Comedian Gōkai Captain Opens Up About Quitting Finance and Reaching the M-1 Finals

They missed the championship, but their motivation is high!

“If we win the ‘M-1,’ the Shinkansen will have Green Car seats. I’m overweight, so regular seats are tough. That’s why I have to become champion soon!”

Yamashita Gamble Gorilla (37) said this to reporters while rubbing his protruding belly. The duo “Gōkai Captain,” with Boke Bēyan (31), won the Rookie Award last year at the Kamigata Manzai Awards, the oldest comedy competition in Kansai. They are a promising duo whose tickets sell out immediately on nationwide tours.

Riding this momentum, they reached the finals of the M-1 Grand Prix 2025. They placed 6th out of 10, but looked back on the intense battle on the dream stage.

Yamashita: “Our turn was 9th, and we waited so long that I smoked too much. That’s why my throat got affected, and that was the reason we lost (laughs).”

Bēyan: “We showed our good side to audiences all across Japan. We’ll do our best again this year!”

Yamashita’s Kansai-dialect Tsukkomi, known as the “Preaching Gorilla,” is the duo’s biggest weapon. However, the senior comedian he admires is unexpected.

Yamashita: “I like the precise comedy of ‘Milk Boy.’ But we don’t create scripts. Our routine rehearsals are just well, we quickly talk about whatever comes to mind. Then we try it on stage and adjust as we go. What we focus on is raising our voice at the moment when the audience is supposed to laugh! Like raise it sharply.”

Bēyan: “In the M-1 finals, Daikichi Hakata (54) said we were like ‘Evers,’ who have great structure. Even though we lost by a big margin to them, I was thrilled to hear that we could do that kind of manzai!”

Yamashita quit his job as a securities company salesman and jumped into comedy with determination. Bēyan worked multiple part-time jobs while raising two children and dedicating himself to comedy.

Yamashita: “I really love Yo Oizumi’s (52) ‘How Do You Like Wednesday?’ In the future, I want to do a relaxed travel show. But first, we have to become popular. This year, I’ll swing my shoulders and work hard!”

Bēyan: “I just want to be pampered by everyone. I want to become a huge star!”

Yamashita: “You’re so dreamy. Friday! You should stake this guy out.”

The foundation for their breakthrough is set. Together, the two will gōkai carve out their future.

From “FRIDAY”, January 23, 2026 issue.