Shoten's 3000th Broadcast: A Legendary Resonance with THE ALFEE, Uniting Generations of Laughter
Japan's iconic long-running variety show, Nippon TV's "Shoten," celebrated its monumental 3000th broadcast on February 22, 2026. This historic achievement, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of its premiere in May 1966, brought joy and laughter to countless viewers. For this special episode, the national treasure band THE ALFEE made their first-ever appearance in the entertainment segment. The collaboration between "Shoten," a national program running for 60 years, and THE ALFEE, a national band with over 50 years in their career and soon to reach their 3000th live performance, garnered significant attention even before the broadcast, quickly trending on social media. During the show, THE ALFEE members engaged in a witty conversation with the "Shoten" cast. A particular anecdote that drew huge laughs was when THE ALFEE's Masaru Sakurai visited the traditional candy shop (dagashiya) owned by Taihei Hayashiya's family. The story of Taihei...