
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
NRA 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
8.0Everybody 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
10.0Downtown 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
9.3After 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
7.6Produced 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
8.5The 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
5.7Ruthless dominatrixes pursue a mild-mannered salesman who wants to get out of his unbreakable contract with a secret bondage club.
R100
2013
6.6Following an end-of-term school ceremony, the American boy Bobby decides to go with his friend Akkun into the mountains outside their village, to a place perfect for a secret base. On the way they stop into a mysterious amusement park. They have fun there, but are attacked and cannot leave. Falling in with some other children who are also lost there, they fend off a number of attacks, and gradually learn the truth behind the facility.
Violence Voyager
2018
8.0A behind-the-scenes look at the comedic career of the boke side of the Downtown duo, Matsumoto Hitoshi. It shows a different perspective on Matsumoto's comedian life, being serious, professional and focused in order to deliver quality laughs to the audience.
Professional - Matsumoto Hitoshi
2010
2000s · 4 titles
6.0Daisato, 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
6.7A 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
4.5Office drama wherein a mediocre salaryman struggling hard to face a dream.
There's Always Tomorrow - The Movie
2001
NRParents leave their son home alone for awhile, but mistakenly order ninja Sasuke of Ninja Service, who has very peculiar methods of babysitting.
Sasuke
2001
Series credits
NRA 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
NRA 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
8.0Everybody 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
10.0Downtown 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
9.3After 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
7.6Produced 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
8.5The 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
8.5No synopsis available yet.
IPPON GRAND PRIX
2009
9.0No synopsis available yet.
King of Conte
2008
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
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
2.5A 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
10.0No synopsis available yet.
笑ってはいけないシリーズ
2003
4.0Ashita Ga Arusa is a Japanese television drama series first aired on NTV in 2001.
There's Always Tomorrow, We Have Tomorrow
2001
NRNo synopsis available yet.
大喜利GRAND PRIX
2025
NRDowntown 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
NREveryone 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
NRNo synopsis available yet.
ZONE05
2025
NRNo synopsis available yet.
芯くったら負け!実のない話トーナメント
2025
NRThis 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
6.7Two 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
8.5No synopsis available yet.
THE SECOND
2023
NRLINCOLN 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
8.0No synopsis available yet.
HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents FREEZE
2018
NRNo synopsis available yet.
お笑いの日
2020
NRNo synopsis available yet.
みんなのオトナな話
2025
NRNo synopsis available yet.
ワレワレハワラワレタイ
2022
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
NRA 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
NRNo synopsis available yet.
7:3トーク
2025
NRThe 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
NRNo synopsis available yet.
漫才インターナショナル
2025
NRProfessor Hitoshi Matsumoto and Associate Professor Eiji Kotoge perform various "experiments" about laughter.
Professor Matsumoto's Proof of Laughter
2025
NRNo synopsis available yet.
審査員長・松本人志
2020
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Downtown Now
2015
NRNo synopsis available yet.
松本紳助 松紳
2000
NRNo synopsis available yet.
爆笑 大日本アカン警察
2009
NRNo synopsis available yet.
松本人志と◯◯したい!
2025
NRNo synopsis available yet.
ダウンタウンのヤバイ昭和の世界
2022
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Wide na Show
2013
Behind the camera
6.0Daisato, 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
5.7Ruthless dominatrixes pursue a mild-mannered salesman who wants to get out of his unbreakable contract with a secret bondage club.
R100
2013
5.7Ruthless dominatrixes pursue a mild-mannered salesman who wants to get out of his unbreakable contract with a secret bondage club.
R100
2013
6.7A 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
6.7A 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
4.0Shinjo 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
5.7The 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
7.1Kanjuro 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
7.1Kanjuro 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
5.7Naoko 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
NRParents leave their son home alone for awhile, but mistakenly order ninja Sasuke of Ninja Service, who has very peculiar methods of babysitting.
Sasuke
2001
NRParents leave their son home alone for awhile, but mistakenly order ninja Sasuke of Ninja Service, who has very peculiar methods of babysitting.
Sasuke
2001
