M-1 Grand Prix

The M-1 Grand Prix (M-1 グランプリ, Emu-wan Granpuri), formerly known as the Autobacs M-1 Grand Prix (オートバックス 〜M-1グランプリ〜, Ōtobakkusu Emu-wan Guranpuri), is an annual Manzai competition planned by Shinsuke Shimada and run by Yoshimoto Kogyo. The supporter Asahi Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts live throughout Japan via All-Nippon News Network.^[1]

M-1 Grand Prix M-1グランプリ
Genre	Manzai competition
Frequency	Annually in December
Country	Japan
Years active	23–24
Inaugurated	2001 (2001)
Participants	Comedians
Activity	Manzai, stand-up comedy
Organised by	Asahi Broadcasting Corporation Television
Website	m-1gp.com

As of 2024^[update] it is the most prevalent manzai competition in Japan. The grand prix ended in 2010 and was brought back in 2015 with sponsors including Cygames, Nissin Foods, FamilyMart, Suntory and Uniqlo.

Entry requirements

Before 2010, to qualify as a contestant, the unit must have a career age of 10 years or under. When the competition was brought back in 2015, this limit was changed to 15 years or under. Other than this condition, anyone can enter the competition and reach the televised semifinals and finals if they pass through.^[2]

Contestants must go through five rounds of elimination before moving to the televised finals, where only eight units are selected from the semifinals to become finalists. The second chance round was introduced in the 2nd Grand Prix and allows for semi finalists to compete in an additional round competing for an addition spot as the second chance winners in the finals. From 2017 and onward, the total number of finalists increased to nine, plus an additional second chance winner.

The finalists do a lottery draw to determine the entrance order, and are given points out of 100 by each of the judges. After all contestants have performed and points are given, the top three units with the highest points advanced to perform a second time at the grand finals. The judges then do a final vote to crown the winner.