Hitoshi Matsumoto to launch new comedy series on Netflix and DOWNTOWN+

Comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto will launch a new comedy program titled ‘Picture Log - ESCAPE from Ogiri LABYRINTH -’ in late November. The series will be simultaneously distributed on the paid platform DOWNTOWN+ and Netflix.

The program features a unique ‘ogiri’ (improvised comedy) format where challengers face challenges involving ‘one word for a photo.’ Participants include various comedians such as Ken Horiuchi, Koji Nishida, Ryuji Akiyama, Eiko Kano, and Hirotaka Ogata, as well as athletes Musashi and Takeru.

This collaboration between Yoshimoto Kogyo and Netflix marks a significant shift in the Japanese entertainment landscape. While Matsumoto has not made a full return to terrestrial television following his hiatus, his content is expanding through global streaming platforms. The simultaneous release on Netflix raises questions regarding the impact on DOWNTOWN+ subscriber growth versus the potential for increased licensing revenue and global reach.