Born in 1961, from Tokyo. He has published a number of works, including the novel “No Life King,” and reportages and essays. In addition to his career as a writer, he is also a pioneer musician of Japanese hip-hop, and has broadened his field of creative activities to stage performance, live shows and other genres. A creator who is constantly providing smart, fresh ideas to the world.

Born in Yamaguchi in 1974 and raised in Yokohama. After graduating from college, where she majored in film studies, she became a self-taught illustrator. Her illustrations using manual-arts materials have great impact and loosen up viewers with a mere glance. She produces 1,000 tension-relieving works each year.

Official website: http://www.keikosootome.com/

Some Words about the Illustration:
I can already picture the many comedians from around the world assembling and walking together down the red carpet of “old town” Tokyo again this year. I wonder, then, what would these stars do at the sight of banana peels lying on the red carpet? My guess is that they would intentionally step and slip on the banana peels. The whole of old town would be filled with laughter and glee as they watch these celebrities topple like dominos, and the excitement all over the neighborhood would be at a crest even Sir Takamori Saigo would enjoy. It may happen or it may not; either way, it was fun recreating this chaotic daydream of mine.

Taking their band name from their mentor Master Koyuza Sanyutei in 2004, they are a rock band performing both locally and globally. They have performed at festivals around the world including the Stockholm Culture Festival and Fuji Rock Festival, and produced the song to celebrate the opening of the Tsukuba Express train and the supporting song for SHITA COME, among others.

Official Website: http://www.asakusajinta.com
My Space: http://www.myspace.com/asakusajinta

Born in Onomichi City, Hiroshima in 1938. He is one those who built the foundations for the pioneer days of TV spots, and used many foreign stars in his works. He made his debut into the theatrical film scenes with HOUSE in 1977. He continues to produce works which are highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad, including the three works of Onomichi: Exchange Students (1982), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (1983) and Lonelyheart (1985). He was also praised for his work The Reason (2004), based on the original story written by Miyuki Miyabe.

Related Program: SHITA COME Grand Prize 2009

Born in Shizuoka in 1960. Made her debut as an actress with the TV drama series “Moo” in 1977. She has expanded her field of work from TV drama series to film and TV spots as well. She won the Best Actress Award of the Japan Academy Prize with HANA-BI (1999) directed by Takeshi Kitano, and has acted in many other Kitano films. She has also published a number of works including “Mizu no Oto” and “Hachi no Tenmatsu.”

Official homgepage: http://www.kayokokishimoto.com/
Related Program: SHITA COME Grand Prize 2009

Born in Taito City, Tokyo in 1966. He made his debut in the comedy duo “Powers” in 1986. He has also produced a number of popular variety shows as a composition writer under the name Ryusen. After dissolving “Powers,” he formed “K2” with Kunikazu Katsumata. Currently, while working as an actor, he has also made a feature film debut as a director with Elevator Trap (to be released nationally starting October 2009). His major works as an actor include PARTY7, The Shadow Spirit and The Climbers High.

Elevator Trap Official Homepage: http://www.akumu11.jp/
Related Program: SHITA COME Grand Prize 2009

Born in Shizuoka City in 1958. After graduating from Tama Art University, he created package designs at Kirin Brewery Company, Limited. Then he made his debut as a comic artist in 1985 with his book “Ereki na Haru,” and earned himself a name as a gag strip comedy artist. After going independent in 1994, he has expanded his creative activities to writing essays, visual images, games, art works, and more.

Official homepage: http://www.saruhage.com/
Related Program: SHITA COME Grand Prize 2009

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Formed in 1966 from a competitive comedy gig by Kinichi Hagimoto and Jiro Sakagami at Asakusa Shochiku Engei Hall. They won the popularity of TV viewers with their comedy banter that incorporated strenuous movements. Separately, Hagimoto has built his career with the planning, composition and production of variety shows, and Sakagami as an actor and singer. They also appeared on stage this January and entertained the audience with their smooth performance.

Related Programs:
Comedy Award of Honor
Tribute Screenings of Works by Conte 55-Go and the Awarding Ceremony

Started his career as a TV spot director while setting up base in the Guangdong region. After studying film and TV production in the UK and US, he started his career as an up and- coming director in Chinese cinema in the mid-90s. His major works include Mirror (1999) and Family Ties (2000). Renowned as the sole master of horror films in Chinese cinema, he is establishing his reputation as a pioneer of comedy films in the recent years.

Related Program: Gao Xing

Born in Chicago, US in 1944. After graduating from college, he aspired to become a writer while working part-time at hospitals and as a part-time teacher. After working on an Off- Broadway show as a scriptwriter and cast member, he took part in the film Animal House (1978) as a scriptwriter. He made his debut as a film director with Caddyshack (1980). Examples of his multi-talented personality can be seen in his performances in the Ghostbusters series.

Related Program: YEAR ONE

Known as the original voice actor for Masuo in the animation series “Sazae-san”, a role he kept for a decade. His repertoire for dubbed works includes the voices for James Cagney, Jerry Lewis, and other stars. He is also the narrator of the TV series “Ii Tabi Yume Kibun” and “Hajimete no Otsukai,” as well as an actor and program personality.

Official homepage: http://mouvement.jp/actor02_chika.html
Related Program: Voice Actors' Live Stage in SHITA COME 2009

His repertoire for dubbed works includes the voices for Sylvester Stallone in the Rocky series, Steve Martin, Woody Allen, Robert De Niro, Harrison Ford, and others. One of the well-established leading voice actors with over 600 works in dubbed films. He also has a career as a program personality and producer.

Official homepage: http://mouvement.jp/actor01_hz.html
Related program: Voice Actors' Live Stage in SHITA COME 2009

Top voice actor for both popularity and talent. His major works include the“Soreike! Anpanman” series (four characters including Cheese, the dog). In Disney films, he plays the voices of over ten characters, including Donald Duck. His repertoire for dubbed works includes the voices for Eddie Murphy, Jim Carey, and others. He is also the main MC for the variety show “Oha Sta.”

Official homepage: http://across-ent.com/profile/yk.php
Related program: Voice Actors' Live Stage in SHITA COME 2009

Acting the voices of a number of popular characters including the animation series “Captain Tsubasa” (as Tsubasa Ozora (childhood)) and “Onegai Teacher” (as Mizuho Kazami). She has a wide repertoire for dubbed works including the voices for Cameron Diaz, Demi Moore, Jennifer Connelly, Cindy Crawford, and others

Official homepage: http://manbow.ponycanyon.co.jp/
Related program: Voice Actors' Live Stage in SHITA COME 2009

Became pupils of Takeshi Beat in 1986 and formed a duo in 1987 while training at Asakusa France-za. In addition to making appearances on TV and radio shows, their inquiring minds stepped out the framework of the entertainment industry and expanded their field of work to the scenes of politics and combat sports. Furthermore, they are aggressively pursuing careers as writers.

Related program: Comedy Film Seminar by Asakusa Kid

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Born in Yamagata in 1908. He was cherished as a comic actor with his Yamagata dialect. His line, “I am ajaja and pa” in Domoshichi Torimonocho – Ichiban Tegara (1951) was loved by people and its abbreviated version “Ajapa” became a great sensation. He was also long active on TV with his comical yet stylish and edgy performance.

Related programs: Tribute Screenings of Works by Junzaburo Ban

Born in Tokyo in 1963. Became a pupil of Danshi Tatekawa in 1985 and was promoted to a shinuchi (star performer) as a rakugoka (comic storyteller) in 1995. He developed a new genre of “cinema rakugo” where he takes the subject of his comic storytelling from films with his deep and broad knowledge of cinema. He made his debut as a film director with Ijou Boshoku (1998). He is actively broadening his range of fields and is known as a virtuoso on popular songs of the Showa period.

Related programs: Tribute Screenings of Works by Junzaburo Ban

Born in Tokyo in 1955. Became a pupil of the first Sanpei Hayashiya in 1974 and was promoted to a shinuchi (star performer) in 1990. He demonstrates extraordinary talent with his performances of both classic and new rakugo, as well as tokusatsu (special effects) rakugo. He has also built a career as a film director with Godzilla vs. Deathgilus (independent film) (2001), Gamera 4: Truth (independent film) (2003) and his first theatrical film Deep Sea Monster Reigo (2008).

Related program: The Deep Sea Monster RAIGA

Born in 1957. Became an assistant director at TOEI MOVIE STUDIOS at age 33 and went freelance in 1996. He made his feature film debut as a director with Fuho Taizai. He is expanding his field of work, producing films in various genres from those featuring the underground community to the lives of youths, as well as comedy films including the Decoration Truck Shu series and the Puchi Bijin series. He is also highly praised as a scriptwriter, novelist and lyricist.

Related program: Decoration Truck Shu 2

Born in 1966, from Iwate. She made her debut as a film scriptwriter and was highly acclaimed with Moving (1993). She has been writing scripts mainly for films, including the Haunted School series, Concent (2001), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), Kaidan (2007) and Summer Wars (2009).

Related Program: Barrier-free Program (with voice guidance) TALK, TALK, TALK