Kantele's 'Chihara Junior's Zaou' Goes Global! (English Title: The Laughing Throne) Signs Global Format Agreement with Banijay
Kansai TV's comedy show 'Chihara Junior's Zaou' signed a global format agreement with French entertainment giant Banijay. The show's unique blend of musical chairs and improvisational comedy will be adapted globally.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 00:02 (4h 2m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 01:59 (1h 57m after Collected)
Kansai Television (Kantele) and Yoshimoto Kogyo, which handles the format sales for this content, have signed a global format agreement with Banijay Entertainment (Paris, France, hereafter 'Banijay'), one of the world's largest entertainment companies, for the global expansion of the program 'Chihara Junior's Zaou' (Production and copyright: Kantele, English title: The Laughing Throne) planned by comedian Chihara Junior of Chihara Brothers. Through this agreement, the deployment of local versions of 'Chihara Junior's Zaou', including production, broadcasting, and streaming, will proceed across Banijay's powerful production network of approximately 130 production companies in 25 countries and regions worldwide, including France, the US, and the UK.
© Kantele
'Zaou' is what you might call a 'mixed martial arts of comedy' where comedians compete not with carefully prepared routines like Manzai or sketches, but with short, improvisational acts. The rules involve comedians playing musical chairs using chairs labeled with themes such as [Oogiri], [Gag], and [Imitation]. The comedian who fails to secure a seat nominates someone they think they can beat with that specific theme. They then perform according to the theme written on the nominated comedian's chair, and a head judge decides which of the two is funnier. The last person standing is crowned the 'Zaou' (King of Seats). It has been broadcasting regularly late at night every Friday on Kantele since 2017.
Comments
[Chihara Junior (Chihara Brothers)]
I believe it's a format that can be confidently enjoyed overseas, so I really hope it becomes a program that many people can have fun watching.
[Kazuhiko Ikeda, Program Producer, Kansai Television]
I cannot hide my surprise, as I never imagined we would receive an offer for global expansion for a small program that started as a Kansai local late-night special. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Banijay Entertainment for signing this contract.
I am looking forward to seeing how 'Zaou'—a mix of the globally known game 'musical chairs' (which is said to have originated in the West, though there are various theories) and Japan's unique comedy culture of 'Oogiri'—will be expressed by people around the world.
I believe Mr. Chihara Junior, the original creator of this game, and all the comedians who work hard on the show every day are also delighted. In the future, it would be interesting to host a world tournament where 'Zaous' from various countries gather, transcending language and cultural barriers.
As the original 'Zaou' is also preparing for two major domestic tours (November 1, 2026: Osaka Jo Hall, March 29, 2027: Nippon Budokan), all of our staff will continue to work hard steadily.
[Helen Greatorex, Head of Format Acquisitions, Banijay Entertainment]
Our partnership with Yoshimoto Kogyo has already yielded great success with 'LOL: Last One Laughing' (Zettai ni Waratte wa Ikenai), and acquiring 'Zaou' is a natural next step in further strengthening our comedy portfolio. The nostalgic element reminiscent of 'musical chairs' is a unique strength of this property, and it is combined with a simple yet brilliant improvisational comedy that tests the performers' quick reflexes. Its high flexibility makes it ideal for local adaptations, and its highly competitive nature adds thrill and tension.
Banijay Entertainment — Let's Show the World
Founded in 2008, Banijay Entertainment (including Banijay Live) boasts over 130 creative companies across 25 countries and regions, delivering an annual average of 16,000 hours of content and 3,000 live events globally. As an innovative leader, in 2025 alone, it launched over 250 new non-scripted titles, broadcasted over 100 scripted works, produced over 80 programs for streaming platforms, and rolled out 30 formats across 3 or more regions.
The company serves as a hub for current storytellers and future creative pioneers, putting creators first and bringing together top-tier creative talent to shape the next generation of entertainment. From super brands like 'MasterChef', 'Big Brother', and 'Survivor', to iconic scripted works like 'Peaky Blinders' and 'Black Mirror', and even live spectacles including Olympic opening and closing ceremonies—the company nurtures ideas on a massive scale, defines culture, and inspires audiences worldwide. Recent notable titles include 'Good Luck Guys', 'El Jardinero', 'Shaolin Heroes', and 'House...'
© Kantele
'Zaou' is what you might call a 'mixed martial arts of comedy' where comedians compete not with carefully prepared routines like Manzai or sketches, but with short, improvisational acts. The rules involve comedians playing musical chairs using chairs labeled with themes such as [Oogiri], [Gag], and [Imitation]. The comedian who fails to secure a seat nominates someone they think they can beat with that specific theme. They then perform according to the theme written on the nominated comedian's chair, and a head judge decides which of the two is funnier. The last person standing is crowned the 'Zaou' (King of Seats). It has been broadcasting regularly late at night every Friday on Kantele since 2017.
Comments
[Chihara Junior (Chihara Brothers)]
I believe it's a format that can be confidently enjoyed overseas, so I really hope it becomes a program that many people can have fun watching.
[Kazuhiko Ikeda, Program Producer, Kansai Television]
I cannot hide my surprise, as I never imagined we would receive an offer for global expansion for a small program that started as a Kansai local late-night special. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Banijay Entertainment for signing this contract.
I am looking forward to seeing how 'Zaou'—a mix of the globally known game 'musical chairs' (which is said to have originated in the West, though there are various theories) and Japan's unique comedy culture of 'Oogiri'—will be expressed by people around the world.
I believe Mr. Chihara Junior, the original creator of this game, and all the comedians who work hard on the show every day are also delighted. In the future, it would be interesting to host a world tournament where 'Zaous' from various countries gather, transcending language and cultural barriers.
As the original 'Zaou' is also preparing for two major domestic tours (November 1, 2026: Osaka Jo Hall, March 29, 2027: Nippon Budokan), all of our staff will continue to work hard steadily.
[Helen Greatorex, Head of Format Acquisitions, Banijay Entertainment]
Our partnership with Yoshimoto Kogyo has already yielded great success with 'LOL: Last One Laughing' (Zettai ni Waratte wa Ikenai), and acquiring 'Zaou' is a natural next step in further strengthening our comedy portfolio. The nostalgic element reminiscent of 'musical chairs' is a unique strength of this property, and it is combined with a simple yet brilliant improvisational comedy that tests the performers' quick reflexes. Its high flexibility makes it ideal for local adaptations, and its highly competitive nature adds thrill and tension.
Banijay Entertainment — Let's Show the World
Founded in 2008, Banijay Entertainment (including Banijay Live) boasts over 130 creative companies across 25 countries and regions, delivering an annual average of 16,000 hours of content and 3,000 live events globally. As an innovative leader, in 2025 alone, it launched over 250 new non-scripted titles, broadcasted over 100 scripted works, produced over 80 programs for streaming platforms, and rolled out 30 formats across 3 or more regions.
The company serves as a hub for current storytellers and future creative pioneers, putting creators first and bringing together top-tier creative talent to shape the next generation of entertainment. From super brands like 'MasterChef', 'Big Brother', and 'Survivor', to iconic scripted works like 'Peaky Blinders' and 'Black Mirror', and even live spectacles including Olympic opening and closing ceremonies—the company nurtures ideas on a massive scale, defines culture, and inspires audiences worldwide. Recent notable titles include 'Good Luck Guys', 'El Jardinero', 'Shaolin Heroes', and 'House...'