Atsugiri Jason
厚切りジェイソン
Born
Jason David Danielson

(1986-04-09) April 9, 1986 (age 37)
Michigan, United States
Alma materUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Occupation
  • Comedian
Years active2014–present
AgentWatanabe Entertainment
Children3
Websitewww.watanabepro.co.jp/mypage/40000169/

Jason David Danielson (born April 9, 1986),[1] known professionally as Atsugiri Jason (厚切りジェイソン, Atsugiri Jeison, lit. "Thick-sliced Jason"), is an American comedian based in Japan and associated with Watanabe Entertainment. Danielson's comedic narrative is based on his confusion with kanji, ending with the punchline, "Why Japanese people?!"[2]

Early and personal life

Danielson was born in Michigan, United States. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign as an engineering major and traveled to Japan for a one-year internship in 2005 to develop English speech recognition software.[1][3] He earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree in computer science.[4] In 2011, Danielson returned to Japan and formed the Japanese branch of an IT company he worked for in Chicago.[3] Along with his career in entertainment, Danielson continues to work full-time at the IT company.[2][3]

In 2007, Danielson married a Japanese woman, who he met when he first went to Japan in 2005, with their wedding ceremony held in the United States.[1] They have three daughters: Lisa (リサ), who was born in 2011 or 2012 (age 11–12); Ailee (アイリ), who was born in 2014 (age 9–10);[1] and Michelle (ミシェル), who was born on (2017-01-01) January 1, 2017 (age 7).[5][6]

Career

While in Japan in 2005, Danielson became interested in Japanese comedy after watching The God of Entertainment [ja].[1] Two years after he returned to Japan, he attended a show held by the Japanese comedy duo Xabungle [ja], where he became acquainted with Ayumu Kato and was introduced to his agency, Watanabe Entertainment.[1] He then trained at the agency's program, Watanabe Comedy School.[7] Danielson's comedy routines based on his confusion with kanji, which he writes on a board behind him and ends with him yelling, "Why Japanese people?!" in English.[2] He initially considered focusing on political criticism like American comedians but did not feel that it would be accepted by a Japanese audience.[7] Danielson's stage name, Atsugiri, meaning "thick-sliced" in Japanese, originated from Atsugi, where he was living at the time, and because his chest is thick.[1][3]

After only four months of training, in October 2014,[2] he made his first television appearance on R-1 Grand Prix 2015, where he attracted media attention for being the first non-Japanese finalist competing in the history of the show.[8] Shortly after the show ended, Danielson appeared in a web-exclusive video featured as part of the advertising campaign of Nissin Foods' yakisoba UFO [ja].[9]

On November 8, 2015, Danielson released his first book, Nihon no Mina-san ni Otsutaeshitai 48 no Why.[10] In February 2016, Danielson was announced as a host of the educational program Why? Programming, which was broadcast on NHK from March 21 to 25, 2016.[4] On December 14, 2016, Danielson released his second book, Jason Shiki Eigo Training: Oboenai Eiei Tango 400.[11] For the book's promotional event, he led an English class for 200 people, during which he stated that he was retiring his "Why Japanese people?!" catch phrase.[11]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2020 Looking for Magical Doremi Ezekiel Voice [12]
2023 Yudo: The Way of the Bath Adrian [13]

Television

Year Title Role Network Notes Ref(s)
2014 R-1 Grand Prix 2015 Himself Fuji TV Finalist [2]
2016 Why!? Programming Himself NHK Host [4]
2018 "Bushimeshi!: The Samurai Cook 2" Anthony Abbott NHK [citation needed]
2017 Eigo de Asobo with Orton Professor Jason NHK [14]
2020 Ii ne! Hikaru Genji-kun [ja] Phillip NHK Episode 4 [15]
2022 Japan's Top Inventions Himself NHK Season 1 [16]

Publications

Year Title Publisher ISBN
2015 Nihon no Mina-san ni Otsutaeshitai 48 no Why (日本のみなさんにお伝えしたい48のWhy)[10] Pia ISBN 978-4-8356-2850-9
2016 Jason Shiki Eigo Training: Oboenai Eiei Tango 400 (ジェイソン式英語トレーニング 覚えない英英単語400)[11] Shufu to Seikatsu-sha ISBN 978-4-3911-4953-1

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "芸歴５カ月！史上初の外国人！厚切りジェイソン、Ｒ－１決勝進出". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). February 3, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "厚切りジェイソン、人生相談殺到にWhy?「ただ思いついたことを答えるだけ」". Oricon (in Japanese). September 3, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Atsugiri Jason: 'Don't worry about what other people think of you'". The Japan Times. February 8, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "厚切りジェイソン、NHKでプログラミング番組「可能性は無限大」". Oricon (in Japanese). February 23, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  5. ^ "厚切りジェイソン、妻の第3子妊娠報告「会うの楽しみに」". Oricon (in Japanese). December 12, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  6. ^ "厚切りジェイソン、第3子女児誕生を報告「元旦ベビー!」". Oricon (in Japanese). January 1, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Kodama, Sumiko (July 18, 2016). "厚切りジェイソン、文化人としての需要「嬉しい」 まずは何でもやってみることが大切". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "芸歴4ヶ月の米国出身芸人が『R-1』決勝進出". Oricon (in Japanese). February 2, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  9. ^ "厚切りジェイソン、焼きそば食べて絶叫「Umai!」". Oricon (in Japanese). August 19, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "厚切りジェイソン、下積みなしに「罪悪感ある」". Oricon (in Japanese). November 8, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "厚切りジェイソン、"叫びネタ"は卒業「もうやる必要ない」". Oricon (in Japanese). December 14, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "「魔女見習いをさがして」厚切りジェイソンとKダブシャインがヒロインの取引先相手に" [Atsugiri Jason and K Dub Shine appear as one of the female characters' business partners in Looking for Magical Doremi]. Natalie (in Japanese). November 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  13. ^ "湯道". eiga.com. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "『えいごであそぼ with Orton』最終回、"ジェイソン博士"涙の旅立ち 全員で「See you all」「Bye」". Oricon (in Japanese). March 31, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  15. ^ "よるドラ『いいね!光源氏くん』厚切りジェイソン、榊原郁恵の出演発表". Oricon (in Japanese). April 28, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  16. ^ "Japan's Top Inventions | NHK WORLD-JAPAN on Demand".

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