Gokuraku Tombo

Gokuraku Tombo (極楽とんぼ), meaning Heavenly Dragonfly was a manzai comedy duo consisting of Keiichi Yamamoto (山本圭壱 Yamamoto Keiichi) and Koji Kato (加藤浩次 Katō Kōji). Members of the Yoshimoto Kogyo entertainment conglomerate, they performed on the Fuji TV variety show Mecha-Mecha Iketeru! Their main act was based on arguing and fighting in public.

On July 18, 2006, it was found out that Yamamoto was questioned by the Hakodate West Police station in Hokkaidō on suspicion of statutory rape of a minor. As a result, Yoshimoto Kogyo announced the cancellation of their contract with the agency. The duo was also disbanded. Kato apologized for Yamamoto's scandal on his live TV program broadcast by Nippon Television Network the next day, the whole apology delivered as Kato wept loudly.[1][2]

References

  1. ↑ (English) See Member of comedy duo Gokuraku Tonbo questioned over rape of 17-year-old girl, Mainichi Daily News, July 19, 2006. Accessed July 27, 2006.
  2. ↑ (English) See Gokuraku Tombo comedy duo predicament tops entertainment headlines, Mainichi Daily News, July 22, 2006. Accessed July 27, 2006.