Yuji Oda meets Matsuko for the first time in "Matsuko's Unknown World New Year SP"! “We’re close in age and it was a lot of fun.”

■Matsuko says about javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi: “I love her! She’s so cute!”

Yuji Oda will appear on “Matsuko’s Unknown World New Year Special” which will be broadcast from 9:15 pm on January 3, 2025.

Oda, who was appointed as a special ambassador for the World Athletics Championships to be held in Tokyo in 2025, has been the main anchor for the World Athletics Championships for 13 consecutive races since the 1997 Athens Games. Oda passionately talks about the “world of super athletes” that he has pursued for 25 years.

Oda introduces the “100m track and field” as the “ultimate competition.” Since the world record for the 100 meters on land was set in 1912 at 10.6 seconds, it has taken about 100 years for the time to be reduced by more than 1 second. Usain Bolt’s world record, in which Oda witnessed the moment right in front of his eyes, still stands. In the studio, a life-size panel of Boruto and his actual stride are reproduced. Matsuko is also surprised by his high physical ability.

Until now, many Japanese athletes such as Shingo Suetsugu, Dai Tamesue, and Koji Murobushi have overcome physical differences to compete in the World Athletics Championships. The Tokyo Games will be held for the first time in 34 years.

According to Oda, there are many Japanese athletes who can aim for medals at the Tokyo Games, including javelin thrower Shinka Kitaguchi, whom Matsuko says, “I love her! She’s so cute.” Oda, who says, “I don’t know why he hasn’t won a medal yet,” will introduce some of the athletes to watch, including 110-meter hurdle runner Rashid Muratake.

(C)TBS

■Yuji Oda comment
It was my first time talking with Matsuko, and we were very close in terms of age, so it was really fun.
I think it’s really important that not only the core track and field fans but also people who don’t know much about track and field can watch and be interested. Track and field has a charm that makes you immerse yourself in it like a bottomless pit, so I would be happy if you could watch the broadcast and get interested.
In this day and age, I feel like we are often asked to behave ourselves, but it’s fun to be in a bit of a gray area. I think this is a valuable program that focuses on that. I enjoyed it. I would be happy if the viewers could enjoy it as well.