M-1 Grand Prix 2024:Who will be the best manzai comedian in Japan? The finalists include Reiwa Roman, who is aiming for consecutive victories, and Yarens, who is vowing revenge.

The finals of the manzai contest "M-1 Grand Prix 2024" (ABC/TV Asahi) will be broadcast from 6:30 pm on December 22nd. This year, last year's champion "Reiwa Roman" will be aiming for a repeat victory, while runner-up "Yarens" will also be seeking revenge. Ten groups, including one group that won the losers' bracket, will compete for the title of "Japan's best manzai".

The M-1 Grand Prix began in 2001 and has produced many popular comedy duos, including Nakagawa-ke, Football Hour, and Black Mayonnaise, among others. The competition has a time limit of 15 years (formed after January 1, 2009), and runner-up duos such as Audrey and Kamaitachi have also become breakout stars, making it one of the most influential comedy awards out of the many others.

This time, from a total of 10,330 entries, the largest number in the history of the competition, Mama Tarte, Reiwa Roman, Jock Rock, Vacuum Jessica, Evers, Tom Browne, Daitaku, Yarens, and Batteries advanced to the finals.

This time, in addition to last year's champion Reiwa Roman and runner-up Yarens, Shinku Jessica, who will be in the finals for the fourth consecutive year, Tom Brown and Daitaku are in the "last year group." Mama Tart, Jock Rock, Evers and Batteries will be in the finals for the first time.

The judges are Kaihara Tomoko of "Kaihara Yasuyo & Tomoko", Hakata Daikichi of "Hakata Hanamaru & Daikichi", Hanawa Nobuyuki of "Knights", Reiji of "Nakagawa-ke", Ishida Akira of "NON STYLE" and Tetsuo of "Warai-meshi" returning. New judges include Shibata Eiji of "Untouchable", Yamauchi Kenji of "Kamaitachi", and Wakabayashi Masayasu of "Audrey", bringing the total number of judges to nine, two more than last year.

The final will be broadcast live on TV Asahi from 6:30 pm on the 22nd. The losers' bracket will be broadcast from 3:00 pm on the same day.