OSAKA -- Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., a major Osaka-based entertainment company, plans to enter the comedy entertainment business in China, the president of the company said Friday.
Yoshimoto has already set up a joint venture in Shanghai with a local company to make comedy television programs, Hiroaki Hayashi said at a news conference.
"We want to participate in the comedy business in China," he said.
For its first project in the country, a Yoshimoto troupe will give comedy performances in Shanghai for three days from April 19, marking the 30th anniversary of the normalization of ties between Japan and China.
Yoshimoto foresees growth potential in comedy entertainment in Chinese-speaking regions, and has already set up a joint venture in Taipei to make programs for satellite television.
The joint venture plans to hold auditions to discover talent and nurture Chinese comedians for a new troupe.