“That M-1 Finalist?!” The Comedy World Shaken as Top Star Reportedly Plans Move to Yoshimoto

Just being able to criticize our agency is enough

A shocking piece of information is making the rounds in the comedy world: the popular comedy duo “X,” finalists in the M-1 Grand Prix, is plotting a move to another talent agency. X is constantly in demand not only for comedy competitions but also for variety shows and events, yet a TV network producer says they are consulting with people very close to them about moving to Yoshimoto Kogyo. Already successful enough to throw their weight around at their current agency, why would X of all people be trying to move to Yoshimoto, the largest talent agency in the Japanese comedy industry?

According to people familiar with the industry, comedians from other agencies actually envy comedians who belong to Yoshimoto.

“Over the past 10 years or so, the comedy world has become completely dominated by the competition-first mentality. That means it has become important to get as much stage time as possible. Comedians at other agencies have to spend their own money to create opportunities to get onstage, but Yoshimoto comedians can earn fees while testing and refining their material at Yoshimoto’s own theaters throughout Japan. The difference is enormous. Some comedians say there is a gap as vast as heaven and earth.” (Television writer)

Yoshimoto comedians are not subject to quotas for ticket sales, and “unless it is an independently produced event, they do not have to pay out of pocket even if they bring in zero customers” (same source). One mid-level Yoshimoto comedian went so far as to say that “material that had previously been considered taboo was suddenly allowed once we joined Yoshimoto.”

“That material is none other than criticizing the agency. Yoshimoto comedians often reveal how much of their fees they receive on television or social media and joke that ‘Yoshimoto is a black company,’ but that would be unthinkable at any agency other than Yoshimoto. No matter how badly they are treated, the most comedians at other agencies can do is joke about it at private drinking parties.

Following the so-called underground-business scandal, the treatment of Yoshimoto comedians improved. These days, other agencies are far more black by comparison. At Yoshimoto, when comedians handle the filming and editing themselves, they receive 80% of the YouTube revenue. At the agency I used to belong to, the revenue was split 50-50 even though they provided absolutely no assistance. I also heard that some of the more successful and veteran comedians received a larger share rather than an even split, which was one of the reasons I decided to leave.”

Dissatisfaction with the Manager Lottery

Unknown comedians are sometimes suddenly given a major promotional push, but at agencies other than Yoshimoto, it is often said that “whether you catch the eye of the agency president or someone else with comparable power”determines who gets promoted.

“At Yoshimoto, if even one executive-level employee takes a liking to you, there is a chance you’ll get pushed. The number of employees is incomparably larger, so naturally, the chances of catching someone’s eye are higher. I also think the quality and quantity of work arranged by the agency far exceeds that of other agencies.” (Another Yoshimoto comedian)

When asked whether there was anything to complain about at Yoshimoto, the comedian continued, “I suppose you could call it the manager lottery.”

“Managers are reassigned every year or two, but they’re human beings, so there are inevitably people you click with and people you don’t. Sometimes that affects your work. There are also incompetent managers who are difficult to get hold of or repeatedly forget to process invoices. But there are also many cases where comedians break through thanks to working closely with their managers as a team.”

X would presumably like to make the move as soon as possible, but one person familiar with the situation says “the sticking point is that Yoshimoto wants to avoid being seen as having poached a comedian from another agency.”

“If there is a future in which X belongs to Yoshimoto, they might go through the process of leaving their current agency and enrolling in Yoshimoto’s training school (NSC). Considering their popularity and name recognition, I don’t think that would be realistic, though.” (Yoshimoto source)

X has also been nominated for this year’s M-1 Grand Prix, and they are once again expected to achieve a strong result. Will the day come when their ambition, kept quietly inside, becomes a reality?