _____ Ayaka Hironaka has spoken about her close relationship with her partner.
She said that she often feels a sense of _____ with them.
Hironaka explained that people who are very close can start to feel like _____.
Actress Mina Tanaka also shared her thoughts on the same program.
Tanaka talked about what she wants people to do when they see her _____ side.
She said even simple or _____ words can be comforting at that moment.
The show had been a _____ program for six years.
It has now reached its _____.
Singer Airi Suzuki was also part of the _____ segment.
Suzuki became emotional and cried during the final moments of the show.
Discussion questions
- Do you think people close to you can also feel like rivals? Why or why not?
- Have you ever felt competitive with a close friend or family member?
- Why do you think simple or cliché words can sometimes be comforting?
- How do you feel when a favorite TV show ends after many years?


