Please laugh, we’re risking our lives
The Tokyo Shock Boys are a group of four Japanese entertainment stunt men who gained worldwide notoriety performing self-abusive and self-mutilating stunts. In Japan they are known as Dengeki Network (電撃ネットワーク ).
The group formed in Tokyo in 1990 when the four members put together some funny stunts for Japanese TV while working as roadies on Paul McCartney’s 1990 tour of Japan. They are the forefathers of dangerous, crude and self-injuring stunts coming well before groups such as Jackass and Dirty Sanchez. This year is their 20th anniversary.
The Tokyo Shock Boys are (in left to right order of the above photo):
- Nambu Torota: Lights firecrackers in his pants and also staples money to his head
- Danna Koyanagi: Breaks objects with butt muscles, expresses milk through eyes
- Sango Jugo: Puts out cigarettes with his tongue
- Gyuzo: Plunges his head into hot wax and plays with scorpions
Below is a short video featuring some of their acts:
And a few more feature acts:
They even appeared in an Australian Listerine commercial from the 90s:
Shirako Shock-u
Tokyo Metro Manners – FAILED!
Tokyo Rockabilly Club
Tōkyō Tower
Tōkyō Disney Resort
Scott J
emuu
locohama
Nunnster
Brad F.
Jamaipanese
Thomas Gantz
The Envoy
freedomwv
Jamie
Saw them for the first time on TV a couple weeks ago. Their act was hilarious and what made it even funnier was the disgusted-yet-intrigued looks on all of the onlooking talents’ faces. Gold =P
They are performing in Sydney in March so I am looking forward to seeing them live for the first time. Not sure if I would go for seats to close to the front though given the way Gyuzo-san teases the audience with the scorpion.
!!! We’ve got a table right near the stage tonight!!!
bu bu bu butt muscle man? man I wouldn’t make it through the first minute of a performance
thanks for this post, I hadn’t heard of them before and living in the US, that Jackass stuff was so popular it’s cool to see where it came from originally. nice.
Ah….japanese tv
finally saw them live last sat…they are hilarious!
nambu is # 1.
got tickets in dec so ended up getting seats at the very front…came home with bits of apple, stinking of onion, and dried up soda water all over clothes. it surely was a fun night!