Koriki Choshu
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese comedian
. He is most famous for his act in which he mocks a famous Japanese professional wrestler
Riki Chōshū
due to his resemblance. Koriki is a play on Riki's name, meaning something like "little Riki".
Unlike many Japanese comedians, he isn't associated with any entertainment agency, though he belongs to a comedian "pro-wrestling" organization, .
On Television, he is always seen wearing the same outfit, short bicycle shorts and a far too short T-shirt
showing off his protruding belly. He speaks with a very strong lisp
(much less so when not in character) and is prone to treating mundane objects (such as his microphone
) as wrestling opponents.
As an acting pro wrestler, he uses appropriately strong language, though it's never taken seriously due to his strong lisp.
More recently, he has added Para Para
(a Japanese dancing style) to his comedy routine, always to the tune of "Night of Fire", a popular Eurobeat
track by Bratt Sinclaire
. In 2005, riding the popularity of his act, Koriki was featured in a cover version of Niko's track with Para Para oriented Japanese idol
group Hinoi Team
, accompanying a video and CD release.
He also tried to add a partner that looked similar to Antonio Inoki
, aptly named Antonio Koinoki, but the gimmick failed and his partner faded into obscurity.
He is said to enjoy surfing
and billiards
, and is known to have sent a resume
to Johnny & Associates
.
He has also performed as a competitor on Sasuke
, having entered 5 tournaments (15th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th), but has never made it past the First Stage. Only in the 18th tournament did he ever manage to clear the first obstacle.
In the anime School Rumble
, Choshu makes a cameo appearance in episode 17 doing the Para Para dance with Tsukamoto Tenma who is trying to scare away Harima Kenji.
On December 12, 2010, Choshu made an appearance for All Japan Pro Wrestling
and teamed with Ryota Hama
in a match, where they defeated Keiji Mutoh
and comedian Kannazaki to win the F–1 (Fake–1 Gran Prix) Tag Team Championship. The title is a comedy title and is not officially recognized by the promotion.
1Championship not officially recognized by All Japan Pro Wrestling.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese comedian
Owarai
is a broad word used to describe Japanese comedy as seen on television. The word owarai is the honorific form of the word warai, meaning "a laugh" or "a smile". Owarai is most common on Japanese variety shows and the comedians are referred to as owarai geinin or owarai tarento...
. He is most famous for his act in which he mocks a famous Japanese professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
Riki Chōshū
Riki Choshu
Mitsuo Yoshida , better known by his stage name Riki Chōshū , is a Korean-Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro Wrestling as a wrestler and a booker...
due to his resemblance. Koriki is a play on Riki's name, meaning something like "little Riki".
Unlike many Japanese comedians, he isn't associated with any entertainment agency, though he belongs to a comedian "pro-wrestling" organization, .
On Television, he is always seen wearing the same outfit, short bicycle shorts and a far too short T-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
showing off his protruding belly. He speaks with a very strong lisp
Lisp
A lisp is a speech impediment, historically also known as sigmatism. Stereotypically, people with a lisp are unable to pronounce sibilants , and replace them with interdentals , though there are actually several kinds of lisp...
(much less so when not in character) and is prone to treating mundane objects (such as his microphone
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
) as wrestling opponents.
As an acting pro wrestler, he uses appropriately strong language, though it's never taken seriously due to his strong lisp.
More recently, he has added Para Para
Para Para
is a synchronized group dance that originated in Japan. Unlike most club dancing and rave dancing there are specific synchronized movements for each song much like line dancing...
(a Japanese dancing style) to his comedy routine, always to the tune of "Night of Fire", a popular Eurobeat
Eurobeat
Eurobeat is a form of italo-disco/hi-NRG music that developed in the late 1980s.In the United States, Eurobeat was sometimes marketed as Hi-NRG and for a short while shared this term with the very early freestyle music hits....
track by Bratt Sinclaire
Bratt Sinclaire
Bratt Sinclaire is an Italian eurobeat/italo-disco producer. He has produced a countless number of tracks for the Super Eurobeat series, a.k.a. SEB, the world's longest running series of dance compilation albums...
. In 2005, riding the popularity of his act, Koriki was featured in a cover version of Niko's track with Para Para oriented Japanese idol
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
group Hinoi Team
Hinoi Team
was a Japanese female pop group formed around Asuka Hinoi with supporting members Keika Matsuoka, Hikaru Koyama, and Rina Takenaka. Most of their releases are covers of Eurobeat songs.- Ike Ike :...
, accompanying a video and CD release.
He also tried to add a partner that looked similar to Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki
is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...
, aptly named Antonio Koinoki, but the gimmick failed and his partner faded into obscurity.
He is said to enjoy surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
and billiards
Billiards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
, and is known to have sent a resume
Résumé
A résumé is a document used by individuals to present their background and skillsets. Résumés can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment. A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education...
to Johnny & Associates
Johnny & Associates
is a talent agency formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962. Johnny & Associates trains and promotes groups of male idols, collectively known as , in Japan.-1962–1989:...
.
He has also performed as a competitor on Sasuke
Sasuke (TV series)
Sasuke is a Japanese sports entertainment television special in which 100 competitors attempt to complete a four stage obstacle course. An edited version, renamed Ninja Warrior, is screened in at least 18 other countries....
, having entered 5 tournaments (15th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th), but has never made it past the First Stage. Only in the 18th tournament did he ever manage to clear the first obstacle.
In the anime School Rumble
School Rumble
is a Japanese Shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Jin Kobayashi. First serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from October 22, 2002 to July 23, 2008, all 345 chapters were later collected in 22 tankōbon volumes by Kodansha. Shōnen Magazine Special published a sequel, School Rumble Z,...
, Choshu makes a cameo appearance in episode 17 doing the Para Para dance with Tsukamoto Tenma who is trying to scare away Harima Kenji.
On December 12, 2010, Choshu made an appearance for All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
and teamed with Ryota Hama
Ryota Hama
is a retired Japanese sumo wrestler and current professional wrestler, competing in All Japan Pro Wrestling.-Sumo:Hama joined sumo in July 1995, and he fought for the Hakkaku stable run by former yokozuna Hokutoumi. His shikona was Hokutoarashi and he reached a highest rank of makushita 6 in...
in a match, where they defeated Keiji Mutoh
Keiji Mutoh
is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. He is mostly known for his work as The Great Muta in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1990s, but he has also competed in United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Taiwan...
and comedian Kannazaki to win the F–1 (Fake–1 Gran Prix) Tag Team Championship. The title is a comedy title and is not officially recognized by the promotion.
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro WrestlingAll Japan Pro Wrestlingis a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
- F–1 Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Ryota HamaRyota Hamais a retired Japanese sumo wrestler and current professional wrestler, competing in All Japan Pro Wrestling.-Sumo:Hama joined sumo in July 1995, and he fought for the Hakkaku stable run by former yokozuna Hokutoumi. His shikona was Hokutoarashi and he reached a highest rank of makushita 6 in...
1
- F–1 Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Ryota Hama
1Championship not officially recognized by All Japan Pro Wrestling.