M-1 Champion Westland Says, “I Don’t Need More Geishas, I Need More Sexy Pictures!
New champion of "M-1 Grand Prix" A hard worker who has closely watched the breakthrough of his friends and the rise of the seventh generation win his first title of longing! When we directly asked him to congratulate him, FRIDAY was met with a barrage of tongue-lashing!
Usually I get nervous and make mistakes, but when the other duo got a big hit, I gave up in a good way. I decided to just have fun. Then I relaxed and …… made my usual mistakes.
You know, that’s the kind of stuff that only works when you’re not making mistakes! You’ve got to be kidding!
Hiroyuki Iguchi (39) was furious in his criticism of Futoshi Kawamoto (38, pictured right), who had been going at his own pace since the beginning of the interview. The two members of “Westland,” the newly crowned “M-1” champions, had an exquisite exchange of words in front of the reporters. With Iguchi’s sharp tongue as a weapon, they won their long-cherished first championship. Their momentum did not stop during the interview.
Iguchi said, “ There is something I definitely want you to write about. I come up with the material, and even though I do most of the talking, we split the prize money of 10 million yen. Not only that, but the salary I earn from my pin work is also split fifty-fifty! The salary structure is ridiculous! Could you at least write, ‘Mr. Iguchi is a very kind man’?”
Kawamoto: “ By the way, I work part-time as a renovator, and the day before the convention I was demolishing Japanese-style toilets. Of course, I get paid in full.”
Iguchi: “ Don’t stir things up!
During the course of the interview, there was a scene in which the reporter was hit with a scathing “poison.
Iguchi : “ I read Friday recently. Even if it is the issue just before the “M-1”, I can’t believe that it even has an interview with Harikenunzu, a comedian who has been making advance speeches! If things continue as they are, it will turn into a magazine specializing in extremely serious comedians. Please put aside the comedians and put more sexy pictures in the magazine!
A benefactor and an admirer
In their fourth year, 2012, they reached the semi-finals of “THE MANZAI” and “King of Conte”. As promising newcomers, in 2001 they were selected as regulars on “Laugh It Up! in 2001 as a promising newcomer.
Kawamoto: “ At first I thought, ‘This will sell! I thought, “This is going to sell! But as soon as I started, I realized that I was not good enough. The program ended the following year, leaving me feeling inadequate.
While “Panther” and “Arco & Peace,” who became regulars at the same time, were becoming successful TV stars, he continued to work mainly in the awards race. In 2004, Iguchi made it to the “R-1” and in ’18, the duo made it to the semi-finals of the “M-1”. However, they were one step short of reaching the top.
Iguchi: “ Eventually, the ‘7th generation’ started to make a lot of noise, and the opportunities for me to be invited to TV shows decreased. But I wasn’t in a hurry. We had a good response to the awards races, and we believed that we just had to do what we could do.
Steadily and honestly, the duo continued to stand on the stage. They were able to maintain their own style largely because of the presence of a great senior member of their agency, Titan.
Iguchi: “ I have nothing but respect for Mr. ‘Bakusho Mondai. We had never even been to a training school before, but they took us in, and even though we are veterans, we continue to perform on stage. We love manzai and want to continue to live by it. What should such comedians do? We are very grateful to have seniors who show us that behind our backs.
Kawamoto: “ That’s right.
Iguchi: “ That’s all! Hey! You didn’t talk at all in the second half!
When asked what he would like to do for his championship year, Iguchi said, “To invite some easygoing comedians and go on a hot spring vacation,” to which Kawamoto replied, “A camp like Hiroshi (50), a pin comedian, who never speaks a word! Kawamoto replies, “A camping trip like Hiroshi (50), a pin-up comedian who doesn’t say a word! Although their goal seems a little low, Kawamoto and Kawamoto agree, “That’s all right.
They will continue to walk the path they believe in, at their own pace, without rushing.
From the January 6 and 13, 2023 issues of FRIDAY
PHOTO： Takero Shigumura
