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Takashi Wakasugi

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Takashi Wakasugi
若杉 昂志
NationalityJapanese
Alma materDoshisha University
Occupation
  • Comedian
Years active2019–present

Takashi "Waka" Wakasugi (Japanese: 若杉 昂志, Hepburn: Wakasugi Takashi) is a Japanese comedian who performs in both Australia and Japan.[1]

Wakasugi attended Doshisha University in Japan. During his studies there in 2012, Wakasugi studied abroad at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, where he first performed stand-up in English.[1] Having previously worked for a time as a backpacking farmworker across Australia,[2] Wakasugi moved there in 2019, where his love of comedy and desire to further practice English resulted in him deciding to pursue stand-up full-time.[3][4]

In 2021, Wakasugi presented his stand-up show Farm Backpacker (Subclass 417) at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF).[2] His show Stay Home Stay, about his experience in Perth during the COVID-19 pandemic, premiered in 2022.[5][6] At the 2023 MICF, Wakasugi won the Director's Choice Award for his show Japanese Worry.[7][8]

Wakasugi presented Japanese Aussie at the 2024 MICF,[4][7] and he performed his show Welcome to Japan at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in 2023 and at Edinburgh Fringe in 2024.[9][10][11][12]

In 2018, Wakasugi was a guest on Tonightly with Tom Ballard, and he was a performer on Thank God You're Here in 2024. Wakasugi will appear on the fourth season of Taskmaster Australia, set to broadcast in 2025.

References

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  1. ^ a b "日本人の感性を活かしながら西欧と日本の文化をネタに コメディアン若杉 昂志さん". Gekkan NZ (in Japanese). April 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b Rajkhowa, Arjun (6 April 2021). "Comedy review: Farm Backpacker (Subclass 417) by Takashi Wakasugi, MICF". ArtsHub AU. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  3. ^ Baker, Nick; Whitfeld, Anna (1 September 2022). "What is Japanese humour and why is it so misunderstood?". Late Night Live. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b Bennett, Steve (19 April 2024). "Takashi Wakasugi: Japanese Aussie". Chortle. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Takashi Wakasugi: Stay Home Stay". TimeOut. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  6. ^ "日本人コメディアン Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2022出演のご案内". Japanese Society of Melbourne (in Japanese). 22 March 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b Weldon, Bec (29 January 2024). "A comedic love letter to Australia: 'Japanese Aussie' Takashi Wakasugi brings all-new comedy to Fringe World". X-Press Magazine. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Awards". Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  9. ^ Morgan, Rhys (13 August 2024). "Takashi Wakasugi @ Assembly George Square Studios". The Skinny. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  10. ^ Girdwood, Andrew (4 August 2024). "Review: Takashi Wakasugi – Welcome to Japan, Fringe 2024". Edinburgh Reviews. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Everyone we saw at the NZ International Comedy Festival 2023, part two". The Spinoff. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  12. ^ Bingham, Ron (20 August 2024). "Takashi Wakasugi: Welcome to Japan". Squirrel Comedy. Retrieved 26 November 2024.