Tunnels (owarai) facts for kids
The Tunnels (Tonneruzu) are a famous Japanese comedy duo. They have been making people laugh for a long time! The duo is made up of two friends from Tokyo: Takaaki Ishibashi and Noritake Kinashi.
Both Takaaki and Noritake went to Teikyō High School. Ishibashi, who is taller, played baseball. Kinashi, on the other hand, played soccer. They didn't start as a traditional comedy duo but were known for quick jokes and impressions.
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Rise to Stardom
In the early 1980s, the Tunnels became super popular with young people in Japan. They appeared on many TV shows. Their fame really exploded with their own show, The Tunnels' Thanks to Everyone.
This show was a huge hit! More than 30% of TV viewers across Japan watched it. That's a lot of people! After their TV success, they also started making music. They released many hit songs that sold incredibly well and got a lot of attention.
Impact on Japanese Language
The Tunnels even helped create new words and phrases that young people still use today. For example, they popularized moto-kare and moto-kano. These are short ways of saying "ex-boyfriend" and "ex-girlfriend." These words are still very common in Japan.
Later Years and New Projects
Around 1990, the Tunnels took a break from their show for about six months. Another comedy duo, U-tchan Nan-chan, took their place. When the Tunnels came back, they apologized for leaving. However, other groups like Downtown and U-tchan Nan-chan were becoming more popular with young audiences.
Because of this, the Tunnels changed their focus. They started doing more talk shows and interview-based programs.
Yazima Beauty Salon
More recently, the Tunnels have worked with DJ Ozma to create a fun music group called Yazima Beauty Salon. The story is that they found this group in America.
In reality, DJ Ozma and the Tunnels themselves are the members of Yazima Beauty Salon. They perform as different characters: Noritake Kinashi plays Margaret Camelia Yazima, and Takaaki Ishibashi plays Strawberry Camelia Yazima. They dress up and act as these characters for their performances.
