Aoiro Ichigo_ Saru Base

"K-PRO", the production company leading the comedy live scene. Now it is featured on terrestrial programs, and its presence has become familiar not only to comedians but also to comedy fans.
In this interview, we have received comments from Ms. Kina Kojima, the representative of K-PRO, regarding Aoiro Ichigo and Saru Base. What words are thrown at them, and how did the two pairs react...?

Episode 1 - Ex-girlfriends, share houses, udon... What pasts and connections will be revealed in their first dialogue?

Released on 5/15 (Thu)!
Episode 3 - With jealousy, charming techniques... and of course, passion! The first dialogue project is finally in its last episode!

——

ZAIKO: What does "K-PRO" mean to all of you?

All: Oh! Ah~ K-PRO!

Aoiro Ichigo_ Saru Base

Kamimura (Aoiro Ichigo): This is Sal Base, right? Shouldn’t we say something nice?

Orida (Saru Base): (K-PRO is) a large live company, but we started appearing relatively recently, about 2-3 years ago.
Blue Color (No. 1) has been around for a long time, and others like "Sasurai Labii" or "Stretchies" were called quite early. I thought it was a world of live performances where only "glamorous" people could appear, but the first people to invite us were Blue Color No. 1!
When there was something like "Blue Color No. 1's performance" at a K-PRO live event, they invited Sal Base, and from there, we started to be able to perform occasionally.
We had no exchanges with other offices until then, but it was the first time we experienced a live performance with people from other agencies besides Yoshimoto (Kogyo), so it's a place that connects Sal Base with various people.

Matsuyama (Saru Base): I had always been friends with Blue Color, but I was told, "You guys aren’t with K-PRO yet!" After we started to do well in other live performances, they casually invited us. So, it felt particularly joyful.

Tomoyappu (Saru Base): It feels like a place that gently pushes you, saying, "You should perform here!" If things went a bit differently, it wouldn't have been surprising if we remained buried in obscurity in our 9th or 10th year, but they really supported us to create a place that feels like, "Look, everyone!" So I just hope I can move forward without falling into the audience...

Kamimura: ...You're good!

Orida: Not good! The end!

Tomoyappu: I'm sorry. I just showed a little of my "skill".

Kamimura: Watch carefully, you all.

Tomoyappu: I’m really shaking. I gave them a chance.

Kariya (Blue Color No. 1): K-PRO, what kind of existence ... um, wait a second ... let the other two go first ...

All: (laughs)

Kamimura: We were invited by Sasurai Labii and were told, "There’s a trio called Blue Color No. 1!" It feels like K-PRO is showing us that. Honestly, I get shivers thinking about what would’ve happened if we hadn’t been on K-PRO. I wonder if we would still be doing comedy. They invite us to a lot of live shows now, and Mr. Kojima, the representative, also mentions our names in various media. For us in comedy ... no, the Mother of Tokyo, "Kina Kojima."

Tomoyappu: But aren't you not from Tokyo? Isn’t there a real mother out there?

All: (laughs)

Kamimura: My mother ... from Tokyo ...

Orida: It’s understandable for us to say! I’m from Kagoshima!

Kamimura: Anyway, they are a person who loves comedians ... someone who really wants to repay their kindness as soon as possible. It feels like, "I have to repay the favor soon."

Enomoto (Blue Color No. 1): In various live shows, they are spreading the word that "Blue Color No. 1 is here"... Thanks to that, we get to perform at K-PRO, so I want to sell out quickly and repay the favor as soon as possible ...

Orida: That's the same!

All: (laughs)

Tomoyappu: I’m shocked right now!

Orida: Were you joking or was it all the same? I felt it was thin too.

Kamimura: Kariya is here.

Kariya: Seriously, I want to repay the kindness quickly.

All: (laughs)

Tomoyappu: Wow ...

Orida: That’s true, isn’t it?! We also want to repay that kindness!

Kariya: That’s very true.

Kamimura: That’s really true... That’s all there is for now.

Kariya: No matter what happens, we’re on the same side. I want to remain a supporter of Ms. Kojima, who has been taking care of me and who I want to continue supporting.

——

ZAIKO: Actually, I have a message from Ms. Kojima for everyone.

All: Wow~~!! Yabai~~~~!!

Aoiro Ichigo_ Saru Base

Tomoyappu: Really, seriously!?? I understand about Aoiro, but us too!? I’ve only been told “Good morning~”!

Orida: No, there should be more!

Tomoyappu: Well, Orida is talking about something, but for me, most of the time while changing, it’s only "Good morning~" and "When you change, you can't take everything off before changing!" That's all!

All: (laughs)

Tomoyappu: You must change without separating your upper body and lower body! I always change after taking everything off, so they say, "Don’t change while being naked!" and "Good morning~", that’s it!

Orida: That’s like a mother, to teach you things like that.

Aoiro Ichigo_ Saru Base

ZAIKO: First, to Aoiro Ichigo──

"I think Blue Color No. 1 consists of three passionate people. Although their way of showing enthusiasm may differ, each of the three is so warm that if there were a comic featuring a sketch artist, they could be the main character in it. Also, I’m really happy to observe them on this stage as a record of their growth.
I look forward to continuing to watch Aoiro Ichigo, seeing the three of them in each dressing room, during sketches, and even the three of them I don’t know yet!"

Orida: That’s amazing!! They have a way with words!!

Tomoyappu: Isn’t that a love letter!

Orida: It’s amazing to see Blue Color No. 1 like that!!

Kamimura: It’s amazing.

Orida: Only Kamimura can see it! At first glance, it’s obvious they have enthusiasm!

Kamimura: I was really sharp when I first started. I recall being irritated at the corners of the desk in the dressing room (pointing to the corner in front of the mirror). I really didn’t talk to anyone back then.
At that time, Mr. Kojima spoke to me, saying, “See, Hanako-san is here today, so talk to her!” and tried to connect us. But then somewhere else, I thought, “I have nothing to say,” and returned to my seat again. I kept looking at the corner.

All: (laughs)

Kamimura: I’m really happy that someone invited that kind of person. They are like a mother to me in Tokyo!

Tomoyappu: The idea of three unique main characters is definitely true.

Orida: It’s easy to understand.

Kariya: I’ve never heard that before. I could say they are unique or three individuals, but I’ve never been told I could also be a main character. I found out I could be a main character.

All: (laughs)

Tomoyappu: Don’t be too humble!

Orida: Did you notice? You’re receiving good wisdom!

Tomoyappu: Everyone can become a main character! Each of us actually has good episodes!

Orida: It’s quite difficult to draw a comic, though. In reality, only Kamimura can draw (laughs).

Kariya: Boy’s magazine (Kamimura), young man’s magazine (Kariya), and same-sex... doujinshi (Enomoto).

Enomoto: Same-sex (laughs).

Tomoyappu: One that ends in 12 pages, doujinshi (laughs).

Saru Base

ZAIKO: Next, to Saru Base!

To Saru Base──

"Saru Base is a trio I met through the voices of Aoiro Ichigo and Sasurai Labii, saying, "Anyway, they are funny, so please invite them to a live show!" and I thought, "I have to pay attention!" Now they are not only doing sketches but also being so reliable that it feels lonely on days they don’t show up, performing as MCs at young comedians' shows and in game corners.
Initially, I had the strong impression of Tomoyappu-kun, who has a lot of gags and makes everyone laugh, and then I had a blast watching the flustered Orida-kun during his first MCing experience, and now Matsuyama-kun’s improvisational skills make me laugh and even move me; their variety power is truly amazing!
I really want junior comedians to see that side of them!"

Orida: Thank you! They really took the time to share individual episodes.

Kamimura: How about you, Tomoyappu?

Tomoyappu: Well, they probably couldn’t delve into the inner side.

All: (laughs)

Orida: Well, there was that! There were good messages for Blue Color No. 1!

Kariya: It was long, though.

Orida: It certainly compensated for it with enough text!

Tomoyappu: It felt more like compensating with writing than passion!

All: (laughs)

Enomoto: It’s really good!

Orida: I’m really happy!

Tomoyappu: Indeed, it reminded me of the past days. I forced out gags, but Orida worked hard as an MC, and Matsuyama has recently been getting recognition at K-PRO.

Orida: "Being teased".

Tomoyappu: It’s as if we’re being teased. Matsuyama has a knack for creating strange atmospheres, but every time it’s Matsuyama who directs the performance. I felt that they were paying attention.

Orida: Yes, there are few lives where we’re actually entrusted with the MCing. For the level of experience we have, we’re quite lucky to be allowed to do that and work with other young comedians from different agencies, so we are learning a lot every day!

ZAIKO: There are also comments for both pairs.

Tomoyappu: You’re very busy, aren’t you, Kojima-san! What are you doing?

Kariya: I’m so happy...!

ZAIKO:

“From two to three, I believe that it’s a common point for both pairs that the trio has powered up. Please tell me if it feels like the pieces fit together smoothly, if the way of receiving laughs has changed, or if the way of creating skits has changed.
Alternatively, please share the exhilaration of standing on stage as a sketch artist. When does the character enter you—during practice? At the moment the lights go out? At the stage wings? etc., tell me about the moments you enter a role, and when you get laughs, the moment you think, "I’m in the zone!"

ZAIKO: First, how does it feel that the pieces fit together and if there have been changes in the way you receive laughs or create skits?

Kamimura: When we were a duo, we didn’t really have any fun. It was funny, but something felt off. And when we became a trio, we had proper jokes, and it felt like we could make people laugh during live performances. It was a bit vague when we were a duo, like a weak version of "Sandaru".

All: (laughs)

Orida: Hey, don’t say that! Don’t compare our seniors to a bad example!

Kamimura: If I write it down, it will be understood!

Orida: I think Mr. Kojima will understand!

Kamimura: I somehow thought that vague feeling was "weak".

Kariya: Well, it’s not like we’re not a power group.

Kamimura: Hmm… but once we added someone who could make jokes, that’s when we felt like we had a skit!

Kariya: That’s right. If I hadn’t been there, it would’ve been dangerous.

All: (laughs)

Kamimura: It feels nice to be teamed up with each other.

Kariya: We were just becoming "Sandaru".

Orida: The "just"-Sandaru! (laughs)

Kariya: I may have been just "Kariya Soumen".

All: (laughs)

Aoiro Ichigo_ Saru Base

ZAIKO: This was also a question, but is there a sensation of exhilaration when you stand on stage as a sketch artist, or does a moment come when you think "I’m in the zone!"?

Kamimura: I haven’t achieved results enough to feel exhilaration yet, but when I stand on that big stage, when the lights go off … When we stand in the dark, and that moment when the stage lights come on—it feels like, "This will begin!" I think it’s kind of cool at that moment.

ZAIKO: Kariya, what about you?

Kariya: As a sketch artist … it’s tough. I only think about it when we get laughs… um, what could it be…

Orida: You seem to enjoy it when you’re possessing a character, like as an old lady.

Kariya: That’s right! I mainly enjoy when I can raise my voice a lot. Most of the time, there are situations where I can’t raise my voice, so I... speak quietly.

All: (laughs)

Orida: You can always speak loudly!!!

Kariya: I can speak loudly when I’m in a position to do so. It’s not about freedom or release, but...

Tomoyappu: It’s like releasing the impulses stored inside you!

Kariya: Yes. As a sketch artist, or rather, I can become a character.

ZAIKO: Enomoto, what about you?

Enomoto: I’m the straight man, so when the straight lines get laughs, I feel “so happy!”

All: (laughs)

Orida: I read in an article you’re in the second grade of elementary school!! "When the punchline gets laughs, I’m very happy" is insane!

Enomoto: I’m the straight man. I’m delighted when my punchlines hit.

Tomoyappu: Innovations, funniness, ways of expression, and maybe a change in tone made it different!

Orida: Blue Color’s scripts have a lot of vague parts, so is there something like, "Actually, I’m bringing them to life with my punchlines"?

Enomoto: Not at all. I just do as I’m told.

Kamimura: I merely read the script as it is. When that lands, it feels nice!

Enomoto: That’s right!

Kamimura: I’m the one who writes the punchlines, serving as the straight man.

Orida: Truthfully, while it’s rewarding when it lands, it’s also fun.

Kamimura: You don’t need anything extra.

Tomoyappu: You’re pouring water into the water.

ZAIKO: How about Saru Base?

Orida: When I was in a duo called "Potential Hit," I wrote the sketches, but I ended up speaking about 90% of the time. Writing was exhausting, and I thought to myself, "Let Matsuyama talk more!" The way I spoke was a bit like power harassment, apparently. Matsuyama seemed to think that my tone was strict, and during skit preparation, he rarely expressed his opinions.

In that context, when someone like Tomoyappu came in, he felt that with just Orida and Matsuyama, the stage would look incredibly plain, but once Tomoyappu joined, it sparked an interest in wanting to watch. And so, a skit was born where Matsuyama ultimately spoke nothing, shifting the dialogue balance to 5:5:0 (laughs). It became highly balanced; I didn’t have to talk alone.

Because of that, when Matsuyama and I come out as the main act, and when Matsuyama suddenly jumps in, it definitely gets laughs, so it significantly changed how we use Matsuyama.

Matsuyama, Tomoyappu: ...

Orida: Are you feeling awkward?! Why are you feeling awkward? (laughs)

Kamimura: Tomoyappu might be shy.

Aoiro Ichigo_ Saru Base

Tomoyappu: No, that's not it. Here, "Potential Hit" means they were classmates in high school. They’ve been very close, even messing up each other’s hair in the training school when they both started. And it’s not a bromance, but I felt it was daunting to step in there. Like, how not to break this connection!

All: (laughs)

Tomoyappu: I was scared of the possibility of breaking “OriMatsu”!

All: (laughs)

Tomoyappu: When joining a duo, I had a thought like that (laughs). I don’t typically write comedy, but I’ve seen a lot and thought, "Wouldn’t it be better if we did it this way?" I often shared those thoughts with them. Then, it turned out that I was joining them.
By joining them, I feel like I can be that "+1". I don’t feel like I forced a great upgrade, but they also listen to my advice, and that makes me happy.

Matsuyama: From the start, the number of lines I had was little, but after Tomoyappu joined, it decreased further. It’s actually quite challenging to act and carry oneself when there are few lines… During skits, when I want them to watch Orida and Tomoyappu, if their focus goes to me, it’s distracting. So, I have confidence that I won't fall behind anyone in that area!

Orida, Tomoyappu: Certainly!!

Matsuyama: Therefore, for sketches, it’s an important thing… Although in manzai, it’s better to talk more, I also feel that not speaking adds to my charm.

Orida: Wonderful.

Tomoyappu: OriMatsu ...

——

In the next episode, on 5/17, we will deliver behind-the-scenes stories of the "Curry BIG" decision, enthusiasm for live performances and broadcasts, and feelings towards fans!

——

The streaming ticket for the "Aoiro Ichigo x Saru Base New Sketch Two-Man Live 'Curry BIG'" is here👇
https://kpro-live.zaiko.io/item/370926

Check the latest comedy events 👇

https://zaiko.io/events/category/comedy

——

About Aoiro Ichigo

Aoiro Ichigo
Graduated from Ohta Pro Entertainment School, 7th term.
In May 2017, Kariya joined, and they began their activities as a trio.
In 2024, they won the climax series of Ohta Pro Live, "Tsukishou". They were the 2024 runner-up in the 45th ABC Comedy Grand Prix. They reached the semifinals of the King of Conte 2022. Their skits based on everyday occurrences are popular. From left: Kamimura (boke, gag writer), Jun Enomoto (straight man), Soumen Kariya (boke).

About Saru Base

Saru Base
Graduated from Ohta Pro Entertainment School, 7th term.
Matsuyama and Orida hail from Kagoshima Prefectural Kaseda High School and performed comedy at school festivals during their high school years. After graduating from university, they moved to Tokyo and performed as a duo called "Potential Hit." Tomoyappu won the Kagoshima Prefectural Preliminary of High School Manzai during high school, and after advancing to Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, he formed "Methane Hydrate" with members of the International Christian University comedy club. In 2020, Tomoyappu joined "Potential Hit," forming the current trio.

About K-PRO

Check the latest events from K-PRO 👉 https://kpro-live.zaiko.io/

About ZAIKO
“ZAIKO” is based on the concept of a platform that allows artists and fans to connect directly through electronic tickets, providing a service focused on artists and event organizers. Since March 2020, it was the first to introduce a live streaming and electronic ticket service, contributing to the hosting of over 40,000 events including on-site events.