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entertainment

'Japan’s Got Talent' coming to screens in 2023 with Japanese comedian as judge

29 Comments
By Katie Pask, SoraNews24

The "Got Talent" franchise is one of the biggest television franchises in the world, with the show being broadcast in over 194 countries worldwide. There have been original spin-offs in 72 different countries since the show was first piloted in 2006, but for Japanese performers like Yuriyan Retreiver or Mr Uekasa, the lack of a homegrown "Japan’s Got Talent" meant they had to travel abroad to get their talents on a Got Talent stage.

But a recent announcement by Japanese streaming service Ameba TV means any Japanese performers dreaming of being on Got Talent may not need to travel too far anymore, as "Japan’s Got Talent" is finally becoming a reality.

The format of "Japan’s Got Talent" will be the same as other instalments in the Got Talent series; hopeful participants will perform their talent in front of a panel of judges. If their talent is good enough, they will advance to the next round, but if the judges deem their performance unworthy, they’ll press their X-buzzer, and if all judges press their buzzers the contestant is automatically eliminated from the competition. The winner of the competition will net a cool 10 million yen in prize money.

As for who will be pressing the buzzers, famously tart-tongued Japanese comedian Masatoshi Hamada, best known for being one half of legendary comedy duo Downtown, has been announced as one of the judges. The three remaining judges on the panel have yet to be announced.

Hamada commented, “Each judge will have their individual preferences on what they think is good or fun, but I’ll be interested in seeing something that makes me go “Oh!! I didn’t expect to see that!””

But while Hamada seems excited, Japanese netizens aren’t exactly buzzing with excitement at the news. In a society like Japan, where people try to avoid conflict by not using direct language, many were wondering if a Japanese version of the hit show would be able to create the same kinds of strong emotion.

“Foreign versions work because the judges are direct with their critique, sometimes even too harshly. I can’t imagine Japanese judges will be able to be so open and honest.”

“These kinds of shows Japan imports from abroad are hit and miss, but having Hamada as a judge is really interesting to me.”

“When I hear ‘Got Talent’, I think immediately of Simon Cowell. He’s produced so many famous artists, so he’s clearly a capable judge of talent. Hamada is a great presenter, but I’m not sure he’s suitable to find new talent, unless its a comedian or something.”

“There are so many negative comments here, but I for one can’t wait to see this! We have a lot of talented people in Japan, and I’m looking forward to seeing some amazing and surprising acts.”

"Japan’s Got Talent" will be streamed in February 2023 on Ameba TV. In the meantime, you can keep yourself entertained with the slew of talented Japanese artists appearing on other iterations of Got Talent, like Travis Japan.

Source: Oricon News via Otakomu

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Japanese comedian baffles, amazes judges on America’s Got Talent with weird dance, Japanese humor

-- Japanese magician’s cutting-edge performance stuns judges on Britain’s Got Talent 【Video】

-- Japanese Ariana Grande performs “Positions” in parody music video

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

29 Comments
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Japan already has talent. Kasou Taishou has been around for 40 years.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

About 15 years late to the party.

8 ( +15 / -7 )

My guess is they are going to do the same thing as what they do with sports. Half Japanese.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

I’m not sure about this one. It definitely won’t be anything as big as it’s American or British counterparts.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

No thanks!

10 ( +15 / -5 )

The problem is there is not enough talent in Japan to have a weekly show.

9 ( +20 / -11 )

These shows purport to be opening the entertainment world to amateurs, but they are actually gatekeepers allowing only a very conservative and narrow selection of people through.

If it were up to Simon Cowell, you'd never have singers like Kate Bush, Ian Dury, Tom Waits etc. It would just be rehashed versions of the same old same old. Even someone like George Michael had way more talent than anyone who's come through a talent show. In the UK, a successful campaign got "Killing in the Name" to Christmas No. 1 specifically to stop it going to a Simon Cowell protege, such is the hatred of the bland pap he pushes.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

If they don’t have the typical Manzai act or karaoke attempt, what would they have left?

Some video game otaku or wanna be “YouTuber” yelling at something?

might as well just watch tik tok.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

Coming soon to your neighbourhood: tarento dojo: kids rote learning repertoires into the wee hours.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

My Japanese wife of 47 years has just recently began watching the Got Talent reruns on YouTube. She absolutely loves them, as do I. While it may take awhile for the show to warm up and settle in, I've no doubt it will become a hit here, as it has in many other countries.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

bass4funkToday  08:01 am JST

I’m not sure about this one. It definitely won’t be anything as big as it’s American or British counterparts.

Neither are Australia, Canada, Italy, Poland, Russia, or the more general Asia's Got Talent shows. But that doesn't mean it can't be good for the domestic market.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

no show of ordinary people could ever be on network Japanese TV and.... this is not either.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

no show of ordinary people could ever be on network Japanese TV 

Aren't most of the tv shows a trio of idiots wandering around some small town looking for something to eat with ordinary people as dull stooges ?

12 ( +16 / -4 )

I think we have enough (or too much) programs with weird and nerdy talento.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Its no wonder people are switching off TVs. Expect TV to be dead within a few years.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Are we going to see everyone reacting on a "wipe" screen saying "sugoii" like every other show?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

I'm super interested to see how "Got Talent" will work in Japan. I do kinda hope for something a bit more serious while retaining the interesting/energetic edge.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

One of the worst, anti artist show and movement I could think about.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

RiskyMosaicSep. 17  08:15 pm JST

Well, if the title of the show determines the contents then it’s go into be very short

I think there are plenty of immensely talented performers in Japan. I also think they are far more likely to be found on the stage than they are on the screen. Excluding live J-pop, of course.

Exactly. But Japanese can really rock'n'roll. They know it, they love it and they can DO IT. And I don't mean that Babymetal act, either.

May I refer you to the lady J-punk trio Shonen Knife and the Japanese wild-crazy-innovative-psychedelic freakout band Acid Mother Temple. I've seen and met both those bands and they are if nothing else just plain FUN, both bands are in their own special way. And also worth noting is the late synth wiz Tomita. That guy was a modern music genius.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

looks to be just another comedy skit show.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I'll be looking forward to some gaijin tarentos on the panel of judges.

Maybe that Jason Atsugiri guy. LOL

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kids singing in school uniform and unfunny comedians. No different from the rest of Japanese telly then.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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