Bananaman (comedy duo)

Bananaman (バナナマン) is a Japanese owarai comedy duo consisting of Osamu Shitara and Yūki Himura.

Bananaman
Native nameBananaman (バナナマン)
Years active1993–present
EmployerHoriPro com
Universal D
Members

Career

Shitara and Himura formed as a comedy unit in 1993 and debuted on stage in 1994.[1][2] Himura had broken up with his previous partner and Shitara was working as the driver of the comedian Masayuki Watanabe, so they formed a duo after a friend introduced them.[1] They concentrated on skit comedy,[3] developing a theatrical style that emphasized verbal repartee.[4]

In 2008, they came in second on the nationally televised annual King of Conte skit comedy contest.[5] Up until then, Bananaman had concentrated on live performances and DVD releases,[4] but afterwards began to appear more on television. Himura appeared on the most shows (19) of any comedian during the 2009 New Year's period,[6] and the duo received their own show, Banana Fire, for the first time in April 2009.[7] After that, they became the hosts of several other television shows, including Nogizaka tte Doko? and its successor Nogizaka Kojichū (with Nogizaka46),[8] Banana-juku,[9] and Why Did You Come to Japan?,[2] in addition to appearing as regulars on other shows like Beat Takeshi's Unbelievable.[10] Shitara and Himura also appear by themselves on various programs, with Shitara, for instance, hosting the live news program Nonstop!.[11]

Bananaman have also appeared in acting roles on film and television (for instance, Shitara in Kakusho ~ Keishicho Sōsa 3 Ka[12]). In the year 2012, Shitara appeared on more television programs than any other Japanese personality, appearing in 611 programs, 163 with Himura (Himura was ranked 12th with 428 television appearances).[13] Shitara also led the rankings for the first half of 2013.[14]

Bananaman are the "official older brothers" (公式お兄ちゃん) of the girl group Nogizaka46 and are said to support them like family. The duo are the hosts of Nogizaka's weekly late night variety show, Nogizaka Kojichū, and will occasionally mention the girls in their radio show, BananaMoon Gold. Many Nogizaka46 members also say they listen to Bananaman's radio show and follow their schedules. The two acts often appear in each other's events and regular shows.[15]

Members

Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1982 - 2014 Waratte Iitomo! Tuesday Regulars
2013 - Ongoing Why Did You Come to Japan? (YOUは何しに日本へ?) Hosts/MC Narrated by Bobby Ologun
2011 - 2015 Nogizakatte, Doko? (乃木坂って、どこ?) MC Broadcast every Sunday night at 24:00 JST
2014 - Ongoing Bananaman No Sekkaku Gourmet!! MC Broadcast weekly on Sunday, at 20:00 JST [16]
2015 - Ongoing Nogizaka Under Construction (乃木坂工事中） MC Replaced the old Nogizakatte, Doko? time slot, now broadcast every Sunday night at 24:00 JST [17]
2019 - Ongoing BananaSand (バナナサンド） MCs with SandwichMan Broadcast on Wednesdays, 23:26 JST [18]

Radio
Year Title Station Notes Ref.
2007 - 2010 BananaMoon TBS Radio Broadcast on Mondays, from 1am to 3am JST
2010 - Ongoing BananaMoon Gold TBS Radio Broadcasting on Saturdays, from 1am to 3am JST [19]

References
  1. "天才コント職人バナナマン、16年目の今だから語れるいろんな話" (in Japanese). Livedoor. Archived from the original on 2013-07-11. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  2. "Bananaman interview". Terebi Dogatchi (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-09-03. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  3. "バナナマン「"優勝"の称号が欲しい」". News Walker (in Japanese). Kadokawa Magazines. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  4. Tōda, Rarī. "実力派バナナマンを変革に導いた「ブサイク顔面芸」の衝撃". Excite News. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. "オロナミンC キングオブコント2008". Geinin.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2010-12-31. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  6. "２００９- 正月テレビ番組 お笑いタレント出演番組数ランキング発表" (in Japanese). Nihon Monitor. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  7. "設楽と日村も気合十分！『バナナ炎』が『炎炎』とパワーアップ！". Terebi Dogatchi (in Japanese). Presentcast. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  8. "乃木坂46、1周年ライブで謎の発表" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  9. "問題児を更生、バナナマン＆大島麻衣「バナナ塾」DVD化". Owarai Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  10. "Gouriki Ayame to become new female host of 'Kiseki Taiken! Unbelievable'". Tokyo Hive. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  11. "バナナマン設楽が初MC、生放送の帯情報番組スタート". Owarai Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  12. "Takahashi Katsumi & Eikura Nana to co-star in new detective drama". Tokyo Hive. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  13. "バナナマン・設楽が最多出演！" (in Japanese). Nihon Monitor. Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  14. "バナナマン・設楽が連覇へ好発進！" (in Japanese). Nihon Monitor. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  15. Watanabe, Akihiro (2017-07-16). "乃木坂46とバナナマン、相思相愛の関係性 "公式お兄ちゃん"が支えるグループの成長" [Nogizaka46 and Bananaman, a relationship of mutual affection, the "official brothers" who support the group's growth]. Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2017-07-19. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  16. "Bananaman no Sekkaku Gourmet!!". Archived from the original on 2015-04-03.
  17. "Nogizaka Under Construction". Archived from the original on 2015-04-16.
  18. "BananaSand". Archived from the original on 2020-05-04.
  19. "BananaMoon Gold Radio". Archived from the original on 2016-03-10.
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