New Comedy Tournament 'Double Impact' Finals Spark Online Buzz

The finals of "Double Impact," a new comedy tournament where contestants compete in both manzai (stand-up comedy duo) and conte (skits), were held on July 21, 2025, quickly generating a buzz on social media. Particularly noteworthy was the manzai performance by "Kamomental," a duo well-regarded for their conte.

Many users praised Kamomental, with comments like "Kamomental's manzai is hilarious" and "Kamomental's world is the best." Numerous posts highlighted their unique worldview and the distinctive personality of Udy Iwasaki, with remarks such as "Udy-san's perverse vibe was really funny" and "What Udy-san says is always strange, but his charisma and delivery make you listen." A particular manzai routine, which, while somewhat sensitive, offered a unique perspective with the line "When you become an old man, will you be able to find old women cute?!", seemed to captivate viewers, drawing reactions like "The 'BBA' (a somewhat crude Japanese term for 'old hag') crowd was triggered, LOL" and "That's deep." Some fans also expressed long-awaited anticipation, noting they hadn't seen Kamomental's manzai since the M-1 Grand Prix wildcard round.

Furthermore, "Nanamagari" also became a topic of discussion for their unique and challenging style, with comments like "Both their conte and manzai are edgy, lol" and "They leave the audience behind, lol." Prior to the finals, Naoto Morishita of Nanamagari had posted his determination on social media, writing "We're gonna win!!!", which heightened expectations.

Additionally, there were expressions of gratitude for the easy accessibility of viewing via TVer, and reports that topical jokes by Yoshimoto comedians (mocking Mr. Ishiba, a prominent political figure) became a talking point. Beyond Kamomental and Nanamagari, seven other popular and talented duos participated, including Cotton, Long Coat Daddy, Cellulite Spa, Stamina Pan, and Nipponsan no Shachō. As its inaugural event, "Double Impact" has undoubtedly left a significant mark on the comedy world through its novel approach of showcasing mastery in both manzai and conte.

The Context

For non-Japanese readers, understanding Japanese comedy, particularly manzai and conte, is key. Manzai is a traditional style of Japanese stand-up comedy performed by a duo, typically a straight man (tsukkomi) and a funny man (boke), who engage in rapid-fire banter, often involving misunderstandings, puns, and observational humor. Conte refers to short, often absurd, sketch comedies. The tournament's "Double Impact" name refers to contestants' ability to excel in both.

Kamomental is a critically acclaimed comedy duo known primarily for their surreal and often dark conte. Their manzai performance was surprising and well-received because they are more famous for conte. The mention of "M-1 Grand Prix wildcard round" refers to a major annual manzai competition, indicating the rarity and significance of Kamomental's manzai performances.

Nanamagari is another duo known for their unconventional and boundary-pushing comedy style. Yoshimoto Kogyo is Japan's largest talent agency, especially dominant in the comedy world, representing many of the featured comedians.

TVer is a popular Japanese video-on-demand streaming service that offers free catch-up TV, making the tournament accessible to a wide audience. The "mocking Mr. Ishiba" refers to Shigeru Ishiba, a veteran politician who recently became the Prime Minister of Japan, making him a current and relevant topic for political humor.