SUPER EIGHT's Yū Yokoyama Kicks Off 24-Hour Marathon Challenge, Fans Go Wild with '#HashireYoko' Cheers

Yū Yokoyama of SUPER EIGHT, serving as the charity marathon runner for Nippon TV's '24-Hour Television,' has begun his 24-hour challenge. On social media, '#HashireYoko' (Run, Yoko!) became a trending topic, with an outpouring of enthusiastic cheers from fans.

Concerns for Yokoyama's Health Amidst Intense Heat

Yokoyama is known for embodying the phrase 'ganbaru o ganbaru' (to put effort into putting effort) for many years, and he is tackling this marathon with the same strong will. Fans have been continuously sending him encouraging messages such as, 'Yokoyama-kun is amazing! He's trying so hard!!!' and 'It's because Yoko has always worked hard! Everyone is with you!'

However, given that the challenge is taking place amid a continuing heatwave, concerns for Yokoyama's health are particularly prominent among fans. Numerous comments have been posted, including 'Yokoyama-kun, it's really hot, so please try your best while taking breaks and don't push yourself too hard,' 'Please take proper breaks as needed,' and 'Please don't do anything reckless!' These messages clearly show their top priority is the runner's well-being. Some fans even expressed complex feelings towards the '#HashireYoko' hashtag, saying, 'It's a huge conflict between 'Don't run, just keep going!' and 'You don't have to keep going.'

Fans Unite Through Official '#24HourNuiMarathon' Project

SUPER EIGHT's official account also launched a 'Yū Yokoyama Support Project‼️' titled '#HashireYoko!! #24HourNuiMarathon.' This unique initiative encourages fans to post 'nui' (stuffed toy) photos on X (formerly Twitter) at specified times with designated hashtags, symbolically running the 24 hours alongside Yokoyama. Under the '#NuiToBreak' hashtag (Nui and Break), many photos have been posted showing stuffed toys getting massages or eating ice cream, expressing encouragement and appreciation for Yokoyama, further enhancing fan unity.

Cheers from Masaki Aiba and Junior Idols

Arashi's Masaki Aiba appeared as the marathon's starter, sending warm encouragement to his long-time friend Yokoyama. Many fans were moved to tears by this touching scene, commenting, 'Aiba-kun's cheers must have been so reassuring for Yokoyama-kun' and 'It's truly wonderful how their bond hasn't changed after decades.' Furthermore, Joichiro Fujiwara and Kazuya Ohashi (Jokyo) from Naniwa Danshi also sent their senior a cheer, saying 'Yokoyama-kun, gambare~,' creating an emotional moment that highlighted bonds extending beyond their specific groups.

Viewers have also been sending messages like, 'It's being livestreamed on TVer! I'll watch it🖤' and 'Our whole family is cheering for you. Please don't overdo it.' Many people are watching Yokoyama's challenge. Yū Yokoyama, who has built a long career and even served as the main personality for the program, is now taking on the challenge as a runner. Fans are wholeheartedly praying for his safe completion and continue to send their support.

The Context

'24-Hour Television' (24時間テレビ) is a long-running, popular annual charity telethon broadcast by Nippon TV in Japan. A central and highly anticipated segment of the program is the charity marathon, where a celebrity undertakes a grueling 24-hour run to raise money for various charitable causes. This event often garners significant public attention and emotional support. Yū Yokoyama is a member of SUPER EIGHT, a prominent Japanese idol group managed by STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny & Associates). Masaki Aiba of Arashi and Naniwa Danshi are also popular idol groups/members from the same agency, highlighting the strong camaraderie among artists within the Japanese idol industry.