Breaking News! Ryosuke Yamada, now known as LEO, has decided to join the professional gaming team Crazy Raccoon! Transcript of the press conference: "Which is more fun, singing or gaming?" "Will the frequency of streams increase?"

Yamada: I have been friends with Crazy Raccoon owner Ozizi (@riteiruozisan ) for a long time. About 2 years ago, we were playing a game together and he said, " Wouldn't it be interesting if Ryo-chan joined CR? I started to think seriously about it. I myself run a YouTube channel called " LEO's Playground [Ryosuke Yamada]," and I do all the work myself, including troubles with equipment and requests for video editing. Actually, I am an idol... (laughs) Since I am running a YouTube channel, I have to take it seriously just as I do with idols and actors. I have been receiving a lot of support from Crazy Raccoon members. I don't know if this is a way to repay them, but I thought that by joining Crazy Raccoon, we could support each other and let everyone know more about the game, so I asked the agency (STARTO ENTERTAINMENT) for permission, and after two years, this became a reality. What are your current feelings?

Yamada: I can only say that I am very happy. I am excited about what kind of activities await us from now on. I have been at many press conferences in the past, but it is a strange feeling to be here as LEO, a different persona. Joining a team in this capacity is unprecedented, so I'm really looking forward to everyone's reactions.

Yamada: I am an indoor person, and if I have a day off, I play games all the time. In fact, I have played games with Mr. Hiraiwa many times (laughs). (laughs) My passion for games has been inside me since I was a child, and now that games are known around the world as e-sports and not just for fun, I think it is something I can do as a person who is out in the world to bring it to even more people. This passion has never cooled down, and I think that's why I was able to make it happen today.

Yamada: Yes, I am. The first time I did a live broadcast, the timing of the start was not right and I ended up with a blurry picture of my face (laughs).

Yamada: It's fun! (laugh) It was the first time for me to play FPS, but the rules are simple: three players in a team aim to become the champion, but you are fighting on the same battlefield with strong players from all over the world . I love that feeling. If I don't play even for a day, I lose my skill, so I try to improve myself by playing at least once a day even if I am busy.

Yamada: It was a very different experience from the games I have played in the past, and I can see why e-sports is called a sport. My teammates and I met one week before the tournament, and we practiced together with our coaches, planning what characters to use, what tactics to use, etc. As my career and age have progressed, I have learned a lot about the game. As my career and age progressed, it was difficult for me to get angry at my teammates, but I was very angry at the younger coach (laugh). I made the decision to go and the team lost. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." (laughs) That kind of thing is also a valuable experience! How I enjoyed it!

Yamada: The amount of effort you put in is reflected in your play. I have always hated to lose, and I really enjoy the feeling of "living in the moment" where I can become stronger the more I try.

Yamada: I think I am suited for games as well, because I am basically a competitive person, not only in games but also in any kind of work.

Yamada: I play with ordinary people I meet through games, and I also play with professional gamers.

Yamada: It was very inspiring to see that people all over the world can get so passionate about games even if they don't speak the language. I also saw the venue where the world championships were being held, and it made my dream of standing there someday, in whatever form that may take.

Yamada: Well, I don't know (laughs). I'm trying to do as much as I can so that I don't affect the competition in any way, so it might be as a guest, or if I find a game that I'm really good at, I might compete as a professional. There are so many possibilities, so I would like to have fun while doing it.

Yamada: I will! (laughs) I play games when I have time to sleep, so I have to adjust my schedule so that it does not affect my other work, but I do play games while cutting down on my sleeping time. I take my laptop with me when I go out of town on tour, and even when I return to the hotel, I spend at least 2 hours playing games. Thankfully, I am a short sleeper who can work well after 3 or 4 hours of sleep, so I am grateful to my parents (laughs).

Yamada: Thankfully, this is an opportunity for people who have never heard of me before to become aware of my existence, so I am very glad that I opened the channel. From today, as a member of Crazy Raccoon's STAR division, I hope to be able to convey the appeal of games to everyone, so I feel like I am standing tall once again.

Yamada: Up until now, we have only been able to do live broadcasts when we could, but with the support of Crazy Raccoon, I think we will be able to provide even more enjoyable content, such as videos. I would like to create an enjoyable channel together with everyone at Crazy Raccoon.

Yamada: I'd love to......with "Apex Legends" (laughs). I' d also like to hold a tournament with my name on it.

Yamada: We often play other titles. On the same day off, we played for about 20 hours without sleeping. There were times when we played. It was like we could hear each other's intercom before we left.

Yamada: He plays with the same level of enthusiasm, so I am grateful to have such a guy on site.

Yamada: I just had a look at the venue, and it's amazing that the Tokyo Dome will be filled with games. I was also impressed once again by the greatness of Crazy Raccoon. I myself have been to the Tokyo Dome several times, but this was the first time for me to participate in this way. The audience didn't know I was coming, so I was very nervous and hoped they would have a good reaction.

Yamada: Of course I am nervous at live performances, but it's a different kind of nervousness. It's like going back to the beginning, wondering if I'll be okay and if they'll accept me.

Yamada: As a person who loves games, I would like to further promote the appeal of e-sports, and since I am a member of the gaming team, I would like to challenge myself in tournaments while improving my skills.

Yamada: In my opinion, Crazy Raccoon is one of the best gaming teams in Japan. The players and streamers are very close, and I think this is due in part to the personality of the owner, Ozizi. I joined Crazy Raccoon because I felt that I could trust myself here.

Yamada: I told them in the chat group, but they all said "good luck" and Takaki said " I wonder how hard I have to play the game to get in " (laugh). Everyone is happy and supportive of my joining.

Yamada: I think I am the best in the entertainment industry when it comes to the title "Apex Legends" (laughs).

Yamada: I have met some of them through playing games or in private, but there are many members that I have not met yet. I am the most junior at this point... I would like to start by greeting them first (laughs).

Yamada: There are Street Fighter tournaments held on Crazy Raccoon, so I would like to try other titles that have active tournaments.

Yamada: I think my activities will expand, but in terms of frequency of distribution, I am sorry to say that it is for my own convenience, but there is such a thing as " Conflict" (laughs). I am usually watching my schedule while distributing, but I would like to increase the activities of "LEO's Playground" as much as I can, so I would be happy if you could look forward to it.

Yamada: Well, to put it another way, I am also an actor... (laughs) I do both solo and in groups... I will also play games... I think you should just think of me as a great person (laughs).

Yamada: Please don't do that! (laughs) But this is really a different kind of fun. (laughs) But this is really a different kind of fun. When I see the smiles on the faces of the fans at the Tokyo Dome concert, I think, "I'm so glad I'm doing this job. When I play games, there are some foul words that I would never say as an idol (laugh), but I really like the environment where people accept and enjoy such things, so I enjoy both!

Yamada: We had a lot of discussions. I actually have about 17 reptiles... that's a lot, isn't it? I am satisfied with the drawing because they did not lose too much of the image of my character, who is also in "LEO's Playground.

Yamada: As Hey! Say! JUMP and as an actor, and now I have joined the STAR division of Crazy Raccoon. I would like to continue to bring smiles to everyone's faces through my many activities, so please support Ryosuke Yamada as a gamer LEO. Thank you very much for your continued support!