In his autobiography, Chosuke Ikariya, who died two weeks ago at the age of 72, mentions that when he won a Japan Academy Award in 1999 for his performance in "Odoru Daisosasen (Bayside Shakedown)" he felt guilty because he had never taken acting that seriously. It sounds like the requisite modesty of a star who has been called upon to explain his success, but Ikariya's career was mostly accidental.
Ikariya was the leader of The Drifters, the comedy group that, from 1969 to 1985, starred in "Hachiji Da Yo! Zenin Shugo! (It's 8 O'Clock! Everybody Get Together!)" on TBS every Saturday night. At its peak, the program drew audience shares in the high 40s and infuriated adults who felt the show's scatology and casual cruelty were bad for children. Kids -- especially boys -- loved it.
The Drifters' comedy was based on desperation, but not the kind of desperation we associate with self-expression. Ikariya always said he was not a natural comedian, and that none of the other members were funny outside the group. They had to work at it. Or, more exactly, Ikariya had to work at it.