Reiwa Roman Secures Historic Back-To-Back Victory At M-1 Grand Prix 2024
Comedians Celebrate A Milestone Event That Highlights The Future Of Japanese Stand-Up
The M-1 Grand Prix 2024, Japan's premier stand-up comedy competition, took place on December 22, 2024, and resulted in Reiwa Roman, consisting of performers Kuruma Takahira and Kemuri Matsui, capturing the championship title. This victory is historic as it marks Reiwa Roman's second consecutive win, making them the first-ever duo to achieve back-to-back championships.
With a record 10,330 entries for this year's event, the Grand Prix showcased the top ten comedians through live performances. Kuruma expressed relief and excitement as they reflected on their successful year during the post-victory press conference. "This past year, being champions has definitely added depth to our performance," Kuruma stated. Matsui echoed this sentiment, attributing their growth as comedians to the experiences gained from their time as reigning champions.
The duo explained their decision to focus on their content rather than analytical strategies this year. "I decided it would be more effective to simply work on eleving ourselves, rather than getting lost in the data about previous competitors like NON STYLE," Kuruma commented, emphasizing the importance of engaging the audience with entertaining material.
Alongside Reiwa Roman, this year's finalists included notable acts such as Mama Taruto, Jock Rock, and Shinku Jessica. The event was hosted by the familiar duo of Koji Imada and Aya Ueto, with nine judges judging the performances, including comedians like Tomoko Uehara from Uehara Yasuyo & Tomoko and Yoshihisa Nakagawa.
Each finalist drew for the order of performance, with athletes from Japan's summer Olympic team participating as the lottery pickers. The preliminary scoring results showcased strong competition, with leading scores from "Battery's," Reiwa Roman, and "Shinku Jessica."
After intense comedic showdowns, Reiwa Roman emerged as the clear favorites, securing their win with five of the nine judges’ votes. The moment of victory was electric, with the duo expressing sheer joy. Kuruma, beaming with happiness, said, "I'm twice as happy as last year!" While Matsui humorously remarked, "I'm done with this; I don't want to compete anymore."
Post-event, Kuruma reflected on the experience, drawing parallels to last year’s event. "It feels surreal. This moment looks familiar. I’m really happy to have achieved this!" Meanwhile, Matsui shared his elation, adding, "Winning makes me feel like I’m leaving my mark on history, which is thrilling!"
The emotional swirl of the night was palpable, especially as Kuruma shared feelings during the awards announcement, expressing the overwhelming joy they felt during the final three sets. Matsui mentioned the relief of finally receiving compensation after making sacrifices for their friend Kuruma last year, signaling their remarkable comradery.
With this win, they join the ranks of comedy legends who achieved the unparalleled, and Kuruma quipped about their continued ambitions. "For now, I don’t plan to return next year, but I want to maintain the suspense for when I do come back!" His humorous approach uplifted the room, and even Matsui remarked, "If Kuruma decides to perform, I'm all in!"
The M-1 Grand Prix has also incited conversations about the involvement of comedian and founder Shinsuke Shimada, whose past controversies have recently led to polarized reactions online. A handwritten message from Shimada was shared during the broadcast, prompting discussions about his complex legacy within the comedy scene. While some fans warmly welcomed his presence, others expressed skepticism about his re-emergence.
This dichotomy resembles the very history of the M-1 Grand Prix, which has been both a launching pad and crossroads for comedians over its 20-year existence. The mixture of nostalgia, triumph, and controversy marks this year's event not just as another competition, but as a culturally significant moment for the future of Japanese humor.
Further engaging with the audience, the Lemino platform is hosting campaigns for viewers to re-experience the event and share their favorite moments. Viewers are encouraged to share their thoughts using the hashtag #M1Reactions for their chance at exclusive rewards.
M-1 Grand Prix 2024 signifies more than just another win; it redefines the benchmarks of what's possible for aspiring comedians and cements its status as the pinnacle of Japanese comedy competition.
