Mr. Saku Yanagawa, Stand-up Comedian based in the US

"Make ‘em laugh: Building a career in comedy in the birthplace of stand-up"

Mr. Saku Yanagawa graduated from the School of Letters at Osaka University. He has been on stage mainly in the United States as a stand-up comedian since enrolling at Osaka University. He always gives it his all to achieve his goals, a trait which is reflected in his ever-growing fanbase.

To make jokes is to truly know oneself

Stand-up comedians must play multiple roles: script writer, director, actor, and even producer. “Comedians must be always aware of what is happening in society. It is a comedy faux pas to go on stage while completely oblivious to the world around you,” he says. “To perform comedy is to deliver the perspective of the comedian based on their identity. I believe my jokes are funny because I am telling them, not someone else. I am sharing my own perspective with the audience. Therefore, I should know who I am and be responsible for my own jokes,” mentions Mr. Yanagawa. He aspires to make those who have different perspectives laugh. “A laugh is the key to getting to know someone you do not know by lowering your guard to show you are not an enemy. Smiles are an important form of communication for each and every one of us.”

Echoing his sentiment that “jokes are based on one’s perspective,” jokes are also reflections of the era in which they’re told. He is sometimes asked for his comments on political issues, though answering questions like these carries some risk, as sometimes comedians have their shows cancelled by theatres due to audience members claiming that the comedian’s jokes aren’t in line with what they believe to be politically correct. However, he says, “There is no rule book to comedy. We are not speaking for justice. We make jokes based on our own perspectives, describing what we see to make the audience laugh. That’s our job.”

Osaka University is where he paved his path to becoming a stand-up comedian

During his school days, Mr. Yanagawa was devoted to playing baseball, spending most of his time dreaming of becoming a major leaguer. The reason he went to Osaka University was also related to baseball, as the university was doing well among national universities. Of course, his academic interests also matched the courses they offered, namely those in the performing arts, where he gained a solid foundation in both his studies in performing arts and his academic skills. Dedicating himself to baseball over the years gave him the strength to persevere through hardship. He knows that people make mistakes and things can sometimes get out of hand, both of which he learned from years of baseball. “How many times have you lost a game or could not achieve something that you thought could change your life?” he advises, having gone through such experiences even now during his career as a stand-up comedian. These amazing experiences are explored in detail in his books [1] [2].

Osaka University is both a comprehensive and an international university, and Mr. Yanagawa appreciated the opportunities he had thanks not in small part to these characteristics. He made lots of friends on campus and enjoyed engaging in the network of international students, with which he is still connected to this day. It was in his 3rd year when he took the plunge and began performing stand-up comedy in the United States, setting up a group of students for performing comedy. His passion moved lots of people, including his campus mates, administrative staff, and local government officials. By combining American comedy with Japanese traditional comic drama, he pursued what he calls “global jokes,” which continue to be met with great success.

Don’t be afraid to find yourself - a message to OU students

Through his experiences at Osaka University, Mr. Yanagawa had this to say to OU students:
“Find what you wish to try during your time at the university, and once you do, be confident in yourself and take pride in being a student at Osaka University, no matter what you end up doing. This is a special time when you can try anything you like and still be allowed to make mistakes or fail. That is the beauty of university life.”

[1] Saku Yanagawa. (2021). Get Up Stand Up! [in Japanese]. Sangyo Henshu Center. ISBN: 978-4-86311-290-2

[2] Saku Yanagawa. (2023). Introductory to Stand-up Comedy [in Japanese]. Film Art Publisher. ISBN: 978-4-8459-2137-9

Text: Saori Obayashi/Edit: Christopher Bubb