Emerging
Jun 18, 2026 Major2
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Comedian Ton-Tsuka Tan Morimoto Admits to Being Influenced by Cream Shichuu's Ueda Despite Efforts to Avoid It
Comedian Ton-Tsuka Tan Morimoto, 36, revealed on television that comedian Ueda Shinya of Cream Shichuu inspired him to enter comedy after hearing Ueda's high school radio program. Despite his deep admiration, Morimoto admitted to unconsciously copying Ueda's comedic style and punchlines, leading him to deliberately avoid watching Ueda's performances to establish his own comedic identity.
Quick Facts
Who
Ton-Tsuka Tan Morimoto
What
Morimoto admitted to being influenced by Ueda's comedy style
When
High school (timing unspecified)
Where
Japan
- Morimoto admitted to being influenced by Ueda's comedy style
- Morimoto listened to Ueda's radio program during high school
- Morimoto disbanded the comedy trio Ton-Tsuka Tan in April 2026
- Morimoto transitioned to solo performance as a pin geinin
- Morimoto unconsciously replicated Ueda's punchline about coffee shops during a live performance
Japanese comedian Ton-Tsuka Tan Morimoto, 36, appeared on Chukyo Television's late-night show "Ota Ueda" on June 16 to discuss his entry into comedy. After disbanding the comedy trio Ton-Tsuka Tan in April 2026 and transitioning to solo performance, Morimoto revealed that his comedic inspiration stems from Ueda Shinya of the comedy duo Cream Shichuu. He credited Ueda as "a source of my roots," explaining that during high school he listened to Ueda's solo radio program "Shitterru? 24-jikan" (Do You Know? 24 Hours), where Ueda engaged in witty telephone exchanges with listeners. Morimoto was deeply moved by how Ueda could transform any caller interaction into something resembling a comedy sketch, inspiring him to pursue comedy.
However, Morimoto acknowledged that his admiration has led to unconscious imitation of Ueda's comedic style. He described his situation as requiring a "detox" to break free from the influence. He provided a specific example: Ueda once made a sharp observation during his MC duties on the show "Ueda and Women Howl at Night," quipping that during a simultaneous multi-person panel discussion, "You're all speaking freely, but this isn't a Doutor Coffee shop." When Morimoto later hosted his own live performance and encountered a similar scenario, he found himself unintentionally replaying Ueda's joke in his mind. To avoid plagiarizing, Morimoto attempted to create his own variation, saying "Don't all speak freely? This isn't an Excelsior Cafe," but he recognized the attempt was merely a second-rate imitation and acknowledged that his punchline lacked the clarity and wit of Ueda's original.
Recognizing the problem, Morimoto stated that he now actively avoids watching Ueda's performances to prevent further unconscious influence. "The influence gets to me," he confessed on the show, expressing his commitment to developing his own distinct comedic voice while remaining deeply respectful of his childhood idol.
Topics
Why This Matters
This story resonates with anyone who has struggled to develop an independent creative voice while deeply influenced by an admired mentor or artist. Morimoto's honest admission about unconscious imitation and his deliberate strategy to break free offers readers a relatable perspective on the challenge of artistic growth and the tension between inspiration and originality—a universal creative dilemma that extends beyond comedy to writing, music, design, and other fields.