スタンド・バイ・見取り図currently outside the Japan top 100
◆210 おまけ 「移動中に話しかけるのはアリ？」
In this bonus episode of Stand by Mitorizu (スタンド・バイ・見取り図), Moriyama and Lily dig into listener-submitted "shy person" experiences, unpacking the universal habit of pretending not to notice someone you know. Stories range from spotting a fully disguised Robert Akiyama (ロバート・秋山) at a late-night convenience store to the desperate need for alone time on the commute home after drinks.
What this episode answers
Is Lily actually shy?
Lily is not shy — he says he can talk to strangers without trouble and simply is not the type who craves company.
Is pretending not to notice a familiar face an act of shyness or consideration?
Both hosts agree it is more about consideration than shyness: they assume the other person probably does not want to be approached either, though getting caught in the act of pretending is far more embarrassing.
When Moriyama spotted Robert Akiyama in full disguise at a convenience store, did he say hello?
He did not say hello. The full disguise — bucket hat pulled low, mask, and a cascade of long hair — signaled that Akiyama clearly did not want to be recognized, and calling out his name would also have outed him to everyone else in the store.
Why do both hosts want to be alone on the way home after work or a night out?
After being "on stage" and attending to others all evening, they need to decompress alone — Moriyama wants to replay the day in his head, while Lily simply finds chatting during the commute a hassle; both use the journey to work through their YouTube watch-later queues.
Do they think it is acceptable to strike up a conversation with someone you know while commuting?
It depends on the place, distance, and the other person's situation: a celebrity in full disguise or someone who might feel put out gets silence, while a close acquaintance in an easygoing setting gets a greeting.
Is Lily Actually Shy?
This bonus episode of Stand by Mitorizu took its cue from listener submissions on the theme of "shy-person habits." Moriyama kicked things off by asking Lily point-blank whether he considers himself shy. Lily's answer was unequivocal: "I don't think I am. I can hold a conversation with someone I've just met. I'm just not the needy type." Moriyama agreed that shyness has never been the image he associates with Lily.
The Classic Move: Pretend You Didn't See Them, Then Act Surprised
A listener called Uenozaki got the conversation started with a relatable confession: when they spot a casual acquaintance on the street, the shy reflex kicks in and they look away — only to launch into an exaggerated "Oh wow, what a coincidence!" routine the moment that person says hello.
Both hosts immediately recognised the pattern. Moriyama offered a nuanced read on why he does not always call out to people he knows: "There's also the consideration that the other person might not want me to approach them. It doesn't feel quite the same as being shy." Lily pushed back with a cautionary note — he has been on the receiving end and clocked the exact moment someone spotted him, whipped their head away, and then launched into the surprised-to-see-you act. "Getting caught is so much more embarrassing," he said. When there is simply no room to pretend — when you are too close — the only option is to go in fast and say hello before it gets awkward. The pair concluded that the right call shifts depending on distance and angle.
Running Into a Fully Disguised Robert Akiyama at a Late-Night Convenience Store
Moriyama shared a personal story that illustrated the dilemma perfectly. Stopping at a convenience store around 10 or 11 p.m., he noticed a large man who had pulled a bucket hat down as far as it would go, was wearing a mask, and had an enormous amount of long hair spilling out from under the brim. Peering around a shelf for a better look, Moriyama confirmed it was Akiyama (秋山) from the comedy trio Robert (ロバート).
The full-disguise setup told Moriyama everything he needed to know: "This is clearly a moment when he absolutely does not want to be spoken to." He also reasoned that shouting "Akiyama-san!" would have blown the man's cover to everyone in the store. He stayed silent.
Lily admitted that at that distance he might have gone over anyway — until Moriyama mentioned the store was fairly crowded, at which point Lily conceded that silence was the right call.
For contrast, Moriyama brought up two other celebrity sightings. Walking near his home, he spotted Seija-san (聖者さん) from the comedy duo Tenjikunezu (天竺鼠) riding a moped and crawling along in traffic. He called out "Seija-san!" and got a warm, casual response — close relationship, relaxed situation, perfect outcome. On the other hand, seeing Kojima-san (小島さん) from the duo Anjash (アンジャッシュ) at a Shinkansen platform, Moriyama — despite being in a position as a junior to greet him — held back, not wanting to put Kojima in the position of having to tend to him.
After Drinks, Everyone Wants to Be Alone — Commutes Are Precious Solo Time
The second listener topic came from someone going by Jinmashin (ジンマシン). After work or a night out, they desperately want to be alone on the way home. Chatting on the train feels like an imposition, so they escape with excuses — "I need to stop at the ATM" or "I need to use the restroom" — to carve out solo travel time for music or a quick nap.
Both hosts were fully on board. Moriyama described it as stepping off stage: "When you're talking with people you're in the spotlight, attending to them. Once you say goodbye, you're fully backstage. I want to process the day, go over what happened." Lily's take was simpler: "I'm just tired of making the effort to be considerate. I want to get home my own way, in my own space."
They also noted the projection factor — assuming the other person wants to be alone too, which makes it easier to split off without guilt. For both of them, the commute doubles as a chance to clear out the YouTube watch-later pile. "I'd been saving that episode of Marco Polo Ri (マルコポロリ), or there's something on TVer — the journey home is genuinely valuable time," they said in unison.
Moriyama admitted that when he was younger, the appeal of walking home with someone — particularly of the opposite sex — was real. Lily's response: "You only talk big on the radio."
Takeaways
- Pretending not to notice a familiar face is usually consideration rather than shyness — but getting caught is far more embarrassing than just saying hello.
- Moriyama chose not to approach a fully disguised Robert Akiyama at a late-night convenience store, judging from the elaborate disguise that Akiyama wanted no attention and that calling out would have exposed him to the whole store.
- Both hosts guard their commute home as private decompression time — stepping "backstage" after being socially "on" all evening — and use fake errands to slip away alone when needed.
This article is edited from a machine transcript of the first 30 minutes of the episode. It is not an official summary — please listen to the episode itself.