漫才-日本の伝統的なコメディ

    Comedy frequently ranks among the most difficult concepts for a foreign language learner to grasp. So, this weekend I challenged myself by listening to a Japanese comedy performance. In the video, ナイツ - - - 「自己紹介」／『ナイツ独演会 其の二』より  the Japanese comedy duo (ナイツ) performs a routine in a traditional Japanese style known as まんざい (漫才) which relies on the exchange between two people for comedic effect.

    From the performance title「自己紹介」, I gathered that the comedy would be based on the each performer’s self-introduction. But the speed of the dialogue prevented me from effectively understanding the performers, let alone the jokes. Nevertheless, I observed that one of the two performers seemed to act expressively and whimsically. Meanwhile, the other performer, who maintained a more reserved demeanor, chastised his partner for comedic effect.

    Interestingly, many jokes towards the end of the performance seemed to involve a Japanese song that the audience seemed to recognize. Although my ignorance of the song prevented me from grasping the humor, the experience reminded me of how much comedy relies on shared cultural experience. The comedy skits that I watch in English, for instance, often poke fun at United States politics or leverage word play, like double entendres that are specific to English, for humor. Similarly, understanding Japanese humor requires profound cultural understanding of elements like word play, social customs, and politics. So, while I did not comprehend the jokes enough to laugh during the 漫才 performance, the experience offered me some valuable insights into the complex aspects of the Japanese language and motivates me to continue studying Japanese. 

リンク:

“ナイツ - - - 「自己紹介」／『ナイツ独演会 其の二』より.”YouTube, uploaded by ナイツ Official YouTube Channel, 14 June 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lYwvpIhT1U