TKO’s Takehiro Kimoto and Takayuki Kinoshita Make a Comeback After Finding Insight in Their 50s from Life’s Low Points
The duo, who were on the verge of dissolution, embarked on a nationwide tour.
On the small four-person table, there are only stationery, A4 sheets densely printed with text, and tissues. There are no expensive furnishings, and the handwritten messages from fans displayed on the wall are the most eye-catching.
From this modest office, TKO’s Takehiro Kimoto (53) and Takayuki Kinoshita (52) set out to perform in all 47 prefectures nationwide.
Their goal for the year-long comedy tour was set on the “King of Comedy.” They challenged themselves with new material honed during live performances, but they were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Even so, the sparkle in their eyes was undeniable.
“We are happy.”
Kimoto: “We were getting laughs and thought, ‘We can do this!’ But when I looked at the results, the groups that got big laughs were neatly lined up in the top 35 that moved on to the semi-finals. The reality is that we didn’t make it into that ranking. It was a harvest to be able to reconfirm our current position. This was our first appearance in 11 years, but regaining the feeling of ‘being in a contest’ was also significant.”
Kinoshita reportedly cried when he realized they were eliminated.
Kinoshita: “I think there are people who were teased or criticized just for supporting TKO. I felt sorry for the fans, staff, and organizers who supported us. I wished I could have shown them a good scene… and that made me unable to hold back my tears. I’ve never felt such emotions before. But when I think about how many comedians at 52 or 53 can genuinely do comedy and feel this frustrated, I realize we are happy.”
The two expressed that during their time as regular finalists in the King of Comedy, TKO was “unable to become anyone.
Kimoto: “Back then, there was a vibe like, ‘TKO, please don’t perform anymore,’ and I also felt like, ‘Maybe it’s enough.’ Even though we hadn’t won, we placed ourselves on a higher pedestal for no reason.”
Kinoshita: “We were allowed to appear in dramas, do theater, and occasionally show up in variety shows. I thought, ‘Since we’re getting some work, that’s fine,’ and I was escaping from facing comedy seriously. There was a part of me that couldn’t proudly say, ‘We are comedians.’ I didn’t want that to be exposed or to be teased about it. So, I played it safe. By appearing in dramas, I felt like I was standing shoulder to shoulder with other comedians. I wasn’t being aggressive at all. The moment I was on defense, my skills as a comedian were steadily declining. I was aware of that, yet I pretended not to notice.”
