Tokyo Weekender July 2016

©Fuji Television Network Inc./East Entertainment
©Fuji Television Network Inc./East Entertainment ©Fuji Television Network Inc./East Entertainment
"It was scary," says Shimabukuro. "I love
Yama-chan, but he could be quite harsh. You
then had to deal with negative comments
online. People wrote about me drinking so I
thought about trying to hide my wine behind
the cameras. I decided not to, though, as there's
no point pretending to be someone you're not."
Japanese-American artist Frankie Cihi
also received her share of online abuse. "I
was trolled on Twitter," she says. "Early on
I was seen as pushy which didn't go down
well. The worst comments came from Taylor
Swift fans. Her song was in the opening
credits so the producers arranged for us to
interview her. Being the English speaker, I
asked the questions and her followers didn't
like it. They were really offended when I
posted a picture posing with their goddess.
I even had death threats."
Despite this, Frankie has no regrets about
appearing on the show. "I gained so much
confidence from it," she says. "It's a program
that lets you be yourself without much interference.
Early on people had their doubts
about me because I seemed bitchy, but once
they got to know my real character they realized
I was harmless. My mother [actress Aki
Mizusawa] saw that I was being well-received
and reached out to me. Before that we weren't
on good terms so that was probably the biggest
positive from the whole experience."
BOYS & GIRLS IN THE CITY
Frankie was also a fan of the following
series, which was coproduced by Netflix and
Fuji TV. Her favorite housemate was Yuto
Handa (Hansan) whom she says, "listened
intently, always knew what to say and spoke
with good diction."
The aspiring architect was the fatherfigure
in the house, relieving tensions and
lending an ear when other members had
problems. In the eyes of commentators Reina
Triendl and Yukiko Ehara he could no wrong.
The latter even cried when he left.
"I appreciate the praise, but of course I'm
not perfect," Hansan tells Weekender. "People
evaluated me on the way I thought and behaved
in the house, yet we all have different
sides and I'm no different."
Yama-chan wasn’t a fan. He’d have preferred
to have seen more of Hansan's ugly side.
"He already had a girlfriend and basically did
nothing wrong," says the comedian. "I felt he
didn't need to be there. Natsumi [Saito] was far
more interesting. She was like a dark heroine."
Not afraid to speak her mind, Natsumi
caused a few arguments and a meeting was
called to discuss her behavior. There were
many of these kinds of meetings throughout the
series, including one where everyone sat down
to talk about some meat that had been taken
without permission. Then there was the case of
teenage idol Riko Nagai carrying on with chef
I DON'T DISLIKE
PEOPLE FALLING
IN LOVE, IT'S JUST
MORE FUN WHEN
THINGS GO WRONG
Hayato Terashima away from the cameras.
"This was the defining moment of the
series," says Yama-chan. "Young Japanese
idols are expected to be pure so it's no
surprise Riko tried to hide the relationship
with Hayato. The other housemates knew
what was happening so [they] decided to
confront them. For the sake of her career
it would have been easy for the production
team to gloss over it, but I'm glad they
didn't. This is an unscripted reality show
so it was important that viewers saw how
it developed."
ALOHA STATE
With interest from abroad growing it was
decided that the third and current series
should have more of an international
feel. Set in the tropical island of Oahu in
Hawaii, there are many Japanese-American
housemates, most of whom can speak
English (though they usually converse
in Japanese). It’s created a different vibe
from earlier seasons.
"It's fascinating to watch the contrast,"
says Yama-chan. "In Japan, there was lots
of pent-up frustration amongst the housemates
that eventually came out, whereas
in Hawaii they tend to immediately say
what's on their mind. It took me longer
to get into this one, but now I love it."
Massachusetts-born illustrator and
model Lauren Tsai caused the biggest buzz
early on. Touted as the future It girl of
Japan, she came across as cool and mysterious,
yet surprisingly awkward and at times
looked uncomfortable.
Speaking to hyperbae.com she said,
"I would watch the show and think 'Oh my
God!' is that me? Am I really like that? I hate
myself.' Everything people see about us on
social media is what we choose to put out
there. Being on a reality TV show you have
no control over what's put in or how it's
cut. For someone like me who's not superoutgoing
it was ... an experience."
Since Lauren's departure, Taishi Tamaki
has taken center stage. Initially it seemed
like the wannabe Hollywood actor would
be a calming influence in the house, but
at times he's come across as an emotional
wreck. The fact that he's dated pretty much
every girl who's entered has annoyed some,
while others have found it entertaining.
"Taishi's the star of Aloha State," says
Yama-chan. "He keeps saying he's looking
for a love worth dying for and is clumsily
running out around asking everyone out.
It's great to watch."
Twenty-year-old Niki Niwa was targeted
by Taishi soon after arriving. "At first, I
thought it was good he was being proactive
in trying to get to know the women," she tells
Weekender. "The problem is he didn't say
what he was thinking so the girls got confused.
That's what happened to me." Niki soon
turned her attention to professional surfer
Guy Sato, though as her time in the house was
limited things went no further than a kiss.
So, was that her favorite moment? “I
loved it all,” she says. “Staying up late chatting
and watching films, the whole experience.
I cherish every moment I spent there
and really miss it."
Terrace House Aloha State is now streaming
on Netflix, and showing on Fuji Television.
TOKYO WEEKENDER | JULY 2017 | 35