Hitoshi Matsumoto

Acting

Hitoshi Matsumoto

Born

1963-09-08 (63)

Place of birth

Amagasaki, Hyōgo, Japon

Known for

Acting

Credits

59 titles

Hitoshi Matsumoto (born September 8, 1963), or Matchan as he is commonly known, is a Japanese comedian best known as the boke half the popular owarai duo Downtown alongside Masatoshi Hamada. Born in Hyōgo Prefecture, he usually speaks in the Kansai dialect. He directed, produced, and starred in the 2007 movie Big Man Japan, which was shown at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight section.

Known for

Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! poster
NR

A Japanese variety show hosted by popular Japanese owarai duo, Downtown, with comedian Hōsei Tsukitei (formerly known as Hōsei Yamasaki) and owarai duo Cocorico co-hosting.

Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!

1989

Wednesday Downtown poster
8.0

Everybody has theories that they personally cling blindly to regardless of proof or scientific validity. In this entertaining information program, a host of celebrities present their cases for pet theories to studio guests by any means be it academic argument or laughably “out there” logic. Can their theories gain acceptance? Or will they be discarded as pop science that only adds confusion to the world? Find out through exhaustive examination including on-location experiments!

Wednesday Downtown

2014

Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji poster
10.0

Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji (ダウンタウンのごっつええ感じ, roughly "Downtown's Feeling Real Good"), was a Japanese variety show. It premiered on December 8, 1991 and ended its run on November 2, 1997. It aired on Fuji TV every Sunday night. Hosted by the comedy duo Downtown (consisting of Masatoshi Hamada and Hitoshi Matsumoto), it had several other actors and comedians in its regular cast, including You, Koji Imada, Koji Higashino, Itsuji Itao, Ryoko Shinohara and Honkon (Takahiro Kurano). Like most other Japanese variety shows, it featured guest interviews and games, but it is best known and remembered for its sketch comedy. Downtown and other cast members would dress in costumes and perform absurd skits with bizarre characters.

Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji

1991

Gaki no Tsukai No Laughing Batsu Game poster
9.3

After participating to a previous show where they have to bet or be challenged to any kind of competitions, the losing members of the Gaki no Tsukai are selected to spend 24 hours in a setting which they have no knowledge of the theme nor the course of the events. They are exposed to various absurd and crazy situations nonstop for 24 hours and must refrain from laughing. If they do so, hang-men appear and hit the rule breakers with a weapon (the weapon varies every year).

Gaki no Tsukai No Laughing Batsu Game

2003

HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents Documental poster
7.6

Produced by Hitoshi Matsumoto, Documental pits ten comedians against each other. The objective is to make each other laugh in a closed room. Each contestant brings a one million yen participation fee. The last person to stay in the room without laughing wins. The winner is awarded a 10 million yen prize and bragging rights as the funniest comedian.

HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents Documental

2016

M-1 Grand Prix poster
8.5

The next generation of Manzai duos compete in a fierce battle of wits and laughter, unleashing their best material for a chance at comedic glory.

M-1 Grand Prix

2001

Film credits

2010s · 3 titles

2000s · 4 titles

Series credits

Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! poster
NR

A Japanese variety show hosted by popular Japanese owarai duo, Downtown, with comedian Hōsei Tsukitei (formerly known as Hōsei Yamasaki) and owarai duo Cocorico co-hosting.

Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!

1989

Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! poster
NR

A Japanese variety show hosted by popular Japanese owarai duo, Downtown, with comedian Hōsei Tsukitei (formerly known as Hōsei Yamasaki) and owarai duo Cocorico co-hosting.

Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!

1989

Wednesday Downtown poster
8.0

Everybody has theories that they personally cling blindly to regardless of proof or scientific validity. In this entertaining information program, a host of celebrities present their cases for pet theories to studio guests by any means be it academic argument or laughably “out there” logic. Can their theories gain acceptance? Or will they be discarded as pop science that only adds confusion to the world? Find out through exhaustive examination including on-location experiments!

Wednesday Downtown

2014

Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji poster
10.0

Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji (ダウンタウンのごっつええ感じ, roughly "Downtown's Feeling Real Good"), was a Japanese variety show. It premiered on December 8, 1991 and ended its run on November 2, 1997. It aired on Fuji TV every Sunday night. Hosted by the comedy duo Downtown (consisting of Masatoshi Hamada and Hitoshi Matsumoto), it had several other actors and comedians in its regular cast, including You, Koji Imada, Koji Higashino, Itsuji Itao, Ryoko Shinohara and Honkon (Takahiro Kurano). Like most other Japanese variety shows, it featured guest interviews and games, but it is best known and remembered for its sketch comedy. Downtown and other cast members would dress in costumes and perform absurd skits with bizarre characters.

Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji

1991

Gaki no Tsukai No Laughing Batsu Game poster
9.3

After participating to a previous show where they have to bet or be challenged to any kind of competitions, the losing members of the Gaki no Tsukai are selected to spend 24 hours in a setting which they have no knowledge of the theme nor the course of the events. They are exposed to various absurd and crazy situations nonstop for 24 hours and must refrain from laughing. If they do so, hang-men appear and hit the rule breakers with a weapon (the weapon varies every year).

Gaki no Tsukai No Laughing Batsu Game

2003

HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents Documental poster
7.6

Produced by Hitoshi Matsumoto, Documental pits ten comedians against each other. The objective is to make each other laugh in a closed room. Each contestant brings a one million yen participation fee. The last person to stay in the room without laughing wins. The winner is awarded a 10 million yen prize and bragging rights as the funniest comedian.

HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents Documental

2016

M-1 Grand Prix poster
8.5

The next generation of Manzai duos compete in a fierce battle of wits and laughter, unleashing their best material for a chance at comedic glory.

M-1 Grand Prix

2001

IPPON GRAND PRIX poster
8.5

No synopsis available yet.

IPPON GRAND PRIX

2009

King of Conte poster
9.0

No synopsis available yet.

King of Conte

2008

Detective! Knight Scoop poster
10.0

"Detective! Knight Scoop" is an amusement programme. Based on requests contributed by the viewers, to protect the public order, morals and peace in society, the chief detective sends out excelling detectives who thoroughly pursuit any task they're presented with.

Detective! Knight Scoop

1988

Detective! Knight Scoop poster
10.0

"Detective! Knight Scoop" is an amusement programme. Based on requests contributed by the viewers, to protect the public order, morals and peace in society, the chief detective sends out excelling detectives who thoroughly pursuit any task they're presented with.

Detective! Knight Scoop

1988

Legendary Teacher poster
2.5

A man who appears to have no particular passion for anything ironically proves effective with troubled high school students. Known as a legendary savior of problem schools, he shows up one day to salvage what's left of a class that had fallen apart completely. His highly unpredictable reactions and controversial advice to students shock the teachers and staffs much as they do the problem students themselves.

Legendary Teacher

2000

笑ってはいけないシリーズ poster
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

笑ってはいけないシリーズ

2003

There's Always Tomorrow, We Have Tomorrow poster
4.0

Ashita Ga Arusa is a Japanese television drama series first aired on NTV in 2001.

There's Always Tomorrow, We Have Tomorrow

2001

大喜利GRAND PRIX poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

大喜利GRAND PRIX

2025

Downtown DX poster
NR

Downtown DX is a variety talk show hosted by Hamada Masatoshi and Matsumoto Hitoshi. Include several celebrities as weekly guests, introducing their photos and episodes to find out what they are really like. The guests include a wide variety of actors, celebrities, idols, and comedians.

Downtown DX

1993

Hitoshi Matsumoto No Suberanai Hanashi poster
NR

Everyone has at least one story that never gets old, and it’s always entertaining no matter how many times you hear it. This simple show features players rolling dice with their names on them, and the person whose name comes up tells a funny story.

Hitoshi Matsumoto No Suberanai Hanashi

2004

ZONE05 poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

ZONE05

2025

芯くったら負け!実のない話トーナメント poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

芯くったら負け!実のない話トーナメント

2025

Dareka to Nakai poster
NR

This is a fresh and innovative talk show. With celebrities from various industries, it promises to deliver a wide array of entertainment for all. Get ready to experience the next level of captivating entertainment!

Dareka to Nakai

2023

Hideaki ANNO and Hitoshi MATSUMOTO fireside chat poster
6.7

Two of Japan’s top creators come together for a special fireside chat. Hideaki ANNO, creator and director of the Evangelion series, and Hitoshi MATSUMOTO, producer of Documental and FREEZE, sit down to discuss their respective creative philosophy and approaches, the spread of their work abroad, their future creative endeavors, and more.

Hideaki ANNO and Hitoshi MATSUMOTO fireside chat

2021

THE SECOND poster
8.5

No synopsis available yet.

THE SECOND

2023

Lincoln poster
NR

LINCOLN is a Japanese variety show. It premiered on October 18, 2005 and ended on September 10, 2013, and aired on TBS every Tuesday night. Hosted by Downtown, it features seven other owarai geinin in its regular cast, and has several recurring younger, up-and-coming comedians as guests. The show uses Abraham Lincoln as its mascot, and its slogan is: "The program of the geinin, by the geinin, for the geinin," parodying a line from his famous Gettysburg Address. The object of the show is to have the younger comedians watch and learn from the more experienced comedians through fun and games. The opening uses the song "The Revolution" by BT and features the regular cast as superheroic anime characters in a futuristic setting. The animation was done by Studio 4°C, a studio well known for The Animatrix. The opening has since changed to a LINCOLN version of the opening to Kinpachi-sensei and was directed by Ogiyahagi. Tomomitsu Yamaguchi, a regular when the show started, later became a semi-regular due to conflicts with his work schedule.

Lincoln

2005

HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents FREEZE poster
8.0

No synopsis available yet.

HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents FREEZE

2018

お笑いの日 poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

お笑いの日

2020

みんなのオトナな話 poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

みんなのオトナな話

2025

ワレワレハワラワレタイ poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

ワレワレハワラワレタイ

2022

Crazy Journey poster
NR

"Crazy Journeys" - who travel around the world and around Japan with their own perspectives and commitments Gathered in the studio, talk about experiences that are far from ordinary people

Crazy Journey

2021

Talks for Sake Nibbles poster
NR

A talk show where celebrities and cultural figures gather around a table to share their personal stories and experiences while enjoying drinks.

Talks for Sake Nibbles

2021

7:3トーク poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

7:3トーク

2025

Matsumoto ke no Kyuujitsu poster
NR

The show's title can be translated as “The Matsumoto Family's Vacation”. The fictitious Matsumoto family consist of four members: Hitoshi Matsumoto who plays the mom; Tôru Hotohara as the dad; Kenji Tamura as the son and lastly Sada as the daughter. With this stereotypical and funny Osaka family we go out on many adventures, exploring food and activities from the Kansai area.

Matsumoto ke no Kyuujitsu

2014

漫才インターナショナル poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

漫才インターナショナル

2025

Professor Matsumoto's Proof of Laughter poster
NR

Professor Hitoshi Matsumoto and Associate Professor Eiji Kotoge perform various "experiments" about laughter.

Professor Matsumoto's Proof of Laughter

2025

審査員長・松本人志 poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

審査員長・松本人志

2020

Downtown Now poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Downtown Now

2015

松本紳助 松紳 poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

松本紳助 松紳

2000

爆笑 大日本アカン警察 poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

爆笑 大日本アカン警察

2009

松本人志と◯◯したい! poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

松本人志と◯◯したい!

2025

ダウンタウンのヤバイ昭和の世界 poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

ダウンタウンのヤバイ昭和の世界

2022

Wide na Show poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Wide na Show

2013

Behind the camera

Big Man Japan poster
6.0

Daisato, a second-rate, third-generation superhero, annoys his neighbors with the noise and destruction he causes on the job. But a heroic public image is the least of his concerns. Besides defending Japan from bizarre monsters, he must deal with an agent seeking to brand him with ads, a superhero grandfather with Alzheimer's and a family embarrassed by his incompetence.

Big Man Japan

2007

R100 poster
5.7

Ruthless dominatrixes pursue a mild-mannered salesman who wants to get out of his unbreakable contract with a secret bondage club.

R100

2013

R100 poster
5.7

Ruthless dominatrixes pursue a mild-mannered salesman who wants to get out of his unbreakable contract with a secret bondage club.

R100

2013

Symbol poster
6.7

A Japanese man in polka-dot pajamas wakes up in a room with no doors. Meanwhile, a middle-aged Mexican wrestler prepares for his most challenging match ever.

Symbol

2009

Symbol poster
6.7

A Japanese man in polka-dot pajamas wakes up in a room with no doors. Meanwhile, a middle-aged Mexican wrestler prepares for his most challenging match ever.

Symbol

2009

Japanese Salaryman NEO poster
4.0

Shinjo is a new employee at NEO Beer, which is currently ranked fifth in the industry. When NEO’s president demands that they figure out a way to capture the top market share, Sales division chief Nakanishi and his team are struggling to come up with ideas when Shinjo suggests “sexy” as a possible marketing buzzword.

Japanese Salaryman NEO

2011

The Last Chance: Diary of Comedians poster
5.7

The movie follows the life of an unpopular comedy duo. The duo, called "Boso Swimmers", have been working together for 12 years, but the duo sees little future in their comedy careers. They then begin to write their thoughts in a diary

The Last Chance: Diary of Comedians

2013

Scabbard Samurai poster
7.1

Kanjuro Nomi is an aging samurai who only has a scabbard. Deserting his lord to wander the land with his daughter Tae, Kanjuro is captured and sentenced to an unusual punishment: he has 30 days to bring a smile to the sad prince who has lost his mother — or else he must die.

Scabbard Samurai

2011

Scabbard Samurai poster
7.1

Kanjuro Nomi is an aging samurai who only has a scabbard. Deserting his lord to wander the land with his daughter Tae, Kanjuro is captured and sentenced to an unusual punishment: he has 30 days to bring a smile to the sad prince who has lost his mother — or else he must die.

Scabbard Samurai

2011

Permanent Nobara poster
5.7

Naoko returns home with her young daughter, where her mother Masako runs the only beauty parlor in town. The local women go there to pass the time lamenting their bad luck with men and laughing over dirty jokes. Unbeknownst to them, Naoko has been secretly seeing her former teacher, Kashima.

Permanent Nobara

2010

Sasuke poster
NR

Parents leave their son home alone for awhile, but mistakenly order ninja Sasuke of Ninja Service, who has very peculiar methods of babysitting.

Sasuke

2001

Sasuke poster
NR

Parents leave their son home alone for awhile, but mistakenly order ninja Sasuke of Ninja Service, who has very peculiar methods of babysitting.

Sasuke

2001