Terry Ito Column Vol.49 The time to be popular has come after you turn 70!

Now that I'm over 70, I've somehow become a man who's popular with women. It's strange that I've only just started to notice this now. When I was younger, I tried so hard to be popular. I tried things like how my hairstyle was, how to dress in a way that would appeal to women, and what kind of sport would be cool, so I joined the ice hockey club in the winter and the yacht club in the summer, all in an effort to be popular. But unfortunately, my efforts were in vain, and I spent my high school years without any romance or connection to women. I had a girlfriend in college, but overall I didn't feel like I was popular with women. But for some reason, women have been approaching me a lot recently. "Take me out to dinner somewhere." What does that mean? I thought about it.

I think I'm losing my "suspiciousness" and "dangerous air" as a man. It's true that when I was younger, I interacted with women with a lot of guilt. They probably saw through my lewdness and avoided me. But now that I'm older, for better or worse, that suspiciousness has disappeared, and I've become a "nice guy" who loves animals, Disneyland, and knows better than anyone about the best cake shops in Ebisu. Recently, people have seen through that and decided that "there's no danger in being with this person," and perhaps my belated period of popularity has finally arrived.

How should I interpret this? Considering my age, I should be fine just being invited! But... Yazawa Eikichi and Tachi Hiroshi, who are the same age as me, still have an aura of "danger" and "you need to be prepared for no turning back" and "you'll get burned if you date them." That's right, even though I know my limitations, I want to be like Yazawa Eikichi and Tachi Hiroshi. That said, I also want to meet Mickey Mouse, see monkeys in hot springs, and make friends with capybaras. It's difficult to find the right balance between danger and relaxation.

So I asked the woman if she had invited him out. She replied, "Terry-san would normally greet strangers on the street with a smile. Watching him brighten up the city." Indeed, even when walking alone, he would casually greet the mother directing traffic in the morning, the person cleaning the toilets at his workplace, and the police officer at the local police station. When I was younger, I didn't have the courage to greet people, but maybe now that I'm Terry-Ito, I can do so. Speaking of which, he often greets elementary school kids who don't know me with a "Good morning!" That doesn't create a dangerous atmosphere, does it? Should I aim to be like Eikichi Yazawa or Hiroshi Tachi? Or become friends with Mickey Mouse? I'm at a crossroads, but I want to be a shady guy!

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry