The judges for the M-1 Grand Prix 2025 (ABC TV/TV Asahi, December 21, 6:30 PM), a competition to crown Japan's best manzai comedian, have been announced. The final will feature nine judges, including first-timers Teruki Goto of Football Hour and Takashi Komaba of Milk Boy, while the losers' bracket will feature five judges, including Hiroyuki Iguchi of Westland.
The M-1 Grand Prix began in 2001 and has produced many popular comedy duos, including the Nakagawa Family, Football Hour, and Black Mayonnaise, among others, who have won the Grand Prix. Runner-up duos such as Audrey and Kamaitachi have also gone on to become breakout stars, making the competition one of the most influential among the many comedy award races.
This year, a record 11,521 acts entered the competition. Nine acts advanced to the finals, including "Shinkuu Jessica" for the fifth consecutive year, "Dondécolleté," "Evers," "Yoneda 2000," "Gokai Captain," "Takurou," "Mama Tart," "Maison," and "Yarens." This is Dondécolleté, Gokai Captain, Takurou, and Maison's first time in the finals. This marks Yarens' third time in three years, Evers and Mama Tart's second time in two years, and Yoneda 2000's second time in three years since 2022. In the finals, one act will be selected in a losers' bracket, and a total of 10 acts will compete for the 10 million yen prize and the title of Japan's best manzai.
The judges for the final will be nine people (in alphabetical order): Umihara Tomoko (Umihara Yasuyo Tomoko), Goto Teruki (Football Hour), Komaba Takashi (Milk Boy), Shibata Eiji (Untouchable), Tetsuo (Warai-Ichi), Hakata Daikichi (Hakata Hanamaru Daikichi), Hanawa Nobuyuki (Knights), Yamauchi Kenji (Kamaitachi), and Reiji (Nakagawa-ke). Goto, the 2003 M-1 champion, and Komaba, the 2019 M-1 champion, will serve as judges for the first time.
The judges for the losers' bracket will be five people (in alphabetical order): Iguchi Hiroyuki (Westland), Kubota Kazunobu (Toro Salmon), Noda Crystal (Magical Lovely), Yusuke (Diane), and Watanabe Takashi (Nishikigoi).
