Comparison of characteristics among Rakugo, Manzai and comercial message (CM)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare the three stimuli which make people laugh. The results of discrimination analysis showed that Rakugo is very different from Manzai, and CM used in television is in between them. We analyzed the “funniness” points from following two aspects: First, about the points by each subjects, there was a significant correlation between Manzai and Rakugo, as well as between Manzai and CM. Second, about the degree of agreement of each subject's point with the mean of all subject's, a significant correlation was obtained between Rakugo and Manzai, as well as between Rakugo and CM. Those subjects whose points were close to the mean are thought to have a sense of humor. From these results it is suggested that in order to see whether a man will laugh much or not, it is valid to make him listen to Manzai, and to predict whether a man may have a sense of humor or not, it is valid to make him listen to Rakugo.