Masatoshi Hamada’s Hiatus: The Real Reasons Behind It and the Future of His Regular Shows

The scheduled recordings have been canceled

Hamada Masatoshi’s hiatus from “Downtown” seems to have the presence of his partner, Matsumoto Hitoshi, in the background.

On March 10, Hamada announced that he would be taking a break due to health issues.

The sudden announcement of his hiatus was met with concern, but also with many voices supporting his decision. His wife, talent Ogawa Natsumi, wrote on her blog:

“My husband has been running nonstop for decades. Even when he was exhausted, he hardly had time to recover his health, so I, as well as our sons, feel very relieved that he is finally able to take a break this time.”

In addition, junior comedians such as Chihara Junior, Koyabu Kazutoyo, and Black Mayonnaise’s Yoshida Takashi also expressed their understanding of Hamada’s hiatus, sending him words of encouragement:

“Please take your time to rest.”

Hamada currently has nine regular programs. As a duo with Matsumoto, he appears in three shows: Nippon TV’s Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!, Downtown DX, and TBS’s Wednesday Downtown. Solo, he hosts six shows: TBS’s Hamada Kayousai ★ Ookami Shounen and Prebat!!, Fuji TV’s Junk SPORTS, MBS’s Gobugobu, MBS Radio’s Gobugobu Radio, and Yomiuri TV’s Hama-chan ga!.

His workload is undeniably heavy, and there are reports that discussions are underway to reduce his burden by considering the termination of some programs. A television industry insider stated:

“The stockpile of pre-recorded episodes is currently being aired, but eventually, that will run out. The show Hama-chan ga!, which started in 2008, cannot exist without Hamada. The recent recording session was canceled, and the future of the program is ‘undecided.’ There are even rumors that it may end altogether.”

When asked about the cancellation of the recording and the future of the program, Yomiuri TV, which produces Hama-chan ga!, responded:

“We do not disclose details about the content of our programs. The future of the show is currently under discussion.”

TBS’s Hamada Kayousai is scheduled for its next recording in late March, with a substitute host stepping in for Hamada. Even Downtown’s flagship programs are not entirely secure, and discussions regarding their future are ongoing.

The hiatus due to scandal is firmly denied

In addition to accumulated fatigue from years of work, one of the reasons Hamada chose to take a break at this time is Matsumoto’s presence.

Matsumoto is aiming to launch a subscription-based media platform, “Downtown Channel (tentative),” this spring. At that time, he stated:

“I want my partner to be there for the first episode.”

Hamada shared the same sentiment, and an agency representative reportedly conveyed Hamada’s true feelings to some media outlets.

“The first thing they firmly denied was that the hiatus was due to a scandal. They emphasized, ‘That is absolutely not the case. It has nothing to do with online casinos either.’ After taking a moment, they continued, ‘For Hamada-san—or rather, for Downtown as a duo—this is the only time they can take a break together.’ Hearing that, I immediately sensed that Hamada was thinking about Matsumoto. He’s likely recharging for the launch of ‘Downtown Channel.'” (Media insider)

Hamada and Matsumoto formed their duo in 1982. After dominating the comedy scene, they hardly interacted in private, perhaps due to a sense of awkwardness. However, there is no doubt that they understand each other better than anyone else, even without words.

“There have been reports that Hamada may return as early as after Golden Week. However, the agency doesn’t seem fixated on a specific deadline. Rather, they seem to want him to take a proper break this time and choose the work he truly wants to do. It’s possible that some of his current regular programs will be reduced. In that case, there’s a strong chance that his comeback will be alongside Matsumoto on ‘Downtown Channel’ rather than on television.” (Entertainment industry insider)

When Hamada returns, Matsumoto may be right there beside him.