Next month, Tokyo is set to welcome one of the most provocative voices in stand-up comedy. Anthony Jeselnik, known for his dark humor and razor-sharp wit, is bringing his "Bones and All" tour to Asia, with Tokyo being one of the stops on Aug 5 at Yamano Hall in Shibuya. It marks Jeselnik's first time performing stand-up in Japan.
Jeselnik, who has appeared on "Conan," "The Tonight Show," "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," has carved out a unique niche in the comedy scene. His absurdity and brutal honesty define his unique appeal. His comedy often tackles taboo subjects with a fearless and unapologetic style that his fans love him for.
His delivery is also a hallmark of his style. Often speaking with a calm, composed demeanor, his deadpan expression sharply contrasts with his material's absurd and sometimes morbid content. The audience is usually either in tears of laughter or thoroughly offended.
Anyone new to Jeselnik should expect a blend of discomfort and laughter. Jeselnik's willingness to joke about sensitive topics and events has often sparked criticism. His comedy has sometimes incited backlash, with some calling his jokes tasteless or problematic.
Despite this, Jeselnik has maintained that pushing boundaries is essential to comedy. In 2012, Jeselnik sparked outrage for joking about a victim of a shark attack in New Zealand. During a bit on his then TV show, "The Jeselnik Offensive," he praised shark attacks — pointing out that humans kill more sharks than vice versa — and enjoyed a lap dance from a woman in a shark costume to commemorate the occasion.
He later added the controversy to his routine to critique virtue signaling. Jeselnik's absurdity and brutal honesty are what his fans love him for. For his "Bones and All" tour, Jeselnik has prepared a new hour of original material.
Speaking with Japan Today, he expressed his excitement about performing in Tokyo, calling it one of his favorite cities in the world and noting that performing in Japan's capital has been a long-time dream. However, Jeselnik acknowledges that his show might be a hard sell to Japanese people unfamiliar with "Western-style" stand-up. He anticipates mostly foreigners in the audience.
"I hope a lot of Japanese people come to the show, but I'm expecting mostly expats," he said. Traditional Japanese comedy, or owarai , often relies on physical humor, such as manzai , where a straight-man-funny-man duo performs routines engaging in misunderstandings and silly behavior, or rakugo, where a solo performer narrates funny anecdotes using props and gestures. "Anyone expecting physical humor will be sorely disappointed," he joked.
“I understand that Western humor is not popular in Japan. But that's just because I haven't been there yet!" Despite the cultural differences, Jeselnik's fans in Tokyo can look forward to an evening of his signature dark humor and sharp wit. The show promises to be a unique experience for locals and expatriates, with Jeselnik noting that fans can "definitely expect one joke about Japan" in his new hour.
Fans can catch Anthony Jeselnik's first show in Tokyo on Aug 5 at Shibuya's Yamano Hall, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the show starting at 7 p.
m. For ticket info, click here ..
