is a Japanese comedy duo formed in 1994 by Tetsuya Yanagihara (born September 1, 1972) and Yoshiyuki Hirai (born March 12, 1973).
They are a manzai group and perform in the Kansai dialect.
Origins America Zarigani started out as a theatrical troupe but became a comedic duo composed of just Hirai and Yanagihara after the other members left.
Current members Tetsuya Yanagihara
In addition to performing in America Zarigani, Yanagihara works as a voice actor. He has voice-acted in anime like My Instant Death Ability Is So Overpowered.
Yoshiyuki Hirai
Hirai attended Osaka Designer's College, with the intention to pursue a career in the video games industry, but started performing comedy after being recommended by a friend. In addition to performing in America Zarigani, Hirai has also written video games including Weapon Shop de Omasse, and the flash anime Aka-chan. He has also voice-acted in the anime Inzauma Eleven and Prince of Tennis.
Both are natives of Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture, and are classmates in middle and high school. Tetsuya Yanagihara (born September 1, 1972) () Comedian responsible for the "tsukkomi" (straight man) role, positioned on the left when facing forward. Born in Yōkaichi City, Shiga Prefecture (now Higashiōmi City). Graduated from Osaka Nagao High School and Osaka University of Economics. Blood type O. Height: 170 cm, Weight: 78 kg. Single (unmarried). Wears red costumes. The origin of his name is from his mother wanting to name him "Akiba," but it was derived from the sound reading of his father's name. At birth, he was said to be completely black, hairy, and bear-like. Before entering elementary school, he was passionate about catching insects because the area around his house was full of mountains. During elementary school (as of 2003), his voice was loud and he was an energetic child. He joined the after-school care club, and from 1st to 4th grade, he was like a brother to others, enjoying himself. In 6th grade, he was a loud, popular kid who was friendly with girls, often ignored or bullied. Around this time, the manga "Captain Tsubasa" was popular, and he became obsessed with soccer. In middle school, he was all about soccer, and his life revolved around soccer, comedy, and anime. He once overtook four people in a relay race at the sports day and was popular. Memorable events in high school include being the cheerleading captain in his third year and hosting the cultural festival as MC. He was very popular then, peaking in his third year. After high school, he took a year off to study for university entrance exams, then joined a soccer club at university. He also worked as a math tutor and part-time jobs. He started comedy because his partner had already secured a job, and he was invited to join. He also felt it was his calling, so he became a comedian. He joined Shochiku Geino because he attended four auditions per year. Known for his high-pitched, hyperactive tsukkomi (straight man) delivery. Uses his distinctive high-pitched voice as a voice actor in anime and games. Hobbies and skills include anime, manga, games, IT, and VR. Scientific-minded and good at team sports. Favorite and respected comedians include Sanma Akashiya and Katsura Shizuo.
Yoshiyuki Hirai (born March 12, 1973) () Responsible for the "boke" (funny man) role, positioned on the right when facing forward. Born in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture. Graduated from Osaka Nagao High School and Osaka Design College. Blood type A. Height: 173 cm, Weight: 78 kg. Single. Wears blue costumes. His name was inspired by a favorite celebrity of his mother. Born prematurely at around 2400g, he was placed in an incubator but managed to escape. As a child, he was often looking elsewhere and enjoyed dancing in front of the camera. During elementary school, he went to his grandmother's countryside, burned pampas grass in the riverbed, played on a sled, knocked down three cedar trees, and was rescued from drowning in a river. He also provoked wild boars, which then ran away. In middle school, he became less talkative and immersed himself in computers and games. He met people through online chats, and at offline meetups, most were doctors or graduate students, including himself. In high school, he continued with computers and games, often going to arcades on a moped. He was "dull" at that time, and in his third year, he finally got his first girlfriend as part of "Daldal Breaking Plan". After high school, he enrolled in a design college as part of the second phase of his "Daldal Breaking Plan". He needed to be independent, paid his own tuition, and worked part-time jobs. He wanted to pursue his interests, studying graphics. He initially aimed to become a manga artist or animator. The motivation to pursue comedy came when, after graduating from college, his partner told him "It's okay," and he declined a job offer. Thinking, "I'm interesting, so I might as well enjoy life a bit more," he continued, which led to his career as a comedian. The idea of expressing himself through comedy was refreshing. Before being invited, he was unaware of comedy and didn't know much about it, unsure if he would become a professional. He only knew "Yondemoyoshi" from "Yotsuya". Comedy was just a final step in his "Daldal Breaking Plan". He joined Shochiku Geino because he happened to audition there. Known for his high-pitched, energetic tsukkomi (straight man) style. Uses his unique voice as a voice actor in anime and games. Hobbies and skills include anime, manga, games, IT, and VR. Academic and individual sports-minded. Favorite and respected comedians include Sanma Akashiya, Junji Takada.
Career He first met in middle school, where they were in the same class. They became close in high school, sitting next to each other and sharing the same classes in their first and second years—this was a decisive factor in their friendship, both sharing interests in anime and comedy. At age 20, they formed a comedy unit with three friends, initially called "Gekidan America Zari Gani" (American Crayfish Troupe) with five members. They officially started full activity during their third year of university in 1994. The group name is derived from creatures they captured as children, which could be abbreviated. However, the name was assigned randomly during their amateur days and stuck with them. They achieved 16 consecutive wins on "Baka-Show On Air Battle," with a top score of 517 KB. They participated three times in the Champion Tournament, reaching the finals in 1999 (second place). They competed in the first M-1 Grand Prix in 2001, reaching the finals for three consecutive years, finishing 4th in 2001, 9th in 2002, and 7th in 2003. In 2001, they were the fourth act to perform, maintaining second place but lost to Hariganeroock in the final. They won the 6th "MBS New Generation Manzai Award" in 2008, the first duo outside Yoshimoto Kogyo to do so. They have held regular live shows called "Amerizari Live" at Shochiku Geino Shinjuku Kadoza since May 2011. On November 11, 2015, they streamed their solo "Amerizari Solo Live" on Nico Nico Douga, a first for Shochiku Geino, with audience participation via comments. In October 2018, they used Virtual Cast to perform as VTubers, and in January 2019, they appeared as VTubers on NHK's "Nihon no Dojime" (NHK Virtual Dojime). Their comedy costumes were not fixed initially, but recently Yanagihara often wears red, and Hirai wears blue.
Awards and Achievements M-1 Grand Prix Year Result Entry No. Final Catchphrase Notes 2001 3rd place in finals 1118 "Three Octaves Shock" Did not advance to the final due to regulations 2002 9th place in finals 1751 2003 7th place in finals 1888 "Third Time's the Charm"
"Baka-Show" On Air Battle Champion Tournament Year Result Notes 2000 (2nd) 4th place in finals Passed in the first group 2001 (3rd) Semi-final eliminated League A, 6th place 2002 (4th) Semi-final eliminated Block B, 6th place
Other Awards & Achievements 1998: 19th ABC Newcomers Grand Prix, Special Jury Prize 1998: 28th NHK Kamigata Manzai Contest, Best Award 1998: 27th Kamigata Comedy Awards, Silver Award 1999: 34th Kamigata Manzai Awards, Newcomer Award 2002: 31st Kamigata Comedy Awards, Best Skill Award 2003: 38th Kamigata Manzai Awards, Encouragement Award 2008: 6th "MBS New Generation Manzai Award" (Champions) 2010: World Table Tennis CM Award, Encouragement Award (Hirai) 2010: King of Conte semi-finalists 2010: The Ena's "Nico Nico Carpet" Champions 2011: Nippon Food "The Manzai" 2011, eliminated in finals
Appearances TV Shows Regular Appearances Otoosan to Issho (March 24, 2013 – March 31, 2021 on NHK BS Premium, from April 11, 2021 on NHK Educational) – Shushu (Yanagihara: voice/puppetry) Japan in Motion (February 25, 2014 – , Nolife, TV Shinhiroshima) – Reporter Data Navi: Reading the Future (October 3, 2015 – , NHK General) – Data King (Yanagihara: voice) Welcome! Yokimaru House (NHK E-TV, August 8, 2022 – , Shushu) Sugo E Festa 2023 (NHK E-TV, November 13–25, 2023, Shushu) Sugo E Festa 2025 (NHK E-TV, November 8, 2025, Shushu)
Internet Live Shows Otonamo Omocha (March 25, 2013 – , Nico Nico Live) – Hirai only Super Piko Piko Club (June 20, 2013 – , Nico Nico Live) Capcom TV! (June 18, 2014 – , Nico Nico Live) – Hirai onlyHirai sometimes appears as a guest. Denjin☆Getcha! (September 4, 2014 – , Nico Nico Live) – Yanagihara onlyHirai sometimes appears as a guest. Hokka Hokka Dake Ne! V Jump! (May 23, 2016 – , Nico Nico Live) – Hirai only Segaa Pu Nico Live (May 25, 2016 – , Nico Nico Live) – Yanagihara only "23/7 Twenty Three Seven" Broadcast Station (January 11, 2018 – , Nico Nico Channel) – Hirai only Steins;Gate Zero Future Gadget Lab Abema Branch (May 9, 2018 – , AbemaTV) – Yanagihara only Tokyo Idol Stadium 2020 (June 9, 2020 – , REALITY) – Hirai only
On-Demand Distribution Eimi Naruse of Denpa-gumi Inc. introduces manga with high energy (May 22, 2015 – , Fuji TV On Demand) – Yanagihara only "Zaripai-sensei's Want to Play Games!!" (July 17, 2015 – , YouTube, V Jump Channel) – Hirai
Past Appearances TV Regular Appearances Nurture Hobby Encyclopedia (April 1997 – January 1998, NHK Educational) Takajin Heartful (Kansai TV) – semi-regular Rakurabu (October 2000 – March 2001, KBS Kyoto) Blatch (April 2001 – September 2001, Kansai TV) Aruki Puchi Kyoto (October 2001 – June 2002, Kansai TV) Ensoku TV! (July 2002 – April 2003, Kansai TV) Weekly Theater (Kansai TV) Saigo no Bansan (until March 25, 2002, Yomiuri TV) – Hirai only BAN! BOO! Pain!! (April 1, 2002 – March 26, 2003, Yomiuri TV) Nippon Yugai Kazoku (from April 2002, NHK General) – semi-regular Owarai Financier JAPAN (from April 2002, CS Fuji TV 721) – bi-weekly regular Hyakuman Baryoku "Masuo & Ameza Rii's Unreasonable Training" (July – September 2002, Asahi Broadcasting) Shoubin + Osero's V.I.P. (October 2003 – April 2004, Asahi Broadcasting) Oshaberi Brunch (Asahi Broadcasting) – "Brunch Exploration Corps" reporter Shibusuta S.B.S.T (April 1, 2004 – March 31, 2005, TV Tokyo) – Thursday regular Wide! ABC (Asahi Broadcasting) – "Ameza Rii Real Estate" corner Masuda Okada Kado Paa! (April 2004 – , Asahi Broadcasting) Machi Uke! (Mainichi Broadcasting) Hanamaru Market (TV Tokyo) – "Problem Solving! Amano-shaku" corner TV Champion (TV Tokyo) – "Come at me!" corner Bishoujo Kenkyujo (October 6 – December 22, 2005, TV Tokyo) Anime Terebi (TV Tokyo) – host Akiba! AKIBA☆Aki (April 5 – September 27, 2006, Tokyo MX) Mania no Sake (January 12 – March 30, 2007, TV Tokyo) Matsutake-chan (from July 7, 2008, Yosedo Channel) Saki Yomi Jan BANG! (April 3, 2009 – March 28, 2014, TV Tokyo) – MC: Ame Pai (Yanagihara), Zaripai (Hirai) Monster Hunter Plus (TV Tokyo) – MC Natsume Yujinchou episode 5 "Kokoro-iro no Kippu" (August 4, 2008, TV Tokyo) – San to (Hirai), Mikuri (Yanagihara)