2024’s Standout Comedy Duo Exclusive Revelation: Why Harukaze ni Konnaigu Is Set to Dominate Sales This Year

“I still haven’t truly felt the desire to become a comedian.” – Isshiki

“Strange Duo!? No, no, we’re just super serious rookies!” – Tonzu

“I get nervous when I hear about Friday. Even recently, our senpai got photographed. I really hope they don’t come to Osaka for sure.”

The one who showed his caution was Tonzu (25, left) of the comedy duo “Harukaze ni Konnaigu,” which debuted last April. The unique worldview of Isshiki Toiro (26), who plays the role of a young lady and is a goofball, and Tonzu’s tongue-in-cheek comedy is attracting a number of addicts.

The two attracted a lot of attention when “THE W” was held in December last year. They made it to the finals in only their first year of performing. Their ability was so impressive that Nobuyuki Hanawa (45) of “Knights,” who serves as a judge for the “M-1 Grand Prix,” said, “I can only say that they are amazing. I think it will sell well.” When asked about this, Tonzu responded with a smile.

Tonzu: “That’s right, haha. No, no, just kidding. Before ‘THE W,’ we worked on our material every day. Usually, I create jokes by myself, but at that time, we brainstormed ideas together. We also received a lot of advice from the previous queen, the ‘Genius Pianist,’ and many other seniors. The material kept expanding, and it was just so much fun.”

Toiro: “After the finals, our workload increased about sevenfold. We used to perform live once a week, but now we get called almost every day. It’s really exciting.”

Tonzu: “Although we lost in the end, the sense of accomplishment was incredible. The drinks we had after the finals were so good~! I had hoped to make it to the finals within three years, so our performance in last year’s ‘W’ feels like a perfect score, 100 points.”

Toiro: “There’s just one problem. Although I only told my parents about becoming a comedian, it started getting leaked to my friends, haha.”

Tonzu: “No way. You didn’t tell them?”

Toiro: “It’s true. But it’s actually better this way; I don’t have to hide it awkwardly.”

Last year, in addition to the award race, they were selected for Fuji Television’s variety show “Late Night Honey”. The duo continues to make rapid progress, but the deciding factor in their formation was a surprising one.

Tonzu: “During a performance at the training center, I saw Iro-san doing stand-up for the first time, and I was shocked. I mean, it was overwhelmingly not funny! He didn’t remember his lines, and it was genuinely, hands down, not entertaining, haha.”

Toiro: “Come on! Stop it!”

Tonzu: “But, you know, there was something about him. When I wrote material, I thought, ‘This guy will definitely be funny.’ So, I asked him if he wanted to team up for at least a month, and that’s how it all started.”

 

In 2022, while still in training, they participated in the “M-1 Grand Prix” for the first time and reached the third round, quickly becoming recognized in comedy competitions. Despite thinking their compatibility was excellent, when asked about each other’s characters, they both agreed on the term “eccentric.”

Toiro: “Originally, I had no intention of becoming a comedian. While looking for a new job, I wanted some kind of title, and I thought being a comedian might be interesting, so I joined the training center. That’s why I haven’t really felt the desire to become a comedian seriously yet.”

Tonzu: “See, isn’t he weird?”

Toiro: “If we’re talking about weird, Tonzu is not great as a working professional. He’s always late. Also, he’s the complete opposite of me – he drinks a lot and smokes.”

Tonzu: “Our clothing styles are completely different too. Iro-san says things like T-shirts and jeans are commoner’s clothes and refuses to wear them.”

Toiro: “That’s not true. I’ve just never been around people who dressed like that, as I attended private schools from elementary to high school.”

Their hobbies and personalities are complete opposites. Perhaps that’s why they can create a unique atmosphere that only the two of them possess. Finally, we asked them about their enthusiasm for the future.

Toiro: “I still don’t have confidence as a comedian, but reaching the finals in ‘THE W’ was significant. I want to work hard to be able to perform confidently and boldly in our comedy routines.”

Tonzu: “Our goal is to win a comedy award. We want to achieve results, so we write a lot of material. We’re not geniuses or a quirky duo, just ordinary newcomers. We want to continue working seriously from now on.”

The veterans acknowledge their skills, and they possess a unique personality. Without a doubt, we will see their names frequently this year.

◆ (Right) Isshiki Toiro: Born in 1997, from Osaka Prefecture. Takes on the role of the funny man (boke). After working as a web director for two years, joined Yoshimoto Kogyo’s Osaka NSC. Hopes for a future in narration and expresses a love for travel shoots in Nara Prefecture.

◆ (Left) Tonzu: Born in 1998, from Hyogo Prefecture. Takes on the role of the straight man (tsukkomi). Has been a fan of “License” since elementary school and aspired to become a comedian in middle school. Dreams of becoming famous and revealing a desire to appear in a “Crayon Shin-chan” movie.

From the January 26, 2024 issue of FRIDAY