Chad Mullane (born 28 November 1979[1]) is an Australian comedian, actor, writer, director, translator, academic and producer based in Japan.[2][3][4][5][6]

Chad Mullane
Born (1979-11-28) 28 November 1979 (age 44)
Perth, Western Australia
Occupation(s)comedian, actor, writer, director, translator, academic, producer
Websitewww.chad.jp

Career

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Chad became the first non-Japanese comedian to enter Japan's highest-profile comedy college Yoshimoto New Star Creation (NSC)[7] and join Yoshimoto Kogyo in 1998. As an award-winning manzai artist he has since hosted, co-hosted and made guest appearances on thousands of comedy and variety television shows.[8] Having ranked among the top 50 comedians in Japan by reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious M-1 Grand Prix for a record eight-years consecutively,[9] he still performs live at theaters across Japan as one part of his comedy duo (which is also called "Chad Mullane.")[10]

As an actor Chad has performed in many award-winning films,[11] drama series[12] and he has also been featured in several advertising campaigns.[13] As a writer he has frequently contributed to publications at NHK Publications and The Japan Times, and he has also authored the book The Peculiar Case of Japanese Comedy.[14] As an academic he teaches comedy at NSC, guest lectures at universities throughout Japan[15][16][17] and will be one of the founding lecturers at Tokyo's 'i University' opening in 2020.[18][19] Chad has been an advisor to the Japanese government and its promotion of Japanese culture through the Cool Japan initiative since March 2019.[20]

Influences

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Growing up in Australia, Chad was exposed to American, British and Australian humor, but developed an interest in owarai (Japanese comedy) after a student exchange program took him by chance to Osaka (a.k.a. "The City of Comedy.") Having been exposed to the rich culture of uniquely Japanese comedy (including manzai, conte, shinkigeki, oogiri and batsu game,) and being particularly fascinated by the talent of comedy duo Downtown's Hitoshi Matsumoto, Chad joined NSC, after which he spent two years as an apprentice to The Bonchi's Osamu (the first manzai artist to sell out the 14,000 capacity Nippon Budokan.) By taking Osamu as his mentor, Chad became one of only three "brothers" to cult comedian Jimmy Onishi (of Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!-fame) and shinkigeki leader Hiro Yoshida. Chad was recognized by Hitoshi Matsumoto in 2006, and after being nicknamed "The Osaka-ralian," was invited to appear on the bi-annual TV show all comedians aspire to be on: Hitoshi Matsumoto no suberanai hanashi. Chad has since collaborated with Matsumoto on several TV shows and films.[21]

Awards and nominations

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Year Title Result Notes
1999 Imamiya Ebisu Manzai Contest[22] Won
2001 M-1 Grand Prix 2001 Third Round
2002 M-1 Grand Prix 2002 Semi-Finalist
2003 M-1 Grand Prix 2003 Semi-Finalist
2004 M-1 Grand Prix 2004 Semi-Finalist
2005 Shibuya Rockwest Cup Won
2005 M-1 Grand Prix 2005 Semi-Finalist
2006 R-1 Grand Prix Semi-Finalist
2006 M-1 Grand Prix 2006 Semi-Finalist
2007 M-1 Grand Prix 2007 Semi-Finalist
2008 M-1 Grand Prix 2008 Semi-Finalist
2009 M-1 Grand Prix 2009: The Final Semi-Finalist Record number of semi-final appearances
2010 CBC Radio King of Hamaguri[23] Won
2010 MBS New Generation Manzai Award Finalist
2012 Sendai Comedy Contest[24] Won

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Moon & Cherry Paul
2007 Ten Nights of Dreams Yassan
2007 Honeystar Groom Written & directed by
2008 Lala Pipo Mr. Lala Pipo
2009 Elite Yankee Saburo First Guy to Die
2009 Nodame Cantabile: The Movie Paul Dubois, Jane Dubois, Jean Dubois, Claude Dubois
2010 Nemuriba Chad
2010 Not Enough Hands Chicken Ball Boy Written & directed by
2012 Grafreeter Toki Jack Hanma
2012 Space Brothers Raleigh Cuomo
2012 Paper Rabbit Rope Jose the Alpaca (voice)
2014 Judge! Alex Moylan
2014 Dogeza Japan Mr. Mediocre Written & directed by
2015 Samurai of the Dead Zombie George
2015 Sideline Nabihiko Tsuji
2016 Kamen Rider Ghost: The 100 Eyecons and Ghost's Fated Moment Thomas Edison
2017 Zen and Bones: Henry Mittwer John Mittwer
2017 The Stand-In Thief Dave Ross
2018 Movies: Mr. Fukyô vs eiga-tachi Mr. NEET
2018 Jesus Jesus Won New Director's Award at 2018 San Sebastián International Film Festival[25]
2019 Roots Tommy Short film

Television

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Drama Series

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Year Broadcaster Title Role Notes
2001 MBS Hitori Janai No Mark 3 episodes
2003 MBS Drama Damas Conman 1 episode
2007 NHK Imo Tako Nankin Eddie Spencer 5 episodes
2008 NHK Hitomi Jason 2 episodes
2009 NHK Ghost Friends Ryan 1 episode
2010 YTV Kinoshita Bucho to Boku Emcee 1 episode
2011 NHK Haha ni nattari, naranakattari Chad 1 episode
2011 NHK Kumajiro: Otoko-tabi Okami-san 5 episodes
2012 NHK Seishun Nine Kotaro 5 episodes
2013 NHK Takanashi-san Tom 1 episode
2015 YTV Itsutsu-boshi Tourist Mark Houston[26] 1 episode
2015 NHK Sono Otoko, Ishiki Takai-kei Tom[27]
2 episodes
2015 MBS Tonari no Seki-kun to Rumi-chan no Jisho Chef Bob[28]
2 episodes
2018 NTV Hotel on the Brink Pierre Tanaka[29] 10 episodes
2018 NHK Babysitter Gin! Steve Fever 1 episode
2019 TV Tokyo Secret × Heroine Phantomirage! Art 1 episode

Daily Shows

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Year Broadcaster Title Role Notes
2013-2016 NHK Shigoto no Kiso Eigo Chad
2015- NHK Eigo de Asobo with Orton Peachy (voice) Also written by

Weekly Shows

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Year Broadcaster Title Role
2003-2005 TVK Kyanagawa Himself
2004-2005 Fuji TV Quiz! Hexagon Himself
2006 Fuji TV Impact! Himself
2006-2007 Fandango TV Itadaki∞ Himself (host)
2006-2008 Fuji TV Bakusho! Red Carpet Himself
2007 TV Tokyo Webtama ww Himself
2007-2008 Tokai TV Morisugi Himself
2007-2008 NTV Kuchikomi! Johnny Himself (co-host)
2007-2009 NHK Kyou kara Eikaiwa Himself (co-host)
2007-2009 TV Tokyo Honban desu: Chad's Shanghai Walker Himself (co-host)
2008 KTV Tsukai! Everyday Himself (co-host)
2010-2011 NHK Matsumoto Hitoshi no Konto: MHK Narrator
2010-2012 TV Tokyo Ohasta 645 Chad-mushi
2011-2013 TBS Power Pulin Narrator
2011-2016 NTV Nep & Imoto's Sekai Banzuke Himself
2012-2013 LaLa TV Everybody! Good Gakuen Himself (co-host)
2012-2013 Nerdist Channel Weird S*it from Japan Himself (host)
2012-2015 NHK Bitworld Takeshi Tanaka
2014-2015 TV Tokyo Hakkutsuberry Narrator
2014-2015 TV Tokyo Ohasta 645 Go! Go!! Narrator
2014-2015 Dlife Chad & Kids Omoro-English Himself (host)

Music videos

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Year Artist Title Role
2007 JYONGRI Hop,Step,Jump! Himself
2009 100s Sorya Sou Da Himself

Advertising Campaigns

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Year Company Title Role
2006 Kirin Beverage Namacha Panda to Kuraso (Lyrics sung by)
2008 Coca-Cola Japan Aquarius Vitamin Guard Vitamin C/Himself
2009 Keihan Electric Railway Okeihan Music Story Noel Morinoshoji
2010 Nihon Wasou Kareshi wa Gaikokujin, Kyoushitsu no Hi Himself
2012 LOTTE Fit's Sijo Saikyo! Kakurenbo Campaign Himself
2014 Konami World Soccer Collection Himself
2019 Osaka Gas Natsu no Eikaiwa Kyoushitsu Himself

Publications

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Books

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Year Publisher Title Notes
2017 NHK Publications Strange Tales: Japanese Comedy ISBN 4140885394

Regular Contributions

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Year Publisher Magazine/Paper Title Language
2007 NHK Publications Kyou Kara Eikaiwa "Chad's Body Language Lesson" Japanese
2007-2008 NHK Publications Kyou Kara Eikaiwa "Chado-Chado-ish Failures" Japanese
2007-2008 INFAS Publications Ryuko Tsushin "Chad's Moteru Eikaiwa" Japanese
2007-2008 Shueisha Margaret "Chad's Operation: Margaret" Japanese
2008 NHK Publications Shin Sankagetsu Topics "Chadotta Tales" Japanese
2009 NHK Publications Shin Sankagetsu Topics "Chad's Japan-Australia, Go!" Japanese
2009-2010 NHK Publications Jissen Business Eigo "The English Triangle" Japanese
2011-2014 NHK Publications Jissen Business Eigo "Growing Up in Australia" Japanese
2015-2017 The Japan Times The Japan Times ST "Chad's Thoughts" English
2015-2017 The Japan Times The Japan Times ST "Chad's Omoro People Journal" English
2018- The Japan Times The Japan Times Alpha "How Do You Say That!" English
2021- Yomiuri Shimbun Yomiuri Kodomo Shimbun "Chad's Showtime" Japanese

Translation Works

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Feature films

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Year Title
2006 Chromartie High the Movie
2007 Big Man Japan
2009 Yatterman
2009 Symbol
2010 Farewell, Mr. President
2010 What a Life!!
2010 The King of Jail Breakers
2011 Omrice
2011 Deadball
2011 Moonlight Mask
2011 Saya Zamurai
2012 TSY: Time Slip Yankee
2012 Typhoon Family
2012 All Tied Up With My Own Rope
2013 Abductee
2013 SEIZA
2013 Jelly Fish
2013 R100
2014 Oh! Father
2014 The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji
2015 Samurai of the Dead
2015 At Home
2015 Mr. Maxman
2015 Secret Breaths
2016 CHIN-YU-KI: Journey to the West with Farts
2016 What if you can talk to your belongings
2016 Hentai Kamen: Abnormal Crisis
2017 MINT
2017 Carton MOOn
2017 The Stand-In Thief
2017 Jojoen
2017 Spark
2018 Watashi no Jinsei Nanoni
2019 Violence Voyager
2019 Kuso Mitai na Eiga
2019 Little Miss Period
2019 Dosukoi! Sukehira
2019 Tokyo Adios
2019 Tonde Saitama
2023 Shin Kamen Rider

Web series

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Year Broadcaster Title Notes
2016 Netflix Hibana: Spark 10 episodes
2018 Netflix Jimmy: The True Story of a True Idiot 9 episodes
2018- Amazon Prime Hitoshi Matsumoto's Documental Seasons 1–5

Illustrated Books

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Year Title Author
2009 Dr. Ink's Starry Sky Cinema Akihiro Nishino
2010 Zip & Candy Akihiro Nishino
2012 The Music Box Planet Akihiro Nishino

Impressions

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Haley Joel Osment
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Schumacher
Setsuko from Grave of the Fireflies
Celine Dion
Paris Hilton
Disney Witches
Zlatan Ibrahimović
Diego Forlán
Carles Puyol

References

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  1. ^ Yoshimoto Creative Agency - Official Talent Profile (Japanese) Retrieved on 5 April 2019
  2. ^ Toyo Keizai Online Author Profile (Japanese) Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  3. ^ President Online Author Profile (Japanese) Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  4. ^ ABC Australia Radio Life Matters Chaddo: making Japan laugh (13 May 2008) Retrieved on 5 April 2019
  5. ^ Japan Times Website - Chad's Seminar at Japan Times HQ to commemorate renewal and new column (1 June 2018). Retrieved on 5 April 2019.]
  6. ^ MYNAVI News - The secret to Hitoshi Matsumoto's success outside of Japan: Chad Mullane and his translation skills (Japanese) (19 October 2013). Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  7. ^ Japan Times Comedy's a funny business in Japan (27 October 2011). Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  8. ^ Oricon News TV profile (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  9. ^ Da Vinci magazine article (Japanese). Retrieved on 2 September 2019.
  10. ^ Ticket Yoshimoto website (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  11. ^ Eiga.com website (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019
  12. ^ TV Drama Database website (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  13. ^ Oricon News Commercial profile (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019
  14. ^ Retrieved on 1 September 2019
  15. ^ Kitakyushu University website (Japanese)
  16. ^ Gakushuin University website (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  17. ^ Tama University website (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  18. ^ I University Website - Lecturer Profile (Japanese)
  19. ^ CXO Bank announces Nakamura CEO among I University Lecturers (Japanese)
  20. ^ Jiji Press Article: Govt to Review "Cool Japan" Strategy. Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  21. ^ "「日本のお笑いって変なの?」をパックンが外国人3人と激論しました" [Not standup, sit down comedy chat]. Newsweek (in Japanese). Japan. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  22. ^ Imamiya Ebisu Manzai Contest website (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  23. ^ CBC Radio King of Hamaguri (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
  24. ^ Waracon official website (Japanese). Retrieved on 4 April 2019.
  25. ^ "66th San Sebastian Film Festival 2018 Awards". Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  26. ^ YTV website (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019
  27. ^ "NHK website (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April, 2019". Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  28. ^ MBS website (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019
  29. ^ Hotel on the Brink website on Nippon TV (Japanese). Retrieved on 5 April 2019]
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