Top Comedians Enter Live Streaming for Billion-Yen Earnings

On the January 9 broadcast of Gather! Characters Mahjong (TV Asahi), Antony (34) from Matenrou appeared and revealed that former Pistachio member Pistachio Ijichi (40), now working solo, has made a fortune through TikTok live streaming and become a millionaire.

“I don’t think he’s earning billions, but he must be making several million yen a month just from live streaming. His income has surpassed what he made during his comedy duo days, and he’s been encouraging fellow comedians to try TikTok, saying it’s a great way to make money,” said an event company insider.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more celebrities have been focusing on online streaming, including major figures like Atsushi Tamura (51) from London Boots 1go 2go, who has also started live streaming.

“Many entertainment agencies take a share of their talents’ YouTube earnings, but when it comes to live streaming, most agencies are still figuring things out. It’s an untapped market, and many agencies don’t touch revenue distribution. Depending on the platform, about 40% of the tips go directly to the streamer. Earning tens of millions of yen per month is not just a dream,” said a video production company staff member.

Unlike YouTube, where views depend on content and recognition, live streaming relies more on consistency and long streaming hours.

“Actors like Sosuke Takaoka (42) and Kaname Endo (41), who was suspended after FRIDAY exposed his involvement in an illegal underground casino (later leading to contract termination), are also doing live streaming. Though they don’t engage in shocking exposés, they maintain high rankings simply by chatting with regular viewers. Endo’s monthly income is likely over 5 million yen.”

With the profitability of live streaming widely known, even Tsukasa Saito (45) from Trendy Angel has been squeezing in live streams whenever he finds spare time.

The risks hidden in live streaming

“When Tsukasa Saito live-streamed from the dressing room at Lumine the Yoshimoto, Shimofuri Myojo’s Sosina (32) commented in the chat, ‘Other comedians are probably in the background too.’ Since then, he has reportedly moved his streams to a waiting room on the third floor of the same building (laughs). Saito and Ijichi are often teased as live-streaming comedians, but that has actually led to more media opportunities for them. It’s a win-win,” said a comedy writer.

Of course, live streaming isn’t all benefits.

“TikTok has a feature that allows streamers to collaborate, but some celebrities join collaborations too easily, which can be risky. Since streamers’ identities aren’t always clear on the platform, there’s a danger that antisocial groups could exploit these collaborations,” warned a production company director.

Revenue-sharing is also becoming a hot topic, and agencies are unlikely to remain passive observers.

“Yoshimoto Kogyo is reportedly planning to introduce a contract requiring streamers to share a portion of their earnings with the agency starting this spring. Some comedians are resisting this move. Even Atsushi Tamura, though he doesn’t stream often, receives a flood of tips when he does. Right now, mid-level celebrities can enjoy high earnings, but that may not last forever,” said a TV writer.

Comedians looking to become millionaires must either make the most of the current system before contracts change or seek out the next lucrative opportunity. With terrestrial TV in decline, staying ahead of trends and acting quickly is essential.

From “FRIDAY”, February 21-28, 2025 issue