The present comedy

 In these days, there are less and less TV programs for Owarai performers to perform their materials. The number of quiz program is increasing after the last boom of Owarai finished. During that boom of Owarai, many comidians who are called "Ippatsuya" appeared. That means, many comedians appeared in TV programs and many comedians disappeard from TV. So, clever entertainers appear in television more often.
 Many comedians graduate from Yoshimoto training school, but in these days, comedians who belong to other office gain a popularity. It is very difficult to succeed as a entertainer, but it is wonderful to make people laugh. This is that only talented people can do.

Owarai term

Today's topic is Owarai term. There are many words.

・Gag
This is the same as the English word gag. Thy are generally thought to be cheap jokes.

・Teppan
 The material gag which can make a laugh certainly regardless of gender or age and even if it is done when and where.

・Debayashi
Music which flows to a variety hall etc when an entertainer appears in stage.

・Tori
Star performer who appears last in vaudeville theater.

・Tendon
The method which get a laugh by repeating the same gag twice.

・Tsukami
The first gag which is made when performers begin their material.

・Ippatsu-gag
This is the method which get a laugh by moment of action or phrase.

・Dajare
A type of Japanese pun or word play in which the similarities in sound of two different words or phrases are used in a joke. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_owarai_terms)

・Sur
 From the French word surrealisme, sur is comedy with no apparent reason or logic to it. Sur itself is not very common, or popular, though many Japanese comedians are known to try out sur on occasion in their acts.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_owarai_terms)

These words are often used in Japanese TV program.

Downtown

 "Downtown" is a Japanese comedian duo.The members of  "Downtown" are "Hitoshi Matsumoto" and "Masatoshi Hamada". They are very famous in Japan.
 Many Japanese comedians respect them. Especially, Hitoshi Matsumoto is often called genius. The present style of Manzai is influenced by their Manzai style.

Regular TV program

・"Bakusyo Dainihon Akan Keisatsu" (Sunday)

・"Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya arahende" (Sunday)

・"HEY!HEY!HEY!MUSIC CHAMP" (Monday)

・"Lincoln" (Tuesday)

・"Downtown DX" (Sunday)

The difference between a Japanese comedy and a foreign comedy

 There are various cultures in the world. So, there are difference between a Japanese comedy and a foreign comedy.
 I will describe the differnce from American comedy. Simply, American comedy is direct and Japanese comedy is indirect. Americans produce laugh in language or operation, and Japanese people make a material and build the laugh which can be understood even if it isn't not said directly. Moreover, American comedy contains irony in many cases. There are differences also in the comedy variety program of both countries. In Japan, comedians often use their body in Japanese TV program, but in US, such scenes are hardly seen and American TV programs have more talks than Japan. So to speak, American comedy TV program is show and a program is made from a chairman's character, on the other hand, Japanese TV program is mdea by all performers.

We can't say which is good. Both countries are good. All thing I can say is that there are many culture in the world.

The booms of comedy

 There are five booms of comedy roughly.
 The first happened in 1960's. This boom was cased by starting of TV program. Many performers of Rakugo appeared in TV and they became famous.
 The second boom happened early in 1980. This was the boom of Manzai. Many performers of Manzai, for example, "Two beats" and "Shisuke Ryusuke" and B&B and so on, were popular in this term. Futhermore, comedians who were popular in middle of 1980's (for example, "Tamori", "Beat Takeshi" and "Akashiya Sanma") are called  "BIG3".
 The third happened in from later of 1980's to early in 1990's. This is the term when "Tunnels", "Downtown" and "Utchan Nanchan" and others gained power. The comedians of the generation after this came out to a world without being included in the conventional teacher-student relationship. Those comedians have had very little demonstration experience what is called on a first-class stage.
 The foruth happened in later of 1990's. This is the term when a large number of comedians were produced from the TV program made and crowded.
 The fifth happend in 2000's. There were many TV programs that comedians perform their materials. Many comedians got popularity by this. But these days, there were few programs such those.

M-1

 Today's topic is M-1. M-1 is the contest to elect best performers of Manzai. As you know, the word 'M' of 'M-1' is initial of 'Manzai'. Yoshimotokogyo sponsor this contest, and Shimada Shinsuke planned this contest. This had been held for ten years(2001~2010). Every year, this was held in December. People who have had present pair name for less than 10 years can take part in this contest regardless of all, such as a pro, amateur, and nationality.

The past champions
2001 Nakagawake
2002 MasudaOkada
2003 Football-hour
2004 Untouchable
2005 Black mayonnaise
2006 Tutorial
2007 Sandwich man
2008 NON STYLE
2009 Panku bubu
2010 Waraimeshi

Boke and Tsukkomi

Boke and Tsukkomi are both important in Japanese comedy. Boke and Tsukkomi caused laughter. The following information is from wikipedia. 

 Similar in execution to the concepts of “funny man” and “straight man” in doubt act comedy, these roles are a very important characteristic of Manzai. Boke comes from the verb “bokeru” which carries the meaning of “senility” or “air headed-ness” and is reflected in Boke’s tendency for misinterpretation and forgetfulness. The word Tsukkomi refers to the role the second comedian plays in “butting in” and correcting the Boke’s errors. In performances it is common for the Tsukkomi to berate the Boke and hit them on the head with a swift smack; one traditional Manzai prop often used for this purpose is a pleated paper fan called a Harisen. Another traditional Manzai prop is a small drum, usually carried by the Boke.

The tradition of Tsukkomi and Boke is often used in other Japanese comedy, although it may not be as obviously portrayed as it usually is in Manzai.

Noritsukkomi is a kind of Tsukkomi which ride on the Boke once, and do Tsukkomi after a while (correct the Boke’s error).

These make Manzai more interesting, so these are indispensable to Manzai. Futher, these make also daily conversation interesting.

List of comedian (Tsukkomi)

・Hamada Masatoshi (Downtown)

・Date Mikio (Sandwich man)

・Tsutsumishita Atsushi (Impulse)

etc

List of comedian (Boke)

・Matsumoto Hitoshi (Downtown)

・Tomizawa Takeshi (Sandwich man)

・Itakura Toshiyuki (Impulse)

etc