Hitoshi Matsumoto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hitoshi Matsumoto
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| 松本人志 | |
Hitoshi Matsumoto in 2011
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| Born | September 8, 1963 Amagasaki, Japan
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| Nationality | Japanese |
| Occupation | Comedian, film director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1983–2024 |
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
| Spouse(s) | Rin Ihara (2009-present) |
| Children | 1 |
Hitoshi Matsumoto (松本 人志, Matsumoto Hitoshi, born September 8, 1963) is a famous Japanese comedian and filmmaker. He was born in Amagasaki, a city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. He is part of a very popular comedy team called Downtown, where he works with his friend Masatoshi Hamada. Many people in Japan know him as one of the funniest comedians.
Matsumoto has also directed several movies. His first film was Big Man Japan in 2007, and he often starred as the main character in his own films. He also hosts a show called Documental which you can watch on Amazon Prime.
Contents
Early Life and Imagination
Hitoshi Matsumoto grew up in Amagasaki, Hyōgo, in a family that didn't have a lot of money. He has an older sister and an older brother named Takahiro Matsumoto (松本 隆博, Matsumoto Takahiro), who is a folk guitarist. Takahiro even wrote a book about their childhood called "Matsumoto's Older Brother" (松本の兄, Matsumoto no Ani).
Matsumoto once wrote a poem called Chicken Rice (チキンライス, Chikin Raisu) about his childhood. In this poem, he shared how laughter helped them get through tough times. He believes that growing up without much money made him very imaginative and playful. He had to invent his own games to keep himself entertained.
When he was a child, his favorite manga (Japanese comics) was Tensai Bakabon. He even dreamed of becoming a manga artist himself!
He went to Ushio Elementary School, which is where he first met his future comedy partner, Masatoshi Hamada. He finished high school at Amagasaki Technical High School in 1982.
Starting a Comedy Career
After high school, Hitoshi Matsumoto got a job at a printing office. However, his dream was to become a comedian. In 1982, his friend Hamada invited him to join Yoshimoto Kōgyō, a big entertainment company.
They formed their comedy duo, Downtown, and officially started their career in 1983. The Downtown duo performs a style of Japanese comedy called manzai. In their acts, Matsumoto usually plays the funny, slightly silly character, while Hamada plays the "straight man" who reacts to Matsumoto's jokes.
Personal Life and Interests
For many years, Hitoshi Matsumoto remained single, even after his comedy partner Hamada got married and had children. He used to say that he wasn't very interested in romance. He found things like sharing a bed or bathing with someone else to be bothersome.
However, in July 2008, it was announced that Matsumoto was dating Rin Ihara, who was a 25-year-old TV personality. On May 17, 2009, Matsumoto surprised many by announcing that he had secretly married Ihara. She was a former weather announcer and was expecting their child. Matsumoto sent a fax to the media, explaining that his partner would stop working and that they wanted privacy during this special time.
On October 6, 2009, Matsumoto and Rin Ihara welcomed their daughter into the world. At that time, Matsumoto was in South Korea for a film screening.
Hobbies and Inspirations
Matsumoto enjoys several hobbies, including driving cars, playing billiards, and playing video games.
He is a big fan of the famous painter Vincent van Gogh. He has even traveled to Amsterdam to visit The Van Gogh Museum. These trips were filmed for a special documentary series called The True Hitoshi Matsumoto (松本人志の本当, Matsumoto Hitoshi no Hontō). He also looks up to the late comedian Kanbi Fujiyama.
Hitoshi Matsumoto loves tokusatsu shows, which are Japanese live-action films or TV shows that use special effects. He owns DVD sets of popular series like Kamen Rider and Giant Robo. He has even made fun of tokusatsu shows many times on his old TV show, Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji, and in his first movie, Dainipponjin.
Physical Fitness and Health
Matsumoto has shown that he is quite fit on his show Gaki no Tsukai. He once beat his comedy partner Hamada in a high jump competition, clearing 1.40 meters on his first try. In 1999, he also outran Hamada and other cast members in a 100-meter race. A few years later, he performed much better than them in a long jump competition.
Even though he says he's not interested in sports, he has sometimes tried boxing because he is friends with a former world boxing champion, Joichiro Tatsuyoshi.
He used to be a heavy cigarette smoker but quit in 2003.
In June 2010, Matsumoto had to take a break from his shows for two months because of a hip injury that needed surgery. He returned to hosting his show in August 2010. Since then, in parts of the show that need a lot of physical activity, like the yearly New Year's Eve 24-Hour Batsu Games, he is given easier roles because of his past injury.
During a 2011 Gaki no Tsukai game, Matsumoto shared that he had gotten a stress fracture while preparing for the game. Even though his doctor told him not to, he still took part in the game.
Works and Creations
Hitoshi Matsumoto has created many different types of entertainment, from short films to TV shows and books.
Films Directed and Starred In
- Big Man Japan (2007)
- Symbol (2009)
- Saya Zamurai (2011)
- R100 (2013)
- Violence Voyager (2019), where he was the narrator
Television and Radio Shows
- Hitori gottsu (一人ごっつ) (1996–1997)
- Densetsu no kyōshi (伝説の教師) (2000)
- Ashita ga aru sa (明日があるさ) (2001)
- Hōsō-shitsu (放送室) (Since 2001)
- Hitoshi Matsumoto no suberanai hanashi (人志松本のすべらない話) (Since 2004)
- Ippon Grand Prix (IPPONグランプリ) (Since 2009)
- Matsumoto Hitoshi no Konto (MHK) (松本人志のコント) (2010)
- Hitoshi Matsumoto Presents Documental (Since 2016)
Books Written
- Isho (遺書) (1994) ISBN: 978-4-02-256809-0
- Matsumoto (松本) (1995) ISBN: 978-4-02-256898-4
- Matsumoto Hitoshi Ai (松本人志 愛) (1998) ISBN: 978-4-02-257300-1
- Matsumoto Bōzu (松本坊主) (1999) ISBN: 978-4-947599-62-9
- Zukan (図鑑) (2000) ISBN: 978-4-02-257550-0
- Matsumoto Cinema Bōzu (松本シネマ坊主) (2002) ISBN: 978-4-8222-1733-4
- Matsumoto Saiban (松本裁判) (2002) ISBN: 978-4-86052-002-1
- Teihon Hitorigottsu (定本一人ごっつ) ISBN: 978-4-86052-024-3
- Sukika, Kiraika – Matsumoto Hitoshi no Nigenron (好きか、嫌いか – 松本人志の二元論) (2004) ISBN: 978-4-08-780401-0
- Sukika, Kiraika 2 – Matsumoto Hitoshi no Saishuu Sanban (好きか、嫌いか2 – 松本人志の最終裁判) (2005) ISBN: 978-4-08-780422-5
- Cinema Bōzu 2 (シネマ坊主2) (2005) ISBN: 978-4-8222-1744-0
- Cinema Bōzu 3 (シネマ坊主3) (2008) ISBN: 978-4-8222-6321-8
- Matsumoto Hitoshi No Ikari Akaban (松本人志の怒り 赤版) (2008) ISBN: 978-4-08-780503-1
- Matsumoto Hitoshi No Ikari Aoban (松本人志の怒り 青版) (2008) ISBN: 978-4-08-780504-8
