"My nose was in hell" - why did Metal Bat, one of the top four in THE SECOND, not quit being a comedian? "It would have been smarter to quit. We're cowards, so we just tried to maintain the status quo. It's like plunging into tofu, like a loach that will die slowly."

—Looking at the competitors in THE SECOND Grand Prix Final, I thought that everyone was destined to make it there.

TomohoThat’s right. It’s over and only humans are left.

—You two know many comedians in Tokyo, and I think Tokyo comedians have a lot of respect for Kinzoku Bat.

TomohoNo, we have respect for each other too, and that’s how we hold each other back.

—It’s a case of mutual hindrance in the name of respect (laughs).

KobayashiIf someone seems like they’re going to sell, I’ll grab them right away (laughs).

Metal bats: Keisuke Kobayashi (left) and Junpei Tomoho (right)

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–But it might be complicated for fans. If Metal Bat wins, it might be even harder to get tickets…

TomohoI was told something. When I went out after the live, a person who used to come often was sitting there. When I said “It’s been a while,” he said “It’s changed,” “Kinzu Bat has changed.” I ignored him, what’s with this guy?

–If the schedule for the Shueisha Online serialization can no longer be maintained, I’ll be waiting outside with an envious look on my face.

KobayashiIt’s scary (lol).

TomohoBut I don’t want to be any busier than this. I want to sleep more. I woke up at 6:50 today, and everything I saw pissed me off. I don’t want to wake up at that time.

–For example, actors might work hard at a location for a month and then take a long break. Do you find that more appealing?

KobayashiI don’t want to have to work full time for that month.

TomohoI guess working 2 or 3 times a week and earning 2 million yen a month would be fine.

–Apart from raising your wages, what motivates you at work? The desire to work hard.

TomohoI’m not going to try hard. What are you talking about?! I’m not going to try hard at all. I’m going to keep failing until I’m no longer on the show.

–There are competitions for prizes, which can be exciting, but I also wonder whether manzai is really a competitive thing in the first place.

TomohoThat’s what they say. It’s good for everyone to have fun. But that’s not the case. It’s a battle for it.

-oh.

TomohoDo you know the story of Shishigashira’s Hamanaka? He was really funny, wasn’t he? He got more appearances, and apparently Hamanaka moved to a nicer place. And the moment he moved, a lot of comedians came from Osaka, and he lost his appearances.

-ah.

TomohoThen he started borrowing money from his juniors, and when he thought he was going to die, he bounced back and made it to the M-1 finals. It was a battle for it. It was like a swarm of locusts, with Sayaka and Henderson.

“My nose was in hell” – why did Metal Bat, one of the top four in THE SECOND, not quit being a comedian? “It would have been smarter to quit. We’re cowards, so we just tried to maintain the status quo. It’s like plunging into tofu, like a loach that will die slowly.”

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