A surprise cameo with extra “DASH!!”
Japan’s beloved Sunday evening comedy institution “Shoten” on Nippon TV (NTV) served up a nostalgic treat and a fresh twist in its 60th-anniversary year, when former TOKIO leader Shigeru Joshima, 55, appeared as a guest zabuton (cushion) carrier on the episode aired on the 26th (JST). Introduced by host Shunputei Shota, 66, Joshima stepped into the role usually held by long-serving stalwart Takao Yamada. Kicking off with a warm bow to tradition, he said, “Congratulations on Shoten’s 60th anniversary. Today, in place of Mr. Yamada, I’ll be delivering cushions—and happiness. I’m Shigeru Joshima. Thank you.”
Tradition meets variety-show energy
“Shoten,” a fixture of Japanese television since the 1960s, blends rakugo (comic storytelling) wit with quick-fire wordplay. Panelists earn or lose zabuton based on their punchlines, with the cushion carrier serving as the show’s playful “referee.” On this night, Shota framed Joshima’s cameo as a collaboration with “The! Tetsuwan! DASH!!”—NTV’s long-running variety program where TOKIO tackle hands-on challenges across Japan. Joshima leaned into the crossover with an easy grin: “I’ll DASH it right over.”
The studio leaned into the fun. When Shota teased, “So, about Mr. Yamada…,” veteran rakugo comedian Hayashiya Taihei quipped “Retirement?”—drawing laughs before Yamada himself emerged to “assist” the special guest. Joshima’s first delivery went to Shunputei Ichinosuke, who thanked him with, “This doesn’t happen every day!” Moments later, Sanyutei Koyuza’s reply prompted a removal order. As Joshima rushed back, Shota stopped him mid-aisle—“Ah, take it away”—and Joshima, flustered but game, blurted, “Oh—so I’m taking it back,” to more laughter.
Wordplay, “wan-wan,” and quick-fire gags
In a later round, the prompt turned to possible “Joshima merchandise.” The guest routinely hovered at the edge of the set with cushions in hand, sometimes reversing course at the last second, joking that “ten cushions could fly out in no time.” When Taihei proposed a tongue-in-cheek “Joshima flare” gag and bantered about being “smoked out” by teammates, Joshima strode in—only to be ordered to take a cushion away, leading to a playful face-off punctuated by Japan’s canine onomatopoeia (“wan, wan”—the local equivalent of “woof”). Joshima capped the bit with a dog-themed wordplay that drew cheers and a chorus of “umai!” (“nicely done”). By the third prompt, he was even striking the signature “DASH” pose alongside the panelists, raising the room’s energy further.
Why this matters—for Japan fans and first-time viewers
For international audiences, Joshima’s cameo highlights what makes Japanese television distinctive and enduring: a seamless blend of tradition and innovation. “Shoten” turns linguistic finesse and rakugo timing into mainstream entertainment, while “The! Tetsuwan! DASH!!” channels hands-on curiosity about Japanese life—from farms and fisheries to local crafts. Seeing them intersect on a milestone broadcast underlines NTV’s knack for cross-generational appeal. It also showcases the gentle, communal humor that keeps families tuning in: no mean-spirited barbs, just quick wit, teamwork, and cultural in-jokes explained through performance. Even the cushions tell a story—zabuton rewarding sharp answers and disappearing when a joke falls flat. For residents and visitors, “Shoten” remains a weekly ritual (Sundays at 5:30 p.m. JST on NTV), a window into how Japanese comedy prizes wordplay over spectacle, and how pop-culture veterans like Joshima can slot elegantly into a half-century tradition without overshadowing it. In a year celebrating 60 years on air, this light-touch crossover delivered exactly what Joshima promised at the top: “cushions—and happiness.”
