Seiko ITO Born in Tokyo in 1961. His debut as a novelist brought us “No Life King” in 1988. His newly-chosen theme and unique writing style received a lot of attention. He has since released a number of novels, reportages and essays, including “Botanical Life” (1999) which received the 15th Kodansha Essay Award. As a performer, he has won renown for his stage productions and live shows with , Naoto Takenaka, and City Boys. As a creator working at the cutting edge of his profession, he co-wrote “Kenbutsuki” with his friend and colleague, Jun Miura, and proposed new ways to appreciate statues of Buddha. Also with Miura, he produced the popular event, “Slide Show”, a sell-out performance at the Budokan. In the music world, Ito worked at the frontier of Japanese Hip Hop and is currently receiving attentions with his activities with Kuchiroro. He regularly performs on TV programs such as “Shiru Shiru Mishiru” (TV Asahi) and “Tensai Terebi-kun Bit World”.

Lily FRANKY Born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1963. After graduating Musashino Art University, he’s been working as an illustrator, designer, writer, photographer, song writer and actor. His work includes a novel “TokyoTower: My mother and me and sometimes father” and a children’s book “Oden-kun”.

Official Website: Rock 'n' Roll News

ASAKUSA JINTA ASAKUSA JINTA is a rock band that performs both nationally and internationally. Their base of operations is Asakusa. A Rakugo master, Sanyutei Koyuza, named the band in 2004. They call their unique music style “ASIANICA”.

Katsuyuki MOTOHIRO Born in 1965 in Kagawa Prefecture. He debuted as a drama director with “Waruikoto (Bad Things)” (Fuji TV/1992). Since then he has directed many TV dramas. The movie “Bayside Shakedown THE MOVIE 2” (2003) made a record 17.3 billion yen, which made his reputation as a hit maker. He works for ROBOT Communications Inc.

Takashi SASANO Born in 1948 in Hyogo Prefecture. His talent was discovered when he played Bakumatsu in “Shanghai Bansking”, a play by Jiyu Theater Group in 1979. After leaving the theater group in 1981, he has been appearing in various movies and TV shows as a character actor. He often appears in Yoji Yamada films. He won the 30th Japan Academy Prize for the Best Supporting Male Actor for his role in “Love and Honor” (2007) .

Masako YAMADA She is a producer born in 1969 in Niigata Prefecture. After working as a newspaper reporter, she was employed at a commercial production company for 10 years. Using the commercial production method, she then started a comedy production brand and created a film called “Love★Con” in 2006. Her other works include “Handsome Suits” (2008) and “Koko Debut (High school Debut)” (2011).

Seiko ITO >> Profile

Yu TAKANO Born in Hokkaido in 1979. He won the Grand Prize of the SHITA COME Grand Prize 2010.

Teruyuki YOSHIDA He joined NHK in 1993 and worked on entertainment programs such as “Nodo Jiman,” Kayo Concert”. After working in the Hiroshima office, he was moved to the program development division. He then created “Salaryman NEO” in 2004 and he has been directing all their series since.

Baatar BAT-ULZII Born in 1979 in Mongolia. After studying art at a national university, he began his career as an animator and designer for Mongolian National Television studio. With a passion for filmmaking, he established his own production company “Hero Entertainment” in 2002. He participated in a feature film for the first time in the same year. In 2004 at the UBS Music Video Awards, he won many honors including the Award for The Best Director. He made his feature film debut with “I Love you 2” in 2009. This is his second feature film.

Malcolm VENVILLE A British photographer and music video and commercial director, he cast many prominent British actors such as Ray Winstone and Ian McShane in his first feature film “44 inch Chest” and won the San Diego Film Critics Society Award.

Tetsu MAEDA As an assistant director, he worked on films by Juzo Itami, Yojiro Takita, Masayuki Suo. With the director Shinji Somai, he made his theater film debut with “Pocky Saka Koimonogatari Kawaii Hito”episode 3. His major work includes “Pakodate-jin”(2002), “A Cheerful Gang Turns the Earth” (2006), “School Days with a Pig” (2008) and “Saru Lock The Movie” (2010).

Seth GORDON

As a screenplay writer, director and producer, he has attracted a lot of movie fans with his honest approach, photographic storytelling, and ability to find humor in everyday life. Seth Gordon made his feature film directorial debut with “Four Christmases” (2008/not screened in Japan), starring Oscar winning actress, Reese Witherspoon, and Vince Vaughn.

Shiro ITO Born in 1937 in Taito City, Tokyo. He became famous as a member of the “Tempuku Trio”, a comedy trio created in 1961. He then became extremely popular for his creations such as “Densen Ondo”, “Benjamin Ito”, “Komatsu the Oyabun”. He’s active in TV, movies, theater and radio.

Masao KOMATSU

Born in Fukuoka in 1942. After working in sales, he worked as Hitoshi Ueki’s manager and made his debut in showbiz with “Shabondama Holiday.” He took people by storm as a comedian with his many original gag lines, such as “I’m sick of living like this!” and “Think about it looooong term,” his song “Shirakedori Ondo,” and his side-splitting comedy performance as “Komatsu no Oyabun,” among others. He has widened his field of work to include making appearances as a TV personality and actor.

Fumio TAKADA

Born in Tokyo in 1948. As a TV and radio writer, he has under his belt many hit programs, including “Oretachi Hyokinzoku” and “Beat Takeshi no All Night Nippon (All Night Nippon by Beat Takeshi).” He is also serving as the radio personality on the long-running show, “Fumio Takada’s Radio Beverly Hills.”

http://www.1242.com/takada/

Asakusa Jinta >> Profile

EGO-WRAPPIN

EGO-WRAPPIN’ is a group formed in 1996 in Osaka. Members include Yoshie Nakano and Masaki Mori. Mixing genres in new ways, they create unique artistry and their sales of “Shikisai no Blues” and “Kuchibashi ni Cherry” built nationwide recognition.

Official Website: http://www.egowrappin.com/

GOMAABURA

They are an urban, meat-eating, sweaty entertainment soul band! They appeared in SUMMER SONIC 2011. Their 2nd album “Itameru” is used as the ending song for TV Tokyo’s “ARI x NASHI”. They’re totally fully swinging!

Official Website: GOMAABURA HOMEPAGE

Ren TAKADA

He was born in 1973 as the oldest son of Wataru Takada, Japan’s leading folk singer. He plays various string instruments in recordings and live performances.

Official Website: TONE

Haruomi HOSONO

Born in 1947 in Tokyo. A musician. He made his professional debut with a band “Apryl Fool” in 1969. Since then, he has played a critical role in Japanese music history moving to Happy End, Tin Pan Alley, and Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). He just released a solo album “HoSoNoVa” in April of this year.

Official Website: hosonoharuomi.com, DWWW

POCASKAJAN

A mock music group, their music is backed by major talent as all members were vocalists in different bands before they came together. They have a flexible style, performing before a wide range of audiences at various venues, from entertainment theaters to large-scale halls. They are known for the TV commercial song “Garigari-kun no Uta.”

METROFARCE They appeared during the Punk New Wave in the 80s. Led by Yotaro Ito’s witty lyrics and performance, they present mysterious Gypsy music in Edo style. They’re a music group of a unique and strange talent.

REKISHI He debuted as a keyboard player for SUPER BUTTER DOG in 1997. He has produced many talents such as Ringo Sheena, Yuko Ando, SUNEOHAIR. He also appears in TV shows. In 2007 he made his solo debut as REKISHI.

Tomohiro MACHIYAMA A film critic and the first editor in chief of Eiga Hiho (Yosensha). He moved to the US in 1997. His recent work includes serving as the MC for the TBS radio program “Kira Kira” (regular showings on Fridays) and the Tokyo MX TV program “Matsushima x Machiyama: Mikokai eiga wo miru TV”. His publications include “Trauma Eigakan,” and others.
Official Blog: http://d.hatena.ne.jp/TomoMachi/

ASAKUSA KID The duo became pupils of Beat Takeshi in 1986. “Asakusa Kid” was created in 1987 as they were apprenticing at Asakusa France-za. They appear in many TV and radio shows such as “Kusano ★ Kid”, “Nekketsu! Heisei Kyoiku Iinkai”, “Daini Asahi Journal” etc.

Official Website: http://asakusakid.com/

Greg MOTTOLA He wrote and directed “The Daytrippers” (1996) He then directed the feature films “Superbad” (2007) and “Adventureland” (2009). He is also known as an actor who appears in Woody Allen films.

Michio HAZAMA His repertoire for dubbed works includes the voices for Sylvester Stallone in the Rocky series, Steve Martin, Robert De Niro, Harrison Ford, and others. He is a well-established leading voice actor, with over 6,000 works in dubbed films.

Masako NOZAWA

She has countless major works that include “GeGeGe no Kitaro” (voice of Kitaro), “Galaxy Express 999” (voice of Tetsuro Hoshino), “Dragon Ball” series (voice of Son Goku, Son Gohan, Goten and others). She is one of the leading voice actors in Japan.

Official Website: http://www.office-nozawa.co.jp/

Ayumu TAKAGI

His voice appears in a wide ranging field, from animation to foreign films. His major works include “Detective Conan” (voice of Detective Takagi), “Gulliver’s Travels” (voice of Jack Black), NHK’s “Puppet-Novela: Three Musketeers” (voice of Porthos) and others.

Official Website: http://www.artsvision.co.jp/

Koichi YAMADERA A top voice actor in 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.

Tsuyoshi FURUHASHI Saxophone player.

Takashi MATSUO His creative territory includes TV, radio, essays, illustration, origami, etc. He also serves as a guest professor at the Kyoto University of Art and Design. His publications include “Statistics that can be conversation starters”, “Why don’t aliens come to Earth?”and others.

Official Blog: Twitter：@Kitsch_Matsuo

Akio MIYAZAWA He is a scriptwriter, producer, novelist, and chairman of “U-enchi Saisei Jigyodan”. His latest publication is “Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits, The 3rd Collection”. His book “Jikan no Kakaru Dokusho” (Time Consuming Book Reading) won the Ito Sei Prize for Literature in 2010.

Official Website: http://www.u-ench.com/

Yasunari SUDA He is the representative of SLOW COMEDY ADVERTISING INC. His work involves creating low-budget online commercials and hosting events at venues such as Slow Comedy Factory in Shimokitazawa and SABANOYU Kyodo. His publications include “Monty Python Taizen” (Monty Python’s Complete Works) and others.

Official Blog: http://slowcomedy.exblog.jp

Toshiaki SATO Born in Tokyo in 1963. He is an entertainment film researcher as well as a program writer, radio personality and music critic. He planned and produced “Ueki Hitoshi Show – Crazy TV Collection” and a CD, “Utau Enoken Collection”.

KERALINO SANDOROVICH Born in1963 in Tokyo. Sandorovich formed and sang lead vocals for the band “Uchoten”. After leaving “Gekidan Kenko”, a theater group he established in 1985, he started another theater group “Nylon 100°C.” He’s won many theatrical awards. As a writer and director, his work includes a film “Tsumi toka Batsu toka” (Crime or Punishment?!?), and a TV drama “Jiko Keisatsu” (Time Limit Investigator).

Seiko ITO >> Profile

LiLiCo Born in Stockholm, Sweden. She came to Japan when she was 18 and started to work in the entertainment industry in 1989. She’s currently appearing as a movie commentator in “King’s Brunch” on TBS. She also appears in many movies, fashion events, talk shows, and radio shows. She also does voiceover for animation and movies.

Peter and Bobby Farrelly Bobby Farrelly

Masaharu SEGAWA

Born in 1925 in Tokyo. After graduating Tokyo University with bachelor’s degree in Literature, he entered Toei Co. in 1959 and created “Kanpai! Gokigen Yaro”, the Kigeki Keiba Hisshoho trilogy, and the Kigeki Ressha series. In 1969, he was hired by Shochiku Co. where he created the Kigeki Ryoko series which established Segawa’s reputation as the “master of comedy films”. He also directed the TV dramas, “Stewardess Monogatari”, “HOTEL” and the Akai series. He won the Platinum Award at the Japan Movie Critics Award 2011.

Toshiaki SATO >> Profile

Kinshiro OGINO Born in 1970 in Tokyo. He is an experimental film director who does everything from planning, marketing, producing and screening. He is an apprentice of Kinshirou Kuzui, an ATG producer. He made his debut as a film director with “Watashi no Hone” (original story by Katsuhiko Takahashi/starring Tomoro Taguchi). His second film “Honokano Sho” was originally created as manga, which he sold to the magazine “Joseijishin”.

Official Blog: Kinshiro OGINO「ASAKUSA DAYDREAMS」