Rainbow's Jambou Takao Reveals Why New York Hasn't 'Sold' Despite M-1 Success

Jambou Takao of the comedy duo Rainbow appeared on TV Asahi's "Ame-Toーーク!" on June 18, 2026, and made candid revelations about his senior comedian colleague Yashiki Hiromasa of New York. During a segment where comedians speak their minds openly, Takao explained the paradox of New York's career: despite being a charismatic figure in their generation with genuinely funny material and strong backing from Yoshimoto Entertainment, the duo never achieved mainstream commercial success.

Takao, who describes himself as a longtime New York fan, recounted how he watched the duo closely for years. He explained that New York's material was so well-regarded that younger comedians would learn their jokes by word-of-mouth. However, despite this underground respect and their appearance in major competitions like M-1 Grand Prix and King of Contest, they remained commercially unsuccessful. Takao famously stated, "Until they sold, they never got a laugh [on mainstream television] even once," drawing laughter from the studio audience.

The revelation highlighted an unusual career trajectory: after Yashiki's controversial "That's the worst" comment during the 2019 M-1 Grand Prix final gained attention, Takao continued to follow the duo's journey. He expressed bewilderment at how New York eventually transitioned into prominent television positions, hosting golden-hour programs and appearing alongside established entertainers, all seemingly without achieving the traditional markers of comedic success. When asked how he makes sense of this, Takao admitted, "I genuinely don't understand it either." The conversation underscored how New York accumulated prestigious work opportunities despite never experiencing the breakthrough commercial success typical of successful comedians.