2017 M-1 Grand Prix manzai contest winners

2017 M-1 Grand Prix manzai contest winners

TOKYO, Japan, July 18 Kyodo - Japanese "manzai" comedian duo Toro Salmon -- Hideaki Murata (L) and Kazunobu Kubota -- pose at the TV Asahi studios in Tokyo on Dec. 3, 2017, after winning the 2017 M-1 Grand Prix contest. (Kyodo)

Comedian duo Woman Rush Hour

Comedian duo Woman Rush Hour

OSAKA, Japan, Jan. 23 Kyodo - Daisuke Muramoto (L) and Paradise Nakagawa of Japanese comedic duo Woman Rush Hour pose after winning the 43rd "manzai" standup comedy contest sponsored by public broadcaster NHK in Osaka, western Japan, on March 1, 2013. (Kyodo)

Osaka high schoolers win this year's comedy duo title

Osaka high schoolers win this year's comedy duo title

OSAKA, Japan - A high school comedy duo called "Inaka-no Kuruma" or countryside cars, Ryoichiro Kisa (2nd from front R) and Chihiro Ota (2nd from front L) from Osaka, pose in Osaka on Sept. 21, 2014, after winning the 2014 high school "manzai" comedy duo championship final.

Japanese players perform good luck-inviting ritual at Expo Milano

Japanese players perform good luck-inviting ritual at Expo Milano

The traditional Japanese "Mikawa-Goten-Manzai" ritual to call in seven lucky gods is performed by players clad in Shinto priest costumes at the Japanese pavilion's event square of Expo Milano in the Italian city on Aug. 28. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japanese men perform good luck-inviting ritual at Expo Milano

Japanese men perform good luck-inviting ritual at Expo Milano

Japanese men clad in traditional Shinto priest costumes perform the "Mikawa-Goten-Manzai" ritual for driving away demons and calling in seven lucky gods at the Japanese pavilion's event square of Expo Milano in the Italian city on Aug. 28, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

TV personality Shimada retires

TV personality Shimada retires

TOKYO, Japan - Shinsuke Shimada (R) and Ryusuke Matsumoto of the Japanese ''manzai'' standup comedy duo ''Shinsuke Ryusuke'' attend a news conference in Osaka to announce their breakup in May 1985. Shimada announced his retirement from the entertainment industry at a news conference in Tokyo on Aug. 23, 2011, due to his close links with a member of the yakuza organized crime group. Matsumoto died in 2006. (Kyodo)

Osaka high schoolers win this year's comedy duo title

Osaka high schoolers win this year's comedy duo title

OSAKA, Japan - A high school comedy duo called "Inaka-no Kuruma" or countryside cars, Ryoichiro Kisa (2nd from front R) and Chihiro Ota (2nd from front L) from Osaka, pose in Osaka on Sept. 21, 2014, after winning the 2014 high school "manzai" comedy duo championship final. (Kyodo)

Asakusa Engei Hall

Asakusa Engei Hall

File photo taken June 1, 2020, shows the Asakusa Engei Hall in Tokyo for rakugo comic storytelling, manzai, magic and other entertainment shows. The hall reopened the same day after two months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Asakusa Engei Hall in Tokyo

Asakusa Engei Hall in Tokyo

Photo taken April 16, 2020, shows the Asakusa Engei Hall where rakugo comic storytelling, manzai, magic and other entertainment shows are held in Tokyo's Asakusa district. The hall was closed that day amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo