Popular Radio Show "Snow Man no Suno Manma" Faces Unusual Delay Due to Baseball Extension, Koji Mukai's Instagram Live Forgetfulness Sparks Laughter

The popular radio program "Snow Man no Suno Manma," broadcast weekly on Thursdays at 9 PM on Bunka Hoso, experienced an unprecedented delay during its October 30th broadcast due to an unexpected extension of a baseball game. However, this mishap led to an even greater surge of laughter when one of the show's members, Koji Mukai, momentarily "forgot" his appearance during an Instagram Live session he was hosting.

Koji Mukai and Daisuke Sakuma of Snow Man (affectionately known as "SakuKoji") were scheduled to appear on the program. Furthermore, it had been announced that the new song "Spark!!," included in Snow Man's 5th Album "Onkochishin," would have its first radio premiere during the show, building significant anticipation among fans even before the broadcast began.

As the scheduled start time of 9 PM passed, the program did not begin, and the heated baseball broadcast (presumed to be the Japan Series) continued on Bunka Hoso. Fans flooded social media platform X (formerly Twitter) with comments such as "Suno Manma is still baseball!", "Is it an extension?", and "I hope it doesn't get cancelled," alongside others expressing patience like "Waiting while enjoying the baseball."

Amidst this, Koji Mukai started an Instagram Live almost simultaneously with the show's scheduled start time. He showed a surprising reaction, as if saying, "Did I mess up...?", until fans in the comments pointed out that it was the day of his "Suno Manma" appearance. However, upon learning that the program itself was delayed due to the extended baseball broadcast, fans expressed relief and warm comments, saying, "It's good it was delayed by baseball," and "I'm happy he tried to do an Instagram Live despite being busy."

This heartwarming mishap became a major topic on social media, with "#SunoManma" trending. Fans, undeterred by the delay, continued to eagerly await the "kawachi SakuKoji-chama no Manma" (cute SakuKoji's Suno Manma) and their new song, posting comments like "Spark!! first radio premiere ✨ I'm really looking forward to it!"

With the release of the 5th album "Onkochishin" fast approaching, this first-time premiere of "Spark!!" on "Suno Manma" is likely to further heighten anticipation for the album.

The context

"Snow Man no Suno Manma" (素のまんま), meaning "Snow Man as they are" or "Snow Man in their natural state," is a popular weekly radio program hosted by the Japanese idol group Snow Man. The show is known for its unscripted, natural conversations among the members, offering fans an intimate glimpse into their personalities.

Snow Man is a nine-member male idol group managed by STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny & Associates). Debuting in 2020, they have quickly risen to prominence with their impressive dance performances, variety show skills, and a rapidly expanding fanbase. Their albums and singles frequently top charts in Japan.

In Japan, it is common for regularly scheduled television and radio programs to be delayed or preempted by live sports broadcasts, especially major events like the Japan Series, which is the championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball. While such delays can be inconvenient for fans of the preempted shows, they are generally understood given the high public interest in these significant sporting events.

Koji Mukai, a member of Snow Man, is known for his energetic and humorous personality. His impromptu Instagram Live where he momentarily forgot about his own scheduled radio appearance created a relatable and humorous moment that resonated with fans, further amplifying the buzz and online discussion around the show's unexpected delay and his group's upcoming music release.

The first-time radio premiere ("hatsu kai kin" / 初解禁) of a new song like "Spark!!" is a crucial promotional event in the Japanese music industry, generating excitement and pre-release buzz for an upcoming album. The 5th album "Onkochishin" (音故知新), a play on the Japanese idiom "onkochishin" (温故知新, meaning 'learning new things from old'), is a highly anticipated release for the group.