Teruyoshi Uchimura
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Teruyoshi Uchimura (内村光良 Uchimura Teruyoshi?), half of the Japanese comedy duo U-chan Nan-chan, is one of the most famous and influential comedians in the owarai community. His nickname is Uchan ("wucchan"), and his partner, Kiyotaka Nanbara, is known as Nan-chan. He was born July 22, 1964 in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto. Though he has worked for years as a comedian, he has also shown talent as an actor and dramatic performer. He is well known as the leader of the owarai band NO PLAN.
[edit] History
Uchimura met Nanbara while attending Yokohama Broadcasting Technical School (now Japan Cinematic School), along with Tetsuro Degawa and Masato Irie, who also shared the same class. The two decided to start a manzai duo, and they were named U-tchan Nan-chan by their teacher, Keiko Utsumi. They first appeared on the show Owarai sutaa tanjō!! (お笑いスター誕生!!, Birth of a Comedy Star!). They won the cometition the following year, and started picking up nyū kombi (new duo) awards over the next few years.
In 1992, U-tchan Nan-chan won the Japanese Academy Award for "Best New Actors" for their role in the movie Cult Seven (七人のおたく). In 1999 the duo crossed the English Channel with their show, U-chan Nan-chan no urinari!! (ウッチャンナンチャンのウリナリ!!) and the couples success soared.
Uchimura announced his engagement to and married former TV announcer Yumi Tokunaga in 2005.
[edit] Character
Though Uchimura can look rather plain at first looks, he is often teased about his pallid color and "tall" nose. He was often teased as a youth with taunts like, "With skin as white as yours, why don't you become a kabuki actor?". At the same time, he was called "the chosen one" (神童) after placing 8th in his local prefectural swimming tournament, leading his school's softball team to a city-wide semi-final win, while also competing in baseball and kendo.
He loves the country-side around his hometown prefecture of Kumamoto, and frequently appears on prefectural television and writes articles for his hometown newspaper twice a year. He is said to resemble Jackie Chan and has portrayed him many times in comedy routines.
