Atsugiri Jason

Atsugiri Jason
厚切りジェイソン
Born	Jason David Danielson (1986-04-09) April 9, 1986 (age 38) Michigan, United States
Alma mater	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Occupation	Comedian
Years active	2014–present
Agent	Watanabe Entertainment
Children	3
Website	www.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 13–14); Ailee (アイリ), who was born in 2014 (age 10–11);[1] and Michelle (ミシェル), who was born on (2017-01-01) January 1, 2017 (age 8).[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. "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. "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. "Atsugiri Jason: 'Don't worry about what other people think of you'". The Japan Times. February 8, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
4. "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. 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. "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. "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".

External links

• Official website