America Zarigani
America Zarigani is a Japanese comedy duo formed in 1994 by Tetsuya Yanagihara and Yoshiyuki Hirai.
They are a manzai group and perform in the Kansai dialect.
Origins
America Zarigani started out as a theatrical troupe but became a comedic duo composed of just Hirai and Yanagihara after the other members left.Current members
Tetsuya Yanagihara
In addition to performing in America Zarigani, Yanagihara works as a voice actor. He has voice-acted in animes like ''My Instant Death Ability Is So Overpowered.''Yoshiyuki Hirai
Hirai attended Osaka Designer's College, with the intention to pursue a career in the video games industry, but started performing comedy after being recommended by a friend. In addition to performing in America Zarigani, Hirai has also written video games including Weapon Shop de Omasse, and the flash anime Aka-chan. He has also voice-acted in the animes Inzauma Eleven and Prince of Tennis.Both are natives of Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture, and are classmates in middle and high school.
; Tetsuya Yanagihara
; Yoshiyuki Hirai
Career
- He first met in middle school, where they were in the same class. They became close in high school, sitting next to each other and sharing the same classes in their first and second years—this was a decisive factor in their friendship, both sharing interests in anime and comedy.
- At age 20, they formed a comedy unit with three friends, initially called "Gekidan America Zari Gani" with five members. They officially started full activity during their third year of university in 1994. The group name is derived from creatures they captured as children, which could be abbreviated. However, the name was assigned randomly during their amateur days and stuck with them.
- They achieved 16 consecutive wins on "Baka-Show On Air Battle," with a top score of 517 KB. They participated three times in the Champion Tournament, reaching the finals in 1999.
- They competed in the first M-1 Grand Prix in 2001, reaching the finals for three consecutive years, finishing 4th in 2001, 9th in 2002, and 7th in 2003. In 2001, they were the fourth act to perform, maintaining second place but lost to Hariganeroock in the final.
- They won the 6th "MBS New Generation Manzai Award" in 2008, the first duo outside Yoshimoto Kogyo to do so.
- They have held regular live shows called "Amerizari Live" at Shochiku Geino Shinjuku Kadoza since May 2011.
- On November 11, 2015, they streamed their solo "Amerizari Solo Live" on Nico Nico Douga, a first for Shochiku Geino, with audience participation via comments.
- In October 2018, they used Virtual Cast to perform as VTubers, and in January 2019, they appeared as VTubers on NHK's "Nihon no Dojime".
- Their comedy costumes were not fixed initially, but recently Yanagihara often wears red, and Hirai wears blue.
Awards and Achievements
; M-1 Grand Prix| Year | Result | Entry No. | Final Catchphrase | Notes |
| 2001 | 3rd place in finals | 1118 | "Three Octaves Shock" | Did not advance to the final due to regulations |
| 2002 | 9th place in finals | 1751 | ||
| 2003 | 7th place in finals | 1888 | "Third Time's the Charm" |
; "Baka-Show" On Air Battle Champion Tournament
| Year | Result | Notes |
| 2000 | 4th place in finals | Passed in the first group |
| 2001 | Semi-final eliminated | League A, 6th place |
| 2002 | Semi-final eliminated | Block B, 6th place |
; Other Awards & Achievements
- 1998: 19th ABC Newcomers Grand Prix, Special Jury Prize
- 1998: 28th NHK Kamigata Manzai Contest, Best Award
- 1998: 27th Kamigata Comedy Awards, Silver Award
- 1999: 34th Kamigata Manzai Awards, Newcomer Award
- 2002: 31st Kamigata Comedy Awards, Best Skill Award
- 2003: 38th Kamigata Manzai Awards, Encouragement Award
- 2008: 6th "MBS New Generation Manzai Award"
- 2010: World Table Tennis CM Award, Encouragement Award
- 2010: King of Conte semi-finalists
- 2010: The Ena's "Nico Nico Carpet" Champions
- 2011: Nippon Food "The Manzai" 2011, eliminated in finals
Appearances
TV Shows
Regular Appearances
- Otoosan to Issho – Shushu
- Japan in Motion – Reporter
- Data Navi: Reading the Future – Data King
- Welcome! Yokimaru House
- Sugo E Festa 2023
- Sugo E Festa 2025
Internet Live Shows
- Otonamo Omocha – Hirai only
- Super Piko Piko Club
- Capcom TV! – Hirai only
- Denjin☆Getcha! – Yanagihara only
- Hokka Hokka Dake Ne! V Jump! – Hirai only
- Segaa Pu Nico Live – Yanagihara only
- "23/7 Twenty Three Seven" Broadcast Station – Hirai only
- Steins;Gate Zero Future Gadget Lab Abema Branch – Yanagihara only
- Tokyo Idol Stadium 2020 – Hirai only
On-Demand Distribution
- Eimi Naruse of Denpa-gumi Inc. introduces manga with high energy – Yanagihara only
- "Zaripai-sensei's Want to Play Games!!" – Hirai
Past Appearances
TV
- Regular Appearances
- * Nurture Hobby Encyclopedia
- * Takajin Heartful – semi-regular
- * Rakurabu
- * Blatch
- * Aruki Puchi Kyoto
- * Ensoku TV!
- * Weekly Theater
- * Saigo no Bansan – Hirai only
- * BAN! BOO! Pain!!
- * Nippon Yugai Kazoku – semi-regular
- * Owarai Financier JAPAN – bi-weekly regular
- * Hyakuman Baryoku "Masuo & Ameza Rii's Unreasonable Training"
- * Shoubin + Osero's V.I.P.
- * Oshaberi Brunch – "Brunch Exploration Corps" reporter
- * Shibusuta S.B.S.T – Thursday regular
- * Wide! ABC – "Ameza Rii Real Estate" corner
- * Masuda Okada Kado Paa!
- * Machi Uke!
- * Hanamaru Market – "Problem Solving! Amano-shaku" corner
- * TV Champion – "Come at me!" corner
- * Bishoujo Kenkyujo
- * Anime Terebi – host
- * Akiba! AKIBA☆Aki
- * Mania no Sake
- * Matsutake-chan
- * Saki Yomi Jan BANG! – MC: Ame Pai, Zaripai
- * Monster Hunter Plus – MC
- * Natsume Yujinchou episode 5 "Kokoro-iro no Kippu" – San to, Mikuri
- * Inazuma Eleven – Neppa, Bomber
- * Hanakappa – Color Batcho, Momokappa's Father, Tsunenari's Father
- * Jewelpet Twinkle – I Am Pen
- * Kuttin Idol Ai! Ma'in! Main! – Scara
- * Rirupuri – Magic Mirror
- * Arashi no Yoru ni: Himitsu no Tomodachi – Zack
- * Explorers Driland episode 5 "Chase the Secret Stone! Darkness Tambourine, Yadasu!" – Yadasu
- * Driland: 1000 Years of True Treasure episode 20 – Mekkī
- * Beast Saga – Mantarai
- * Gaisuto Crusher – Abura-ya Densuke
- * Go!Go! Kaden Danshi – Takoyaki Maker
- * Dragon Collection – Bran Mon
- * Yu Gi Oh! ARC-V episode 98 "One Path" – Yager
- * B-PROJECT ~Ko-do*Ambitious~ episode 10 "BIRTHDAY" – Producer
- * Kamimazawa Wonder – Panta Takezo
- * I Want to be Hugged! episode 8 "Zuzura, Don't Switch, Don't Switch" – Polynesian Dancer
- * Aha! Meisaku-kun – Nakamu, Sato
- * Kinnikuman: Seikoku Chōjin Shiso-hen – Nakano Kazuo
- * Yokai Gakko Hajimemashita! – Small Old Man
Theatrical Anime
- South Park: The Movie – Eric Cartman, Chef
- Yatterman – Brief appearance, scene cut in the final version.
- Garo: Soukou no Maou – Esalt
- Hana Kappa: Hana Sake! Pattaa Chō no Daibōken – Carabacho
Commercials
- TV Tokyo series Bomberman Jetterz – Gung, Bango
- Shiseido uno (cosmetics)
- Capcom Monster Hunter G (Wii) – Ailu, Pugi
- Capcom Monster Hunter 4 "Three Little Pigs" version – Light blue piglet, Wolf
Other Appearances
- "BE" / Supercar – Music PV: Friend of a friend, Friend of a friend’s friend
- Famitsu Game Channel
- Xbox 360 Inside Xbox
- Hunter Diary 2 – Legendary comedian hunter
- Suda51's Suda Checker – Steebo
- Inomaru Dashi – Kenta, Mocchan
- Bomberman Jetterz "Episode 53: Coming Back Jetterz" – Gung, Bango
Discography
CDs
- ON THE BEACH – Maxi single produced as part of Wakayama Broadcasting project. "Hirai Blues" sung by Hirai, "On the Beach" by Yanagihara.
- Omoshiro Kenkou Hyakuka Vol.10 – Features "Gomi Western," sung by Yanagihara, played once on "Thread King ABC".
- Doronuma Gekijo
- Koi wa Cheese Burger / I'm the Leader – Ending theme for Yomiuri TV "BAN!BOO! Pain!!"
- Doronuma Gekijo 2
- Doronuma Gekijo 3
- Anison Plus x Anime☆Dance Collection – Includes "Motteke! Sailor Fuku" from "Lucky Star" and "Cobra" from "Space Cobra".
DVDs
- America Zari Gani Doronuma Theater "Nishini"
- Bakusho On Air Battle America Zari Gani
- M-1 Grand Prix 2001 Complete Version – And the Legend Began – Partial release
- M-1 Grand Prix 2002 Complete Version – All the Fierce Battles – Partial release
- M-1 Grand Prix 2003 Complete Version – The Passion of M-1 Warriors – Partial release
- Live! Chikaru Japan Tour 2004 – Partial release
- Dead Ball 1: The Life-Threatening Ball That Will Surely Hit You – Includes "Yatsu" and "Yatsu's" scenes
- Enta no Kami-sama Best Selection Vol. 2 – Partial release
- Enta no Kami-sama Best Selection Vol. 4 – Partial release
- America Zari Gani Kikai no Karada DVD
- Maji☆Wara Vol.2 – Partial
- Shochiku Kadoza Live: Shochiku Kadoza Live – Partial
- Live! Chikaru 2005 Laughing Expo – Partial
- Peace! Special Tenkaichi Bushoukai ~ The Strongest! Owarai Hakata Kessen Part 1 – Partial
- Shochiku Geino Live Vol.7 America Zari Gani: Invasion and Love
- Chikaru 2006 Special Shochiku Geino Comedy Collection – Partial
- America Zari Gani Kikai no Karada DVD 2
- America Zari Gani Kikai no Karada DVD 3
- America Zari Gani Kikai no Karada DVD 4
- America Zari Gani Kikai no Karada Taiheiyo Game-sai
- America Zari Gani Kikai no Karada Yana-hara Game-sai
- America Zari Gani Kikai no Karada Hira-i Game-sai
- America Zari Gani Kikai no Karada Kiseki no Daifukkatsu-hen!!
- The Game Maker ~Sunsoft Edition~ – Hirai only
- The Game Maker ~Jaleco Edition~ – Hirai only
- The Game Maker ~Taito Edition~ – Hirai only
- The Game Maker ~Irem Edition~ – Hirai only
Network Streaming
- WARHAWK America's Kikai no Karada Part.1
- WARHAWK America's Kikai no Karada Part.2
Serializations
- Jump Soul G! "Zariman."
- Saki Yomi Jan BANG!: Zaripai-sensei's 4-panel comic corner "DARO!" – Manga by Hirai, collected in volume in 2013
- Industry Late Bloomer Girl – Manga by Hirai
Others
- "South Park: The Uncensored Movie" DVD
- GUILD01 – Nintendo 3DS game including Hirai's game "Rental Weapon Shop de Omasse"
- MC for the special event of the TV anime Houseki no Kuni