Conquer “Do something funny!!”: One-hit gags that fire up the office
At company drinking parties and the like, many new hires and younger employees have probably heard someone say, “Do something funny!!” A lot of people have likely panicked when suddenly put on the spot like that.
For those who’ve never done a one-shot gag before and those who want to overcome the dreaded “Do something!!” at the next party, this article introduces one-shot gags that will liven up company gatherings! To deliver a crowd-pleasing one-shot gag, your best bet is to imitate and perform the popular, classic gags of well-known comedians.
Use these famous, sure-fire gags to get the room pumped up!
Overcome “Do something funny!!”: Ten one-shot gags (1–10) that will liven up the office
self-introduction gagShooting Star Chuuei
A self-introduction gag by Chuei, the funny man of the comedy duo Nagareboshi! Chuei is known for having tons of one-shot gags, and this self-introduction gag was even released as a video on YouTube.
He plays around with last names—twisting them, working them into songs, turning them into puns…
The surnames Chuei introduces are all common Japanese ones, but it could be fun to make your own original self-introduction by punning on your own last name too! It might take a bit of courage, but it could help loosen up a tense office atmosphere just a little.
Encyclopedia of GagsFUJIWARA Haranishi
The gags of Haranishi from FUJIWARA, said to number a trillion? Haranishi is a skilled comedian as part of the duo FUJIWARA, but his solo gags are hilarious too! They aren’t complicated, so they’re easy to try when you want to lighten the mood a bit.
Why not search for Haranishi’s gags from this video and various websites and give some a try?
Yo, check it—translation time!EXIT
EXIT is a manzai comedy duo consisting of Rintaro and Daiki Kanechika, who perform with a flashy, playboy vibe.
Despite their flashy appearance, both of them are actually quite earnest—they work part-time in caregiving and as babysitters in addition to their comedy careers! Why not take a page from their book and, even if you’re usually serious, break out of your shell and try dressing flashy and talking in a cheeky, playful way? You’ll become the center of attention with people saying, “Wait, they’re doing that?!”
Song of Don QuixoteYes! Akito
This is a gag by Yes! Akito where he sings the Don Quijote store theme song—yes, the one that plays in the shops—while dancing, then expands the lyrics to explain his peculiar movements.
At first he’s just lightly singing the familiar theme, which builds anticipation about what’s going to happen next.
Then, with the phrase “the vibe of the movements is like KICK THE CAN CREW,” the true nature of the nimble dance is revealed.
It’s interesting how he zeroes in on how well it matches the theme song’s rhythm, and by combining the movements with that beat to evoke other artists, there’s a lot of potential for more fun developments.
in either handOkubayashi
It looks like someone recklessly revving a motorcycle, but the gag is that there’s something hidden in the hand making that throttle-twisting motion.
Keep in mind the intimidating tone of voice and the glaring expression, because the contrast with what follows makes the joke land.
The twist is that there’s a bee in one of the hands—the hand twitching as if revving the throttle was actually reacting to the bee buzzing around inside.
What sounds like a motorcycle turns out to be the buzz of a bee, and what seems like intimidation flips into asking which hand the bee is in—that gap is the fun part.
slowly, stealthilyChocolate Planet Nagata
We really saw a lot of Chocolate Planet in 2019, didn’t we? Besides their talk segments, their TT Brothers bit and their impressions of IKKO became big topics.
And we can’t forget the “Sorori Sorori” gag they do while impersonating Motoya Izumi—mimicking the kyogen-style way of walking.
It seems useful in all sorts of situations, like when moving to the next bar at a drinking party or heading to the restroom!
I don’t really get what you’re saying.Sandwichman Tomizawa
Sandwichman have become a bona fide staple comedy duo.
One of Tomizawa’s signature lines that’s hugely popular is “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” It’s such a buzzworthy phrase that he’s even used it in commercials! If you drop this line after someone’s been talking their heart out at a drinking party, it’s sure to get a laugh from those around you.
Just make sure you follow up and be considerate to the person who was speaking so earnestly!