© TACHIBANA Renji
© TACHIBANA Renji
SHIMIZU Hiroshi's energy is just so incredible. Where does such energy come from? One day, he suddenly showed up at the BIRD Theatre and spoke to me enthusiastically. I responded in the same manner, and before I knew it, I asked him to join the theatre festival. That power, that passion… I wish I could follow his example, but it's out of my reach. I have a little bit of longing for it, but it's absolutely impossible. Anyway, the fruit of such intense energy is SHIMIZU's stage. This time, he will be performing two different pieces. We are very lucky to be able to see two different pieces over two weeks. Once you see it, you'll be hooked for sure.
'SHIMIZU Hiroshi's Standup Comedy Prep School' (16 September)
The daily frustrations of the world, the feelings of coiling up that we all want to say but can't, are put into words, laughed off so we feel refreshed.
You will laugh so hard and feel cheered up; somehow, it will touch your heart. This laughter keeps us going for another day! Please come and experience it yourself!
'SHIMIZU Hiroshi's Standup Comedy University' (23 September)
Culture, art, ideas, and philosophy… Make fun of difficult things, laugh and become wiser. This is a Terakoya-style (private temple school-style) comedy for adults, where you can laugh and learn.
MISHIMA Yukio, DAZAI Osamu, Japan's Constitution, The Kojiki, Marx, Nietzsche, Tale of Genji, Jujutsu Kaisen, and many more topics will be covered!
Text, Direction and Performance: SHIMIZU Hiroshi
Standup comedy, the entertainment of freedom and the future, is coming to the BIRD Theatre!
SHIMIZU Hiroshi
He began his career as an actor during the Little Theatre Movement in the 1980s. As a solo comedian, he has been active on radio, TV and stage, appearing on SHIMIZU Hiroshi's All Night Nippon (Radio), Akashiya Mansion (TV), Getsuyo Eiga Tengoku (TV) and many others.
He founded the Japan Standup Comedy Association and became its chairman in 2016. While steadily organising major events with guests such as KOSAKAI Kazuki, SHUMPUTEI Ichinosukei, HAYASHIYA Hikoichi, ITO Seiko, and SUIDOBASHI Hakase to tour throughout Japan, SHIMIZU has also performed comedy in local languages abroad in Russia, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, etc. In 2024, the association was dissolved for a new phase of development. He is pursuing further free entertainment and spreading it across Japan.