The best part of online Ogiri is that anyone can compete using words.
Sensui
We are student comedians who usually perform manzai material. However, we actually have no experience in Ogiri at all... How do professional comedians think about coming up with such funny answers?
Iwasaki
There are many tips for Ogiri, but the most important thing is to "communicate." Before we even consider whether something is funny or not, it's difficult to get a response if the creator's intention isn't conveyed. It's good to have an answer within yourself about what you find funny about a piece of work.
During his university days, he was active in the comedy student club "WAGE," which also included Yoshio Kojima, and made his professional debut while still a student.
Indeed, if the intention is not conveyed, it's hard to know what to laugh at.
I used to make mistakes like this a lot. At one Ogiri live show, the question was, "What's the title of Utada Hikaru's next album?" My answer was "Utada's Best." My intention was to make it "cheesy and overly simple, which is funny," but the MC, Fujimoto Toshifumi (FUJIWARA), responded, "That's just average," and that was the end of it (laughs). It's surprisingly difficult to convey the nuance you have in mind to the other person. In this case, I probably should have said a more extremely ordinary title. That way, the audience would have laughed and thought, "That's too unconventional." I think it's important to find a way to show "what you find funny."
There are many different forms of comedy, but what type of people do you think are good at Ogiri?
Ogiri shares the same theme with comedy sketches and manzai comedy in that it involves generating interesting ideas. "Writer-type" comedians who write their own material regularly also make a strong impression in Ogiri. However, there are some comedians like me who write material but Ogiri is not their main field, so it's hard to generalize. Writer-type comedians can cram too much into their material, which can result in them lacking in instantaneous punch. Conversely, it's interesting to see how people who tend to get overlooked in the reviews of their written material can have a keen sense when it comes to Ogiri.
Unlike comedy routines, Ogiri allows you to win with just your imagination, without using your body.
That's right. In material where gestures and facial expressions are important, the performer's character is also highly evaluated. On the other hand, in Ogiri, where character cannot be relied upon, answers that will be funny no matter who says them are required.
Online Ogiri in particular is a battle of words alone.
If something is funny no matter who says it, it means that it's funny even when written down. For example, a joke script isn't that funny when you read it. On the other hand, a good Ogiri answer can be enjoyed just by reading it. Perhaps it's in the written media that the creator's true value is revealed.
On the internet, there are no MC comments or interjections.
At live shows or on TV, there are time limits, the atmosphere of the venue, and the flow from the previous contestant, which adds unnecessary tension. "I'd hate to bomb on my turn and ruin the mood," you think. Online, you're not affected by the atmosphere of the venue, so you can stick to your own unique worldview. The best part of Ogiri is being able to compete with ideas that no one has ever thought of. If you're going to participate, I hope you'll think freely and think until you're satisfied.
Once you eliminate the sense of déjà vu, originality remains
Where do original ideas that no one has ever thought of come from?
It's difficult to pursue your own unique world. Instead, it might be better to eliminate elements one by one that give you a sense of déjà vu, that make you feel like you've seen this answer somewhere before.
How can I hone that sense?
Just like quizzes and brain training, you can improve your level to a certain extent by coming into contact with many great answers and doing a lot of them. Ogiri also has a kind of format, and if you understand the standard, you can attack with a reverse idea. If you learn how to let your ideas fly, you should be able to improve little by little.
Udai-san, out of all the Ogiri you've seen, is there any answer that you can't forget?
There was a viewer participation Ogiri show on NHK called "Thank you for the call! Mobile Ogiri." In it, the topic was, "This circus troupe is pretty boring." How boring is that?" and the answer was, "They even have crabs in it" (laughs). I couldn't think of an answer at all, but I remember laughing my head off.
Even though he's an amateur, he's amazing (laughs).
Perhaps it's precisely because they're amateurs with no preconceived ideas that they can come up with ideas. Their answers were so profound that they made me think about the background of the circus, such as, "I wonder if they're struggling financially," and as a budding comedian at the time, I felt anxious and wondered, "Will I be able to make it as a comedian...?" (laughs).
Learn by doing. Iwasaki-san and Farcy take on Ogiri
This time, as a special treat, we asked Iwasaki and Farcy to try their hand at Ogiri.
About the legendary Professor
Please tell me what you know.
Well, let me start.
"I used to be a baby."
Hahaha! (laughs)
That was an unexpected angle (laughs). Where did you get the idea?
I wonder... I guess it's like it's shrouded in mystery. It's called a legend, but there are all kinds of rumors.Complexity And we don't know what the truth is anymore. But one thing is for sure: "He was once a baby." How we interpret the word "legend" may be the key.
I thought about it too.
"He was so good at teaching that he became the origin of the word 'legend'."
…Etymology? (laughs)
I got the idea from the fact that the kanji for "legend" is made up of the two characters for "tell" and "preach"... What do you think?
I see! In that case, it might be better to write "It became the origin of the word legend" on the flip chart. If you also put quotation marks around "legend," it might be easier to understand.
I see... So it's "easier to understand." Is that what you mean?
Let's write down the etymology of "became" too! The quotation marks are kind of minor too (lol).
That's true! Sorry (laughs).
Added to the graduation requirements
What are the new rules?
Generally, it's something like "credits" or "thesis." I guess it's about how to twist that.
I'll go!
"Buy scissors."
…What does that mean? (laughs)
This is based on the graduation requirements of a beauty school.
"It's not about graduating, that's the very basics!" It's easy to understand when you hear the explanation, but it's hard to grasp unless you have the beauty element in mind. I guess the problem is that it distracts you. First of all, let's think about why we're here now (laughs). This is a Waseda University project, so a vocational school is different...! Okay, it's me next.
"Bring at least one person you can call a friend."
It tests your humanity (laughs).
To make it more realistic, I set it to "1 person." If there were 10 people, it would be a different story (laughs).
I want many Waseda students to try their hand at Ogiri.
The appeal of online Ogiri is that anyone can compete fairly, regardless of age or gender. It's also unique in that only current Waseda students participate. Even if I hadn't become a professional comedian, I would still participate to test my skills. Please don't be too nervous, just enjoy yourself to the fullest.
Don't be afraid to send in your weird answers. Why not try to come up with something that only you could come up with? We're happy to receive interesting answers, but we also want this to be a place where weird answers are born.
He graduated from School of Political Science and Economics in 2002. He made his professional debut in 2001 while still a student, and in 2007 he formed the comedy duo "Gekidan Iwasaki Makiwo" with Makio Yusuke (who graduated from School of Letters, Arts and Sciences I in 2003). In 2010, the duo's name was changed to "Kamomentaru." He is currently active in a wide range of fields, including as a comedian, playwright, scriptwriter, director, and manga artist. He is affiliated with Sun Music Productions.
I think the appeal of Ogiri is that you can express your individuality in just one word answer. Unlike a quiz, there is no correct answer, so have fun with the topic! You can use your favorite words or use real-life experiences as a hint. We look forward to seeing lots of answers!
Graduated School of Letters, Arts and Sciences II in 2003. In 2003, she formed the comedy duo "Harisenbon" with Haruna Kondo and debuted in 2004. She is currently active in a wide range of fields including television, radio, commercials, and stage performances. She is affiliated with GATE.
Nice to meet you! I'm Tomoda Ore. Ogiri is really free, isn't it? You can think carefully about your answer, or sometimes it works better to answer intuitively. It's a bit like a proposal. It's also similar to a eulogy. I'm looking forward to some fun Ogiri!
Graduated School of Culture, Media and Society in 2024. While attending school, he was a member of the Waseda University Comedy Studio LUDO (an official student club) and made his professional debut in 2022. In 2023, he advanced to the finals of the 44th ABC Comedy Grand Prix and the quarterfinals of the M-1 Grand Prix 2023. In 2025, he became the youngest winner in history of the R-1 Grand Prix 2025. He is affiliated with GATE.