Taka and Toshi

Taka and Toshi
Taka and Toshi
Pseudonym	Taka, Toshi (タカ・トシ)
Native name	Taka ando Toshi (タカアンドトシ)
Years active	1995–; (formed in Sapporo)
Employer	Yoshimoto Kōgyō
Members	Toshikazu Miura (Tsukkomi); Takahiro Suzuki (Boke);

Taka and Toshi (タカアンドトシ, Taka ando Toshi) is a Japanese manzai (stand-up) comedy duo (kombi) from Sapporo consisting of Takahiro Suzuki (鈴木崇大, 4/3/1976-) a.k.a. "Taka" as boke and Toshikazu Miura (三浦敏和, 7/17/1976-) a.k.a. "Toshi" as tsukkomi. They are under contract to the entertainment agency, Yoshimoto Kogyo. Formed in 1994, they are best known for their stand-up acts and as TV tarentos in variety shows.

Sketch comedy

As the boke, Taka is prone to silly comments, while Toshi is the more reasonable of the two, often criticizing Taka's remarks, shooting tsukkomi saying "such-and-such ka!" (i.e. "Ōbei ka!"), and hitting Taka on the head for his silly response.

"Ōbei ka!" (pronounced "oh-bay-ka!") is their most known tsukkomi gag. It is a sarcastic way of saying, “Are you Western?"

One example of their skits has the following lines:
Toshi: Let's have a drink. I'll have a beer.
Taka: Then I'll have a Diet Coke.
Toshi: You're not an American! Have a beer! And what would you like to eat?
Taka: I'll have a cherry pie.
Toshi: You're not an American!
Taka: A meat pie.
Toshi: You're not an American!
Taka: A chocolate bar.
Toshi: You're not an American!
Taka: Sushi and tempura! (with an American accent).
Toshi: You're not an American!

Biography

The comedians first met in 1990 at Nishioka-kita Junior High in Sapporo when they were both in the 8th grade. In 1994, they passed an audition held by Yoshimoto Kogyo. Initially working in Sapporo, the two moved to Tokyo in 2002 to work nationwide.

Members

Takahiro "Taka" Suzuki (鈴木崇大 / タカ, Suzuki Takahiro / Taka)

Date of Birth: April 3, 1976
Birthplace: Sapporo, Hokkaido
Manzai Role: Boke

Toshikazu "Toshi" Miura (三浦敏和 / トシ, Miura Toshikazu / Toshi)

Date of Birth: July 17, 1976
Birthplace: Asahikawa, Hokkaido
Manzai Role: Tsukkomi

Awards

Nationwide Yoshimoto Young Manzai-shi Awards presented by Television Shizuoka (テレビ静岡主催全国吉本若手漫才) 1st place (1997)
The 10th Warai no Kin-medal - Neta Battle (笑いの金メダル - ネタバトル) Gold medal (2004)
M-1 Grand Prix (M-1グランプリ) 4th place (2004)
The 7th Bakushō On-air Battle Championship (爆笑オンエアバトルチャンピオン大会) 1st place (2005)
The 8th Bakushō On-air Battle Championship (爆笑オンエアバトルチャンピオン大会) 1st place (2005)
The 45th Golden Arrow Awards, Broadcasting Award (Variety Section) (2008)
The 8th Beat Takeshi's Entertainment Awards, Japan Show Biz Award (2008)

Media

TV

Regular

Monday　
- Otameshika! (お試しかっ!) -- TV Asahi
- Hoko Tate (ほこ×たて) -- Fuji TV
Tuesday　
- Waratte Iitomo! (森田一義アワー笑っていいとも!) -- Fuji TV
- Jimoto Ōen Variety Konohen!! Traveler (地元応援バラエティこのへん!!トラベラー) -- HTB
- Gyōten Quiz! Chin Rule Show (仰天クイズ! 珍ルールSHOW) -- TV Tokyo
Wednesday　
- Futtonda (フットンダ) -- Chūkyō TV
Thursday
- Iknari! Ōgon Densetsu. (いきなり!黄金伝説。) -- TV Asahi
Friday
- Game & Quiz Variety Peke Pon (ゲーム&クイズバラエティペケ×ポン) -- Fuji TV
- Gekkan Soccer Earth -- Nippon TV *Every 4th Friday
Saturday
- Tensai! Shimura Dōbutsuen (天才!志村どうぶつ園) -- Nippon TV
Sunday
- Waratte Iitomo! Zōkan-gō (笑っていいとも!増刊号) -- Fuji TV
- Dōda! Presents Taka Toshi Bokujō (どぉーだ! Presents タカトシ牧場) -- Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting

Semi Regular

SmaStation—TV Asahi *Saturday
SMAP×SMAP -- Kansai TV, Fuji TV *Monday
Tunnels no Mina-san no Okage Deshita (とんねるずのみなさんのおかげでした) -- Fuji TV *Thursday

Irregular

Taka Toshi & Nukumizu ga Iku Chiisana Tabi Series (タカトシ&温水が行く小さな旅シリーズ) -- Fuji TV
Special Program Bakushō Sokkuri Monomane Kōhaku Utagassen Special (爆笑そっくりものまね紅白歌合戦スペシャル) -- Fuji TV