It has been announced that the finals of the "R-1 Grand Prix 2025," which will decide the best solo comedian in Japan, will be broadcast on the Kansai TV/Fuji TV network from 6:30 pm on March 8th. The MCs will be the comedy duo "Shimofuri Myojo" and Alice Hirose.
This year marks the 23rd time the contest has been held, and 5,511 people have entered, the highest number ever. In the semi-finals on February 2nd, 34 people who made it through the fierce battles will battle it out for a place in the finals. Nadagi Takeshi (2007 and 2008 champion), the only person to have won consecutive R-1 titles, and Machiura Pink, the previous year's champion, will take part as "comedian judges" who will be judging the contestants impartially from a professional perspective.
The nine finalists will be unveiled at a press conference on February 2nd at 7pm. Shimofuri Myojo will be the MC for the first time at the conference, which will be streamed live for free on TVer Special Live.
