How to be Funny in Japan - Japanese Sense of Humor 

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In the US, we do not make jokes about religion, politics, and race because they are easy to talk about. It is actually the opposite. Comedians will find subjects that are controversial and tense, and make light of them in ways that make the audience see the subject from a different angle. It is a way to discuss things most people would never converse about in public. It is like going to a masseuse or chiropractor. They feel around until they find a point of tension, and then they press hard into it, which is uncomfortable for a moment but actually releases the tension and feels really good. If you have something that is serious and controversial, then people likely wont want to talk about it. But if the subject is left ignored as if it doesn't exist, it will only get worse and cause more tension. Playing with controversial subjects, when done correctly, is meant to increase understanding and peace among people. There is also a sense of shock-humor when people think, "I can't believe he said that!" This is only one style of comedy, though. We also have people who make humorous references to things that everyone in the audience relates to. These are funny because the individual in the audience is thinking, "I have thought that same exact thing myself but thought I was the only one." It is like sharing an "inside joke" with friends, except there are many of you and you are all strangers. Their are also some comedians who take the shock-humor too far, and simply being offensive is the entire point of the show. No social commentary or perspective. Just crude and offensive statements. Thankfully, audiences seem to be getting tired of these over time. I also find it funny that Japanese people essentially need permission to laugh, because they don't want to be innapropriate. This is contrasted with an aspect of American stand-up where the comedian will intentionally make it ambiguous, and the awkwardness of thinking you are perhaps laughing at something innapropriate, and the comedian playing with the audience's expectations are a big part of the humor.

Double act comedy is really common in the UK too. It also involves a straight man (tsukkomi) and a funny man (boke). We even have examples with a lot of physical violence from the frustrated straight man.

I noticed they have a different sense of humor and with your video I have now more knowledge about it. Thank you for your hard work.

This is the first Riceburger video I've seen, I shall watch some more, good job!

I love japanese comedy and I'm always interested in looking for new types of japanese media. Since I moved to Japan I noticed a lot more of cultural nuances than the ones I was exposed to while studying japanese in Brazil. Thank you for the overview on this theme and various others!

There are European and American equivalents to Manzai: in the USA, the most famous comic-and-straightman pairing that I have heard of is Abbott and Costello, while we in the UK have Morecambe and Wise and various others such as Cannon and Ball, and Jewel and Warris from the 1950s.

Very interesting. In America two people on stage was common a long time ago and solo stand up developed over time. The most famous example of a comedy duo is Abbott and Costello performing “who’s on first.” Still some modern stand up comedians perform in duos but it’s quite rare.

I'm from neither the US nor Japan but for some reason i can really get japanese humor more

ahhhhh this is the channel ive been searching for!!! ahhhh yesssss

Nice explanation. It helps understand Sandwichman a bit more.

Here is one unsophisticated explanation from Japanese... The reason American joke is not considered "funny" in Japan is may be Japanese ppl really hate to be considered かっこつけてる(trying to act like a really cool) when they are exposing some humor. Ahh...I know u still don't get it. American joke is logical (e.g. joke of start of this vid). We Japanese think it like oh it's smart logic or oh that's smart but not it's funny. It's JUST a logical riddle to us. As I said before, Japanese ppl hate being seen like trying to be cool when they making joke or something, so they think saying these like "smart logical riddle" is like you are trying to emphasize how smart you are. So they feel it's lame not funny. Hmm... def it's far from a good explanation but hope u guys understands this. Once my mother watched FULL HOUSE, and she said "I really can't get what is the funny point? Why are they laughing? Plus they really trying to act like a cool person ehh that's lame... can't stand it!" These like context of comedy is completely a new thing to her so she could not laugh. However, she get to find what is supposed to be funny in the show slowly, now FULL HOUSE is one of her favorites. (And sorry my english is far from perfect too😢)

A very concise and entertaining video - thanks for making this! :)

Japanese comedy hasn’t changed since the invention of the television. They even go to “comedy school” to learn the “rules” of being a comedian.

結構参考になりました

Typical foreign contrarian here to point to some similarities that would help in understanding the flavor of "uniquely" Japanese comedy. Comedy duos with a "banana-man" and a "straight-man" were pretty common in the past in the US. Think of Abbott and Costello, Martin and (Jerry) Lewis. Can't think of any off-hand these days, but I don't get around much anymore. Jerry Seinfeld is famous for his little observations about everyday nothings, like his parents' obsession with squishing together used up bars of soap to use up every last bit. I think that might be pretty similar to "aru-aru" humor. I guess Manzai is the most popular kind of comedy in Japan, but there's a good deal of variety, too. personally, my favorite kind of Japanese humor is the "conte", the extended skits on a bare stage with minimal props -- Baka Rhythm, Ramens, A-Masson. I guess the situational, visual aspects make it easier for me to follow as Japanese learner. But, hey, no love for Hakata Niwaka? Nice job. I'll be coming back for more!

I'm always interested in trying to find comparisons between american and Japanese comedians. Like what Japanese comedian is most similar to Dave Chappelle? Or Robin Williams or Bil Burr or Jim Gaffigan.

Western comedy usually involves laughing at the other person or his behaviour. Japanese comedy has more respect and this is really deep. They are true people and never lie to you. When I went back to Bulgaria ( my home country) I no more consider our behaviour as good and optimal.

2:03 the english pronunciation caught me off guard 💀

Lolllllllll 😂 great video as always!

Vince Noir - Boke, Howard Moon - Tsukkomi

This is a lot of work, thanks...

If i make a joke does a random tsukkomi pops out of nowhere and would he find my joke funny?

its called相声 in china i believe

It’s kinda obvious that culture not only defines what is funny, but also shapes how and when we (are supposed to) react to it. It’s still kinda weird looking at this from a western perspective. It’s almost like the sideman is holding up a laugh sign, kinda like the audience in a sitcom. Maybe a Japanese person could react to this. Do you laugh because you actually think it’s funny or because of social pressure?

Japanese comedy is World No. 1!!!

日本人は「Peep Show」好きですか？それはボケとツッコミを思い出します !!

There seems to be an interesting aspect that requires a combination of permission and social pressure when it's appropriate to laugh at the joke. The thing that confuses me is are you laughing at the joke because it's genuinely funny, or are you laughing because is funny, but needed permission to laugh because you weren't sure when to laugh, or are you laughing because you don't want to feel left out so you laugh at the joke because everyone else is laughing just to go a long with it. This style of comedy that's popular in Japan also exists outside of Japan(like my country the UK), but it isn't popular. I think it's viewed as sort of lazy, because you require another person to make sure your joke is funny almost like a hype man. You need another person there to reassure that you're telling a joke and it's a funny joke as opposed let's say for example: Dave Chappelle or Jimmy Carr they're on their own on stage and they tell a joke and it's funny because of it's own merit.

Is the structure in manzai ever subverted? Are there comedians who play with the form?

I will send you sake!😂❤❤

Since you mentioned that there is an other person there to let the viewers know EXACTLY when they can laugh, I was wondering if you can get a death sentence or something in Japan if you laugh when you're not supposed to?

私の日本語はまだうまくない、本当にごめん。 現に日本語はきれいなことがありますね。これは動画で賢くんだけど、ような動画はめっちゃさといよ

Is the cheeseburger an American? And the rice cake is a Japanese? That's hilariously racist! I love it!

不就是对口相声一捧一逗呗