Popular Comedy Duo “Haru to Hikoki” Appointed as Hosts!

Tokyo, Japan, September 24, 2026 — The debate show “Connection With Meaning: Panda Verdict—The Show That Settles What You Want to Make Black and White”, planned and sponsored by MIXI, Inc., is set to air on TV Tokyo on October 7, 2026, from 2:50 AM to 3:20 AM. The comedy duo Haru to Hikoki (Gunpy and Tetsuro Tsuchioka) will serve as hosts, and on-demand streaming for those who miss it will be available on TVer after the broadcast. This program is a debate show where guests seriously debate familiar, yet contentious topics, and the host Gunpy gives his verdict at the end. By depicting differences of opinion not as division but as an opportunity to get to know each other, the program aims to serve as a place to create “connection with meaning”, which is MIXI’s tagline.

　

■When people clash over their opinions, can they still connect?

MIXI’s tagline is “connection with meaning”, and we are working to provide space and opportunity for truly meaningful connections between people. Meanwhile, today’s society is becoming increasingly fragmented in its values, and differences of opinion can easily lead to division. In planning this program, we felt that the fact that people hold different opinions is not an obstacle to connection, but rather a chance to get to know one another.
Accordingly, the show brings together guests across generational and gender lines and has them engage in vigorous debate.
The themes are all the kind of unresolved questions that suddenly come to mind in everyday life. For example: should you brush your teeth even on your last day on Earth? For what may seem like a trivial topic at first glance, the panel members will go head-to-head in earnest. Even so, everyone ends by laughing together. We aimed for a style in which the wins and losses are not given too much gravity.
Watch and see the verdict Gunpy reaches after a wide range of opinions clash.

■Hosts: Comedy Duo “Haru to Hikoki”

The program’s hosts are the comedy duo “Haru to Hikoki”, managed by the agency Titan. Their YouTube channel, “Bakidou Channel [Gunpy],” currently has over 2.05 million subscribers. In 2026, they will hold 24 shows of their first nationwide solo tour, Monkey Business. The tickets sold out immediately, and they are now attracting plenty of attention.

Gunpy (Haru to Hikoki)
“Being a host felt surreal. Before filming, everyone was saying, ‘There’s no way we can debate’, but once it started, their raw opinions really flew, and people’s true natures came out. There were moments when someone captivated everyone present with a viewpoint no one else had, and moments when someone remained completely unmoved no matter what was said, and I laughed until my stomach hurt. It doesn’t feel very TV-like; I think it still has the atmosphere of what would happen if people had a serious debate for real. I hope people enjoy watching it.”

Tetsuro Tsuchioka (Haru to Hikoki)
“I’d like people to watch it and decide for themselves what we were like as hosts. Before filming, everyone kept saying they couldn’t debate, but once we got going, opinions flew far more than I expected, and before I knew it, I was getting fired up myself and joining the debate. Even though it was supposed to be one-on-one, the person next to you wasn’t necessarily on your side, and everyone had completely different opinions, so I really felt just how difficult debate can be. Different sides of people come out one after another, and I hope viewers will enjoy that.”

■Comment From the MIXI, Inc. Planning Representative

Jun Takahashi, Brand Design Division, Social Capital Department

“Even if you don’t agree with someone, hearing why they think that way can reveal their perspective and what they value, which often helps you feel closer to them. I believe that getting to know others in this way is what makes talking to people so interesting. I planned this show because I wanted to create a program where, even if opinions differ, everyone can laugh together after the debate. This is where MIXI’s philosophy of “connection with meaning” comes in. I hope you will enjoy watching the moments where the cast members connect with each other as they share their true feelings.”

■Program Overview