Yumeya Masaru (real name Suzuki Masaru), a former comedian who gained popularity with his rhythmic skit "I want to eat pancakes," is currently working as a producer at TV Asahi. His monthly variety show slot "Barabara Monthly" features the program "Kazulaser 100%" (Wednesdays at 2:55am *excluding some regions), in which MC Kazulaser enjoys "things he wants to try" with close friends, and the outlandish projects have become a hot topic among variety show fans. We spoke to Yumeya, who was selected as a producer at the young age of 27, about his unusual career and his thoughts on program production.
◇ I lost confidence after seeing the work of an ace director...
Yumeya decided to become a comedian in 2016 when he entered a comedy contest for students while in his second year of high school. He made his breakthrough in 2019 when he performed "I Want to Eat Pancakes" on the New Year's Day comedy show "Omoshiro-so" (Nippon TV). He retired from comedy upon graduating from Keio University in 2022 and joined TV Asahi as a new graduate in April of the same year. He had hoped to work in variety show production, but was assigned to the business production department when he joined the company.
"At first, I worked in the areas of streaming, program events, and other non-broadcast revenue. At the time, TV Asahi had a program called 'Sodaterebi' where any employee could submit a proposal, and if it passed the competition, it would be broadcast, so I submitted proposals while working."
His proposal was accepted in his first year at the company, and in April 2023 he was in charge of planning and composition of "Jessica Art Club," the first program to feature the comedy duo "Vacuum Jessica" on the late-night variety show "Barabara Daisakusen." He continued to submit proposals despite his busy schedule, and last year, in his third year at the company, he was transferred to his long-awaited variety production department, where he worked as an AD on "Hamasuka Broadcasting Club" and "Geki Rare-san Brought Me Here."
"When I was transferred to production, I was surprised at how busy it was (laughs). There were many difficult things, but it was a show I loved, so I have fond memories of it. I especially learned a lot from being able to watch TV Asahi's ace director, Mr. Funahashi (Masahiro), direct up close."
However, after gaining experience working as a director, he felt that it wasn't for him.
"The directors on both 'Hamasuka' and 'Geki Rare-san' were all incredibly talented, so I lost confidence. To begin with, I'm not good with machines... (laughs). I'm not good at adjusting the color of images or editing. I wanted to become a director, but I wondered, 'How much experience do I need to gain before I can become a full-fledged director?'"
His goal was to become a producer, the person in charge of overseeing the program.
"I'm good at making small adjustments, and thanks to the connections I made as a comedian, I thought I might be able to do a little bit of casting. When I mentioned it to my boss, he encouraged me, saying, 'Well, then, why not give it a try?' I guess it was a case of whoever said it first (laughs). I think it would be quicker even within the company, but the reality is that we don't have enough producers in the company, so I think I still need more than I'd like to do, but I decided to give it a try."
◇There aren't many late-night variety shows that do as they please.
His first project as a producer was "Kazulaser 100%," which was broadcast in the Barabara Monthly slot in September last year, and has now been revived for the first time in about a year. He says that this program was the first proposal he submitted after joining the company.
"Kazu was my senior at the agency when I was a comedian, and he was the first person I consulted when I decided to quit being a comedian. He still takes me out to dinner. I think Kazu is now better known as a quiz show and commentator, but personally I like his creative power the most, which makes me wonder, 'How do you come up with ideas like that?' So I came up with this idea, hoping to put that into practice on TV."
The program will feature a segment in which Mama Taruto's Otsuru Futoshi and a gravure idol will perform the same movements behind a curtain, testing Kazulaser's theory that "Otsuru Futoshi is almost indistinguishable from a gravure idol," as well as a segment called "Vintage Funny Comedians," in which the program recommends a funny comedian who may not yet be known to the public, and the segment ends immediately if someone guesses his name.
"It's nice to see Kazu-san having fun, and I don't think there are many late-night variety shows, even on other networks, that do as they please to this extent. I'm not bragging, but I think it's become a show that you can watch and laugh without thinking about anything. This is the first time it's been a year, so I'm really hoping that this time we can finally graduate from the special slot."
◇My stage name is "one of my weapons"
He still uses the name "Yumeya Masaru" on social media. In an interview two years ago, he said, "I'm keeping it for the sake of promoting the show. I want to delete it tomorrow," but now he has changed his mind.
"I thought it might be okay to keep it now (laughs). I get the opportunity to talk about vulgar things like this, and it's part of my job to promote the show. It's strange to put my stage name and real name next to each other, and it also serves as a conversation starter when I meet with the staff. I might delete it someday, but for now I'm keeping it as one of my weapons."
From a popular comedian to a TV man, and then to a producer in his 20s. Behind his illustrious career lies the hard work he put into submitting proposals despite his busy schedule, and his passion to spread the joy of comedians.
"I personally think that comedians who are currently working hard are in a situation where it's difficult to get noticed unless they make it to the finals of award competitions like the M-1 Grand Prix or King of Conte. That's why I want to create a 'synopsis' that can once again support them on television. This time we did a project called 'Vintage Funny Comedians,' and I would like to create a program that can help in some way to spark success, just like 'Omoshiro-so,' which discovered me." (Text by Kenichiro Kanamaki/MANTAN)
