Downtown (comedy duo)
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Downtown is a Japanese comedy duo from Amagasaki, Hyōgo consisting of Hitoshi Matsumoto and Masatoshi Hamada. Formed in 1982, they are one of the most influential and prolific comedy duos in Japan tod
Matsumoto (left) and Hamada (right) in 2020
Their first television appearance in 1982 at the age of 18 and not yet known as Downtown
A VHS from 1988
Hamada about to hit Matsumoto on the head on Downtown DX
Manzai
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Manzai is a traditional style of comedy in Japanese culture comparable to double act comedy.
Downtown (comedy duo)
…category, which will be produced and starred in by Matsumoto, there will be past TV shows and movies. As with many Japanese comedy duos, there exists a boke and a tsukkomi. Matsumoto is the boke of the two and often puts up with light physical abuse (it is common for the tsukkomi to slap the boke on top of…
A pair of manzai performers at a New Year celebration; the tsukkomi at front, the boke behind him (artist unknown, 19th-century Japanese painting)
Print depicting two manzai comedic actors, also in a New Year setting; c. 1825
Yokoyama Entatsu and Hanabishi Achako established the talk show-centered manzai style. They were active since 1919.
All Hanshin-Kyojin, active since 1975.