The Least Useful Guide to Fukuoka

Weather forecasters are divided into two groups; young (ish) and lovely-looking ladies (or girls, from my 40-something point of view) and middle-aged men.  I prefer male weather forecasters because their forecast sounds more reliable than the girls who could make their misforecasts forgivable with their cute looks. Being middle-aged, I might have harsher view on young woman, though. 

This chap is regarded as the most trustworthy weather forecaster in my household.

He has been on 6pm news for at least 10 years (probably longer). Although newsreaders have been replaced every two or three years, his position in the program seems unshakable.

What amazes me is, the 50-minute show gives him nearly ten minutes for his forecast. At around 6:24, he starts his first presentation of the day with quite detailed explanation. There seems to be ‘official’ weather forecast, but he adds his idea and explain why he thinks so. So the weekly forecast calendar in this presentation has two rows; the upper row is official forecast and the lower is his original.

Then, his second show starts at around 6:50 with a small talk with the main newsreader. We have learnt how he commutes (by bike), his alma mater (Kyushu University), etc. from the series of chats.

He does not only weather forecasts, but occasionally he goes outside the studio to report something related his old school, give a series of lectures on climate to lay people (the fee is JPY11,970 for six lectures).

Although he doesn't display any bossy behaviour, I feel an impression that the real boss of the show is him, not the newsreaders who are  younger than him (respct for the aged is a disappearing, but still exiting social norm). I might think too much into the human relationships inside the program, but the young female newsreader looks somewhat nervous in front of him.