, formerly known as , is an annual Manzai competition planned by Shinsuke Shimada and run by Yoshimoto Kogyo. The supporter Asahi Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts live throughout Japan via All-Nippon News Network.
it is the most prevalent manzai competition in Japan. The grand prix ended in 2010 and was brought back in 2015 with sponsors including Cygames, Nissin Foods, FamilyMart, Suntory and Uniqlo.
Entry requirements Before 2010, to qualify as a contestant, the unit must have a career age of 10 years or under. When the competition was brought back in 2015, this limit was changed to 15 years or under. Other than this condition, anyone can enter the competition and reach the televised semifinals and finals if they pass through.
Contestants must go through five rounds of elimination before moving to the televised finals, where only eight units are selected from the semifinals to become finalists. The second chance round was introduced in the 2nd Grand Prix and allows for semi finalists to compete in an additional round competing for an addition spot as the second chance winners in the finals. From 2017 and onward, the total number of finalists increased to nine, plus an additional second chance winner.
The finalists do a lottery draw to determine the entrance order, and are given points out of 100 by each of the judges. After all contestants have performed and points are given, the top three units with the highest points advanced to perform a second time at the grand finals. The judges then do a final vote to crown the winner.
Locations
Preliminary (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Quarterfinal, Semifinal) from August or September until December Round 1 (2001): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Osaka, Takamatsu, Hiroshima, Fukuoka Round 1 (2002): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka Round 1 (2003-2009): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka Round 1 (2010, 2015-): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Niigata, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Fukuoka Round 1 (2015-2021): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Naha Round 1 (2022, 2024): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Naha Round 1 (2023): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Naha Round 1 (2025): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Ehime, Fukuoka, Naha Round 2, Round 3, Semifinal (-2009), Quarterfinal (2010, 2015-): Tokyo, Osaka Semifinal (2010, 2015-): Tokyo Ryōgoku Kokugikan (2010) EX THEATER ROPPONGI (2015) Yomiuri Hall (2016) NEW PIER HALL (2017-) Second Chance Consolation (2002–2010, 2015-) from noon until 5 p.m. on the day of the finals aired on Sky A Sports Plus, a satellite broadcasting company owned by ABC (2004-2010) aired on All-Nippon News Network (2015-) The winner of the Second Chance Consolation gets a second chance as the final contestant at the M-1 finals 2002-2004: special floor in front of Panasonic Center Tokyo 2005: Meiji Jingu Stadium 2006: Ariake Coliseum 2007-2010: Ohi Racecourse 2015-2022: Roppongi Hills Arena 2023-2024: Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Sankaku Hiroba 2025-: EX THEATER ROPPONGI Finals live on TV (All-Nippon News Network, cast nation-wide) 2001: Lemon Studio 2002-2004: Panasonic Center Ariake Studio 2005-2010, 2015-: TV Asahi Headquarters Studio 1
Winners +YearWinnerFinal VotesUnit FormedAgencyTotal # of Entrants2001Nakagawake61992Yoshimoto Kogyo16032002Masuda Okada51993Shochiku Geino17562003Football Hour41999Yoshimoto Kogyo19062004Untouchable61994Production Jinrikisha26172005Black Mayonnaise41998Yoshimoto Kogyo33782006Tutorial7199839222007Sandwich Man41998Flatfive42392008Non Style52000Yoshimoto Kogyo44892009Punk Boo Boo7200146292010Warai Meshi4200048352015Trendy Angel6200434722016Ginshari3200535032017Toro Salmon4200240942018Shimofuri Myōjō4201346402019Milk Boy6200750402020Magical Lovely3200750812021Nishikigoi52012SMA, Manzai Association60172022Westland62008Titan72612023Reiwa Roman42018Yoshimoto Kogyo854020245103302025Takurou8201611521
Under Final Votes, bold means it was a unanimous victory, all seven judges voted for that unit as the winner.
Winner's prize Winner's prize ¥10,000,000 Winner's trophy Additional prizes Until 2010 Gift certificates of Car supplies courtesy of Autobacs Seven The right to appear CM of Autobacs Seven Additional prizes for 2015 Vacation to Palau courtesy of Cygames Champion jacket and commercial deal courtesy of Uniqlo Ten years worth of Donbei cup noodles courtesy of Nissin Foods 1000 pieces of Family Mart Premium fried chicken courtesy of FamilyMart Additional prizes for 2016 Vacation to Hawaii courtesy of Cygames Commercial deal for M-1 no don courtesy of Nissin Foods 100 kg of FamilyMart Premium fried chicken courtesy of FamilyMart One year worth of The Premium Malts beer courtesy of Suntory Additional prizes for 2017 Luxury vacation to Hawaii courtesy of Cygames T Point Card with points to redeem 1 year worth of Donbei cup noodles and FamilyMart Premium fried chicken courtesy of Nissin Foods and FamilyMart One year worth of Strong Zero alcoholic beverage courtesy of Suntory Additional prizes for 2018 Tickets for Serie A match with Juventus FC in Turin, Italy courtesy of Cygames 100 kg of FamilyMart Premium fried chicken courtesy of FamilyMart One year worth of Strong Zero alcoholic beverage courtesy of Suntory Chianina beef from Italy with one meal worth of Donbei cup noodles courtesy of Nissin Foods Additional prizes for 2019 Journey to Dubai courtesy of Cygames One year worth of Strong Zero alcoholic beverage courtesy of Suntory Considering the same amount of money as the other three companies from Nissin Foods → five years worth of NISSIN FOODS products One year worth of FamilyMart Premium fried chicken courtesy of FamilyMart Additional prizes for 2020 One head saga beef worth courtesy of Cygames One year worth of New Strong Zero Etc. chu-hi alcoholic beverage courtesy of Suntory Victory Memorial Statue courtesy of Nissin Foods One year worth of FamilyMart Premium fried chicken and Teriyaki roast chicken leg courtesy of FamilyMart Additional prizes for 2021 One head saga beef worth courtesy of Cygames One year worth of Strong Zero Etc. chu-hi alcoholic beverage courtesy of Suntory One year worth of Gold series four-piece set (Golden hamburg steak, golden shrimp with chili sauce, Golden beef curry, Golden beef stew) courtesy of 7-Eleven Leading role for Festive sale &1 year worth of Donbei cup noodles courtesy of Nissin Foods Additional prizes for 2022 One head saga beef worth courtesy of Cygames Great mug for party courtesy of Suntory The same number of points earned by the new champion in the finals worth of Gold series courtesy of 7-Eleven The right to use a helicopter only once between Tokyo and Osaka &1 year worth of Donbei cup noodles courtesy of Nissin Foods
Additional prizes for 2023 1 year worth chicken of Drive-In Tori and invitation to Saga courtesy of Cygames Japanese headpieces courtesy of Suntory 100 sets of Gold five-piece series (Golden hamburg steak, Golden shrimp with chili sauce, Golden beef curry, golden beef stew, Golden stewed diced pork) courtesy of 7-Eleven 100 year worth Donbei cup noodles for New Year's Eve courtesy of Nissin Foods Additional prizes for 2024 1 year worth chicken of Drive-In Tori and invitation to Saga courtesy of Cygames "196" awesome beer mugs for after party courtesy of Suntory Gold five-piece series (Golden hamburg steak, Golden shrimp with chili sauce, Golden beef curry, golden beef stew, Golden stewed diced pork) with the same number of points as the final courtesy of 7-Eleven Donbei All-you-can-eat for one year without charge courtesy of Nissin Foods
Additional prizes for 2025 1 year worth chicken of Drive-In Tori and invitation to Saga courtesy of Cygames Beer mugs for after party courtesy of Suntory 1500 sets of 15th Anniversary Gold series courtesy of 7-Eleven All new products to be sold next year courtesy of Nissin Foods
Historic Results The affiliated agency listed is the unit's agency at the time of the competition
1st M-1 Grand Prix (2001)
The seven judges are: Shinsuke Shimada, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Shoji Kokami, LaSalle Ishii, Koasa Shunpūtei, Yukio Aoshima, Kiyoshi Nishikawa The three audience judges are from the cities of: Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoka
PlaceUnit NameAffiliated AgencyProgram SubtitleEntrance OrderPointsWinnerNakagawakeYoshimoto (Osaka)The DNA of Comedy1st / 1st829 / 6 VotesRunners-upHarigane RockYoshimoto (Osaka)Martial Artists10th / 2nd809 / 1 Vote3rdAmerica ZariganiShochiku GeinoThe 3 Octave Shock4th7964thMasuda OkadaShochiku GeinoAbility-ism8th7705thKirinYoshimoto (Osaka)Unmarked7th7416thFootball HourYoshimoto (Osaka)The Miraculous Face2nd7267thKing KongYoshimoto (Osaka)Astonishing Rookie6th7078thTutorialYoshimoto (Osaka)The Onmyoji of Comedy3rd6379thDonDokoDonYoshimoto (Tokyo)The Uncrowned Kings9th61410thOgi YahagiProduction JinrikishaThe Star of Tokyo5th540 Notes
Matsumoto gave King Kong a score of 55 while Nishikawa gave them a score of 95, causing a 40-point difference, which is the largest point difference for a single participant Nakagawake are the only winners with the first entrance order Four of the finalists this year are winners or would go on to become winners in later years, the most ever (Nakagawake, Masuda Okada, Football Hour and Tutorial)
2nd M-1 Grand Prix (2002)
The seven judges are: Shinsuke Shimada, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Makoto Otake, LaSalle Ishii, Yōshichi Shimada, Kausu Nakada, Danshi Tatekawa
PlaceUnit NameAffiliated AgencyFinals AppearancesProgram SubtitleEntrance OrderPointsWinnerMasuda OkadaShochiku Geino2nd consecutive yearReaching the Finals with the intention to defeat Yoshimoto2nd / 3rd612 / 5 VotesRunners-upFootball HourYoshimoto (Osaka)2nd consecutive yearThe talented unit that won the newcomer Manzai award5th / 1st621 / 2 Votes3rdWaraimeshiYoshimoto (Osaka)1st appearance (Unseeded)The unseeded new stars of M-16th / 2nd567 / 0 Votes4thOgi YahagiProduction Jinrikisha2nd consecutive yearThe only unit from Tokyo from the last Grand Prix7th5615thHarigane RockYoshimoto (Tokyo)2nd consecutive yearThe runners-up of last year with burning passion for vengeance1st5456thTetsu and TomoNichien Productions1st appearance (Unseeded)The new wave of modern music Manzai at M-14th5397thSpeed WagonM2 Company1st appearance (Unseeded)(Second Chance Winners)9th5358thDienojiYoshimoto (Tokyo)1st appearanceThe emotional and heavyweight unit from Oita Prefecture3rd5349thAmerica ZariganiShochiku Geino2nd consecutive yearLast year's 3rd place that gained traction8th525 Notes
The Second Chance or Consolation Round was introduced this year The only year where there were more finalists who are not affiliated with Yoshimoto than those who are (5 to 4) All three units in the grand finals became winners in future years
3rd M-1 Grand Prix (2003)
The seven judges are: Shinsuke Shimada, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Kiyotaka Nanbara, Yōshichi Shimada, LaSalle Ishii, Makoto Otake, Kausu Nakada
PlaceUnit NameAffiliated AgencyFinals AppearancesProgram SubtitleEntrance OrderPointsWinnerFootball HourYoshimoto (Osaka)3rd consecutive yearEarnest Wish7th / 3rd663 / 4 VotesRunners-upWaraimeshiYoshimoto (Osaka)2nd consecutive year∞ (Infinity)4th / 1st656 / 3 Votes3rdUntouchableProduction Jinrikisha1st appearance (Unseeded)(Second Chance Winners)9th / 2nd616 / 0 Votes4th2ChokenjuYoshimoto (Tokyo)1st appearanceThe Last Chance5th6085thReal KidsYoshimoto (Osaka)1st appearanceThe Youngest8th6016thSpeed WagonHoriproM2 Company changed their name to Horipro2nd consecutive yearStraight-on Breakthrough3rd5727thAmerica ZariganiShochiku Geino3rd consecutive yearThe 3rd Time Honesty6th5648thKirinYoshimoto (Osaka)2nd appearanceThe Second Bloom2nd5549thChidoriYoshimoto (Osaka)1st appearanceUnmarked1st552 Notes