Kamomental’s U-dai Iwasaki on Post-KOC Struggles and Becoming a Genius

U-dai Iwasaki (46) of Kamomental made it to the finals of this year’s inaugural “Double Impact Manzai & Conte Dual No.1 Championship.” Remarkably, while serving as a judge for the competition, he also became a finalist as a challenger himself.

As we asked him about his honest feelings ahead of the finals, he also opened up about King of Conte (KOC), which was the starting point for Kamomental’s career.

After winning the 2013 King of Conte (KOC), U-dai Iwasaki of Kamomental founded the theater troupe “Gekidan Kamomental.” Through various twists and turns, Kamomental has received high acclaim across genres, including comedy sketches, theater, TV dramas, and manga.

“When I won, I suddenly felt lost and experienced a fear from a completely different dimension.”

—It was striking that you struggled on variety shows after winning King of Conte (KOC) in 2013.

U-dai: I think the biggest thing was that I didn’t understand variety shows at all. This might not come across, but I feel embarrassed if I suddenly act like a celebrity. I really want to have a getting used to it period for myself. Even with comedy sketches, I prefer bombing at first and learning gradually rather than nailing it immediately. Otherwise, I can’t reconcile it within myself. So right after winning KOC, I just couldn’t suddenly be this polished, fully capable version of myself.

If I had to say, I hoped for offers in acting jobs like dramas or movies that require acting, but at that time, it wasn’t like that. If there’s another KOC winner like me in the future, I want them to explore that kind of path.

Speaking selfishly, I feel like maybe the comedy gods tasked me with walking this path for the sake of the comedy world. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have started a theater troupe. When I won KOC, I felt “Yes!” but at the same time, I also felt, “Maybe I can relax a bit now.”

But somehow, those paths always ended up blocked (laughs). Back then, I was 35 and still young, so I also thought I shouldn’t have such an old-timer mindset.

—Soon after becoming KOC champion, you appeared on OgiYahagi no Megane Biiki (TBS Radio) related to the Okura slacking incident. You consulted writer Okura about your career path as a comedian. Did you want to get your career on track?

U-dai: I was scared at that time. There was no way I could have imagined a life where I’d be writing scripts, getting acting jobs, or reaching the finals of Double Impact. I was half panicked thinking, “If this continues, I won’t have a field where I can really try my best.”

Before winning KOC, I had dreams and hope. Looking around, there were plenty of people who weren’t famous like us, so we shared the pain of not being recognized. But after winning, I suddenly felt lost and experienced a fear from a totally different dimension. That loneliness was something else.

For a deeper look at U-dai Iwasaki’s feelings about Double Impact, what motivated him to become a comedian, and more, you can read the full interview in the paid edition of FRIDAY Subscription based on his autobiographical essay released this May, Kamomental Iwasaki U-dai’s Comedy Chronicle: The World Too Difficult Calls Me a Genius (Fusosha).

What path has the genius U-dai Iwasaki walked?

Click here for the paid version (FRIDAY Subscription)

Kamomental’s U-dai Iwasaki Comedy Chronicle: The World Too Difficult Calls Me a Genius (Fusosha)

■ You can purchase Kamomental’s U-dai Iwasaki’s book Kamomental Iwasaki U-dai’s Comedy Chronicle: The World Too Difficult Calls Me a Genius (Fusosha) from here.