so you think you know Japanese comedy?
Oct 31, 2023 3:43 am
Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!
Let's dive into this week's comedy-special edition for those of you who want more than a few clips in your feed!
The Ultimate Guide to Manzai: No Laughing Matter
Manzai - a comedic art form deeply ingrained in Japan's entertainment fabric. If you've ever seen a clip of two individuals on stage exchanging witty banter on Japanese television, you've witnessed the vibrant world of manzai. This traditional style of stand-up comedy involves a pairing: the "boke" or the "fool", and the "tsukkomi", the straight-man who often corrects the silly antics of the boke, usually with a swift thwap to the head! Read on to learn more!
Ultimate Guide to Japan's Batsu Game
You may have seen a few of these clips around, too. Batsu games are Japan's hilarious "punishment games" where participants are spanked with a large paddle or take part in games where they have to eat scalding hot ramen! What you may not know is that these aren't simply for television. In fact, university students even have their own version such as the "poisoned takoyaki" game. This involves a tray of the beloved octopus balls with one being injected with copious amounts of wasabi. Everyone picks a ball and one unlucky participant... Well, you get the idea. Read on for the history and more about Japan's batsu game!
Side note: If you're expecting to be in Japan for a while, check out Japan Switch's affordable online and offline Japanese lessons and start on the path to enjoying Japanese content without subs!
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Your Friends,
The Japan Switch Team
