TV Insiders Focus on the Rise of Female Comedians in a Once Male Dominated Variety Show World

Last year’s Women Comedian No.1 Championship THE W 2025 (Nippon TV) drew more attention than usual after judge Soshina (33) of Shimofuri Myojo, serving as a judge for the first time, made a series of harsh remarks such as “the level is low” and “it’s not funny.”

“I wondered how it would turn out, but three proven acts like Konno Buruma (39) and Elf advanced to the final round, and the veteran duo Niche, with 20 years of experience, were crowned the 9th queens. In the end, it was reassuring to watch,” said a production company director.

Because the broadcast time was shortened by 30 minutes this time, the number of finalists was reduced from 12 in previous years to eight—a cut of four acts. The more carefully selected lineup also contributed to the overall rise in quality.

“Five of the eight finalists were making their first appearance in the finals. Some comedians had short careers, so honestly there were moments that were tough to watch, but there were also duos who showed real talent. It feels like the overall level of female comedians is rising. Yamepi, who formed just three months ago, still lack polish, but depending on how they’re used, I think they could work well on TV,” said a broadcast writer.

Soshina’s presence—despite his relentless criticism of the finalists—also worked in a positive way.

“There were mixed opinions about his sharp tongue, but as expected, he had thoroughly researched the finalists beforehand. Viewers were able to clearly understand each act’s characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses.

The only one who pushed back against Soshina, Arakawa (29) of Elf, revealed in the ‘Judging Feedback Reflection Meeting’ streamed on Hulu after the broadcast that she ‘had planned to argue back at Soshina.’ She really understands variety shows and is hungry. She proved she’s not just a ‘gal comedian.’ I think she’ll be in even greater demand on TV this year,” said a key-network producer.

With growing awareness of the gender gap, the variety industry—once dominated by men—is increasingly and actively casting female talent. Demand for female comedians is expected to continue rising.

“Hikorohi (36) stands out for her exceptional commenting ability, which is why TV insiders rate her so highly. She also has a strong presence as an actor, so her range of work will keep expanding. Nobuko (33) of Party-chan brightens the atmosphere with her gal character and delivers plenty of unexpectedly angled comments that make for good on-screen captions, so she’s highly valued. Her solo work will likely increase even more.

Among veterans, Asako Ito (55) has outstanding stability, as expected. She can deliver warm comments as well as sharp retorts, which suits the Reiwa era perfectly. In her generation, she’s in a league of her own,” said the same production company director.

While it certainly feels like the arrival of an era for female talent, the aforementioned broadcast writer offered a word of caution to some young female comedians.

“This is especially noticeable in competitions, but quite a few young comedians rely on risqué jokes under the assumption that it’s okay if a woman does it. Regardless of gender, more viewers and audiences are becoming uncomfortable with crude humor, so it’s better not to resort to it casually. On the flip side, if you have the skill and sensibility to make risqué jokes genuinely funny, you’ll be highly valued. It’s a double-edged sword.”

One hopes to see the emergence of young talent capable of truly impressing even Soshina.