Naoki Matayoshi

Japanese comedian and novelist

Naoki Matayoshi
March 2022
Native name	又吉直樹
Born	(1980-06-02) June 2, 1980 (age 44) Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan
Medium	Television, novel
Nationality	Japanese
Years active	2000–
Employer	Yoshimoto Kogyo
Genres	conte, manzai
Notable works and roles	Spark
Same year/generation as: Non Style Heisei Nobushi Kobushi Ryota Yamasato

Naoki Matayoshi (又吉直樹, Matayoshi Naoki, born June 2, 1980) is a Japanese comedian, screenwriter, and novelist who won the Akutagawa Prize^[1] in 2015 for his book Hibana (火花, Spark), which was adapted into the Netflix series Hibana: Spark.^[2]

Matayoshi is the boke of his comedy duo Peace alongside his partner Yuji Ayabe.^[3] Ayabe left Japan for New York in 2016 to continue his comedic career overseas while Matayoshi stayed in Japan, effectively making the duo inactive since then.^[4]

He is from Neyagawa City in Osaka Prefecture. He graduated from Hokuyo Senior High School (presently Kansai University Hokuyo Senior High School).

Filmography

Film

The Great Passage (2013) – Togawa^[5]
From the End of the World (2023)^[6]

Television

The Untold Story: How Tezuka created his "Black Jack" (2013) – Fujio Akatsuka^[7]
Botchan (2016) – Natsume Sōseki^[8]
Segodon (2018) – Tokugawa Iesada^[9]
Maiagare! (2022) – Iwao Yagi^[10]

Bibliography

Hibana (火花, Spark), Bungeishunjū, 2015, ISBN 9784163902302
Yoru wo norikoeru (夜を乗り越える, Overcome the Night), Shogakukan, 2016, ISBN 9784098235018
Gekijō (劇場, Theater), Shinchosha, 2017, ISBN 9784103509516

References

^ Kyodo, Jiji (July 17, 2015). "Comedian Matayoshi's literary win offers hope for sagging publishing industry". Japan Times. Archived from the original on August 27, 2015.
^ Hernon, Matthew (July 8, 2016). "Q&A: Naoki Matayoshi on His Novel "Hibana", and the Netflix Series". Tokyo Weekender. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
^ "Mayayoshi Naoki". Kotobanku (in Japanese). Asahi Shinbun. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
^ "ピース綾部、４月からＮＹ拠点に活動「米国に行って勝負したい」…解散はせず". Yahoo News Japan (in Japanese). Yahoo. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
^ "松田龍平×宮崎あおい『舟を編む』追加キャストにピース又吉、麻生久美子ら". Cinra.net (in Japanese). December 19, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
^ "世界の終わりから". eiga.com. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
^ "神様のベレー帽～手塚治虫のブラックジャック創作秘話～" (in Japanese). Fuji TV. September 24, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
^ "又吉直樹が夏目漱石役で出演嵐・二宮主演ドラマ『坊っちゃん』". Oricon News (in Japanese). December 23, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
^ "ピース又吉直樹「西郷どん」で大河初出演、北川景子と夫婦役　起用理由は？". Modelpress (in Japanese). October 3, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
^ "赤楚衛二＆乃木坂46山下美月、福原遥の幼なじみ役で朝ドラ初出演決定「舞いあがれ！」新たな出演者発表". Model Press. Retrieved April 12, 2022.