Hitori Gekidan

Hitori Gekidan (劇団ひとり, Gekidan Hitori, born 2 February 1977, in Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba, Chiba)[2] is a Japanese comedian, lyricist, actor, novelist and film director. His real name is Shogo Kawashima (川島 省吾, Kawashima Shōgo).

Hitori Gekidan
劇団ひとり
Born
Shogo Kawashima

(1977-02-02) 2 February 1977
NationalityJapanese
Occupation
  • Comedian
  • lyricist
  • actor
  • novelist
  • film director
Years active1994present
AgentOhta Production
Notable work
StyleConte
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Television
  • Current
    • Goddotan
    • Masahiro Nakai no Mi ni naru Toshokan
    • Shiawase! Bomber Girl
  • Former
    • Waratte Iitomo!
    • Richard Hall
    • Fake Off
    • Nekketsu! Heisei Kyōiku Gakuin
    • How to Monkey Baby!
Spouse(s)
Akane Osawa
(m. 2009)
Partner(s)Kazuhiko Akiyoshi (Soup Rix)
Children3
Parent(s)
  • Ikuo Kawashima (manner instructor) (mother)
Relatives
  • Yuzo Kawashima (uncle, author)[1]
  • Keiji Osawa (righteous grandfather)
Awards
WebsiteHitori Gekidan Profile

He is mainly known his improvisational ability and for his style of physical comedy.

Gekidan is represented with Ohta Production. His wife is tarento Akane Osawa.[3]

Early life and career

Kawashima's parents were employed by Japan Airlines (His father was a pilot, his mother was a flight attendant). Due to the nature of their occupation, Kawashima lived in Anchorage, Alaska for 3 years as a child from 2nd grade to 5th grade.[4]

In 1992, while in his first year of high school, Kawashima appeared on the variety program "Tensai Takeshi no genki ga deru terebi!!" and garnered the attention of Ohta Productions to sign him as a comedy talent. He began activities in a kombi called "Suplex", but were relatively unsuccessful. Kawashima transferred and dropped out of high schools multiple times before graduating from Chiba Ritsufunabashi High School at the age of 20. He then went on to enroll in Tōhō Gakuen in Tokyo and specialized in broadcasting arts, graduating in 1999.

Kawashima's unit, "Suplex", disbanded in 2000 and Kawashima continued activities as a solo comedian with the name Gekidan Hitori, which literally translates to "One person troupe". After going solo, Gekidan became vastly more popular and successful in the industry with numerous appearances in various television and variety programs. He continued to flourish in the following years, even becoming active as an actor in TV dramas and movies.

Character

Name

When "Suplex" disbanded, Kawashima needed a new name to continue activities as a solo comedian. Initially, he set up an internet voting poll with the top two names with the votes being "Katsu Curry" and "Namiuchi Giwa Tachio" which literally translates to "The Shoreline People". Both were rejected by Kawashima's manager, stating that he "sees no future" for these names in the industry to succeed.[5] During a chat with fellow comedian and script writer Kazuhiro Yasuda, when Kawashima asked Yasuda who is his favorite actor, Yasuda responded with Robert De Niro, but with bad pronunciation, which to Kawashima sounded like "Rohata Deniro", which literally translates to "Niro from the Furnace", and sparked him to suggest the use of the name. This was, however, also rejected by his manager. Kawashima chose the name "Gekidan Hitori" in the end.

Gekidan Hitori is commonly referred to as Hitori or Kawashima by most others in the industry. Tamori, on the other hand, calls him Gekidan. His wife Akane Ozawa refers to him as "Shingo-tan"

Interests and Hobbies

  • He is proficient with Rubik's Cubes, as he is able to solve a standard 3x3 cube in 42 seconds. On July 30, 2006, Kawashima entered the 2006 Tokyo Rubik's Cube Grand Prix and placed 68th out of 133 contestants.
  • His favorite food is pizza. When asked what he last late on a TV program appearance, Kawashima said Domino's Pizza. Afterwards, he appeared as the face of a series of Domino's commercials in 2007 with their invitation.
  • He is good friends with Going Under Ground, a Japanese alternative rock band. He also appeared in their music video for the single "Issho ni Kaerou" (いっしょに帰ろう) in 2009.[6]
  • He has publicly stated that he is a big fan of Christel Takigawa.[7]
  • As a student, Kawashima was a fan of Downtown, and purposefully imitated Hitoshi Matsumoto's hairstyle.[8]

Bibliography

Year Title Book code Ref.
2006Kagehinata ni SakuISBN 4344011023, ISBN 978-4344011021
2008Sono Knob wa Kokoro no TobiraISBN 4163696709, ISBN 978-4163696706
2010A Bolt from the BlueISBN 4344018753, ISBN 978-4344018754
Hitori Gekidan: Cappuccino NominagaraISBN 978-4778312237

Filmography

Current appearances

Year Title Network
2005GoddotanTV Tokyo
2013Shiawase! Bomber GirlNTV
Masahiro Nakai no Mi ni naru ToshokanTV Asahi
2016Kyūkyoku no Maru Batsu Quiz Show!! Chō Toi! Shinjitsu ka? Uso ka?NTV

Semi-regular (irregular appearances)

Title Network
Ameagari Ketsushitai no Talk Bangumi Ame-Talk!TV Asahi

Specials, one-off

Year Title Network Ref.
2012Ariyoshi Hitori Tsuchida@Ryūheikai Presents! Chō Chō! Bureikōna Utage SPNTV
2013Hiroiki Ariyoshi & Hitori Gekidan & Bibiru Ōki no Tensai LittleFuji TV
Sekai ni Hokoru 50-ri no Nihonjin: Seikō no Iden-shiNTV
2014Quiz Seikai wa Ichi-nen-goTBS
2015BS Sk-Per! Tte Shittemasu ka!?BS Sk-Per!
2016Geinin CannonballTBS[9]

Former, semi-regular

Year Title Network
Satoko ime gusanNTV
Otona no ConsomméTV Tokyo
Richard HallFuji TV
Heisei Kyōiku 2005 Yobikō
Honnō no High Kick!
Fake Off: Kanzen naru Sōkan-zu
Yancha MokushirokuTV Tokyo
You-Yū-Kibun: Doyōda! PyonNBS
The MNTV
Hitori Gekidan 5 Minutes PerformanceBS Fuji
Kaitai-Shin ShowNHK-G
Manaberu!! News Show!TV Asahi
Kanbai Gekijō
Hitori Gekidan no Shin Bangumi o Kangaeru Kaigi
2004Yaguchi Hitori
2006Nekketsu! Heisei Kyōiku GakuinFuji TV
Waratte Iitomo!
Waratte Iitomo! Zōkan-gō
2007Ima sugu Tsukaeru Mame Chishiki: Quiz Zatsugaku-ōTV Asahi
2009Moraeru TV!
Chikyū-gō Shokudō: Eco meshi Sengen
How to Monkey Baby!Tokyo MX
2010Sōdatta no ka! Akira Ikegami no Manaberu NewsTV Asahi
2011Star Draft KaigiNTV
Uretrho Mi Kakunin ShōjoTV Asahi
Yume! Dōbutsu DaizukanTBS
5 Men TabiNTV
Yoppara Future Game BattleTBS
Masahiro Nakai no Ayashī Uwasa no Atsumaru ToshokanTV Asahi
Nan demo World Ranking Nep & Imoto no Sekai BanzukeNTV
2012Hitori Gekidan & Bibiru Ōki no "Doko Iku!?"Fuji TV One Two Next
Gyōkai Top NewsTV Asahi
GachigaseNTV
YorubenTBS
Urethro Mikansei ShōjoTV Tokyo
Kai Nō! Maji karu HatenaNTV
Gekiron! Doxchi ManiaTV Asahi
2013Acchi Mania
2014Urethro Mi Taiken ShōjoTV Tokyo
'OV Kantoku Fuji TV
Omokuri Kantoku: O-Creator's TV show
2015Kasetsu Collector ZNHK BS Premium
2016Urero Bugendai ShōjoTV Tokyo

Other appearances

Year Title Network
Ucchan Nanchan no Honō no Challenger korega dekitara 100 Man-en! !TV Asahi
Cosmo Angel' THK, BS Fuji
Future GirlsTHK
Warai no Kin MedalABC
Enta no KamisamaNTV
Bakushō On Air BattleNHK
LincolnTBS
2007Hitori Gekidan no Takumi Tanbō-kiFuji TV 721
2011Hisai-chi ni Ikiru! Kodomo-tachi no Tatakai 193-nichi KirokuFuji TV
2015The HakugakuTV Asahi
2016Darake! Okane o Haratte demo Mitai QuizBS Sk-Per!

TV dramas

Year Title Role Network Ref.
2003Tokyo Love CinemaFuji TV
Stand Up!Hiromi TachibanaTBS
2004X'smap: Tora to Lion to Go-ri no OtokoMiddle-aged SantaFuji TV
2005Mahora no HoshiTakeshi KitaYTV
Densha OtokoYusaku MatsunagaFuji TV
Densha Otoko: Mōhitotsu no Saishūkai SpecialYusaku Matsunaga
2006Junjō kirariNaoto SaitoNHK-G
Dare Yorimo Mama o Ai suYamashitaTBS
Densha Otoko DX: Saigo no SeisenYusaku MatsunagaFuji TV
Kazoku: Tsuma no Fuzai-Otto no SonzaiHitoshi TsunoABC, TV Asahi
2007First KissShido First PriestFuji TV
Kyonen Renoir deYankee HubandTV Tokyo
Suwan no Baka! Kozukai 3 Man-en no KoiKenji KamoKTV
2008AvelegiAtsushi AbeFuji TV
K-tai Investigator 7Yoshiki KashiwagiTV Tokyo
81diverJiro MojiyamaFuji TV
MaōNori SerizawaTBS
Avelegi 2Fuji TV
Ware wa Gogh ni naru! Ai o Hotta Otoko-Munakata Shikō to sono TsumaShikō Munakata
"Hahakoihi no Ki" –Junichirō Tanizaki "Shōshōshigemoto no Haha" yori–Shigeru FujiwaraNHK
2009Chance! Kanojo ga Seikō shita RiyūMikio InoueFuji TV
Sayayoi ZakuraHirofumi Izumi
Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae HashutsujoTorajiro KandaTBS
2010Hebi no hitoWOWOW
10-Nen-saki mo Kimi ni KoishiteHidakaNHK
Sayonara, Alma: Akagami o moratta Inu
2013Nagasawa-kunNagasawa-kunTBS
2015Hana MoyuItō HirobumiNHK[10]
Kekkon ni Ichiban Chikakute Tōi OnnaOkasaki Shop ownerNTV
2016Montage: San Oku-en Jiken KitanYasunari SuzukiFuji TV[11]
The SnifferHideo NumataNHK-G
2018SegodonJohn ManjirōNHK

Anime television

Title Network
Bean WorldFuji TV 721

Films

Director
Year Title Notes Ref.
2014A Bolt from the Blue
2021Asakusa Kid[12]
Writer
Year Title Notes Ref.
2016Crayon Shin-chan: Fast Asleep! The Great Assault on Dreamy World![13]
Actor
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2004The Neighbor No. Thirteen
2006Memories of MatsukoTakeshi Okano
7 Tsuki 24-nichi-dōri no Christmas
2007Dororo
Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust
2008Paco and the Magical Book
Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit
2010Golden SlumberKazuo "Kaz" Ono
2011RebirthTakashi Kishida
Share House
2012The Wings of the KirinAkira Itsukawa
Fuse Teppō Musume no TorimonochōSekiro Seki (voice)[14]
2013Goddotan: Kiss Gaman Senshuken The MovieShogo Kawashima
2014A Bolt from the BlueShotaro Toru
Goddotan: Kiss Gaman Senshuken The Movie 2: Psychic LoveShogo Kawashima
Miracle: Debikuro-kun no Koi to MahōDebikuro-kun (voice)

Animated films

Year Title Role Ref.
2006Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur 2006Uncle, Housewife A, Recycling Contractor, Newscaster, Time Patrol Secretary[15]
2007StringsElit (Japanese dub)
2010CoralineBlack cat (Japanese dub)
Shrek Forever AfterRumpelstiltskin (Japanese dub)
2011Happy Feet TwoMumble (Japanese dub)
2015Chibi Maruko-chan: Italia Kara Kita ShōnenShin

Radio programmes

Current
Title Network
Gekidan Samba CarnivalFM Fuji
Former
Title Network
Jungle ParadiseFM Fuji
All Tegami NipponJapan Post internet radio

Advertisements

Year Title Ref.
200520th Century Fox Home Entertainment 24 Season III DVD Collectors Box
Aderans
Life Card "Phishing Sagi ni Kiwotsukete!"
Outsourcing
2006Meiji Seika "Xylish Show"
Pioneer Corporation "Cyber Navi"
Daiwa House "Dee Room"
NTT DoCoMo Kara Watashi wa DoCoMo desu "Hitori Gekidan - Kara Watashi wa DoCoMo desu"
2007Sapporo Brewery "Hanjō-ten"
PlayStation Portable Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
Lion Corporation Top Fūai-kan
Domino’s Pizza "Domino tomaranai"
Japan Post Holdings "Nenga Campaign"
2008Asahi Soft Drinks Citrulline Water "Citrulline Tōjō", "Slider Asa", "Slider Furo"
Mazda Biante "Contrast", "Nobi nobi", "Shijō Kokuchi"
Aflac "Ahiru Hoken Sōdan: Hitori-san"
NTT DoCoMo "Answer House Tōjō", "4Tsu no Heya"
2009Otsuka Pharmaceutical CalorieMate
2009 Tokyo prefectural election
Kao Corporation Essential
2015Sanyō Shokuhin Sapporo Ichiban Curry Ramen
Sega Phantasy Star Online 2
2016U-Can Tsūshin Kōza[16]
Asahi Soft Drinks Wonda Morning Shot "Tezukuri Seal"

Serials

Title
Quick Japan
TV Station
Shūkan Bunshun
Yomiuri Shimbun

Video games

Year Title Role
2005Heavy Metal ThunderGo Shimokitazawa

Stage

Year Title
2005Atami Satsujin Jiken
2006Usukawa Ichi-mai
2013Butai Urethro Mi Kōkai Shōjo
2015Tokyo 03 Frolic A Holic Love Story "Tori-gaeshi no tsukanai Sugata"

DVD

Year Title
2004Tokai no Napoleon
2006Tokai no Shakespeare
2008Hitori Gekidan no Takumi Tanbō-ki
Hitori Gekidan: Mukūkan 1DK –One Dream Keeper–
Kanbai Gekijō Series
Kanbai Chika Gekijō
Tokyo Chōnenten Series

Music videos

Title
Tokyo Jihen "Koi wa Maboroshi for musician (Haishin Gentei Track)"
Tokyo Jihen "Kabuki (album Adult Shūroku)"
Ketsumeishi "Deai no kakera"
Going Under Ground "Issho ni Kaerou"

References

  1. "徳島県北島町公式ホームページ文化ジャーナル". Tokushima-ken Kitajima-machi Kōshiki Home Page Bunka Journal (Aug).
  2. "劇団ひとり" (in Japanese). Ohta Production. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  3. "「明るい家庭を」劇団ひとり&大沢あかねが大安婚". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  4. "劇団ひとりがスケートを披露". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 26 July 2006. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  5. "芸能人の本名と芸名の由来まとめ". 16 September 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  6. "ゴーイング新曲PVに劇団ひとりが出演". ORICON STYLE. 7 January 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  7. "劇団ひとり・大沢あかね 結婚報告会見 主な一問一答 最新トレンド&カルチャーニュース eltha(エルザ)". oricon ME inc. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  8. "劇団ひとり脚本の映画「クレヨンしんちゃん」最新作に、「絶対面白くなる」「胸熱だわ!」と期待の声 ダ・ヴィンチニュース". KADOKAWA CORPORATION. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  9. "芸人キャノンボール2016 〜公道最速借り物レース〜" (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting Corporation. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  10. "劇団ひとり、初大河で初代総理大臣役 "イケメン"共演者に「負けないように頑張る」". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  11. "劇団ひとりが物語の鍵握る、三億円事件扱うドラマ「モンタージュ」出演". Owarai Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  12. "大泉洋&柳楽優弥が共演 劇団ひとり監督脚本のNetflix映画『浅草キッド』". Cinra.net. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  13. "劇団ひとり芸能人初、クレヨンしんちゃんの脚本担当 - 映画". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports Shimbun. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  14. "豪華ゲストキャスト発表!". Official Site (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  15. "映画 ドラえもん のび太の恐竜2006" (in Japanese). Media Arts Database. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  16. "星野源、本人出演ユーキャンCM曲歌う". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
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