M-1 Grand Prix
The Autobacs M-1 Grand Prix (オートバックス 〜M-1グランプリ〜 Ōtobakkusu Emuwan Guranpuri), was an annual Manzai competition planned by Shinsuke Shimada and run by Yoshimoto Kogyo. The supporter Asahi Broadcasting Corporation broadcast the final live throughout Japan via All-Nippon News Network in December 2010.
The way to be the Champion
- Preliminary (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Quarterfinal, Semifinal)
- from August or September until December
- Round 1 (2001): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Osaka, Takamatsu, Hiroshima, Fukuoka
- Round 1 (2002): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka
- Round 1 (2003-2009): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka
- Round 1 (2010): Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Niigata, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Fukuoka
- Round 2, Round 3, Semifinal (-2009), Quarterfinal (2010): Tokyo, Osaka
- Semifinal (2010): Tokyo (Ryogoku Kokugikan)
- Consolation (2002-2010)
- from noon until 5 p.m. on the day of the finals
- aired on Sky A Sports Plus, a satellite broadcasting company owned by ABC (2004-2010)
- 2002-2004: special floor in front of Panasonic Center Tokyo
- 2005: Meiji Jingu Stadium
- 2006: Ariake Coliseum
- 2007-2010: Ohi Racecource
- the Finals
- live on TV (All-Nippon News Network, nationalcast)
- 2001: Lemon Studio
- 2002-2004: Panasonic Center Ariake Studio
- 2005-2010: TV Asahi Headquarters Studio 1
Winner's prize
- Winner's prize ¥10,000,000
- Winner's trophy
Winners
- 2001 - Nakagawa-ke
- 2002 - Masuda Okada
- 2003 - Football Hour
- 2004 - Untouchable
- 2005 - Black Mayonnaise
- 2006 - Tutorial
- 2007 - Sandwich Man
- 2008 - NON STYLE
- 2009 - Punk Boo Boo
- 2010 - Warai Meshi
Event ends
On December 12, 2010, Yoshimoto Kogyo and ABC announced that "M-1 Grand Prix" would end in the year and they will start the project to succeed the event (article from Nikkan Sports on December 12, 2010).