As AKB fans, sometimes we are so focused on the girls themselves, and not the wonderful staff that support them. In a recent 755 post, AKB Cafeteria & Review posts an excerpt from a recent radio show that featured Tokumitsu Kazuo, the regular MC of the AKB Elections, where he talks about the difficulty of running a live event.

The original post is as follows, with English translation afterwards.

AKB48選抜総選挙の司会を担当された徳光和夫さんのコメントが素晴らしい。今朝、放送されたラジオ「徳光和夫 とくモリ！歌謡サタデー」よりその一部を掲載させて頂きます。
Tokumitsu Kazuo, the MC of the AKB48 Election, has made some wonderful commentary. I’ll share with you some portions from a radio show, that aired this morning, called, “Tokumitsu Kazuo toku-mori, kayou Saturday”.

「第80位のteamKIVの大失敗は、本当に私の勉強不足。」
That massive failure at number 80 with Team KIV, I really should have known better (*For those curious, at #80, Tokumitsu-san accidentally said, “Team K One Five”, instead of “Team K4”)

「やはり、5時間立ちっぱなしの司会は体力を奪われる。椅子が欲しかった。」
Really, standing for five hours as the MC, it really takes some strength. I wish I had a chair.

「テレビの中継の進行台本は、かなり細かな指示が書かれていた。だけど、気持ちよくお嬢様方がスピーチしているのを、ただ時間に捕らわれ切る事なんて、出来なかった。」
In the live broadcast script, there were really insanely detailed direction written down. But, you know, when the girls were doing their speeches, I really couldn’t bring myself to just cut them off.

「それでも、イヤモニを通じて、TVディレクターからの指示が来る。もう少し伸ばしてくれだの、早く次に行ってくれだの。やはり、そこが1番苦労した。」
Even so, in my earphone, the TV director would give me orders. Things like, “Buy us some time here”, or, “Quick, go to the next one”. That was really the most difficult part.

「もちろん私もプロなので、時間を考え、キリの良い所でスピーチを切り上げようとすると、ほとんどのメンバーが、もう一言だけいいですか？とお願いして来た。その想いが、本当に心痛かった。」
Of course, as a pro myself, I think about the time, and when I tried to step in an cut a speech short, the members would say, “Is it okay if I say one more thing?” Just remembering that makes my heart ache.

「これだけ、ディレクターの指示を尊重して司会していたのに、前田敦子さんの所でCMに行きやがった。あれは無い。生放送中に、たくさん抗議が来たと聞いた。」
With all that, I followed the director’s instructions very well. But during Maeda Atsuko’s speech, they went to commercial! That’s ridiculous. During the broadcast, I heard a lot of criticism regarding that.

「最後に、私は、AKB48のイベントの司会をやっている訳で、テレビの生中継の司会をやっている訳ではない！メンバーの皆さん、本当にご苦労様でした。」
Lastly, I just want to say, that I’m an MC for an AKB48 event. I’m not an MC for a live TV broadcast. To all the members, really, thank you for your hard work.

「終わった後、第1位の指原莉乃さんが駆け寄って来て、今年の総選挙も徳光さんのお陰で大変盛り上がりました。ありがとうございました。と。
その心遣いを忘れない実に彼女らしいなと、感心した。」
After it was all over, Sashihara Rino, who had become #1, came over to me. She said, “This year too, thanks to you Tokumitsu-san, it was another great election. Thank you very much”. I’ll never forget that kindness. I really admire that about her.

It really sounds like they just need a new director!

Source: http://akb48taimuzu.livedoor.biz/archives/45156419.html

Source: http://www.akb48mt.com/archives/44411810.html

Source: http://7gogo.jp/lp/QzbB9O3VtwEWkVIvojdMdG==/4676