The Genesis of the Suit, Mohawks, and Sunglasses

Yoneyama Yoji (hereafter, Yoneyama)It was Hiroto Kōmoto who first prompted me to see a Gamarjobat performance. He said, "It's interesting, you absolutely must go." When I saw the show, it was different from the pantomime I had imagined; the storytelling was superb. And the children were having so much fun, which was wonderful.

KETCH! (hereafter, KETCH!)The performance in 2013, which was our first collaboration, was an accessible show where admission was open to ages four and up. It also had an underlying theme of 'parents delighting in watching their children enjoy themselves.'

YoneyamaWhat inspired you to create such a show?

KETCH!We perform all over the world, but in our home city of Tokyo, we were only performing in large halls. As our next challenge, we launched 'Tokyo JACK,' aiming to tour all 62 municipalities in Tokyo.

YoneyamaI even went to see a performance on the Ogasawara Islands.

HIROPON (hereafter, HIROPON)It was a 25-hour boat ride. We both suffered from seasickness (laughs). But thanks to that, we were welcomed in many places. On Mikurajima Island, the staff initially wore helmets and towels. When the performance began, I looked up and saw they were all sporting mohawks. The women had pompadour hairstyles.

YoneyamaThat must have been very moving. You wear various costumes during performances, but Gamarjobat's public image is associated with mohawks and suits. How did that come about?

HIROPONPrimarily, pantomime is a solo art form, so we were both solo performers. However, securing venues and attracting audiences alone was challenging. At that time, KETCH! earnestly invited me to join. Although I initially refused, I eventually agreed. For my part, if we were going to do this, I wanted to create something together rather than just bringing our individual works.

YoneyamaSo, it's a story that can only be told by the two of you.

HIROPONThe history of pantomime is long, and there's a conventional notion of 'well, this is how it's done.' Consequently, many audience members hesitate, thinking, 'We don't necessarily have to see it.' But we can't be evaluated unless people see us, and we were confident in our uniqueness and that we were undeniably entertaining. So, instead of calling it 'pantomime,' we started calling it 'silent comedy.' We also used visuals on our flyers that conveyed a sense of comedy.

YoneyamaMm-hmm.

HIROPONWe performed on streets all over the world. On the street, it's incredibly difficult to draw the audience's attention to ourselves. Many street performers can announce their show via loudspeakers, saying, 'It's about to begin!' But we can't speak due to our characters. This means we have to stand out. That's when I decided to get a mohawk. KETCH! had dreadlocks at the time.

YoneyamaYou had dreadlocks? (laughs)

HIROPONRegarding the suits, I had bought them for a project show about five years prior, where about five people performed pantomime. The mod-style suits were coincidentally available for around 5,000 yen, and we both wore Dr. Martens. When traveling, I want to minimize luggage, so Dr. Martens are ideal when you need footwear that can handle everything.

KETCH!We performed like that for about a year. Then, as a joke, we thought, 'It would be funny if we both got mohawks.' We tried it, and people started gathering around us on streets all over the world. They quickly remembered us, calling us things like 'those Chinese guys with the mohawks.' Once that happened, we couldn't stop. We've kept them for 15 years.

YoneyamaMy generation could relate to that fashion sense. Slim suits and Dr. Martens evoke bands like The Specials or The Jam. It seemed incredibly cool to see people dressed so stylishly doing something entertaining.

KETCH!We both liked British music, which played a part. That's why when we bought the suits, we both thought, 'This is good.'

Overseas, people would say, "You guys are like something out of an anime."

YoneyamaSince you like British culture, did you watch Monty Python too?

HIROPONI did. I remember shows like 'Geba Geba 90 Minutes.' That was Monty Python, wasn't it?

YoneyamaAre there any other influences on your silent comedy performances?

HIROPONMy generation was strongly influenced by The Drifters. Perhaps The Drifters incorporated elements from Monty Python or Saturday Night Live, but those influences are unconsciously ingrained in me. When performing on streets abroad, people would say, 'You guys are like something out of an anime.' It must be unconsciously absorbed.

Yoneyama"Shimurā, ushiro ushiro!" (Shimurā, behind you!) is also a pantomime-like gag, isn't it?

HIROPONI don't know if the mime came first or later, but for us, it's already a component, like, 'Let's do the Shimurā behind you gag here.'

KETCH!'Today, let's do the Shimurā behind you gag for an extended period' (laughs). As for me, I discovered Monty Python as an adult, and I was deeply impressed. You can view it as social satire, or you can laugh without thinking. It's remarkable. However, Gamarjobat doesn't consciously aim for social commentary.

HIROPONPantomime, since it uses neither objects nor words, gives the impression that anything is possible. But that's not quite true; creating something interesting within constraints is quite difficult. Moreover, the only benchmark is oneself, so you can only create what you find amusing. Yoneyama-san, how do you approach your creative process?

YoneyamaI don't think about creating specific objects. I believe I absorb various things daily.

HIROPONSo, you're always keeping your antenna up?

YoneyamaSomething like that. From there, I select based on my mood at the time or the issues that are currently resonating, and then I design something that I feel is unique and particularly cool right now.

HIROPONI also keep my antenna up, but I need to make an effort to create something. Once I decide to create, I open the drawers I've filled with my antenna. It's like that.

YoneyamaI tend to stop at about 60 or 70 percent completion, then let it roll around, and when it's close to 90 percent, I release it. I seem to enjoy keeping things in a state of suspended creation.

HIROPONThat's the Beatles approach. 'Let It Be' was their final album, but the recordings were made before 'Abbey Road.'

YoneyamaYes, sometimes I let things sit for years. That's partly because I haven't figured out the method or technique for creating it. But even when it's left dormant, it's still slowly progressing.

HIROPONI consider M·A·R·S's Composite series, which allows for customization, to be an invention. Similarly, we consider performing a one-hour story without speaking a word to be an invention.

YoneyamaJewelry traditionally begins with an order, so I'm not sure if that can be called customization... However, allowing customers to add their own preferences perhaps bridges the gap between creator and buyer.

KETCH!That's very humble.

Page 02.Cultural Influence Grows with Age

Cultural Influence Grows with Age

YoneyamaGamarjobat directs and performs its own shows. In a sense, you are designing the stage.

HIROPONWe don't use words or stage sets. However, the audience imagines, and each of the ten people sees a different background. Because everyone has their own life experiences, they envision different scenes. They watch our performances through the lens of their own lives. In that sense, if value lies in objects, like antiques or jewelry someone owned, then perhaps there's a commonality with pantomime.

YoneyamaJewelry also changes depending on the wearer. But the brilliance of that stage performance is something you have to experience firsthand. You can watch it multiple times, and each viewing offers a different perspective.

HIROPONA friend who saw the same show again about three years later told me, 'There used to be a refrigerator on stage, but why isn't it there this time?' Even though there was nothing on stage to begin with (laughs). The most touching anecdote related to this was when an acquaintance of KETCH!'s asked me with a straight face, 'Who comes up with the dialogue?'

KETCH!I replied, 'Neither of us does.' They then said, 'But you were talking!' After a lengthy explanation, they finally realized, 'Oh, right, it was silent.' It's gratifying when the audience gets that immersed.

YoneyamaIt looks colorful, and even without stairs, you can perceive the incline. Most frustratingly, there are times when KETCH! appears as a remarkably cute woman.

KETCH!If you look closely, I have stubble, but from the audience's perspective, they might be mistaken.

YoneyamaYou can see cobblestone streets, and the buildings look realistic. Do you two envision the same scenery when you perform?

KETCH!Yes, we try to imagine the same background as much as possible. Of course, we don't communicate these settings to the audience.

YoneyamaDo the points that resonate or move people remain the same overseas?

HIROPONWe don't change the content. If we make any adjustments, it's usually to gesture-based signs when expressing things like money. In that sense, it's universal.

KETCH!Children, especially those under elementary school age, react the same way all over the world. America is a bit different, though.

YoneyamaDo adults change?

KETCH!As people age, they become more influenced by their own country's culture. In America, being a multicultural nation, films tend to be overly explanatory and straightforward. Pantomime is the opposite. For example, in a tug-of-war scene where we appear to be pulling against each other, the punchline is that we're actually pulling on separate ropes. This gag doesn't land well in America. They don't seem to imagine us pulling on a single rope in the first place.

YoneyamaWow, that's interesting.

—Finally, as a loyal wearer, could you tell us about the appeal of M·A·R·S from your perspective, HIROPON?

HIROPONThere's a significant meaning behind why I wear M·A·R·S. Firstly, this skull ring was a gift from someone I admire, which adds a layer of background. The Composite ring features 'Five Stars' and the word 'DO.' The five stars represent the highest rating in overseas performances—it's like a wish. And the word 'DO' has its roots in the movie 'Flashdance.' The grandmother encourages the hesitant protagonist by saying, 'DO IT,' 'DO,' 'DO.' I was also timid when I first started pantomime, so I engraved 'DO' on my bag. Therefore, wearing this on my finger holds a meaning beyond just jewelry.

YoneyamaThat's incredibly meaningful. I'm truly happy. Thank you for your continued support. Thank you for your time today.

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