01x06 - Lighthouse

[bunniefuu]

MAY 6, 2023

MIURA COAST, KANAGAWA

This is the last episode.

Yes, that was quick.

It was supposed to rain today,
but it's actually a sunny day.

But the wind is super strong.

Indeed.

Producer Sakuma was grinning as he said,

"The strong wind on a sunny day,

that suits two of you very much."

But the wind isn't LIGHTHOUSE's fault.

You told me you were enjoying yourself
during the three months we didn't meet.

I was happy to hear
that you were having fun.

Turns out...

this went exactly
as Producer Sakuma intended.

Last eight months were
my transitional period.

I think my midlife "running style"
has been established during this period.

I see.

WAKABAYASHI AS A MIDDLE-AGED COMEDIAN
IS MATURING

I became a comedian at the age of 21.

Until I became 43, I guess I'm 44 now,

I never experienced the feeling
of changing the engine or gear before.

But I felt it
during my transitional period.

How old were you
when you started to struggle?

I guess it was after
the Budokan performance...

Until we started Achikochi Audrey,

we didn't have a TV show
with our name that represented us.

I see.

So Achikochi Audrey was the first one.

I didn't see it this way when it started,

but I think that show is where I was
destined to arrive since I was a child.

I listen to the stories
of different people.

From the visitor's point of view.

Because I got to do that
with that show, I was like

"I want to dig deeper into showbiz!"

Ah, okay.

Then, my form got out of shape.

I said, "I've got to beat everyone!"
and started going to a boxing gym.

But you're right.

You did say you'd be
the overlord of the prime-time TV.

Exactly.

My form got greatly out of shape then.

I regret saying that you were the hope
of the TV industry on Achikochi Audrey.

But those words sank straight into me.

That was...

If I may say so myself
I'm a rare existence in showbiz.

And I interpret that
you expressed it as "the hope."

But I lost my form
with my "overlord" statement.

I understand.

I see the overlords from my generation,

and I know I could never be one.

But I've made up my mind to be the hope.

Hopes

Left brain

The child of meaning

Mobility

The three poisons

A moonless night

Come over here

Aspirations

Possibilities

God works in mysterious ways

A guiding light

Striking a pose

I celebrate

Love

A Window

The other day,

New York asked me a question.

They asked me,
"Do you want to be more popular?"

So I got my TV drama, and I'll be doing
the Tokyo Dome performance.

I believe that...

from other people's perspectives,
you are already a top-selling artist.

Do you want to be
a higher selling artist in the future?

"Selling"?

I don't know how to put it.

Right now, music isn't really something
that is being sold.

So, wanting to be top-selling
doesn't make sense to me.

It doesn't.

It doesn't make sense as a word.

What does that mean?

Fundamentally.

But you wanted to be top-selling
when you were in Asagaya, right?

-But now, I'm not sure.
-It's confusing.

Rather, I want to get the songs I made
heard by many people,

so much so that you hear it
in every corner of the world.

And that's different
from being top-selling.

Yes, that's a little different.

I'm wondering if that can be
a motivation to create comedy.

But with my performance at Tokyo Dome,

I feel that I need to return
what I've been given.

RESOLVE FOR THE BIG STAGE
AND RETURNING THE FAVOR

I feel I have a responsibility toward
people who have listened to my radio show.

You know...

I want to give something back.

And I want it to be
more than what they expect.

So it's different than
wanting to be top-selling.

Thinking about Tokyo Dome,

excuse me for saying so, but I don't think
performing at the Dome changes anything.

When Soichi Noguchi went to space
and came back for the first time,

he struggled with Burnout Syndrome.

In order to prevent it, when he went
to space the second and the third time,

he made a lot of plans for
after he got back from space.

Really?

So I'm making plans for
after the Dome performance.

You are?

That's wonderful.

How much of your future
do you look ahead?

HOW MUCH OF YOUR FUTURE
DO YOU LOOK AHEAD?

-How about you, Hoshino?
-Me?

-I have no vision whatsoever.
-For your future?

I simply can't imagine it.

I don't have a goal of
"This is what I want to be like."

And by that, I mean to say

that I don't have goals
that are close at hand.

Like, "I want to be where that person is."

Or, "This is how I want to market myself."

I want to be someone I haven't been yet.

That's why...

I won't know what it is
until the time comes.

I'm doing my best of what I can do now.

But I might quit this tomorrow.

Or I might start something
completely new tomorrow.

It's kind of a strange feeling.

I guess you can call it,
"The future looks dark."

But I also want to plow on in the darkness
with full force.

I have toured five major Domes.

I don't think there's any bigger goal.

Or perhaps I should say...

that the goal changes.

I have a plan for
when I become 50 years old.

I'm 44 years old now, so six years to go.

Not long ago, I did a live show
with Tokyo 03 and Creepy Nuts at Budokan.

TV shows are like water in a good
and a bad way, in that it comes and goes.

So no one talks about the past TV shows
I used to do regularly.

But with live performances,

they stay in the memory
of those who came to see them.

So I want to take time to do that.

I haven't told this to anyone yet,

but after the Dome show, I want to perform
at Budokan every year until I'm 50.

That's the goal I have set for myself.

Here's what I find so intriguing
about showbiz.

Performing at Tokyo Dome wasn't a dream
I've worked hard for years to achieve.

It just fell into my lap because one of
my listeners happened to work at the Dome.

Our paths happened to cross, just like
I have a show on Netflix with you now.

It feels like I've been
swept away by the current.

But now I'm simply ready
to go with the flow.

I used to pray

for a prime-time comedy show with my name,
running over three years.

So I can leave my name
in the history of comedy.

But I never got the chance
to do a sketch comedy show.

Still, I'm content I went with the flow
and ended up with the jobs I have now.

So I'm fully ready to go with the flow.

One caveat is,

I'll need a waypost, or I'll get lost.

So as a symbol, I'd like to
keep doing the radio show.

It all sounds

very lovely.

ONE-SENTENCE JOURNAL OF THE FUTURE
ENTRIES OUR FUTURE SELVES MAY WRITE

Something you may write in the future.

What I may write in the future?

I wrote this thinking
it's ten years from now.

"It scares me to see my partner
still appearing on TV shows so happily."

-This is the future, right?
-Yes. In ten years, at 55 years old.

Even now, it makes him happy to be
in as many TV shows as possible.

He does the same gag, appearing
with "Toos!" and leaving with "Umashi!"

It scares me.

In my opinion,

in the world of the TV industry...

You have to be liked by Hiromi.

As a concept, that is.

What I mean by that is,
there are leaders in different cities.

They have local connections
and organize volunteer firefighters.

But joining such a community and
sharing about our private lives,

that's totally beyond me.

I couldn't do it.

TV is like a symbol
of the extrovert community.

And I probably exist in that community
as a foreign element.

Because I can't join
and go inside the community.

I've tried to in the past,
but it only looks pitiful.

So I don't think I'll be on TV
ten years from now.

That's why I have to find what I want
to do instead, as I go with the flow.

One more thing.

When I was in Asagaya
and Koenji in my youth,

I'd challenge those who were older.

So as a narrative, it was exciting.

Now, on the other hand,

I have to go against

those who are younger than me, without
making it look like I'm fighting them.

I have to avoid
looking like I'm fighting them

because I'd look immature and not funny.

And yet I need to win their respect,
so I'm still somehow stronger than them.

Or else, the show will sort of fall flat.

Right now, I'm preparing for...

the manzai I will perform at Tokyo Dome.

I'm trying to remember what my life was
like when I didn't have any gigs.

So I'm going to Yoshimoto theaters a lot.

I go to the ones in Omiya and Yurakucho.

What strikes me the most is

they create jokes for the current youths.

So the challenge for us as Audrey,

who used to go up on stage
like that in the 2000s,

is to see what we can do
in the current situation.

That's what we need to be serious about.

With that said,

my partner is always on TV.

In 20 years, he only created four gags.

-Some can really repeat the same thing.
-Exactly.

I won't name them
but there are musicians like that, right?

They repeat...

the same ****ing things
over and over with ****.

Sorry, may I rephrase what I just said?

I meant to say, "A fantastic **** singer
who created a genre of their own."

Could you please not film me?

-That was a pretty sharp one.
-But you know...

But I'm truly impressed,
and I say that with respect.

For example, Dandy Sakano's gag,
"Gets!" is so funny.

It is.

He's super earnest about doing "Gets!"

Kasuga is like that.

-How about your future journal, Hoshino?
-Okay, here goes.

"Why did I struggle and suffer like that?"

Right now, I'm struggling and suffering.

And I think I was, ten years ago.

But I have solved the problems
from that time.

No matter how dark days may look,

in ten years, I won't remember them.

That's kind of how I feel.

When I talked about my days
in Asagaya in Episode #1,

I had fun.

But when I lived in Asagaya,
it was no fun at all.

-Yes.
-But still,

the two people who lived
and worked in different places

just happened to stay in the same area
in their early twenties.

But we never saw each other
or talked to each other at the time.

And yet we can talk with each other
about the terrible times we spent there

even though we grew up differently
and lived separate lives.

When I think about that miracle,

the pain I have right now that might not

be understood by anyone...

If I think of it
as the buildup of my life,

pains and struggles start
to look a little exciting.

In our twenties, we never thought that
our struggle could become entertainment.

That's true.

So when I encounter
pain or struggle right now,

I think my response
or attitude toward it has changed.

I can now see that it could lead me
to something else.

-It pays off to live.
-You're right.

Another thing is,

when I think back on my gloomy days
in Asagaya,

it feels like I'm looking
at a treasure map.

It's the feeling that something is
buried in there somewhere.

I didn't realize it back then
since I was simply troubled.

That means, within the current struggles,

there are things that will become
treasure maps in 10 or 20 years.

I can't see the map now.

I know I can never see it now.
But it tells me...

-I'm facing the problem head-on.
-Ah, I see.

For music-making and personal problems,

I can truly focus.

When I listen to your music,

I can sense where you stood
when you made it, figuratively.

Where you were when it was released.

In the track you created for me,

I used the phrase, "My troubles are hard
to understand and keep on increasing."

I've got no results to show,
But a rose is still a rose,

So even if you're right, I'm not listening

Channeling my midnight ressentiment,
I made this DeLorean, Asagaya, I'm out

You're in the same car, right?
Funky Fresh Gen, my man!

Look at me now, are you proud of me?
Maeken-san!

Now that I think about it,
It was merely a scene of a larger story

My troubles are hard to understand
And keep on increasing

There are not many
who can relate to the struggles I feel.

The ones I can talk to are you,
and a few others.

By breaking it down
or generalizing it using words,

I try to express it,
and I do the same with comedy.

As an audience, I notice there are
themes Kasuga and I should avoid.

I'm feeling the hardship
of getting older,

but I want to challenge myself.

Earlier,

you talked about your lyrics.

When it comes to words,

a word can have several meanings,
so I can create a range.

Two words can be associated.

That's how I usually write lyrics.

But when it comes to comedy,

words need to
describe a scene in an instant,

or convey the intention.

And I'm guessing it needs to be concise.

I really am not good with that.

When I'm on a variety show,
and they ask me for my opinion,

my replies take such a long time
to explain what I want to say.

Every time I'm on a show, I think,
"This isn't for me."

I'm not suited for
promoting myself that way.

You can leave that to me, Hoshino.

The show I want to create
as the hope of TV is...

I totally understand this
because I'm the same way,

There are so many things
you can't express in a nutshell.

And the tempo of the TV shows is fast,
and it's getting faster.

So when people already know you well,
and the subtitles help sum up your ideas,

then the tempo is very smooth.

But there are times

when someone looks like
they want to say something.

But they don't think they have enough time
to put it together to say out loud.

I wanted a show that could
give people like that enough time.

I think we are able to do that
in Achikochi Audrey.

We wait, and we want to give them time
to express complicated things.

Because I know
that those feelings are interesting.

So that's why...

you can leave it to me.

From here on, maybe you'll be in charge
of promoting my work.

If it's possible.

My second entry.

"Even though I'm 120 years old already,

I'm still full of stress."

One hundred and twenty years old.

But my entry is kind of similar, maybe.

"I can be more than this."

After all, I think I'd be thinking that.

As I hate everything.

History repeats itself.

That's right.

I've been thinking that
ever since I was born.

It's never going away.

"I want to go to a different place,
I want to be somewhere more exciting."

"I can be so much more."

I had thought that I would be more

enlightened in my forties.

I agree.

I had that impression too.

At the age of 120...

I'd be like, "They piss me off!"

"I don't like their attitude!"

I'd be saying that at 120.

I'm sure you would be.

I'd be an old man saying,
"I don't like that attitude!"

I'll be like this forever.

Would I be saying mine at age 120?

At 120, I think I'd hit my limit.

I mean, at age 44, I already know
that this is my limit.

But at the same time,
I think I can be more.

Since I was in junior high school,
there were those who stood out at school.

People thought they were funny,

but I didn't think they were,
and I thought I could be more.

But at the same time,

I was frightened because
I didn't want to be marked.

I'm doing the exact same thing
in the industry right now.

I don't want to be marked
by the top group,

but I think I can be more.

Then they say to me,
"I hear you're performing at the Dome."

And I'll go,
"Yes, it's kind of... not so grand."

As we get our makeup on.

This has been my life.

I love the glimpse of the Kansai dialect.

Don't pick up on that, Hoshino!

I really wish you didn't pick up on that!

Wakabayashi, you don't lie about that.

It was an unconscious choice.
You caught me by my nape like a cat.

I think I'll live my life timidly saying,
"I can be more."

But I also think that's totally fine.

I think people like us will have
more fun that way.

But after thinking, "I can be more,"

You didn't end there. You acted on it.

We both did.

But if you keep on staying
in the same spot,

the "I-can-be-more" virus
start to multiple.

Which makes me look for another horizon.

There's a flow to think about.

It might be different for you
since you are a prolific creator,

You know how they have
these vehicles at the beach

where you pedal inside this giant thing
to move forward?

It's like I'm pedaling
one of those out in the sea,

but the distance I covered was
actually due to the tide.

That's what it feels like to me.
I struggled, but what got me here

wasn't my "pedaling," but my connections,
like the power of wind and tide.

But it wouldn't have happened
if I wasn't pedaling.

I think I'll continue to pedal, believing
"I can be more," even if it's not true.

And let the wind take me wherever.

But I have to keep pedaling. What a pain.

It's a pain, isn't it?

-Living can be a pain sometimes.
-Yes.

You have to pedal, or you'll sink.

Exactly.

When DJ KOO came to my show, I thought
he was such a pain at the age of 61.

He's still pedaling and struggling.

He's created his own line of clothing.

Oh, and he started learning dance!

Hold on a sec.

There is an entry
I didn't get to share in the car.

"Wakabayashi, would you like to go
and learn how to dance with me?"

What kind of synchronicity is this?

The very first manga you recommended to me

was on dance.

Yes, I remember.

LIGHTHOUSE is...

When I heard
about this project for the first time,

I thought it would give birth
to something that was ours.

I think it could possibly take
the shape of a dance unit.

Conclusion: Let's dance!

Let us dance.

As we think, "We can be so much more!"

We can dance, right?

That would be too ugly.

For real, though...

"I'm, I'm so much more than this!"

-What you see is what you get.
-Exactly.

Shall we head out to the last spot?

Somewhere suitable?

Okay, let's go.

-Last destination.
-Let's go.

TO THE LAST DESTINATION

I didn't get to ask you this earlier.

Yes?

Do you have a request
of what you want me to do?

Any suggestion on what I should do?

Anything?

I really love the special week
on your radio show.

-Is that so?
-Yes.

I love it so much, and...

I love that I get to hear
some rare stories from the guest.

Maybe you can be

the emcee and the performer of the show
like they do in the States.

You can invite any guest
you want and hear their stories.

There's music, and there's comedy.

-Maybe a comedy sketch?
-Yes, that too.

Maybe the sketch leads into music.

I would love to see your show.

A mature show.

I would love to do that.

Oh yeah?

I've always wanted to do
a late show or a night show.

There'd be a segment for a guest.

And they'd have the band on set, you know?

They have a house band.

And if I can have a comedy sketch as well,

that would encompass
all the work that I've done so far.

You know what, you're right.

Exactly.

Thank you. You gave me a dream.

Thank you for the dream.

My pleasure.

AND THEY ARRIVED AT...

-Wow, the wind is so strong!
-Yup!

Man, that's some strong wind.

Wow.

What a view!

Wow...

Amazing.

-I've never seen a lighthouse so close.
-Me neither.

So this is going to light up at night.

A faint beacon

Shining in the darkness

A flicker that never fades

-Hoshino.
-Yes?

This is our last spot.

I think the image was to come

-to a place like this and set sail.
-Yes.

But with this wind,
they would usually cancel it.

Yes, they would.

As I listen to your music and your radio,

and now that we've spoken
on LIGHTHOUSE like this,

I'd like you, Gen Hoshino, to...

How should I put this?

I want you to stay drifting.

I have to go to a place I've never been.

Or else, I'll die.

I've been told to quit acting, quit music,
because I had no talent.

And I am here now.

I believe that the music
I create is the best.

I wouldn't dare say
where you should be heading.

But if you keep on drifting,

both in feelings and in actions,

it will motivate me
as well as encourage me.

Yes.

As for me...

Around the time when this show started,

I could tell you were struggling.

I totally lost the urge to compete
with someone else.

I have lost interest.

It would take me away from what I
considered to be my art and my style.

Your vision has been focused.

And now, you have a dream.

I don't think there's any other comedian
whose goal is to perform at Tokyo Dome.

Gather comedians whose comedy
doesn't belittle or debase others.

I think that's the path for Kasuga and me.

And now in the final episode,
you're glowing.

Yes.

I'm so happy to see that on our last day.

Thank you.

As we said earlier,
we'll probably continue to struggle.

I'm sure we'll repeat this process.

Even at age 120,
we'll say, "I can be more."

That's right.

-I'd like to do this show at 120.
-I'd love to.

We might be struggling more than ever.
It might be the repeat of this show.

-Thank you very much.
-Likewise.

I'm happy I got to do this show
in the turning point of my life.

Thank you. I had fun.

-I'll see you around.
-Goodbye.

"DANCING RELUCTANTLY"

SONG, LYRICS AND ARRANGEMENT
BY GEN HOSHINO

Even though we'd solved
None of our problems

We came to the beach

A sprinkle of dreams
And the sound of waves

Helped a little to keep us alive

The present will eventually be

An indistinct, uncertain story

Sugar crystals, swaying in the waves

Capture our troubled minds and
Dissolve into the sea

The hands on the clock ticked away

Giving life to the everyday

Helplessly

I'm still alive

In all this sh*t

It's freaking amazing

Reluctantly

I breathe and dance

My cheeks flush red

As we dance, laughing together

Even after a hundred years

Surprise! We'll still be alive

On this planet

Where we struggled together

After we'd long gone

The beacon of light

Just continued to shine down

On the days we sing

On the dances where we laugh together