The Freedom of Expression Ep 18 - Baseball with Mercedes Benz logo used by Chiba Lotte Marines.
K: This is Dir en grey's Kaoru with The Freedom of Expression. This program started...how many years ago was it now? 3 or 4 years ago?...on InterFM, asking questions about freedom of expession...with this theme we talked about current news stories each time. From there, we have moved over to Youtube. There are maybe times when we talk about stuff that isn't really related to expression though..
J: There are.
T: Yeh.
K: I just wanna enjoy talking sometimes.
J: This program has a wide scope.
K: Yeah. Well, today, I mean, on the day of this broadcast, its the opening of the professional baseball season.
J: Oh, June 19th?
K: Yeh. At the point in time of recording this, we don't know exactly what will happen, but..at last baseball is gonna start.
T: And that means...? Kaoru?
K: And that means?
J: And that means?
K: What do you mean?
T: Your beloved Hanshin Tigers!
J: Oh, yeah, his Hanshin Tigers. How will your beloved Hanshin do this year?
K: Oh, they will win by a mile!
J, T: *laugh*
J: *laughing* We shouldn't laugh!
K: Hahaha
J: We really shouldn't laugh! We're so rude!
T: Its because he said straight away, 'by a mile!'.
J: Tell us your rationale for saying that, for saying they'll win by a mile.
K: Well...they're strong.
J: You could say that about anyone! *laughs*
K, T: *laugh*
J: Saying, 'They're that strong'...Yakult fans could say the same.
T: I'd just like to ask again, since when have you been a fan of the Tigers? Since when were you first aware of the Tigers?
K: How old was I?...I think I was probably in the lower grades of elementary school. As far back as I can remember really. My Dad played baseball in a non-professional team. So he had his uniform, and glove, and bat, and stuff in our house. I used to play with him, and he took me to watch games. My first time was at Nishinomiya stadium, I think...the Hankyu Braves. And after that, I wanted to see a game at Koshien.
J: Ehh, really? Oh, so you were going to stadiums from quite a young age?
K: Yeah.
T: How did it feel going Koshien and places back then?
K: It was kinda scary. There was a load of scary looking people there.
T: Scary looking people? *laughs*
K: Like really drunk people, and stuff.
J:Oh, all the hecklers.
K: The staduims didn't look as smart as they do now.
J: Ohh, of course.
K: They were kind of grubby.
J: So about Hanshin doing really well this year, they'll definitely win today's game? Where are they playing today?
T: Today is..
K: Against the Giants, right?
T: Yeah, the Giants.
K: At Tokyo Dome.
T: Their nemesis, the Giants.
J: The legendary fued between the Giants and the Tigers, right?
K: Well, yeah. For the opening match, Tokyo Dome is a bit hard going though.
J: I thought you just said they were gonna win by a mile?!
K: Hahaha.
J: Already thats not the case!
T: He's suprisingly calm about it, right?
K: No, its just that at the moment, Tokyo Dome carries some not so good memories. I've been to watch them there many times.
T: Oh, right.
K: I don't have very good memories of it.
J: Is it bad?'
T: They'll be starting about now, at 18:00, won't they?
K: They will be, yeh.
J: Don't we upload this at 19:00?
K: Yeh, yeh.
T: Ahh. Oh, they'll be just about finishing the third round or so?
K: Ahh.
J: I see.
K: But they'll probably be hitting ???(バコバコ)*1. They might still be on the second round.
J, T, K: Hahaha.
J: Well, its good to think about it in a positive way.
K: Yeh, yeh, yeh.
J: What are the thoughts of our so called sports journalist about Hanshin's chances this year? *gestures to Tasai*
T: Well, as for me, Hanshin are..I was talking to my wife about this before, and despite being a really popular team, in reality, they rarely win.
K: Yes.
J: Oh, is that right?
K: They never win.
T: Yeh, yeh, yeh
K: They're weak, to start with.
J, T: Haha
K: I even imagine them as a weak team.
T: Yeah.
J: I see. So its not like they are famous for being a strong team like the Giants?
K: The Giants are invincible.
J: Well, yeah.
K: Its like they have to be strong.
J: Yeh, yeh.
K: Hanshin are like...even though they're weak, you like them, haha.
J: Hahaha.
T: So people used to say, Dame Tora!/ No good Tigers!' at one point and stuff. But, what is it? The mentality of Osaka people?
K: Well, even if they loose, it doesn't hurt very deeply.
J: Ahh, right. Unlike Giants fans, who would be hurt at even a small loss. Hanshin fans don't have such a weak heart?
K: We don't.
J: Ahh, amazing.
T: Its incredible, thier popularity. They are more popular than the Giants.
K: Yeh
T: The Sports newspapers down there, if they have like 8 or so pages, 4 or 5 pages will be dedicated to Hanshin.
J: Oh, that much?!
T: They even cover the minor team at Naruouhama, with their results and a comment.
K: The minor team is really well recieved, and everyone gets really carried away with it.
J: Hahaha.
T: Yeh, yeh, yeh.
J: Isn't that the reason they never get that strong?
K: Well, in the end, yes.
T: Hahaha. No, but they are talked about, even as the minor team.
J:Ehh
K: And with all these fans, theres kind of a supporters' association, and everyone gets full of themself.
T: Hahaha.
J: Oh, really? Kami is listening silently though. I wonder what he thinks. Don't gods know much about baseball?
Kami: No, no, I've been listening the whole time. But Hanshin are quite strong, aren't they? I mean, they are not the best in Japan, but don't they often win? The league win?
K, T: No..
K: They don't.
T: Once in 1985, and once in 2000, that time with Lotte in the Japan series, and once at the time they changed over from Nomura san to Hoshino san.
K: Yeah, league wins.
T: Its only been about 3 or 4 times hasn't it?
Kami: When you say weak...well, they have gotten stronger recently, but I always think of the BayStars as the weakest.
T: Yeah, Yokohama never win either.
Kami: I didn't think Hanshin were that weak.
K: Well, overall, they are getting better. Like, thier average..the gap is closing.
T: Well, Hiroshima won three times in a row. The Central league is sort of bunched up like that. The Giants are just ahead.
J: Just a bit, right. Ahh, it exciting isnt it? How far will Hanshin get this year?! They'll win?
K: Of course.
J: They will win.
T: Should we make a promise to do something if they win?
K: If they win?
T: If they win...or if they don't win? But, they will definitely win, right?
K: Hmm.. *Everyone laughs*
J: Hang on a second, you started by saying they will win by a mile, and now 'Hmm..'. You're saying 'Hmm..' for 5 minutes.
K: Its because I don't know what will happen.
T: Well, yeah. You don't know whats gonna happen.
K: Well, its cause its an irregular season.
J: Well, of course.,
T: Yeah.
K: Cause its a tight schedule.
J: Oh, because its tight?
K: There are no inter-league games, and no All Star games. Im not sure how the climax will go.
Kami: Lets do something if they win.
J: Oh, yeh, if they win.
Kami: If they win.
K: If Hanshin win?
Kami: Yeh, if we did that, we'd be all looking forward, supporting Hashin.
K: Well, ok, if Hanshin win let's do an event on this program.
J, T: Oh!
J: What kind of event?
K: Well, im not sure, it would have to be next year, and I don't know if we could have guests, but lets do something like that.
J:Oh!
K: In that way everyone would be supporting right?
T: Yeah.
J: Shall we do a 'The Freedom of Expression' event?
T: "In celebration of the Hanshin Tigers' win!"
K: Im not sure we need such a crown.
J, T: Hahaha
J: Well, anyhow, we'll do an event.
K:Yeh.
J: I think we've created the motivation for people to support Hanshin with this.
T: Yes, its turned out well.
K: Like a live broadcast or something?
J: Oh, that would be good. Thats a good idea.
K: Well, ok, this isn't what we're supposed to be talking about today.
T: It wasn't supposed to be about Hanshin, was it?
J: Well, as today is the opening of the baseball season, let me share a piece of news concerning professional baseball.
This is the news that Lotte are using a baseball which features the Mercedes Benz logo. Manager Iguchi says, the Marines are at the top too! In the first game of this season at their main stadium, the Zozo Marines Stadium, the ball they use will have Mercedes Benz Japan's (thier sponsor's) logo printed onto it. This comes to fruition as a result of thier manager Iguchi being a big Merecdes Benz fan. Iguchi said to his team on the 8th, 'Since I started playing professional baseball at age 22, up until now over 20 years later, I've always driven a Mercedes Benz. Just as these cars are admired from around the world, I want the Marines to reach the top this season.'
K: Yeah.
T: Its great, isn't it.
J: Eh, Tasai san, have you seen it?
T: I saw it earlier. Its stamped on about the size of a seal.
J: Is it small?
T: Well, its like 'Benz!'
K: I kinda want one.
T: Yeh, its cool, right?
J: So, it doesn't cause any obstacle when grasping the ball?
T: No, it doesn't. Its just the Benz logo.
J: I see. So its not like it catches on your fingers and effects your throw?
T: Well, I wonder..
K: It doesn't! It would be a problem if it did.
J: It would be problematic, right? But conversely, if you pay money, you can have this type of thing engraved on the ball. What do you think, Kaoru? What if you had the Dir en grey logo put on the ball in one of the Hanshin Tigers' official games?
K: Oh, I'd like that.
T: But I get the feeling that people would want to do that a lot with Hanshin.
J: I wonder how much it costs?
T: Probably a million or so yen. I don't think Mercedes Benz will be the cheapest either.
J: Thats right.
K: But if its on the ball, it won't be seen on TV right?
J: No, it won't.
K: So, you wouldn't even know about it, unless it was pointed out. ???*2 Also, if the guy who gets a home run puts it on SNS or something.
T: Ahh, that would be ideal.
J: It would normally be plastered all over the fences of the stadium, wouldn't it?
K: Yeah, in the stadium.
J: But its kinda fresh, to put in on the balls.
T: Yeah, its cool.
K: On the balls?
J, T: *laugh*
K: ???
J: No, no, no. *laughing* ????
T: Joe san! Don't soil baseball like that! Its an untainted sport!
J:???*3
T: Yeah *laughs*, so you are tainting it!
J: No, but I really wanna put a Dir en grey logo, or a Tora no ana logo on one Hanshin's baseballs.
T: That would be good.
K: Noo, its impossible.
J: But didn't you do a collaboration with them before?
K: Oh, well that was just like an announcement, but this is totally a sponsor.
J: Well, yeah..right.
K: Right?..The amount of money..
J: Totally different right.
K: Yeah, its on a totally different scale.
J: Well, but I imagine professional baseball players seem tacky to Mercedes Benz.
K: Like a thugs or something.
J: Why do I think that, I wonder? Although they're all the same athletes, soccer players don't give off the same atmosphere to me.
K: But even soccer players seem like they are a bit artificial. They suddenly start dressing up, wearing brand clothes..
T: Yeah.
K: They get off planes, dressed up all smart and stuff.
J: They do, yeah.
T: But that might be the influence of Kazu (Kazoyoshi Miura) or Takeda san since they got into the J League.
J: For some reason, if you talk about fashion in the pro-baseball world, I always think of Kuwata san, for example. Also, Shinjo san (Tsuyoshi Shinjo). They have that kind of image. There's not that many..
T: Ahh, right.
J: Like I don't know many with a sense of fashion.
Kami: I think the same! Thats it. They have no fashion sense. They are not cool at all!
T: Thats right.
Kami: They are real sports people. Whatever they wear, thier muscles swell, it looks kinda wierd.
T: Yeh, yeh.
K: Well, yeh.
Kami: But when baseball players or even soccer players wear thier uniform, they look super cool!
J: Absolutely.
T: Ah, I see.
Kami: When they get off airplanes, I want them to wear thier uniforms.
J: Always in thier uniforms.
T: That would be good, yeah.
Kami: They would look so cool!
J: I see.
T: Well, they are professionals, baseball is technical job, they are the ultimate professionals. If you can play baseball, that is everything, I imagine. Thats my follow-up.
J,K: *laugh*
K: Well, today, at this time, the game will still be ongoing.
J: Yes, thats right.
K: I'll be praying for an exciting baseball season.
J: And if Hanshin win?!
K: We'll do an event.
T: Pretty good.
K: Well, we'll finish here for today. Please subscribe. Thank you very much.
J, T: Thank you.
*1 バコバコ - Don't know what this means.
*2 Couldn't catch this.
*3 I'm not fluent enough to translate dirty jokes about balls XD Plus Joe is speaking too fast, and there is too much background laughing...thats my other excuse.
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HERE’S WHAT YOU MISSED THIS WEEK (9.15-9.21.21):
NEW MUSIC:
rationale. revealed that they are releasing a new record next week, titled If the Problem Persists. The album is set to drop digitally on September 24 and will be released on vinyl in early 2022 via Smartpunk Records.
Frank Turner announced all of the details of his new album FTHC, which will be released on February 11 via Xtra Mile Recordings. Alongside the announcement, the singer also released his new track “Haven't Been Doing So Well.”
Telltale dropped their first new track since signing to Rude Records titled “Slowburn.” The song follows on from their previous single “Won't Be Me,” which was released last year.
Save Face revealed that their new album, titled Another Kill for the Highlight Reel, is going to be dropping next month on October 19 via Epitaph. The album will feature their new single “Bury Me (Tonight!).”
ONE OK ROCK announced they will be releasing a DVD and Blu-ray version of last year’s livestream called Field of Wonder, which took place at the ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba, Japan. The disc will be dropping on November 17.
Bring Me the Horizon released a new track and music video titled “DiE4u.” The song is the first music from the band since the release of their EP Post Human: Survival Horror last year.
HalfNoise, the solo project from Paramore's Zac Farro, released a new track titled “Two of Us.” The song is the first new music from the project since 2019's Natural Disguise.
Attack Attack! returned with their newest song since coming off hiatus titled “Press F.” The track follows on from their previous singles “Brachyura Bombshell” and “Fade with Me.”
Cold Years released a new track, their first brand new original material since last year's debut album Paradise. The song is called “Headstone,” which follows on from their new version of their anthem “Life with a View” featuring José Madero.
Bears in Trees announced the details of their long-awaited debut album titled And Everybody Else Smiled Back. The record is set to drop on November 19 via Counter Intuitive Records.
Hurtless shared a brand new song titled “I'm Terrified of Being Alone,” which follows on from three previous singles. The band will be making their live debut in London at the Grace on October 8.
Birds of Tokyo released a new song titled “Superglue” featuring Stand Atlantic’s Bonnie Fraser. The latter band also recently released a new single featuring nothing,nowhere. titled “Deathwish.”
Bullet for My Valentine announced that they are pushing back the release date of their new self-titled album. Due to manufacturing delays, the album will now be released on November 5.
Biffy Clyro shared another track from their upcoming project The Myth of Happily Ever After titled “A Hunger in Your Haunt.” The song follows on from their previous single “Unknown Male 01.”
TOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Bowling for Soup's Jaret Reddick and Rob Felicetti announced that they are heading to the United Kingdom for an acoustic tour. The short tour will begin in Guildford, England, on December 7 and end in Bristol, England, on December 14.
Download Festival announced the lineup for its first-ever Germany event. The roster includes headliners Metallica, Five Finger Death Punch and Sabaton, and the show will take place on June 24, 2022 at the Hockenheimring Racing Circuit.
97X announced the lineup for their Next Big Thing event, taking place on December 3 and 4 at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre. The roster features Twenty One Pilots, Meet Me @ the Altar, Weezer, All Time Low, Mod Sun and more.
Following the announcement of their upcoming album, Billy Talent revealed that they are back in the United Kingdom next year. The band will play three shows in Wolverhampton, Liverpool and London in late May 2022.
Bring Me the Horizon were joined onstage by Nova Twins for the debut live performance of their collaboration “1x1.” BMTH's UK arena tour began in Hull, England, last night with support from the duo and You Me at Six.
OTHER NEWS:
Maggie Cassidy was announced as the winner of Rock Sound and Marshall’s joint competition to find the United Kingdom’s next big unsigned band. The band won a visit to Marshall's brand new studio in Milton Keynes, England, as the grand prize.
Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl announced he will be embarking on a short book tour after the release of his first book The Storyteller on October 5. He will appear at one date in London before heading back to the United States for four dates.
___
Check in next Tuesday for more “Posi Talk with Sage Haley"!
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