The Function of Soudan Manzai [Manzai to Discuss Legal Matters] in NHK TV Program Variety Seikatsu Shouhyakka: Focusing on the Meta-Communicative Aspect of Manzai

Abstract

NHK’s variety show Variety Seikatsu Shouhyakka is a long-running program that provides legal advice to its audience. This program has the unique feature of using a manzai (Japanese duo stand-up comedy) format to discuss legal matters. The aim of this paper is to clarify the function of the manzai in this program and consider what kind of message it conveys to the audience. This paper focuses on the fact that this program emphasizes an approach to emotional aspects in order to avoid being biased toward technical legal themes, and points out the manzai has the same structure as “gossip.” By incorporating the structure of gossip, the manzai creates a situation in which the audience feel familiar with legal themes. It is metacommunicative in the sense that it acts out rumors. Furthermore, this study notes that the message of manzai not only conveys legal knowledge, but also social norms unrelated to the theme of law.