Harajuku’s Radio Show ‘Turn!’ Episode 495 Reveals Yuki Iwai’s New NACK5 Programme! What is Yū Sawabe’s Long-Held Ambition for His Own ‘Flagship Show’?

Every Thursday night, this addictive radio show that blows away the sleepiness once again created an incredible atmosphere. ‘Harajuku no Turn!’ episode 495. This wasn’t just another “495th episode” – in a way, it was a historic turn.

Shocking “Playing Dumb” Reveal! Iwai Unexpectedly Lands His Own Show

Last week, the show mentioned that Yuki Iwai had appeared as a guest host on a NACK5 programme. He casually talked about it, saying things like “I don’t know why they picked me” and “I have fond memories of NACK5.” But in the end, that was clearly just a “setup.” It turns out, starting this April, Iwai will be hosting his very own named show on NACK5.

Needless to say, the studio atmosphere changed instantly. Armed with a “smoking gun” email from a listener, Yū Sawabe grilled his partner, who was pretending to know nothing. As Iwai tried to make excuses like “It was decided suddenly” and “I was surprised too,” Sawabe dropped a line that really hit home:

“So by that logic, I should be able to get my own show within a week, right?”

Despite his long career and having hosted numerous programmes, Sawabe has strangely never had a show with his own name in the title. Considering this “tragic” state of affairs for Sawabe, it’s no wonder he was so fired up in his pursuit. If a show with “Yū Sawabe’s…” were ever to become a reality, what would it be like? No one can say for sure, but if that day ever comes, Iwai certainly won’t be able to play dumb about it.

Daikon Orashi Invades Another Station? The Launch of “All Daikon Nippon”

Meanwhile, the show has previously featured quirky ingredient-themed segments like Nori (Nori-Nori no Turn), Bread (Dynamic Pan), and Sesame Oil Salt (Goma Abura Jio). This time, they chose daikon oroshi (grated daikon radish) as the theme, trialling a new segment called “All Daikon Nippon.”

According to Iwai, he’s so into it lately that he’s been finishing meals with just grated daikon and rice. The title is a clear homage to a famous programme on another station. This segment, as formless as freshly grated daikon and shaped by listener emails, is quintessential ‘Turn!’ – wonderfully freeform. Apparently, there’s also an invention corner for thinking up new ways to grate daikon, something that’s bound to intrigue even non-“daikon listeners.”

Dad Sawabe’s Unexpected Defeat in the Taiyaki War

This week’s peek into Sawabe’s personal life was equally poignant. He came home to find six taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes): custard and butter bean paste. Hungry, he grabbed one without checking the filling – it turned out to be custard. He gave some to his kids, which were also all custard. So, in one go, they’d demolished four out of the six, all custard.

Nervously asking, “Is it okay that they’re all custard?” he confirmed there were no food safety issues. But that wasn’t really the problem. There was his wife’s anger: “But I wanted to eat custard.” Then his daughter piled on: “I actually wanted the butter bean paste one.” It sounded like an evening where Dad Sawabe’s standing in the household was burnt to a crisp along with those taiyaki.

The Two from “Harajuku”: Now and Beyond

It’s surprising to learn that Iwai and Sawabe, whose comedy duo name originates from the area, have been friends since kindergarten in Harajuku, Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture. It’s memorable that Sawabe once passionately talked about wanting to film a location segment there for a show he hosted, ‘Bakkai ☆ Sutā Ongaeshi’.

Sawabe’s dream of gifting a Harley-Davidson scooter to the “lady at Harajuku Station” who warmly watched over them as they practiced their routines there, and their idea to donate a sumo ring to Myōgonji Kindergarten where they first met – these plans are surely still simmering somewhere.

What this radio episode showed was Iwai expanding his solo horizons, while Sawabe watched with mixed feelings, masterfully turning it all into comedy gold. They truly embody a “nori-boke life,” not just a “nori-boke manzai” routine – showcasing their incredibly sophisticated sense of balance.

Iwai with his named show, Sawabe without. This “status divide” is part of the package as ‘Turn!’ continues. What kind of “scene” will unfold next week? We’ll have our ears pressed to the radio at midnight.

This Week’s ‘Harajuku no Turn!’ Recap

• Shocking News: Yuki Iwai to start a new named show on NACK5 from April. Does Yū Sawabe’s ambition for his own show move further away?
• New Segment: The grated daikon radio show “All Daikon Nippon” has launched (for a limited time?).
• Personal Lives: Sawabe suffers a major defeat in a family war over six taiyaki. Iwai loses his identity of having “clammy feet” thanks to underfloor heating.

‘Harajuku no Turn!’ airs every Thursday at midnight. The after-talk is said to give you the feeling of chatting while walking down a country path after school. Don’t miss that either.