Channel surfing one Saturday evening, JQS and I came across what looked like a samurai drama. As we stopped to look, a battle scene began. Suddenly very fake-looking blood was spurting like water from a hose. Just as I began wondering why I wasn't grossed out, the credits cut to Kato-chan (Cha Kato) and Ken-chan's (Ken Shimura) variety show theme song. Something like the Carol Burnett show in the 1970s, Kato/Ken was a mix of skits, girl pop singers, and home videos (later imported to the USA as America's Funniest Home Videos. Look for Kato/Ken in the end credits).
This is the show that helped us take Japan not so seriously. Kato and Ken poke fun at traditional holidays and festivals, the yakuza, onsen, bar girls, and daily life in Tokyo. They are total slackers, and yet they live in a really cool apartment. It's slapstick comedy all the way--there's no language barrier here. Extremely lowbrow humor. Prepare to be offended (8-year-old boys of all ethnicities seem to really like it). My high-school students, however, seemed appalled that I'd watch anything so completely uncool.
Detective Story Theme Song (2.7 MB QuickTime movie) This clip was taped in Japan on VHS in 1991, transferred to mini-DV, then made into a QuickTime movie.
Related Links
Posted by M Sinclair Stevens
June 06, 2002
Comments
Last night, the boy S., (my 11-year-old stepson who is here for the summer) asked "Can I watch Kato and Ken?" All three of us sat down and watched several episodes. Our inability to understand the Japanese dialog is irrelevant to our enjoyment; comedy is a universal language.
Comment by: M Sinclair Stevens. Posted July 7, 2002 09:27 AM.
Hi! Glad to see that kato-chan ken-chan was not a figment of my early childhood memory. I used to watch them when i lived in okinawa as a child...I was wondering if anyone knew what network they were on and also what the production company they worked with was named. I am having a difficult time finding the names of production companies in japan...any guidance as to where to look on the internet would be greatly appreciated! thank you!
Comment by: Irene. Posted October 30, 2002 01:18 PM.
Dorifu was my favorit show when I lived in Japan and I was wondering how to get vhs tapes or dvds of the show or anything starring Ken chan & Kato chan. I really want to see them again!
Comment by: Nissy. Posted February 4, 2003 02:58 PM.
Kato & Ken videos in NTSC format are available from amazon.com.jp.
Comment by: M Sinclair Stevens. Posted February 4, 2003 06:04 PM.
Very nice kato and ken... desire to congratulate you, I am from Chile and have several videos of you. my children do not speak japones, but they disfrutran of its programs. B.regards. Luis Flores ( CHILE) ルイス フロ−レス チリ−
Comment by: ルイス フロレス. Posted December 4, 2003 09:12 PM.
I've long been a fan for this show from these two amazing comedians. I recorded in VHS with the total of 14 videos, but they are all in Thai soundtrack. I can always watch these videos over and over again... seems like their is no limitation of how fun they are. However, I would like to know if there is anyway I could get a full copy of their shows. I love Ken and Kato chan.
Comment by: Benny. Posted January 18, 2004 05:12 PM.
I'm a Thai fanclub of this movie. Now I'm 18. I watch this movie on chanel 7 in Thailand when I study in kindergarden (about 4-7 years old). I like this movie very much. It makes me a smile.
Comment by: aom. Posted February 11, 2004 09:42 AM.
I'm a big fan of this funny series.I use to watch it when I'm at primary school. I bet it was the funniest series in Thailand at that time.
Comment by: Analayo. Posted February 12, 2004 10:26 AM.
I've watched this show when I was so young. Luckily, it was aired in my country. I love it soooooo much! The best comedy ever!!
Comment by: Bokas. Posted February 20, 2005 10:13 AM.
I've enjoyed the Kato-Ken Show for years. I still have video of the programs I recorded back in 1988 and laugh every time! Is the program still on the air in Japan? Feel free to visit ClickOkinawa.com too! Domo arigato! O ya sumi nasai
Comment by: Mick McClary. Posted June 4, 2005 10:52 PM.
Back in '97 I was stuck working in Taiwan for the most miserable 4 months of my life but the 1 thing that got me through it all was regular episodes of "Daijoubu da" with Ken and Kato. I didn't understand a word of it but it had me in hysterics no matter how many times I watched the repeats. I wish more than anything for those shows to be released on DVD.
Comment by: Jeff, Australia. Posted February 8, 2006 03:00 AM.
I 1st got to watch kato and ken when my brother went to Japan many years ago and he had this habit of recording Japanese tv shows and movies and sending the tapes to us, one them is Kato and Ken's comedy show . I still have those tapes until now because I treasure them, they are very funny even I don't understand a word, you will be able to get their jokes. Masterpiece!!
Comment by: Bunaosan. Posted February 10, 2006 07:32 AM.
Before starting their own show, Kato and Ken used to be members of a comic band. But even then, they used to be the funniest two. I was probably in second grade when they started their show. My brothers and I used to be in fits of laughter wacthing them!!
Comment by: Bachu. Posted September 16, 2006 07:45 PM.
When I was really young, I used to watch them when they were on a show called hachi-ji da yo. I hardly understood a word they said but the actions alone were funny as hell. Ken was funny when he did the mock peeing on stage.
Comment by: psych. Posted October 11, 2006 07:53 AM.
Hi everybody! Recently, I found out that www.YouTube.com is a gold mine when it comes to old sketches (even in japanese). Enter a search query with Dorifu "ドリフ" or Shimura ken "志村けん"in it and you'll find numerous videos featuring shimura ken with links to other shows. It lackes video quality but that didn't kept me to laugh my guts out. This glimpse of childhood is so precious. * I've been trying to post some of my collection up to YouTube. -- mss
Comment by: Nissyn. Posted May 27, 2007 01:52 PM.
Share Your Thoughts
Japanese TV: Comedy Variety Hour
Ken Shimura and Cha Kato read their New Year's cards while sipping sake and eating special New Year's foods in an episode of Detective Story. They are sitting at a kotatsu, a table which has a heat lamp underneath.