Ichiro Furutachi

1.1. Early life and education

Ichiro Furutachi was born on December 7, 1954, in Tokyo, Japan. His parents were Shuntaro Furutachi, who worked in management at Hamano Textile Industries and later became its president, and Ayako Horiguchi. Both of his paternal and maternal grandfathers had lived and run businesses, including rice trading, in Qingdao, China, and had interacted there. His parents, Shuntaro and Ayako, were even delivered by the same midwife in Qingdao. Later, when the Horiguchi family returned to Tokyo and Ayako attended a girls' school, her father chose Shuntaro, a third son of the Furutachi family who was then studying at Waseda University, to be her tutor, deepening their connection. Despite Shuntaro's conscription into military service during World War II and the subsequent defeat of Japan, he safely returned home to the Furutachi family's roots in Saga Prefecture, Kyushu. Ayako then traveled from Tokyo to Saga to meet him, and they eventually married.

Growing up in Kita-ku, Tokyo, Furutachi describes himself as a quiet child, often silenced by his talkative mother and elder sister. He was also overweight as an elementary school student, earning him the nickname "the quiet fat kid." His older sister was highly accomplished, fostering a complex in him. This led him to discover professional wrestling, and he memorized the names of over 200 wrestlers. His mother, who had memorized all foreign actors and actresses, challenged him to memory competitions, pitting movie stars against wrestlers. Furutachi credits these contests with igniting his passion for speaking. His childhood home, located near Itabashi Station shopping district, was sold by his parents when he was 29 to a sushi restaurant (Kinezushi) which built a new building there; he still refers to it as "almost like my childhood home." He attended Kita Kuritsu Takinogawa Daini Elementary School, Chiyoda Kuritsu Imagawa Junior High School (now Chiyoda Kuritsu Kanda Hitotsubashi Junior High School), Rikkyo Niiza Junior and Senior High School, and graduated from Rikkyo University's Faculty of Economics with a focus on Business Administration.

1.2. Career at TV Asahi

In 1977, Furutachi joined TV Asahi (then named All-Nippon News Network Co., Ltd.) as an announcer. This was a significant year as the station had just rebranded from NET to TV Asahi in April. Due to TV Asahi securing exclusive broadcast rights for the Moscow Olympics, there was an unprecedented large-scale recruitment of announcers, with nearly ten men and women hired. His 同期_dōki^Japanese (same-year recruits) included Kazuhiko Yoshizawa, Yasuko Miyajima, Noritsugu Watanabe, and Masako Nakazato. In July of the same year, he was assigned to the live commentary of World Pro Wrestling, a professional wrestling broadcast. He made his debut commentary at a match between Riki Choshu and El Golias at Koshigaya City Gymnasium.

From 1980, Furutachi partnered with Kotetsu Yamamoto on World Pro Wrestling. His unique expressions, such as "Ohhhhhhh!", "Rule-breaking reverse Scorpion," "Battle of the Century," "Human Mountain Range," "Windmill Theory," and "Elite-Weeds Reversal Drama," became known as "over-the-top commentary" (過激実況_{kageki jikkyō}^Japanese). This style became instrumental in supporting the golden era of Antonio Inoki and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Furutachi's fame extended beyond pro wrestling fans when he frequently appeared as a character named Ichiro Furutachi in the manga series Inō Senshi by Yoshinori Kobayashi, serialized in the widely circulated Weekly Shōnen Magazine.

2.1. Establishment of Furutachi-Project

In June 1984, Furutachi resigned from TV Asahi and transitioned to a freelance career, establishing his own creative agency, Furutachi-Project, with seven colleagues. He later stated that the decision to go freelance stemmed from a "difference between self-evaluation and external evaluation." This was a challenging period, as a senior who had mentored him during his time as a station announcer reportedly told him, "You'll definitely be out of business in three months." This harsh comment fueled Furutachi, driving him to diligently secure work and overcome early struggles.

2.2. "Over-the-top commentary" and sports announcing

Furutachi continued to develop his signature "over-the-top commentary" style, which became a hallmark of his sports broadcasts. He retired from commenting on World Pro Wrestling in March 1987, after more than a decade with the program since his station announcer days. Subsequently, he gained significant popularity for his commentary on F1 broadcasts for Fuji TV from 1989 to 1994, as well as for his live commentary of major keirin (bicycle racing) finals (currently G1 events). His commentary often included vivid descriptions of the athletes' "faces," such as "Face like the Miura Peninsula" for Michael Schumacher and "Face like George Harrison" for Damon Hill. He also gave nicknames to keirin racers, such as "Rolling Wolf," "Thighs Four-Wheel Drive," and "Hercules of Tochigi (Oyama)" for the dominant Yuichiro Kamiyama.

In an early foray into variety television shortly after going freelance, Furutachi appeared on Fuji TV's Ore-tachi Hyōkin-zoku in September 1984, in the "Hyōkin Pro Wrestling" segment. He appeared as a masked announcer named "Miyata Tel Aviv" (a play on the name of veteran announcer Akira Miyata) and also once as "Furui Tachiichiro" (meaning "Furutachi, who gets excited"). However, after making a mistake, he was sent to the ひょうきん懺悔室_{Hyōkin Zangeshitsu}^Japanese (Hyōkin Confession Room), where he was doused with water and revealed his true identity.

2.3. Hosting various programs

Furutachi's versatility as a presenter allowed him to host a wide range of television programs across various networks. He began with programs like Yoru no Hit Studio Deluxe and subsequently held regular hosting positions at NHK and all five major commercial broadcasters. This included shows such as Oshare Kankei on Nippon TV (1994-2005), Quiz Akahaji Aohaji on TV Tokyo (1995-2003), and Happy Family Plan on TBS (1997-2000). He also ventured into acting, appearing in films such as Sweet Home in 1988 and the NHK Asadora (morning drama) Kimi no Na wa in 1991. He also served as a news anchor for TV Asahi's News Frontier, a news program aired on Saturdays at 11 PM when News Station was not on.

2.4. Solo performances: "Talking Blues"

In 1988, Furutachi pioneered a unique solo talk show format called "Talking Blues," where he would speak alone for over two hours with just a microphone. This innovative stage performance became a significant part of his career. The revival of "Talking Blues" was reportedly encouraged by Yo Hayakawa, the chairman of TV Asahi.

2.5. NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen

From 1994 to 1996, Furutachi served as the White Team host for NHK's iconic year-end music program, NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen. His appointment marked a historic moment, as he was the first announcer from a commercial broadcaster to host the show. Furutachi had reportedly always aspired to host Kōhaku. When it was announced in 1997 that Masahiro Nakai would take over his role, a fake news story claiming Furutachi had committed suicide circulated among various media outlets, causing him considerable distress.

In 1989, when Antonio Inoki ran for the House of Councillors with the Sports Peace Party, Furutachi supported him with the famous catchphrase, "卍固め in the Diet, Enzui-giri to the consumption tax." He also served as a special commentator for the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan (2001) and Barcelona, Spain (2003), as well as covering women's marathon commentary at the World Championships in Athletics from Seville (1999) to Edmonton (2001).

3.1. Appointment and role

On April 5, 2004, Ichiro Furutachi was appointed as the first main anchor (anchorman) of Hōdō Station, the successor program to News Station. This move led him to successively step down from his regular programs on other networks and many commercial endorsements. From then until his departure, Furutachi largely concentrated his work on Hōdō Station. He even declined interviews with weekly magazines after the program began, though he did grant an interview to AERA in July 2014. While he initially continued to appear on Nippon TV's Oshare Kankei until March 2005, he eventually left that program as well to focus solely on Hōdō Station. After July 3, 2006, when he made his last guest appearance on Nippon TV's Minomonta no さしのみ_Sashinomi^Japanese, he ceased all program appearances outside TV Asahi until his resignation from Hōdō Station, with the exception of TV Asahi's Test the Nation until May 6, 2008.

According to Furutachi, TV Asahi chairman Yo Hayakawa had approached the Furutachi-Project agency about him taking over News Station about three years before Hōdō Station launched. Furutachi initially declined for a long time, wishing to continue his career in entertainment, such as sports commentary, variety shows, and "Talking Blues." However, he eventually accepted when Hayakawa told him, "Draw your own picture freely." He later revealed that he had requested to step down from the role about two years before his actual resignation, but was asked to continue due to his remaining contract.

3.2. Controversies and pressures

Furutachi's time at Hōdō Station was marked by various controversies and reported pressures. He revealed that he received over 100 phone calls and emails daily, with "over 95% being slanderous," and that he read every single one of them. While he admitted to being "hurt," he also described these critical voices as "intense fans" and forced himself to say "thank you, thank you." He also mentioned subscribing to and thoroughly reading six major Japanese newspapers: Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun, and Nihon Keizai Shimbun. During his tenure, he often felt stifled and frustrated, frequently returning home around 2 or 3 AM.

After stepping down from Hōdō Station, Furutachi publicly disclosed that he had experienced pressure from the Democratic Party government (1998-2016), stating that "ministers-level officials called the program directly, demanding that 'that anchor be silenced' and 'they must apologize immediately'." While he initially denied external pressure during his public resignation announcement, he later nuanced his statements. In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun on May 31, 2016, he admitted, "On screen, I probably created a certain space that gave the nuance that there was pressure." He also explained his journalistic philosophy, quoting political scientist Gakushi Nakajima, a former commentator on Hōdō Station: "The atmosphere tends to flow in one direction. So, someone has to pour water on it." Furutachi added, "Humans are more or less biased. If you make a program with passion, the program will be somewhat biased."

For three years after the launch of Hōdō Station, Furutachi deliberately refrained from saying "Good evening" at the start of the broadcast, adhering to a personal conviction. Although he received numerous complaints from viewers, he persisted until a producer severely warned him to "stop the pointless adherence." He then changed his approach and began to offer the greeting.

3.3. Resignation

On December 24, 2015, Furutachi announced his departure from Hōdō Station. This decision, made 17 days after his 61st birthday, was publicly attributed to an agreement to conclude his contract in spring 2016 and his desire for new challenges. At a press conference held on the same day (which excluded television cameras), Furutachi stated, "It was 12 years of unfreedom. What I could say and what I couldn't... I had been walking a tightrope." He also humorously noted, "I was looking at the Internet [reactions] today, and there was one that said, 'Furutachi is leaving Hōdō Station. Yes!' That made the biggest impression on me. 'Ah, there are many people like that,' I thought... To those people, I want to say, 'Good for you,' and 'Thank you for raising me.'" He officially stepped down as main anchor on March 31, 2016.

On his final broadcast, Furutachi delivered an approximately eight-minute farewell address to viewers. He reiterated that his reason for leaving was that he had "become cramped" and that his "selfish desire to entertain everyone with my own unique way of speaking and words grew stronger." He explicitly denied external pressure, stating, "There is absolutely no pressure whatsoever from the streets that forced me to quit. That is the truth." However, as mentioned previously, he later acknowledged in a newspaper interview that he might have "created a nuance" on screen suggesting pressure. Explaining his stance on news, he quoted Gakushi Nakajima, saying, "The atmosphere tends to flow in one direction. So, someone has to pour water on it." He elaborated, "Humans are more or less biased. If you make a program with passion, the program will be somewhat biased." He concluded with a line from the 演歌_enka^Japanese song "Naniwabushi da yo Jinsei wa": "Grasped by human kindness, dying on a broken branch of kindness. I will die and be reborn! Thank you all very much!" He then bowed deeply, concluding his 12-year tenure as main anchor. Even after his departure, Furutachi continues to make active appearances on TV Asahi.

Comparing himself to previous anchors like Tetsuya Chikushi and Shigekatsu Kishii, who were both former newspaper journalists, Furutachi described himself as "an amateur who knows nothing about diplomacy, politics, or economics, who ended up shouldering a heavy responsibility." In contrast to the cold reception he received from his predecessor, Hiroshi Kume, Furutachi offered strong support to his successor, Yuta Tomikawa, praising his past work and asking viewers to welcome him, offering to consult if he faced difficulties. However, Furutachi admitted that he only occasionally watches Hōdō Station after his departure, explaining that he did not want to become "a grumpy old man who nitpicks." He continues to maintain contact with Tomikawa.

4.1. Return to entertainment

On June 1, 2016, Furutachi resumed his activities with a public talk event titled "微妙な果実_{Bimyō na Kajitsu}^Japanese ~ Talking Fruit" (Subtle Fruit ~ Talking Fruit) at Ebisu Act Square. He stated his desire for people to hear his "machine-gun talk" again. The revival of "Talking Blues" was reportedly encouraged by TV Asahi chairman Yo Hayakawa.

In November of the same year, it was announced that Furutachi would host two new programs on Fuji TV: Furutachi-san and Talking Fruit. This came after he had stated in July that he had no regular programs lined up for October, leading some women's magazine reporters to speculate that he was perceived as "too expensive" by television stations, and that he might have initially underestimated the difficulty of securing new regular shows.

He later made a full return to acting, appearing as a regular in the TBS Sunday Theater drama Shitamachi Rocket (2018), marking his first acting role in 27 years since the NHK morning drama Kimi no Na wa. He also appeared in the NHK morning drama Yell (2020), his first morning drama appearance in 29 years.

4.2. Academic activities

In April 2019, Ichiro Furutachi was appointed as a visiting professor at Rikkyo University, his alma mater. This appointment marked a new chapter in his career, allowing him to contribute his extensive experience and insights to academia.

4.3. YouTube channel and other ventures

Furutachi embraced new media platforms, launching his own YouTube channel in 2020. By January 2022, his channel had surpassed 100,000 subscribers. He also began hosting the program Ichiro Furutachi: Battle Wonderland on Sports Live+ in March 2022, and served as a judge and commentator on TV Tokyo's Game Commentary Battle! DRAMATIC-MIC!! on June 12, 2022.

On January 25, 2022, Furutachi announced that he had contracted COVID-19. He completed his isolation period on February 1. In a discussion with Takafumi Horie in July 2021, Furutachi had expressed "skepticism" regarding the effectiveness and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines. However, after his own infection, he commented upon his recovery, "Even though I am elderly, I strongly felt that the vaccine contributed in part to preventing severe illness."

5.1. Family background

Furutachi's mother and elder sister were both highly articulate, which led him to be a quiet child, often unable to get a word in. As an elementary school student, he was unenthusiastic about speaking in front of people, even feigning sleep during reading time. He became an "uncommunicative fat kid" after overeating in an attempt to become a healthy, model child. His unresolved complex about his highly accomplished older sister led him to discover professional wrestling, and he memorized the names of over 200 wrestlers. His mother, who had memorized all foreign actors' and actresses' names, challenged him to memory competitions, pitting movie stars against wrestlers. Furutachi credits these contests with igniting his passion for speaking.

In 1991, his sister passed away from cancer. At that time, Masataka Ittoku, a fellow freelance announcer who had also lost a family member to cancer, sent Furutachi a condolence letter, which began their friendship. Furutachi later filled in for Ittoku as host of Nippon TV's Quiz Sekai wa SHOW by Shōbai!! during Ittoku's battle with cancer. Furutachi recounted that Ittoku had confided in him about his cancer before his public announcement, and Furutachi was left speechless. He also visited Ittoku in the hospital.

On May 28, 2012, his mother passed away from cancer, choosing the same hospital as his sister. Furutachi chose this hospital because his sister's cancer had been discovered too late at a previous hospital, leading to regret that she might have survived if diagnosed earlier. Despite being extremely busy with Hōdō Station, he cared for his mother even more devotedly than he had for his sister. His mother passed away just hours before Hōdō Station began that evening, and he received the news during a program meeting at the station. Like with his sister, he was unable to be with his mother in her final moments due to work. However, he maintained his composure during the live broadcast of Hōdō Station, delivering the news calmly and professionally.

5.2. Marriage and children

In July 1987, Ichiro Furutachi married a former Japan Airlines flight attendant. He is a father to one son and two daughters. He personally officiated at both of his daughters' wedding ceremonies. His eldest son, Yutaro Furutachi, is active as an actor and was formerly the vocalist for the band The SALOVERS. His eldest daughter was a classmate of announcer Akio Yoshida, with whom Furutachi has also been acquainted since her childhood.

5.3. Relationships with colleagues

Ichiro Furutachi shares a close friendship with Toshihiko Takamizawa of The Alfee. Takamizawa annually provides music for Furutachi's "Talking Blues" stage performances, and these compositions have been compiled into CD albums.

Furutachi's public recognition significantly expanded beyond pro wrestling fans when he was chosen to host Fuji TV's Yoru no Hit Studio in 1985. At the time, this was a premier music program among many competing shows. His appointment, coming just a year after he went freelance, raised concerns among some viewers. However, with the strong support of the show's established host, Mari Yoshimura, these anxieties soon dissipated, and the role became a major turning point in his career as a presenter. When Yoshimura retired from the program in 1988, Furutachi expressed deep respect for both Yoru no Hit Studio and Yoshimura, acknowledging her crucial role in employing him during his initial struggles as a freelancer. Yoshimura and her husband served as matchmakers for Furutachi's wedding, and the two families continue to share a close relationship.

When Hiroshi Kume, the former main anchor of News Station, was asked by reporters in 2003 if he had a message for Furutachi, his successor, Kume famously replied, "No, I've heard the program is going to be discontinued. An anchor can't exist for a non-existent program, can he?" In a later interview with AERA, Furutachi stated, "I thought Kume was a cold man," and "I disliked Mr. Kume after that." However, he added, "Half of me respects him as a great senior. The other half settles on disliking him." Kume later expressed sympathy for Furutachi, stating, "I can understand firsthand how difficult and challenging it is. (Recently) I haven't watched it, but I might be unconsciously avoiding it. I built the house from the ground up. I built it freely. But he is being forced to build the building without being allowed to destroy the foundation. I think he's struggling with that." Kume also clarified his own on-air style, stating, "A lot of people, including Furutachi-kun, are mistaken. Many people have the image that I spoke a lot on News Station, but for most news, I was reading lead scripts. There was a considerable amount of time I was reading scripts, which many people mistakenly thought was free talk. There's a possibility that my successor thought they had to talk for that much time. The time I actually spoke freely was sometimes as short as two seconds."

Furutachi was a childhood friend with a man who turned out to be Rio Hirai's uncle (her father's younger brother). The 講談師_kōdanshi^Japanese (storyteller) Rokusuke Kanda Hakuzan VI (real name Katsuhiko Furutachi) is a distant relative of his.

He is affectionately called "Icchan" by his close friend Toshihiko Takamizawa and by Mikiko Minami, a contemporary from his TV Asahi days. Mari Yoshimura, his co-host on Yoru no Hit Studio, and Mariko Kaga refer to him as "Ichiro-san" or "Ichiro-chan" in private, though they use "Furutachi-san" when on air together.

6.1. Characteristics of commentary

Furutachi's commentary is characterized by his unique broadcasting method and linguistic expressions. He is known for meticulously preparing numerous phrases in advance for his broadcasts. A hallmark of his style, especially during broadcasts from regional venues, was to weave in references to the local history, notable figures, or industries, cleverly linking them to the wrestlers or techniques being performed. For example, he would often say before commercial breaks, "This program is brought to you live from the Koshigaya City Gymnasium, famous for 金太郎_Kintarō^Japanese's Ashigara Mountain."

He once recounted reaching a state of "ecstasy" during pro wrestling commentary in Mexico, where the high altitude and stifling heat contributed to a heightened, almost hallucinatory state as he commentated numerous matches consecutively. When commenting on overseas events, he frequently incorporated local culture. For instance, in Mexico, he referenced "Maya civilization" and described El Canek as "The Outlaw of Aztec," blending in details about local venues like "El Toreo, officially Toreo de Cuatro Caminos."

6.2. Major catchphrases by genre

Furutachi coined numerous catchphrases, often categorized by the sport or event he was commenting on.

7.1. Television programs

7.2. Radio programs

• Furutachi Hikorohee no Jidai wa Kotoba de Tsukurareru (August 19, December 29, 2022, NHK Radio 1)
• Tōkon Forever Antonio Inoki-san o Shinonde (October 23, 2022, NHK Radio 1) - MC
• Ichiro Furutachi no Akasaka Yarō 90-bu (TBS Radio)
• Shin'ichirō Azumi no Nichiyō Tengoku (October 20, 2019, TBS Radio) - Substitute host for Shin'ichirō Azumi during his summer vacation
• Ichiro Furutachi Full Touch Kayōkyoku (NBS)
• Fujiya Kayō Best Ten (NBS)
• Ginza Ongakusai (1985, NBS) - Host
• Ichiro Furutachi no Powerful Touch no Marugoto Yū Vision (NBS)
• Ichiro Furutachi no Dokusen! All Nippon Hit Kayō (NBS)
• FuruFuru Saturday Ichiro Furutachi no Dokidoki Monster (NBS)
• Ichiro Furutachi no All Night Nippon GOLD (October 21, 2016 - March 4, 2022, NBS) - Personality
• Ushimitsu Dokidoki! Ichiro Furutachi × Honda Takafumi no Oshaberi Dōjō (April 6, 2021 - present, CBC Radio)

7.3. Web television

• Career Draft (October 6, 2023 - present) - MC
• For JAPAN (April 5, 2024 - present) - MC, transferred from BS11

7.4. Stage performances

• Talking Blues (1988 - 2003, 2014)
• Talking Fruit (2016)

7.5. Films

• Ultraman Zoffy: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army (1984, Shochiku) - Commentary on famous matches between Ultraman and monsters
• Sweet Home (1988, Toho, directed/written by Kiyoshi Kurosawa) - Ryo Taguchi, a cameraman for a TV crew; co-starred with Shingo Yamashiro, Jūzō Itami, and Nobuko Miyamoto
• Alita: Battle Angel (2019) - Commentary announcer (dubbing)

7.6. Anime

• Wanna-Be's (1986) - Commentary announcer

7.7. Games

• Kinniku Banzuke vol.1 ~Ore ga Saikyō no Otoko da!~ (PlayStation)
• Kinniku Banzuke vol.2 ~Aratanaru Genkai e no Chōsen!~ (PlayStation)
• Kinniku Banzuke ~ROAD TO SASUKE~ (PlayStation)
• Kinniku Banzuke vol.3 ~Saikyō no Challenger Tanjō!~ (PlayStation)
• Kinniku Banzuke Muscle Wars 21 (PlayStation 2)

7.8. Commercials (CM)

• Isuzu Forward (Air Suspension equipped vehicle) (1984, Isuzu Motors)
• Kadokawa Shoten The Television (1984)
• Sanraku White Pack (1984)
• Kikkoman Tsuyudokoro (1985)
• Captain System (1985 - 1986, NTT)
• House Foods House no Gratin (1985), Hoso Uchi Meijin (1994 - 1995, co-starred with Hideki Takahashi (actor))
• Taisho Pharmaceutical Samon Naifukueki (1987)
• Ajinomoto Ajinomoto Gift (1988, co-starred with Yuzo Kayama)
• Meganesuper (1987 - 1995)
• Warner-Lambert Halls (1989)
• Kirin Beverage JIVE (1989)
• Kowa Cabbage 2 (1989)
• NEC EWS4800 (1992)
• Toray Toray Vino (1993 - 2000)
• Honda Primo F1 Campaign (1994 - 1996, Honda)
• Japan Tobacco Frontier Pure (1997)
• Keirin (1998, Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute)
• Sankyo (now Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare) Shin Sankyo 胃腸薬_Ichōyaku^Japanese (2000 - 2002)
• Toyota Finance TS CUBIC CARD (2001 - 2003)
• Dwango Iromelo Mix Ichiro Furutachi 着と~く_Chaku-Tōku^Japanese (2003 - 2004)
• SoftBank 白戸_Shirato^Japanese Family series (2016)
  • "Tomodachi Kuru (Genkan)" and "Tomodachi Kuru (Living)" (co-starred with Aya Ueto and Kanako Higuchi)
  • "Sponavi Kyōka-hen (B.LEAGUE)," "Pinball-hen," "Godzilla Jikkyō Chūkei-hen"
• Sony Interactive Entertainment Gran Turismo Sport (2017)
• Meiji PA-3 (2019)
• ENEOS ENEOS Service Station App Fueling Commentary Edition (2022)

7.9. Books and publications

• Kageki de Dōmo Suimasen (Nationwide Asahi Broadcasting, March 1984)
• Ō~tto! Okiteyaburi no Iitai Hōdai (Nationwide Asahi Broadcasting, September 1984)
• Hareta Hi ni wa, Kaisha o Yametai (Fūsōsha, July 1986)
• Kuchibiru ni Gamutēpu (Nihon Bungeisha, October 1989)
• Shaberanakereba Make da yo (Seishun Shuppansha, May 1990)
• Emi-chan no Jitensha -Saiai no Ane o Gan ga Ubatte (Shūeisha, September 1991)
• Shinsetsu F1 Kōza (Keibunsha, October 1991)
• Haha naru Eiga, Chichi naru Video (Kōdansha, October 1997)
• Dai 4 Gakku (Shūeisha International, September 2000)
• Soshite Sekai wa Kurui Hajimeta (Shinchōsha, December 2001)
• Kioku ga Uso o Tsuku! (Fūsōsha, October 2002)
• Nihongo Iki・Katsu・Iki - 7-jikan Buttoōshi Talk Live! (Shogakukan, February 2003) - Co-authored with Takashi Saitō
• Hashimoto Shinobu Jin ~Gengo Shikō Kairo no Shasen Henkō (Wani Books, March 2004)
• Kotoba wa Gyōshuku suru hodo, Tsuyoku naru - Mijikaku Hanaseru Hito ni Naru! Gyōshuku Word (Wani Books, July 2019)
• MC-ron - Shōwa Legend kara Reiwa Shin Sedai made "Shikiriya" no Honkai (Wani Books, August 2021)
• Tsutaeru tame no Junbigaku (Junbunsha, July 2024)
• Jinsei Kohan, Sorosoro Bukkyō ni Furiyō (PHP Institute, July 2024)

7.10. Music works

• "Moero! Hoero! Tiger Mask" (August 1982, RCA) - Entrance theme for Tiger Mask I
• Album Daigeki (November 1, 1984, CBS Sony) - Features spoken word and songs like "Shōwa no Koi no Monogatari" and "Ō~tto! Ore o Yonderu ze" (lyrics by Sunplaza Nakano-kun, the latter featuring Kōhei Ōtomo and Masayuki Suzuki (singer)). The single was a spoken word piece, "Shijō Saidai no Joshidaisei Nanpa Daisakusen."
• "Otoko to Onna no Hashigozake" (November 21, 1987, CBS Sony) - Duet with Natsuko Godai
• "Omae ga Ireba" (November 21, 1994, Nippon Columbia) - Image song for House Foods' "Hoso Uchi Meijin" CM. Lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto
• "Magic Flute - Mahō no Fue" (December 9, 1998, Toshiba EMI) - Narration. Script by Koharu Kisaragi.

7.11. Manga original works

Furutachi served as the original story creator for the following series serialized in Kobunsha's manga magazine Just Comic:

• Ō~tto Full Touch (1984, art by Yoshinori Kobayashi) - An autobiographical and professional wrestler biographical essay manga about Furutachi.
• Suplex Yamada-kun (1985, art by Yasuyuki Kunitomo) - A fictional manga featuring a young wrestler from New Japan Pro-Wrestling (presumably Jushin Liger) as the protagonist, including a romance with a fictional female reporter.

8.1. Public reception and critiques

During his tenure as the main anchor of Hōdō Station, Furutachi's annual income, including other ventures, was estimated to be around 500.00 M JPY. He jokingly stated that his total earnings over 12 years were equivalent to "about 50 plots of prime land in Setagaya." However, this period also brought him considerable public scrutiny. He revealed that he received over 100 phone calls and emails daily, with "over 95% being slanderous." Despite this, he claimed to read every single one, viewing them as "intense fans." He confessed that he was "hurt," but forced himself to say "thank you" to these critical voices.

Furutachi has consistently described himself as an "amateur" in the realm of news, particularly when compared to seasoned journalists like Tetsuya Chikushi and Shigekatsu Kishii. This self-deprecating assessment often surfaced when reflecting on the pressures and responsibilities of anchoring Hōdō Station, a role that he confessed left him feeling "cramped" and "unfree" for 12 years, often returning home late at night due to the demanding schedule and emotional toll.

8.2. Influence on other talents

Furutachi's innovative solo performance format, "Talking Blues," has significantly influenced a generation of Japanese comedians. Notable figures such as Ryota Yamasato, Masayasu Wakabayashi, and Cunning Takeyama have cited "Talking Blues" as a major inspiration for their own stand-up and talk-based performances, highlighting Furutachi's lasting legacy on comedic and performative arts in Japan.