An unexpected side of him! Udo Suzuki is a fan of the G-SHOCK "5600" series.

Udo Suzuki of the comedy duo Kyaeen is known as the "face of travel and food reporting programs," having visited exquisite gourmet spots all over Japan, including his hometown of Yamagata, on his own show "Udo-chan's Gourmet Kingdom Japan," and also traveling to Gero, Gifu with actor Hideaki Ito on the special program series "Udo-chan's Sorry for Traveling" (Me-Tele). We focused on the watch he usually wears, as he is also active in a wide range of variety shows and guest appearances.

The true identity of Udo Suzuki, the "lovable character"

　Udo Suzuki says he has admired Ken Takakura since he was 20 years old. He even imitated Takakura's way of speaking, using "myself" as his first-person pronoun, and he had posters of Takakura in his room, so he's a true fan. That admiration seems to have seeped into him over time, and a serious side occasionally peeks out from his bright and lovable character. This "duality" is apparently well known to his fellow comedians such as Tsutomu Sekine and Kazuki Iio.

　When he was out in the car with Tetsuro Degawa and they were accosted by a gang, he calmed the situation down by imitating Ken Takakura's voice and saying, "Stay in the car. Don't come out." When young fans pressed him to do the "Kyaeen pose" together, he flatly refused, saying, "I only do the Kyaeen pose with (my partner) Amano-kun." However, it has been revealed that 20 minutes later, when a woman working at a hostess club said to him, "Udo-chan, let's do the Kyaeen pose," he readily struck the "Kyaeen" pose.

　What's more, he himself seems unaware that a different personality resembling Ken Takakura occasionally pops up, and when asked about it, he just laughs shyly to cover it up, which makes him even more endearing. In addition to his pure, naturally endearing character that doesn't hurt anyone, Udo Suzuki is always considerate of his co-stars and staff, making him a valuable presence that people of all generations can enjoy watching. His unwavering humility even as he gets older makes him a universally recognized "lovable character."

Udo Suzuki's profile and his close-knit group of friends

　During junior high school, he was a member of the baseball club, and in high school, he was a member of the judo club. At the time, his favorite magazine to read was the car magazine "Young Auto." After graduating from his hometown Yamagata Prefectural Shonai Agricultural High School, he got a job at Hirata Farm's Shibaura branch. A turning point came in 1989. He went for an unannounced interview at his current agency but was turned away. However, Yumemaro, who was affiliated with Asai Kikaku at the time, took him under his wing.

　His stage name "Udo" comes from a comment made by Yumemaro: "You're just a big, useless udo tree." His first stage appearance was in a theater troupe led by Yumemaro, and after performing with the Kankonkin Theater led by Tsutomu Sekine, in 1991, at the recommendation of Ichiro Yamanaka, he formed the comedy duo "Kyaeen" with Hiroyuki Amano, taking on the role of the straight man.

　His trademark blonde mohawk was suggested by the owner of his regular barbershop, who wanted him to "stand out." There's also an anecdote that he didn't charge Udo Suzuki for his haircut when he was younger, suggesting that he was already a beloved character even back then.

　In his book "Amano-kun," he reveals that he considers Mitsuyoshi Uchimura his mentor and Tetsuro Degawa his captain, and that he looks up to both of them second only to his comedy partner. He and his partner, Hiroyuki Amano, are still in daily contact even after more than 30 years since they formed their comedy duo. He is also particularly close to Kazuki Iio of Zun and Shingo Katori.

Spotted on the official X account of the show he appeared on! Udo-chan wearing a G-SHOCK watch.

　Udo Suzuki made a guest appearance on "Saturday Wide Radio TOKYO Knights' Chakichaki Daihoso," a radio program hosted by the comedy duo Knights. Started in October 2015, it is a long-running program broadcast live every Saturday morning. In addition to Knights' lighthearted banter that incorporates current events, the program is packed with content, including live reports by TBS announcers running all over Tokyo and talk segments with celebrity guests, making it a flagship program representing TBS Radio.

　While Udo Suzuki often appears in casual attire on travel programs, his style remains the same even when appearing on radio shows in the studio. Amidst his lively banter with the show's hosts, Knights, he was seen glimpsing a rugged and reliable G-SHOCK watch on his wrist. The way it casually complements his unpretentious casual clothes suggests that it's a watch that naturally blends into his off-duty life. It perfectly suits Udo Suzuki's relaxed style.

What is the "5600" series, the eternal style icon of G-SHOCK?

　The "5600" series is one of G-SHOCK's most iconic models. Inheriting the square case design of the original model, this symbolic, long-selling series now boasts numerous variations with different materials, colors, and designs. Its timeless design has garnered immense support from fans across generations, and it's a popular series with metal models and collaborations with brands and artists appearing almost every season.

　Among the vast collection of the 5600 series, it's highly likely that Udo Suzuki is wearing a simple, all-black model devoid of embellishments. Its versatility, practicality, and tough appearance seem to somehow overlap with Udo Suzuki's character, which is understated yet exudes a unique presence.

　The "GW-M5610U-1JF" is the undisputed classic model of the 5600 series. It inherits the design of the DW-5000C, which was born in 1983, with a square face and equipped with Multi Band 6. The built-in small antenna automatically receives standard radio waves from two stations in Japan, as well as China, North America, the UK, and Germany, and corrects the time accurately. Its classic appearance, inheriting the case and dial design of the original, is sure to appeal to not only fans of the 5600 series but also those who are not.

　True to his unpretentious character, Udo Suzuki chooses a tough and practical watch as his companion. His down-to-earth charm is sure to continue to make him beloved.