Cocorico (comedy duo)
Encyclopedia
, also romanized
as Coq au Rico, is a Japan
ese comedy
duo (kombi) consisting of and . They are best known for making up the cast of the popular and long-running variety show
, Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
.
It is unclear whether Cocorico or Coq au Rico is the official romanization when referring to the kombi. While "cocorico" is the correct French spelling, their namesake
spells it "coq au rico." The former is the romanization most often used in the English-speaking fandom
.
, they formed in 1992 at Yoshimoto Kōgyō
when Endō quit his mundane job as a salaryman
and invited his childhood friend Tanaka to join him as a duo. They named themselves after a cafe in Osaka
called "Coq au Rico," a variant spelling of the French onomatopoeia for the crowing sound a rooster
makes. Their name at first was "Cocorico Bombers," until they were advised to shorten it.
Cocorico's subtle humor went unappreciated by most comedians, until it caught the attention of Hitoshi Matsumoto
of the comedy duo Downtown
. In 1997, they became regular members of the show Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
, where they made their big break.
Romanization
In linguistics, romanization or latinization is the representation of a written word or spoken speech with the Roman script, or a system for doing so, where the original word or language uses a different writing system . Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written...
as Coq au Rico, is a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
duo (kombi) consisting of and . They are best known for making up the cast of the popular and long-running variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
, Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
, often abbreviated , is a Japanese variety show hosted by the popular Japanese owarai duo, Downtown, with comedian Hōsei Yamasaki and owarai duo Cocorico co-hosting. The program has been broadcast on Nippon TV since its pilot episode on October 3, 1989, and continues to this day, celebrating its...
.
It is unclear whether Cocorico or Coq au Rico is the official romanization when referring to the kombi. While "cocorico" is the correct French spelling, their namesake
Namesake
Namesake is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that has the same, or a similar, name to another....
spells it "coq au rico." The former is the romanization most often used in the English-speaking fandom
Fandom
Fandom is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest...
.
Members
- Shōzō Endō Born July 13, 1971 in Toyonaka, OsakaToyonaka, Osakais a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 388,633 and a population density of 10,680 persons per km². The total area is 36.38 km²...
. Plays the tsukkomi. Married tarentoTarentois a Japanese rendering of the English word "talent" and is used as a catch-all term for mass media personalities who regularly appear on television. Detractors of the phenomenon have referred to it in an English sense as "famous just for being famous" because many that fall into this career line...
ChiakiChiaki (tarento), Full name , is a Japanese tarento whose career ranges from singing, baby clothes designing, to voice-acting etc.- Biography :Chiaki was born in Maizuru, Kyoto on October 26, 1971 as the daughter of the chairman of Nippon Sheet Glass. Due to her father's job, she moved to Ichihara, Chiba soon...
in 2002, but divorced in late 2007. Has one daughter, Iroha, born in 2003. Friends with Naoki Tanaka.
- Naoki Tanaka Born April 26, 1971 in Toyonaka, OsakaToyonaka, Osakais a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 388,633 and a population density of 10,680 persons per km². The total area is 36.38 km²...
. Plays the boke but is the leader, and writes all of their material. Married actress Shie Kohinata in 2003 and has two sons, born in 2004 and 2008.
History
Both born in 1971 and raised in Toyonaka, OsakaToyonaka, Osaka
is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 388,633 and a population density of 10,680 persons per km². The total area is 36.38 km²...
, they formed in 1992 at Yoshimoto Kōgyō
Yoshimoto Kogyo
is a major Japanese entertainment conglomerate, with its headquarters based in Osaka. It was founded in 1912 as a traditional theatre, and has since grown to be one of the most influential companies in Japan, employing most of Japan's popular owarai talent, producing and promoting the shows they...
when Endō quit his mundane job as a salaryman
Salaryman
refers to someone whose income is salary based; particularly those working for corporations. Its frequent use by Japanese corporations, and its prevalence in Japanese manga and anime has gradually led to its acceptance in English-speaking countries as a noun for a Japanese white-collar...
and invited his childhood friend Tanaka to join him as a duo. They named themselves after a cafe in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
called "Coq au Rico," a variant spelling of the French onomatopoeia for the crowing sound a rooster
Rooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
makes. Their name at first was "Cocorico Bombers," until they were advised to shorten it.
Cocorico's subtle humor went unappreciated by most comedians, until it caught the attention of Hitoshi Matsumoto
Hitoshi Matsumoto
, or Matchan as he is commonly known, is a Japanese comedian best known as the boke half the popular owarai duo Downtown alongside Masatoshi Hamada...
of the comedy duo Downtown
Downtown (owarai)
is a Japanese comedy duo from Amagasaki, Hyōgo consisting of and . Formed in 1982, they are one of the most influential and prolific kombi in Japan today...
. In 1997, they became regular members of the show Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
, often abbreviated , is a Japanese variety show hosted by the popular Japanese owarai duo, Downtown, with comedian Hōsei Yamasaki and owarai duo Cocorico co-hosting. The program has been broadcast on Nippon TV since its pilot episode on October 3, 1989, and continues to this day, celebrating its...
, where they made their big break.
Past
- Cocorico Miracle Type (ココリコミラクルタイプ) (Fuji TelevisionFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
, 2001-2007) - Fujiriko (フジリコ) (Nippon TelevisionNippon Televisionis a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
, 1999-2002) - Cocorico Million Kazoku (ココリコミリオン家族) (TV TokyoTV Tokyois a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
, 2006-2008) - Otoriko! (音リコ!) (Nippon TelevisionNippon Televisionis a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
, 2007-2008)