Osaka is the second largest metropolitan area in Japan and known as a “comedy city.” There’s a contrast about the comedy style between Tokyo and Osaka. In general, Tokyo Style is slow, quiet, and story-focused while Osaka style is fast, dynamic, and joke-focused.
In the Owarai (Japanese comedy) terminology, Beta (ベタ) means the classical Owarai routines that have been used for a long time. Also, Kotekote (コテコテ) means an overly authentic Osaka Style comedy. The word, Kotekote, originally means rich and fatty flavor.

Let’s enjoy “Beta” and “Kotekote” Osaka Style comedies with English subtitles. You can also learn Osaka-ben through the skits.

Yoshimoto Shinkigeki (吉本新喜劇) is the theatre comedy performed by the comedians of Yoshimoto Kogyo, a massive entertainment agency specialized in comedians. Shinkigeki, which has 60 years of history, includes slapstick, wordplay, and ‘slice of life’ stories that get too real. The comedy teams put on performances regularly, at Osaka’s iconic Namba Grand Kagetsu theatre. Shinkigeki is the most authentic Osaka-Style comedy.

Skit: A rich guy fell in love with a woman at first sight. He and his secretary came to the restaurant where she worked to propose to her. They were so silly and annoying; thus, of course, she refused.

Nakagawake (中川家) is a comedy duo consisting of the actual brothers, Tsuyoshi Nakagawa, and Reiji Nakagawa. The older brother, Tsuyoshi, is small and quiet while the younger brother, Reiji, is big and talkative, so people often think Reiji is older. They are especially good at acting annoying おっさんOssan (old guy) and おばちゃんObachan (aunty) in Osaka.

東京と大阪 – Tokyo and Osaka
They perform the differences between Tokyo and Osaka people in an exaggerated manner. The short skits include when people find Nakagawake on the street, when people ride a bicycle, and when people go to the tourist spot.

となりのおっさん – Old guy next to me
A businessman was on his way back home by Shinkansen Bullet Train. He was exhausted, but an annoying guy came to sit next to him.

We will have a discussion time in English and Japanese–all levels welcome. Grab a beer or your favorite drink, laugh, and enjoy the conversation!

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