M-1 Grand Prix

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The M-1 Grand Prix (M-1 グランプリ, Emu-wan Granpuri), formerly known as the Autobacs M-1 Grand Prix (オートバックス 〜M-1グランプリ〜, Ōtobakkusu Emu-wan Guranpuri), 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.^[1]

As of 2024^[update] 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.

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.^[2]

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.

• 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): 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 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-: Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Sankaku Hiroba

• the 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

• Under Final Votes, bold means it was a unanimous victory, all seven judges voted for that unit as the winner.

• 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

• The affiliated agency listed is the unit's agency at the time of the competition

• 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

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)

• The seven judges are: Shinsuke Shimada, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Makoto Otake, LaSalle Ishii, Yōshichi Shimada, Kausu Nakada, Danshi Tatekawa

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

• The seven judges are: Shinsuke Shimada, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Kiyotaka Nanbara, Yōshichi Shimada, LaSalle Ishii, Makoto Otake, Kausu Nakada

Notes

• The restrictions for participation changed from less than 10 years since formation to less than or equals to 10 years since formation
• From this year and forward, judge points became more consistent in the range of the 70s as low and 90s are high
• All three units in the grand finals became winners in future years
• Koji Imada was appointed the MC from this year and onward

• The seven judges are: Kiyoshi Nishikawa, Kiyotaka Nanbara, Makoto Otake, Yoshichi Shimada, Koasa Shunpūtei, LaSalle Ishii, Kausu Nakada

Notes

• Untouchable holds the record for the single highest points attained with 673 points, all judges had given more than 95 points
• The point difference between the 1st place and 2nd place between Untouchable and Nankai Candies are the largest ever at 34 points
• Although Taka and Toshi and Waraimeshi scored the same number of points, the judges determined that Taka and Toshi was better and placed above Waraimeshi

• The seven judges are: Shinsuke Shimada, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Masayuki Watanabe, Makoto Otake, Yoshichi Shimada, LaSalle Ishii, Kausu Nakada

Notes

• The finals location was moved to TV Asahi headquarters in Roppongi Hills from this year onward

• The seven judges are: Shinsuke Shimada, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Kiyotaka Nanbara, Masayuki Watanabe, Yoshichi Otake, Kausu Nakada

Notes

• For the first and only time ever, amateurs (not signed with any agency or in the industry) made it to the finals (Henho Chouchou)
• For the first and only time ever, a unit of 5 people rather than the traditionally duo Manzai unit made it to the finals (The Plan 9)
• The only year where all finalists were affiliated with Yoshimoto, with the exception of Henho Chouchou who have no agency
• Tutorial are the first winners to win with unanimous votes, the other unanimous winner is Punk Boo Boo in 2009

• The seven judges are: Shinsuke Shimada, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Emiko Kaminuma, LaSalle Ishii, All Kyojin, Makoto Otake, Kausu Nakada

Notes

• Sandwichman are the first winners to come from the second chance round, the other winner is Trendy Angel in 2015

• The seven judges are: Shinsuke Shimada, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Emiko Kaminuma, Masayuki Watanabe, All Kyojin, Makoto Otake, Kaausu Nakada

Notes

• The only year where all 3 grand finalists had appeared for the 1st time ever as a finalist
• NON STYLE are the first winners that was formed post 2000
• Aya Ueto was appointed as the assistant MC from this year onward

• The seven judges are: Shinsuke Shimada, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Emiko Kaminuma, Hideo Higashikokubaru, All Kyojin, Masayuki Watanabe, Kausu Nakada

Notes

• Punk Boo Boo became the second unanimous winner after Tutorial in 2006
• Punk Boo Boo won The Manzai 2011, just two years later as the only unit to win both competitions
• Waraimeshi received the highest points by a single judge ever with 100 points from Shinsuke Shimada

• The seven judges are: Shinsuke Shimada, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Kiyotaka Nanbara, Kazuki Otake, Masayuki Watanabe, Hiroyuki Miyasako, Kausu Nakada

Notes

• Waraimeshi has been a finalist every single year since 2002, marking 9 consecutive years as the finalists and the most finals appearances ever
• This was the final M-1 Grand Prix before the 5-year hiatus

• This is the first M-1 Grand Prix in 5 years since 2010
• The 9 judges are all past winners of every M-1 Grand Prix except 2004:
  • Reiji (Nakagawake), Hidehiko Masuda (Masuda Okada), Nozomu Iwao (Football Hour), Takashi Yoshida (Black Mayonnaise), Yoshimi Tokui (Tutorial), Takeshi Tomizawa (Sandwichman), Akira Ishida (Non Style), Tetsuo Sato (Punk Boo Boo), Tetsuo (Waraimeshi)

Notes

• Revived after 5 years since 2010
• Restrictions changed from within 10 years formed to within 15 years formed
• There are 9 judges in total and each judge is the past winner of every M-1 Grand Prix except 2004 (Untouchable)
• Trendy Angel are the second winners to come from the second chance round after Sandwichman in 2007
• All units at least received a 90 or above from a single judge

• The 5 judges are: Emiko Kaminuma, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Daikichi Hakata, Reiji (Nakagawake), All Kyojin

Notes

• Although units received the same number of points, their position is determined by the number of judges were higher points, for example Akina received higher points by 3 judges over Haraichi, which is the majority, marking them above Haraichi in placement
• The only time when the same unit entry number has made it to the finals in two consecutive years (Kaminari is entry number 73 this year, which was Wagyu's entry number last year)

• The seven judges are: Emiko Kaminuma, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Daikichi Hakata, Koasa Shunputei, Reiji (Nakagawake), Masayuki Watanabe, All Kyojin

Notes

• From this year onward, there are nine finalists and one second chance winner, for a total of ten finalists, one more than past years
• For the first time, a unit was runners-up in consecutive years (Wagyu)
• It was determined from this year onward, that units with the same points will have the same placement regardless of point details

• The seven judges are: Emiko Kaminuma, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Takeshi Tomizawa (Sandwich Man), Shiraku Tatekawa, Nobuyuki Hanawa (Knights), Reiji (Nakagawake), All Kyojin

Notes

• Shimofuri Myojo are the first winners that were born in the Heisei era and post 1990s, they were also the youngest winners ever at the age of 25 and 26
• Wagyu are the second unit to make it to top-3 in the finals three times in a row after Kirin, and are the only unit to be runners-up three times in a row

• The seven judges are: Emiko Kaminuma, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Takeshi Tomizawa, Shiraku Tatekawa, Nobuyuki Hanawa, Reiji (Nakagawake), All Kyojin

Notes

• This is the first M-1 Grand Prix to take place in the Reiwa period and the last of the decade of 2010s
• With a total number of entrants at 5040, this is the first time there have been over 5000 total participants in the Grand Prix
• For the first time, the judges are the same as last year
• For the first time since the 8th M-1 Grand Prix (2008), a Manzai duo that is not affiliated with Yoshimoto makes it into the top 3 finals
• The winner, Milk Boy's 681 points is the highest in the history of the Grand Prix, beating out Untouchable's previous record of 673

• The seven judges are: Emiko Kaminuma, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Takeshi Tomizawa, Shiraku Tatekawa, Nobuyuki Hanawa, Reiji (Nakagawake), All Kyojin

Notes

• With a total number of entrants at 5081, this is the most entrants in the history of the grand prix
• The judges are the same for the third year in a row
• The first grand prix where a unit of two solo comedians made it to the finals (Oideyasu Koga, unit of Oideyasu Oda and Kogaken)
• The winner, Magical Lovely, placed last in the 2017 M-1 Grand Prix finals and won in their second appearance in three years, going from last to first

• The seven judges are: Emiko Kaminuma, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Takeshi Tomizawa, Shiraku Tatekawa, Nobuyuki Hanawa, Reiji (Nakagawake), All Kyojin

Notes

• From this year, the sponsor has changed from FamilyMart to 7-eleven
• With a total number of entrants at 6017, this is the most entrants in the history of the grand prix
• The judges are the same for the fourth year in a row
• For the first time since the 7th M-1 Grand Prix (2007), a Manzai duo that is not affiliated with Yoshimoto makes it win

• The seven judges are: Hitoshi Matsumoto, Reiji (Nakagawake), Shiraku Tatekawa, Takeshi Tomizawa, Nobuyuki Hanawa, Daikichi Hakata, Kuniko Yamada

Notes

• With a total number of entrants at 7261, this is the most entrants in the history of the grand prix
• For the first time, a Manzai duo that is not affiliated with Yoshimoto makes it win for the 2nd year in a row

• The seven judges are: Hitoshi Matsumoto, Reiji (Nakagawake), Tomoko Unabara, Takeshi Tomizawa, Nobuyuki Hanawa, Daikichi Hakata, Kuniko Yamada

Notes

• With a total number of entrants at 8540, this is the most entrants in the history of the grand prix

• The nine judges are: Reiji (Nakagawake), Tomoko Unabara, Hidetsugu Shibata (Untouchable), Kenji Yamauchi (Kamaitachi), Akira Ishida (Non Style), Masayasu Wakabayashi (Audrey), Tetsuo (Waraimeshi), Nobuyuki Hanawa (Knights), Daikichi Hakata

Notes

• For the first time in history, Reiwa Roman won the grand prix for the second consecutive year
• With a total number of entrants at 10330, this is the most entrants in the history of the grand prix

On December 12, 2010, Yoshimoto Kogyo and ABC announced that "M-1 Grand Prix" would end in the year and they will start the project to succeed the event.^[7]

The event restarted in 2015 with different sponsors and is no longer officially titled "Autobacs M-1 Grand Prix", but simply ''M-1 Grand Prix''.^[8]

• Official site