Transcription of a superbly written and skillfully performed traditional 'Manzai' style Japanese stand-up comedy by professional comedy duo Woman Rush Hour at ultra-high-speed. Transcribed from Web media Litera and translated.
Tokyo’s far-from-subservient comedian duo reveals its new routine; criticize the ‘establishment’, including those of us who consciously or semi-consciously acquiesce to them, the desensitized public.
(OBN - Tokyo) In Japan, this year’s year-end comedy entertainment show, The Manzai 2017 featured 2013 Champion Women Rush Hour, a comedy duo who is popular with high-speed routine of Manzai, Japanese traditional style of duo or multi-person stand-up comedy. Its leader, Muramoto, is known for ranting criticism on public air and on social media. But as a group, it had never featured political satire as its centerpiece in a high-profile show like The Manzai. On December 17, they did. Below is a part of their routine transcribed by the web media Litera in Japanese with OBN’s translation. Remember: All these exchanges between the two members go on in ultra-high speed. The whole routine on four topics ends in less than six minutes. And this is only an excerpt.
M: Muramoto, Leader
N: Nakagawa, Partner
村本「福井県の大飯町、知っていますか? 大飯原発がある大飯町です」
M: Do you know Ooi-cho in Fukui Prefecture? It’s where the the Ooi nuclear plant is located.
N: Ah yes, I’ve heard it in on the news!
村本「原発の町、大飯町です。大飯町の隣は高浜町・高浜原発。その隣は美浜町・美浜原発。その隣は敦賀のもんじゅ。小さい地域に原発が4基あるんです!! しかし、大飯町には夜の7時以降にやっている店がないんです!夜の7時になったら町が真っ暗になるんです!これだけ言わせてください!電気はどこへゆく?!!!」
M: Ooi-cho’s a nuke town, you know? And the neighboring town of Takahama-cho also has the Takahama nuclear plant. And the neighboring Mihama-cho has Mihama nuke plant. And then next to that in Tsuruga, we have Monju. We have FOUR nuke plants in such a small area! But you know what? in Ooi-cho, everything closes down by 7pm! After 7pm the town goes pitch dark! Now let me ask you this: Where the hell did all the electricity go???
M: So tell me. What are the current issues in Okinawa?
N: U.S. military bases and base relocation to Henoko?
N: The heli pad issue in Takae?
M: And these are ALL OKINAWA’s issue?
N: No, entire Japan’s issue.
M: How ‘bout the 2020 Olympics hosted in Tokyo?
N: Entire Japan will go party?
M: And the Okinawa base issues are –- ?
N: Okinawa’s own business.
M: So whatever is fun will be –- ?
N: The whole Japan’s thing.
M: What ever smells trouble is -–?
M: So how much do we pay for the U.S. Forces in Japan?
M: And what do we call this .. budget?
N: Before we feed 'sympathy’ to the Americans –-
N: We should feed sympathy to the Okinawans!!!
3. Bilateral relations with the U.S.
M: So which country is like REALLY TIGHT with the U.S. today?
M: And what does this REALLY TIGHT country offer to do?
N: Buy a lot of fighter jets?
N: Buy a lot of destroyers?
M: That’s more than TIGHT, it’s…
4. The desensitized public
M: What are the current issues in Japan?
N: Reconstruction of disaster-affected areas?
N: North Korean missile crisis?
M: But all we hear in the news is--?
N: Politicians saying crude stuff?
N: Politicians having affairs?
N: TV celebrities having affairs?
M: Are these REALLY important news for us?
N: Nope. Completely superficial.
M: Then WHY do we hear it all the time in the news?
N: Because they get good ratings?
M: And WHY do they get good ratings?
N: Because… there are many who wants to hear it?
村本「だからほんとうに危機を感じないといけないのは?」
M: So WHAT's the REAL crisis here?
N: More than the affected areas?
M: More than the nuke plants?
N: More than the U.S. bases?
M: More than North Korea?
N: It's the people who are so desensitized!!!
M: I'm talking about ALL OF YOU!
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Original transcript provided by Litera