Tsukkomi Star
Illustration: WhyTrend

On the evening of May 23, 2026, Fuji TV's Saturday Premium slot premiered 'Tsukkomi Star' — a competition special built around a single question: who is Japan's funniest straight-man comedian? In Japanese comedy, the 'tsukkomi' role is the quick-witted partner who calls out absurdity in a double-act. Think of it as the sharp-tongued foil to the 'boke' (the fool).

The show's premise — ranking tsukkomi skill as a standalone art — is genuinely novel for Japanese prime-time TV. The host, Sōhin of the duo Shimofuri Myōjō, is widely regarded as one of the best tsukkomi performers working today. What made the format unusual is that Sōhin didn't just host: he personally chose all 12 competing comedians, wrote the challenge prompts, and acted as the sole judge.

Confirmed participants include Shinku Jessica's Gaku, Sayaka's Niiyama, Sanyūkan's Sakurai, Maeda Ryūji, Tontsukata Morimoto, and Zero Karan's Waki, among others. An M-1 Grand Prix champion was also reported to be competing, though full details were not confirmed before broadcast. The trending spike was amplified by an unexpected crossover: JO1 member Aomi Kinjo appeared as a guest.

JO1 is one of Japan's most prominent idol groups, and Kinjo's fanbase — active on X under tags like #JO1 and a related Japanese hashtag — flooded the hashtag with real-time reactions the moment he appeared on screen. Posts like 'the black suit look is too good' and 'laughing so genuinely, he's adorable' trended alongside the comedy content.

What to watch next: The show ran approximately 2 hours 10 minutes and was available via TVer's free live stream for viewers without TV access. Whether Fuji TV commissions a follow-up season will likely depend on ratings and the social buzz generated tonight — both of which appear strong based on the volume of real-time posts.