Shinobu Sakagami fills in for Yu Sawabe on Poka Poka

During the August 12 broadcast of the Fuji TV variety program ‘Poka Poka’, regular MC Yu Sawabe was absent for summer vacation. Actor Shinobu Sakagami stepped in as a substitute MC.

During a segment titled ‘300g Challenge’, guest Masaaki Sakai successfully cut a piece of beef weighing 308g. In his excitement, Sakai engaged in high-fives and hugs with co-stars while still wearing the plastic gloves used to handle the raw meat. This action drew significant criticism from viewers on social media regarding hygiene standards.

Industry insiders noted that this is not the first time the program has faced scrutiny over sanitary practices, citing a previous incident in July involving a cooking segment where a ladle used for tasting was returned directly to a pot.