<figure id="attachment_339245" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-339245" style="width: 2410px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="480f513c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/10/0754d6fb3c09ab41a0f6178ad772300b.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-339245" class="wp-caption-text">When we offered him taiyaki (fish-shaped pancakes) and a giant stuffed animal as a nod to the &#8220;fish&#8221; in the winning story &#8220;Seishun,&#8221; he smiled and said, &#8220;Thank you very much! He broke into a smile.</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong> I thought this year would be my last because of my age. I&#8217;m just relieved to have won.</strong></p>
<p> Kenichi Akaba (44, photo left), a comedian of the comedy duo &#8220;Monkey Gorilla,&#8221; the 16th King of Conte 2023, said. He was crowned as the oldest king in the history of the competition and the highest-scoring king in the history of the competition, thanks to the unique phrases and high acting ability of his costar, Tomohiro Kodama (43).</p>
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<p><strong>Akahane</strong>: &#8220;On the day of the final, the two of us took a sauna together as usual to get ready for the challenge. 40 years have passed this year since we met in kindergarten when I was 4 years old. We haven&#8217;t had a single fight since elementary school. We are still really good friends (laughs).</p>
<p><strong>Kodama</strong>: &#8220;That&#8217;s why people like Shinobu Hasegawa of Sissonne and my juniors lambaste us for not being in a hurry (laughs). But this is our style and the secret of winning. I think we are the best in Japan in terms of rapport.</p>
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<p> This year marks the 20th year in his career. In the past, they worked as a trio and even broke up.</p>
<p><strong>Akahane</strong>: &#8220;Once I decided to do things freely, and three years ago, I just went through what I wanted to do. That was the prototype for our current phrase-oriented material. That was a big hit.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Kodama</strong>: &#8220;After that, I made five new pieces a month and kept brushing them up, until one year ago when I made the first piece for the finals, &#8220;Rules,&#8221; and this April I made &#8220;Youth.</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" I was serving my juniors, so I ......"></div>
<p>Their ambitions for the future were also typical of their humble nature.</p>
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<p><strong>Kodama</strong>: &#8220;I&#8217;ve been treated well by the more successful juniors, so I&#8217;d like to treat them to a round of drinks with the prize money.</p>
<p><strong>Kodama</strong>: &#8220;I&#8217;ve been licked by my juniors, so maybe now they&#8217;ll respect me a little (laughs).</p>
<p> The middle-aged duo&#8217;s rapid ascent has just begun.</p>
<figure id="attachment_339367" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-339367" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ddb0b2b7"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/10/090a51c6e4e57569a05d991fc007af8c.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-339367" class="wp-caption-text"> The success of the middle-aged duo will begin.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_339368" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-339368" style="width: 2437px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="15bd2a4b"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/10/2fae25833494650d15cc22ea7d664841.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-339368" class="wp-caption-text"> Unpublished cuts from the magazine Congratulations to the King of Conte 2023 champions, &#8220;Monkey Gorilla&#8221;!</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_339369" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-339369" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="e98bdcdd"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/10/668e6fd81ff8a6510190de0b37bb0e2b.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-339369" class="wp-caption-text"> Unpublished cuts from the magazine Congratulations to the King of Conte 2023 champion, &#8220;Monkey Gorilla&#8221;!</figcaption></figure>
<p> From &#8220;FRIDAY&#8221; November 10 and 17, 2023 issue</p>
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 Takero Yui

 Congratulations to the winners of King of Conte 2023, "Monkey Gorilla"! The duo who have been best friends since kindergarten became the oldest ever winners and scored the highest points in the history of the competition! What are their future "ambitions"?

 A middle-aged duo in their 40s, the best friends since kindergarten, won the contest as the oldest duo in history and with the highest score in history!

Direct interview! King of Conte champion “Monkey Gorilla” “Now I have a little more respect from my juniors.

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