entertainment

Japanese comedian parodies Trump in ramen skit

73 Comments
By Casey Baseel, RocketNews24

For the most part, Japan doesn’t really do political comedy. Linguistic and social norms combine to make sarcasm a hard thing to convey in Japanese, and so satirizing politicians and world leaders becomes such a difficult endeavor that most entertainers choose to mine other sources to elicit laughs.

But U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has caught the Japanese public’s imagination in a big way, with his unique flair for the dramatic in his speeches and public appearances. Trump has already inspired manga, masks, and makeovers in Japan, and now he’s inspired a parody by Japanese comedian Razor Ramon RG (also known as Makoto Izubuchi), in which the real estate-mogul-turned-politician is lampooned as relying on easy stereotypes and a pronounced fondness for the phrase “Get out [of] here!”

The performance is part of a recently taped episode of broadcaster Fuji TV’s sketch comedy program “Baku Show Character Parade.” Izubuchi, dressed as Trump (although he’s identified as “Shrimp”) and surrounded by stand-ins for the recently elected politician’s family members (including, of course, Barron) stands at a podium, ostensibly speaking to press conference attendees. He calls out Japanese actress and Kyoto native Hiroko Mita, bellowing:

“Miss Hiroko Mita, where are you from? OK, Kyoto. Kyoto…Get out [of] here! All Kyoto people only eat nishin soba. Nihin soba only. Get out [of] here.”

Granted, nishin soba (noodles in broth with grilled herring) is a traditional Kyoto specialty…but saying that it’s all people from Kyoto eat is kind of like saying Americans eat hamburgers every single day. Still, “Shrimp” seems very amused at the zinger he’s just dished out, letting out a satisfied laugh before moving on to Kiyotaka Nanbara, a comedian from Takamatsu, the largest city in Kagawa Prefecture, which is famous for its sanuki udon noodles. So, of course, “Shrimp” lets everyone know that:

“All Takamatsu people eat only sanuki udon.”

That’s where the clip ends, but with 47 prefectures in Japan, each with its own local delicacy, we’re sure “Shrimp” has plenty more people he’d like to say “Get out of here” to.

Source: IT Media

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73 Comments
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Not funny. I recommend NHK's " Life" its the best.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Typical Japanese humor.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I dont like Donald at all but that was pathetic, ive had funnier colds.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I always getting a giggle thinking about Japanese people doing a web search for "Hard Gay" skits.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

MrBum, Thank you for the reminder. Totally gay Gokai only paid attention to Hard Gay, who was pretty unique (and maybe funny) at the time.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

F***** Pathetic!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

No one does satire like the Brits. Imagine a show like Spitting Image in Japan? Unheard of.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Stupid, unfunny, a child's level of humor, boring, etc...

I think wtfjapan really said it.

The Japanese TV channels, comedians and public don't have the courage to satirize their leaders.

Some posters in this thread are trying to say "Oh I saw someone doing Abe on Japanese TV".

The truth is you might see someone do a mild impression of Abe or another leader ONCE IN A BLUE MOON.

Funny, biting satire, week after week, like SNL is not happening in Japan.

The reason?

The Japanese are too meek and too scared of their leaders.

A Japanese comedian dressing up as Abe and doing an Abe impression during an election campaign (a la Alec Baldwin doing Trump)... it's absolutely unthinkable in boring, conservative, heavily controlled Japan.

The Japanese criticize the Americans for many things but look at SNL... look at that freedom... SNL is a credit to American freedom and democracy.

As GW notes above, it could even be the case that "Japan Inc." won't allow biting satire on prime-time TV.

On a similar note, I saw a Japanese school textbook a few years back that was making a big deal of how important it is for the students to make up their own minds about issues... how to look at an issue from different standpoints... how to weigh up pros and cons, etc. What did the textbook choose as an example? America going into Iraq of course. No suggestion of opposing the Japanese government's policy of course.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Sucks, shame on you Japan.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The only person that can truly make a mockery of Donald Trump is only himself.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Might be interesting to watch if it was available in this country. Authors must be frightened by something.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Have to agree with many comments above, I had hope, in the screenshot the kid looks awesome. Then I hit play. Terrible.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"The uploader was not made to play video in your country" is what the video says here in California

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Im with Ms Delicious - I thought it was kinda funny in a weird ass about face kinda way

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Razor Ramon is the name of the comedy duo. This is RG (Real Gay). HG (Hard Gay) is his partner. And yes, I feel stupid for after writing that.

You saved me from writing it, thanks! ;-)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

You people are evil. The teacher has scolded you for not saying what she wants you to say. Shame on you. Stay on topic you awful children! Respect her authority.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Anyway right parody indeed.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Man oh man that was bad, even by j-tv standards, youch!

As to why there is no political satire on tv or print here, its simple, Japan Inc WONT allow it. Anyone who tries it would be out of a job in short order(tv stations would get hauled into the govt office for a brow beating), there simply isn't the freedom to do satire about local politicians

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I'm waiting for a parody of Abe. Oh but it's ok to mock Trump? How convenient.

I've seen a parody of Abe on TV, also of Obama and many many others.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

People nowadays have no self pride or dignity and just put themselves out there even if the skit is so lame!

In my humble opinion, I think people who believe they are too good to do some kinds of work are lacking pride and dignity. It's a stupid TV skit, and presumably they were paid to stand there. Not their problem if it's not funny.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Trump is already a parody...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Wow, that is truly pathetic. I'd like to know if anyone genuinely finds that amusing.

I've had more giggles getting a root canal.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It a shame that I can't down load the vid clip, its blocked apparently, but I still would like to to see it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The real Trump is much, much funnier than this dross.

Yes it would be great if there was political satire in Japan. Or political cartoons. Sorely missing.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Linguistic and social norms combine to make sarcasm a hard thing to convey in Japanese

I don't think that is the reason for the dearth of political comedy, or any sort of comedic social commentary, here.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Razor Ramon was more funny as Hard Gay. I guess now he would have to play a fat Hard Gay. He'll appeal to chubby chasers (デブ線). I hope Trump doesn't see this.

Razor Ramon is the name of the comedy duo. This is RG (Real Gay). HG (Hard Gay) is his partner. And yes, I feel stupid for after writing that.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

For the most part, Japan doesn’t really do political comedy.

This is not true. I remember commercials that mimicked the speaking style of PM Masayoshi Ohira around 1980. There was also a commercial for "Donto" warming pads that made fun of the then-premier of the Soviet Union, Chernenko, by inviting people standing in line for goods in freezing weather to warm up by "Don-to irenko" (just pop it in). There were probably more, but these immediately came to mind.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Use this to show your Japanese friends the difference between laughing with and laughing at.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I just remembered this guy has done worse. There was a show of Japanese "comedians" trying to make other nationalities laugh - Chinese, Koreans, Americans. This numpty impersonated Steve Jobs quite soon after his death, his entire schtick being "I'm Steve Jobs".

Fell flat on his face in front of the Americans.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

As a Japanese I'm afraid I find this skit extremely racist towards the gaikokujin. It will only promote inaccurate stereotypes that already exist.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

That was so bad it was actually funny.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Razor Ramon was more funny as Hard Gay. I guess now he would have to play a fat Hard Gay. He'll appeal to chubby chasers (デブ線). I hope Trump doesn't see this.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Suggest he take a little sulphur hexafluoride before the skit, let the hilarity ensure. https://youtu.be/YpWc504Ae3A

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why do the Japanese feel it is so funny to dress up as the US president and then have him say stupid or strange things. Before this guy, there was the other comedian who would dress up like Obama, I think he even used black face to look more real. It just isn't funny, childish and uninteresting is my opinion.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Really rude! Very bad taste!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

thats the problem with Japan, they dont have the nads to take the mickey out on their own, but can do it to foreigners. hey but not that im complaining as Trump deserves everything he gets, just a pity that it not even funny. Alec Baldwin does a great DT, and even the Donald himself is annoyed , priceless. youtube.com/watch?v=Mhp2k_BQRXE

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Even with the sound off its chuckle free from start to finish.....Now if Razor Ramon teamed up with Piko-taro, there's a perfect comic opportunity impaled somewhere between the Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen.......get outta here.......

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Readers, please stop trying to turn this thread into a discussion about Abe. It is not relevant.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm waiting for a parody of Abe. Oh but it's ok to mock Trump? How convenient.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

For the most part, Japan doesn’t really do political comedy.

Better (especially after bothering to watch this);

"For the most part, Japan doesn't really do comedy."

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I hope these guys know that with Trump's character, if he sees it as mockery, relations between the two nations could be put in peril. haha. In any case, at least they left out the "Western long nose" this time.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

I wonder how Japanese would react if the U.S. tried to parody Abe in this way? They probably would not be so keen on it.

No-one would bother in the U.S., since a majority of Americans have no clue who Abe is and since Abe is less of a buffoon than Trump.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

He's comedy fodder for the whole world. He's an embarrassment.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

the boy looks like he's about to puke the whole video

2 ( +2 / -0 )

They don't need to do political comedy - the entire political class here are comedians and the daily round of political issues are a joke.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Oh for god's sake, I know all white guys may look and speak the same, but pleeeez. Alec Baldwin, come back.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

This is not the same comedian who played the character of Hard Gay, that guy's name is Masaki Sumitani.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

He's done the impossible and set a new low for Japanese TV. Not a shred of humour, intelligence or meaning to this. Also, "Get out here!" is not English.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

First five seconds was decent. That's it.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I'd love to see what would happen if they tried to lampoon Abe!

Me too!!

.To take it one step further, I wonder how Japanese would react if the U.S. tried to parody Abe in this way? They probably would not be so keen on it.

They'd howl, scream, and point fingers about how the US is racist. They are more thin-skinned than Trump himself- if that is physically possible.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

is that the hard gay guy? he became fat, i dont think its him.

I tried watching but it was super cringeworthy, ughhh

6 ( +7 / -1 )

It's the Hard Gay guy isn't it, I guess confirming what everyone suspects about ippatsu-ya (single gimmick) entertainers.

Apparently his missus has some now-huge online fashion brand thing going, so the tv people should just put him out of his misery. He certainly won't need the money.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

For the most part, Japan doesn’t really do political comedy. Linguistic and social norms combine to make sarcasm a hard thing to convey in Japanese,

Really? I always thought it was because the comedians don't want to get beaten up or have their faces slashed or get thrown off buildings by yakuza / uyoku thugs. Or have their families threatened.

This sketch is cringingly bad.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

The kid playing Barron Trump is pretty good and looking bored and staring at the ground.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

So if an American white dude parodied a Japanese politician, how would the Japanese react?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

@triumph

Obviously, they are :)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

What biting satire (sigh) watching this, it's obvious why Japan doesn't have its own Mock the Week, Have I Got News For You, Jonathan Pie ... Please stick to the squeaky rubber mallets.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

That was the lamest "comedy" I have seen in a while. Not a patch on Alec Baldwin.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Tokyo-Engr, good point. You can bet thered be much indignation in japan if Abe was parodied in the US.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Sorry it was e-mobile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osq3iynN_8Y

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"For the most part, Japan doesn’t really do political comedy." What a shame they can't keep it like that!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

At least they didn't do a softbank and use a monkey as Obama in 2008.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@Bertie...To take it one step further, I wonder how Japanese would react if the U.S. tried to parody Abe in this way? They probably would not be so keen on it.

I agree with everyone else...the skit is not really that good.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Incredibly lame and unfunny.

18 ( +20 / -2 )

I'd love to see what would happen if they tried to lampoon Abe!

23 ( +27 / -4 )

@moonraker ... exactly my thought! People nowadays have no self pride or dignity and just put themselves out there even if the skit is so lame!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

a parody by Japanese comedian Razor Ramon RG

wouldn't want to shave with that razor

6 ( +7 / -1 )

This is almost as irritating as Donald Trump himself.

25 ( +27 / -2 )

That was way too lame to be qualified as a parody

20 ( +22 / -2 )

What???????

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Eat your heart out, Oscar Wilde!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I am wondering how the foreigners standing behind feel about being part of such a lame skit.

19 ( +22 / -3 )

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