:Atsugiri Jason
{{short description|American comedian}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Atsugiri Jason
| image =
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name = 厚切りジェイソン
| native_name_lang = ja
| birth_name = Jason David Danielson
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|4|9}}
| birth_place = Michigan, United States
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| other_names =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Comedian}}
| children = 3
| agent = Watanabe Entertainment
| alma_mater = University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
| yearsactive = 2014–present
| spouse =
| website = {{url|https://www.watanabepro.co.jp/mypage/40000169/}}
}}
Jason David Danielson (born April 9, 1986),{{cite news | url=https://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/20150203/owa15020305060001-n3.html | title=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 | language=ja | work=Sankei Sports | date=February 3, 2015 | accessdate=January 17, 2021}} known professionally as {{Nihongo|Atsugiri Jason|厚切りジェイソン|Atsugiri Jeison|{{literal translation|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?!"{{cite news | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2058551/full/ | title=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」 | language=ja | work=Oricon | date=September 3, 2015 | accessdate=January 17, 2021}}
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.{{cite news | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2015/02/08/people/atsugiri-jason-dont-worry-people-think/ | title=Atsugiri Jason: 'Don't worry about what other people think of you' | work=The Japan Times | date=February 8, 2015 | accessdate=January 17, 2021}} He earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree in computer science. In 2011, Danielson returned to Japan and formed the Japanese branch of an IT company he worked for in Chicago. Along with his career in entertainment, Danielson continues to work full-time at the IT company.
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. They have three daughters: {{nihongo|Lisa|リサ}}, {{nihongo|Ailee|アイリ}}, and {{nihongo|Michelle|ミシェル}}.{{cite news | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2082904/full/ | title=厚切りジェイソン、妻の第3子妊娠報告「会うの楽しみに」 | language=ja | work=Oricon | date=December 12, 2016 | accessdate=January 17, 2021}}{{cite news | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2084048/full/ | title=厚切りジェイソン、第3子女児誕生を報告「元旦ベビー!」 | language=ja | work=Oricon | date=January 1, 2017 | accessdate=January 17, 2021}}
Career
While in Japan in 2005, Danielson became interested in Japanese comedy after watching {{ill|The God of Entertainment|ja|エンタの神様}}. Two years after he returned to Japan, he attended a show held by the Japanese comedy duo {{ill|Xabungle (comedy duo)|lt=Xabungle|ja|ザブングル (お笑いコンビ)}}, where he became acquainted with Ayumu Kato and was introduced to his agency, Watanabe Entertainment. He then trained at the agency's program, Watanabe Comedy School.{{cite news | first=Sumiko | last=Kodama | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/special/49135/ | title=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 | language=ja | work=Oricon | date=July 18, 2016 | accessdate=January 17, 2021}} 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. He initially considered focusing on political criticism like American comedians but did not feel that it would be accepted by a Japanese audience. Danielson's stage name, Atsugiri, meaning {{Gloss|thick-sliced}} in Japanese, originated from Atsugi, where he was living at the time, and because his chest is thick.
After only four months of training, in October 2014, 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.{{cite news | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2048039/full/ | title=芸歴4ヶ月の米国出身芸人が『R-1』決勝進出 | language=ja | work=Oricon | date=February 2, 2015 | accessdate=January 17, 2021}} Shortly after the show ended, Danielson appeared in a web-exclusive video featured as part of the advertising campaign of Nissin Foods' {{ill|Nissin Yakisoba UFO|lt=yakisoba UFO|ja|日清焼そばU.F.O.}}.{{cite news | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2057797/full/ | title=厚切りジェイソン、焼きそば食べて絶叫「Umai!」 | language=ja | work=Oricon | date=August 19, 2015 | accessdate=January 17, 2021}}
On November 8, 2015, Danielson released his first book, {{Lang|ja-latn|Nihon no Mina-san ni Otsutaeshitai 48 no Why}}. 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. On December 14, 2016, Danielson released his second book, {{Lang|ja-latn|Jason Shiki Eigo Training: Oboenai Eiei Tango 400}}. 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.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes ! class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| 2020
| Ezekiel | Voice | {{cite news | url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/403311 | title=「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 | trans-title=Atsugiri Jason and K Dub Shine appear as one of the female characters' business partners in Looking for Magical Doremi | language=ja | work=Natalie | date=November 4, 2020 | access-date=January 4, 2021}} |
| 2023
| Adrian | |
=Television=
Publications
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Publisher ! ISBN |
| 2015
| {{nihongo|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}}{{cite news | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2061937/full/ | title=厚切りジェイソン、下積みなしに「罪悪感ある」 | language=ja | work=Oricon | date=November 8, 2015 | accessdate=January 17, 2021}} | Pia | {{ISBN|978-4-8356-2850-9}} |
| 2016
| {{nihongo|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}}{{cite news | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2083016/full/ | title=厚切りジェイソン、"叫びネタ"は卒業「もうやる必要ない」 | language=ja | work=Oricon | date=December 14, 2016 | accessdate=January 17, 2021}} | Shufu to Seikatsu-sha | {{ISBN|978-4-3911-4953-1}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://ameblo.jp/atsugirijason}}
{{Authority control}}