Rozan (owarai)
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese comedy
(manzai
) duo (kombi) from Osaka
consisting of as boke and as tsukkomi under the entertainment agency, Yoshimoto Kogyo
. Formed in 1996, they are best known for their stand-up
acts and TV tarento
activities in variety and quiz show
s. Ujihara is known as one of the most competitive quiz show contestants.
Having attended highly-ranked public universities, the two are broadly recognized as "highly-educated comedians". However, Suga eventually dropped out of Osaka Prefecture University
while Ujihara graduated from Kyoto University
spending 9 years to earn satisfactory credits to graduate.
As the boke, Suga is prone to strange comments, while Ujihara is the more reasonable of the two, often criticizing Suga's remarks. As their talk material, they often use current affairs and items that Japanese students learn in high school and middle school. Suga writes almost all their material while Ujihara types them out since Suga cannot touch-type.
In Yoshimoto Kogyo's annual "Most Handsome Yoshimoto Kogyo Entertainer" awards, Suga won 7th place and Ujihara won 14th in 2009 (8th and 20th in 2008 respectively).
- Tennoji high school. Though never in the same class, they were always together at lunch and commuting time. As Suga wanted to be with Ujihara all through his life, he asked Ujihara to be his manzai partner. Suga also recommended Ujihara to take the entrance exam of Kyoto University, one of the top-tier universities in Japan, for the school name would be a help when they become comedians. Ujihara accepted the offer, and after both of them became university students, they formed Rozan in 1996. While attending university, they went to manzai auditions and failed 12 times in a row. After nearly a year and a half, they finally passed one and made their debut in February 1998 at a manzai live "WaChaCha LIVE Jr.".
Semi Regular
Irregular
Owarai
is a broad word used to describe Japanese comedy as seen on television. The word owarai is the honorific form of the word warai, meaning "a laugh" or "a smile". Owarai is most common on Japanese variety shows and the comedians are referred to as owarai geinin or owarai tarento...
(manzai
Manzai
is a traditional style of stand-up comedy in Japanese culture, which usually involves two performers —a straight man and a funny man —trading jokes at great speed...
) duo (kombi) from 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...
consisting of as boke and as tsukkomi under the entertainment agency, Yoshimoto Kogyo
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...
. Formed in 1996, they are best known for their stand-up
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
acts and TV tarento
Tarento
is 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...
activities in variety and quiz show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
s. Ujihara is known as one of the most competitive quiz show contestants.
Having attended highly-ranked public universities, the two are broadly recognized as "highly-educated comedians". However, Suga eventually dropped out of Osaka Prefecture University
Osaka Prefecture University
, also abbreviated to , is one of the largest public universities in Japan. The main campus is among big Kofun tombs in Sakai, Osaka.- History :...
while Ujihara graduated from Kyoto University
Kyoto University
, or is a national university located in Kyoto, Japan. It is the second oldest Japanese university, and formerly one of Japan's Imperial Universities.- History :...
spending 9 years to earn satisfactory credits to graduate.
As the boke, Suga is prone to strange comments, while Ujihara is the more reasonable of the two, often criticizing Suga's remarks. As their talk material, they often use current affairs and items that Japanese students learn in high school and middle school. Suga writes almost all their material while Ujihara types them out since Suga cannot touch-type.
In Yoshimoto Kogyo's annual "Most Handsome Yoshimoto Kogyo Entertainer" awards, Suga won 7th place and Ujihara won 14th in 2009 (8th and 20th in 2008 respectively).
Biography
The comedians first met through basketball club activities when they were students at Osaka Kyoiku UniversityOsaka Kyoiku University
is a national university with headquarters in the city of Kashiwara, Osaka Prefecture, Japan and a branch campus in Tennōji-ku in the prefectural capital city of Osaka. It was established in 1949 by the merger of two predecessor institutions. Its short name is Daikyōdai. The university specializes...
- Tennoji high school. Though never in the same class, they were always together at lunch and commuting time. As Suga wanted to be with Ujihara all through his life, he asked Ujihara to be his manzai partner. Suga also recommended Ujihara to take the entrance exam of Kyoto University, one of the top-tier universities in Japan, for the school name would be a help when they become comedians. Ujihara accepted the offer, and after both of them became university students, they formed Rozan in 1996. While attending university, they went to manzai auditions and failed 12 times in a row. After nearly a year and a half, they finally passed one and made their debut in February 1998 at a manzai live "WaChaCha LIVE Jr.".
Members
- Date of Birth: October 29, 1976 (age 35)
- Birthplace: Takaishi, OsakaTakaishi, Osakais a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of January 2010, the city has an estimated population of 59,813 and the density of 5,270 persons per km². The total area is 11.35 km².The city was founded on 1 November 1966.-External links:*...
- Manzai Role: Boke
- Date of Birth: April 20, 1976 (age 35)
- Birthplace: Shijonawate, OsakaShijonawate, Osakais a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of August 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 57,437 and the density of 3,065 persons per km². The total area is 18.74 km².The city was founded on July 1, 1970.-Railways:*West Japan Railway Company...
- Manzai Role: Tsukkomi
TV
Regular- Quiz! Shinsuke-kun (クイズ!紳助くん)--Asahi Broadcasting Corp. (ABC TV)Asahi Broadcasting Corporationis a regional radio and television broadcaster headquartered in Osaka, Japan, serving in the Kansai region.-Offices:*Headquarters: 1-30, Fukushima Itchome, Fukushima-ku, Osaka-shi, Japan...
*Every other Monday - Chichin-puipui (ちちんぷいぷい) -- Mainichi Broadcasting Sys., Inc. (MBS TV)Mainichi Broadcasting Systemis a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
- Every Tuesday, with the segment "Michiannai sho!", using Suga's limited English to guide foreign tourists to their destinations around Osaka StationOsaka Stationis a station on the West Japan Railway Company located in the Umeda district in Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the city's main rail terminal in the north....
- Every Tuesday, with the segment "Michiannai sho!", using Suga's limited English to guide foreign tourists to their destinations around Osaka Station
- Gokigen Life Style Yo-i-don! (ごきげんライフスタイル よ〜いドン!) -- Kansai TV *Every Friday
Semi Regular
- Asapara! (あさパラ!) -- Yomiuri TV
Irregular
- Ima-chan no "Jitsu-wa..." (今ちゃんの「実は…」) -- ABC TV
- Owarai Wide Show Marco Porori! (お笑いワイドショー マルコポロリ!) -- Kansai TV
- Nambo DE Nambo (ナンボDEなんぼ) -- Kansai TV
- Maki's Magic Restaurant (水野真紀の魔法のレストラン) -- MBS TV
- Bijo Saiban - Renai Saibanin Seido (美女裁判〜恋愛裁判員制度〜) -- ABC TV