I want to adapt these for the school festival! A roundup of comedians’ manzai, sketch comedy, and one-liner gags
Many students are probably thinking about putting on a comedy show as an attraction for their school cultural festival.
It sounds fun to perform a one-liner, do a manzai routine or a sketch, and make everyone laugh by showing your material on stage! But the tricky part is deciding what kind of material to perform.
It would be great if you could create your own original material, but that’s not so easy.
That’s why we recommend imitating or arranging popular comedians’ routines and performing those! In this article, we’ll introduce recommended bits from popular comedians—whether manzai, sketches, or one-liners—without limiting the format.
- Cultural Festival: Ranking of Popular Booth Ideas
- [Hilarious] One-Liner Gags That Kill at Parties and Events
- One-liner gags that will have your school in stitches: a collection of bits to make you the class favorite.
- Popular comedy and manzai bits that elementary school kids will love. Simple one-liner gags.
- [Comedy] Summary of Recently Popular Bits and Gags
- Recommended plays for a high school cultural festival: popular, crowd-pleasing ideas
- [Comedy Skit] A Roundup of One-Liner Gags Recommended for High School Students!
- [Simple Impressions] Fun Classic Bits Even Beginners Can Do [2026]
- [Hilarious] Rhythm Gags That Kill at Parties and Performances
- Classic plays performed by elementary school students: recommended works roundup
- [Definitive Guide] Guaranteed Crowd-Pleasers! Party Acts and Gags Everyone Will Enjoy
- A show-stopping party trick that energizes the crowd at a school cultural festival
- Ideas for stage events and attractions that will liven up a school festival
I want to adapt these for the school festival! A roundup of comedians’ manzai, skits, and one-shot gags (21–30)
Yuriyan Retriever
Yuriyan Retriever is a skilled solo comedian who won the R-1 Grand Prix 2021 and also took the title in the 2017 “Onna Geinin No.1 Ketteisen THE W.” In 2019, she appeared on the popular American audition show “America’s Got Talent,” further expanding her reach.
One of her signature gags is “Ochitsuite ikiya~” (“Take it easy, okay?”).
It’s a bit that helps soothe people who seem a little on edge.
At a school festival, it could work well as a warm-up act to calm the nerves of performers coming on next and to put the audience at ease.
Warai Meshi
A skit by Warai Meshi characterized by their unique double-boke style, where one person plays both the fool and the straight man at the same time.
The highlight is the way the story unfolds using boundless imagination.
Despite the unrealistic premise that a fly appears in various folktales, the oddly detailed realism draws you in before you realize it.
If you perform it at a school festival, it could be even more fun to bring in other insect characters and turn it into a story.
It’s a routine that tests the performers’ energy and imagination, but if you carry it through with momentum, the impact is tremendous.
It has a mysterious charm that makes the audience laugh even if they’re not quite sure what’s happening.
Apple-chan
Ringo-chan is a slightly chubby, girly, and cute impressionist.
When she talks, her gestures and mannerisms are very feminine, but the moment she starts singing, most people go, “Wait, what?!” The person you see in front of you and the deep, masculine singing voice just don’t match, and you’re left not knowing what you’re looking at.
That extreme gap is truly a god-tier skill! Normally, cutesy, overly girlish characters aren’t very popular with women, but she’s beloved precisely because of that contrast.
Gentlemen who want to deliver a shock—how about it? As an advanced twist, there’s also the option of a woman going all-in on a rugged, masculine disguise.
Yoneda 2000
Yoneda 2000, a popular duo formed in 2020, are a female manzai comedy pair who, despite their relatively short career so far, are regarded as top contenders among the younger generation.
In the 2022 M-1 Grand Prix, their bit “Let’s pound mochi in the UK!” featured the line “We’re absolutely going to make this a success,” which has been spreading like a catchphrase.
The surreal image of British people pounding mochi, voiced in broken Japanese to convey their determination, had audiences in stitches.
Although they narrowly finished 5th in that year’s M-1, their talent is beyond doubt, with accolades like runner-up in THE W 2022 (the competition to determine the No.
1 female comedian) and the Newcomer Award at the 2023 Kamigata Manzai Association Awards.
3 o’clock heroine
The comedy trio 3ji no Heroine, who won the third championship at the 2019 Women Comedian No.1 Contest THE W, consists of Maki Fukuda, Yumecchi, and Kanade.
With their distinctive characters, they’re popular on variety shows as well.
When adapting their material, sketches are definitely recommended.
Their bits are well-crafted with detailed character settings and storylines, making them feel like you’re watching a short narrative, not just a joke.
And if you’re paying homage, you’ll want to include the signature “Ah-haan!” delivered by Yumecchi or Kanade.
Set to Julia Michaels’ “Uh Huh,” this gag is used to gloss over something and is an essential nod to 3ji no Heroine!
Boru Juku
Boru-Juku is a female comedy group made up of Haruka Kiriya and Tomoka Tanabe, who play the boke (funny) roles, and Anri, who plays the tsukkomi (straight man) role.
Each member has a standout personality, and they’ve gained popularity through numerous appearances on variety shows.
Although people often think they’re a trio, they’re actually a four-member group; the fourth member, Nozomi Sakayori, is currently scaling back her activities to focus on childcare.
After Anri compliments someone, Tanabe delivers her signature “Maa-ne” (“Well, yeah”) followed by a delightfully self-conscious remark, which many viewers love.
Their routine style is a kind of manzai that seems to put Tanabe on a pedestal—but not quite—and often pokes fun at themselves.
You could even create similar material by adapting that style to yourselves! Boru-Juku’s costumes are also distinctive, so copying that aspect comes recommended as well!
Timon D Takagi
Timon-D, the comedy duo consisting of Hiroyuki Takagishi—the boke known for his relaxed, distinctive way of speaking and signature orange outfit—and Yuta Maeda, the tsukkomi in a blue jacket, have gained popularity on variety shows thanks to their unique characters.
Remarkably, Takagishi isn’t just funny—he’s such a skilled baseball player that it wouldn’t be surprising if he were a first-round draft pick! Speaking of their routines, the hallmark is Takagishi’s laid-back delivery of positive lines.
His slightly offbeat yet uplifting remarks have won many fans.
To cheer on others sharing the stage, why not try delivering some easygoing, positive material in Takagishi’s signature style?