Photo: Tokyo Comedy Store

How To Explore the Comedy Scene in Tokyo

Insider Guides Tokyo, Japan
Photo: Tokyo Comedy Store
Turner Wright
Sep 7, 2017

ONCE IN HAITI, I listened to an English-speaking man tell a joke through an interpreter to a group of locals who only spoke Creole. He said, “God must be a fan of coffee, because ‘He-brews'”. The interpreter looked a little puzzled, but did his best. No one in the crowd laughed or even chuckled at the joke. But there were groans from the Americans in the group.

Imagine trying that kind of wordplay in any language. Japanese humor is no different, with some types of comedy more appreciated than others. One thing is certain – direct translations of jokes seldom work. A Japanese audience might technically understand an English language joke translated into Japanese, but without the knowledge behind it, there would simply be a nod and “naruhodo” (ah, I get it) rather than a laugh.


Despite Tokyo being one of the world’s largest cities, the English-speaking comedy scene is small. Musicians work in huge venues with sell-out crowds when they visit because music can be appreciated without language skills, but comedy? Visiting comedians, even relatively big names, find themselves in dimly lit bars designed for an audience in the tens. Here are three solid spots for catching some English-language comedy in Tokyo.


Standup Tokyo

Standup Tokyo is one of the bigger organizations controlling comedy events in the greater Tokyo area. At this time, they host a variety of events including performances at Good Heavens Comedy Club on Wednesdays (featured in the clip above), open mic night near Ikebukuro on Mondays, and monthly improv and standup in Roppongi on Saturdays. Performers come from many countries including Great Britain, the US, Canada, Singapore, and Japan.

Tokyo Comedy Store

Unlike Standup Tokyo, this organization focuses on improv classes and performances, though open mic nights and comedy shows are part of their regular schedule. Every 1st and 3rd Friday, they host a special comedy night at Gamuso, and there are usually opportunities for newbies to sign up to go on the mic at events 2-4 times a month — as long as they remember to get on TCS’ email list.

The Pirates of Tokyo Bay

There are few truly bilingual comedy groups in Japan, but The Pirates of Tokyo Bay qualify. Like Standup Tokyo and the Tokyo Comedy Store, the pirates only hold one show monthly at What The Dickens in Shibuya. Come for improv and jokes — you can appreciate more knowing a little Japanese.

What did you think of this story?
Meh
Good
Awesome

More on

Tokyo, Japan

Turns Out, the World’s Most Developed City Is Also Flush With Green Spaces

5 of the Best Under-the-Radar Neighborhoods in Tokyo

Living in a Crazy Small Tokyo Apartment

How I Fell in Love With Hanami, the Japanese Tradition of Flower-Viewing

Everything You Need To Know To Experience Japan's Robot Restaurant

7 Ways To Save Money on Your Trip To Tokyo

Tokyo’s Digital Art Museum Is the Coolest Art Display Ever

How To Survive Japan Without Speaking Japanese

Shibuya Scramble Square To Become the Tallest Building in Iconic Tokyo District

The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide To Tokyo

More on

Insider Guides

The Most Famous Archeological Site in the World Dominates This European Capital City

18 of the Best Hotels in Las Vegas for Every Type of Traveler

How To Visit Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in Madagascar

Get To Know the Real Banff, From Hot Springs and Waterfalls To Historic Town Sites

This Famous Parisian Church Is Open 24/7 To Maintain 130 Years of Nonstop Praying

The Most Colorful Park in the World Is Actually a Failed Housing Estate for the Rich

Your 2023 Azores Vacation: a Guide To São Miguel and Beyond

This Is France’s Most Famous and Mysterious Island That You Can Visit

The House Where Frida Kahlo Was Born (and Died) Is Now an Extraordinary Museum

Why It's Green and Other Things You Need To Know Before Visiting the Statue of Liberty

How To Spend a Weekend in Coweta, the Charming Small-Town County Outside Atlanta

Save Bookmark

We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. For more information read our privacy policy.