Manzai Shinjin Taishou 2015: Tokyo Manzai's New Stars
Tonight I was able to attend the Manzai Shinjin Taisho, a Manzai contest held every year by the Manzai Kyokai. The Manzai Kyokai is an organization of Manzai comedians that operates in Tokyo and mainly performs in the Toyokan in Asakusa. The contest pits 6 pairs of performers from the Manzai Kyokai against 6 other pairs of comedians who come from outside agencies. I have an affinity with the Manzai Kyokai since much of my research in my Masters thesis centered on some of their comedians. They were very open to my research and as helpful as possible. Unfortunately due to the birth of my first child, a personal sickness, school and work I hadn't been able to drop by the Toyokan and say hi to the comedians that I had befriended. So, naturally I was looking forward to seeing them perform and have a few words with some of the more veteran performers working the show. Also, as purely a comedy fan I was looking forward to an interesting mix of known and unknown comics. The show I attended two years earlier featured many funny comedians as well as a few famous guest performers. (Photo courtesy of Owarai Natalie, http://natalie.mu/owarai/news/151830)
The Bravery of the Comedy of Nippon Erekiteru Rengo
This past week I was able to catch the filming of a New Year’s comedy special at the Asakusa Engei Hall, a site I visit often for my research (I’m a PhD student). It was a great show that was broadcast later that day on TV Tokyo. It featured many comedians that rarely perform in Asakusa and it was well worth getting up and leaving early to be part of the standing room only audience. One of the featured comedic duos in the show, Nippon Erekiteru Rengo...