Japanese comedy

thumb|right|Rakugoka at Sanma Festival

thumb|200px|A pair of performers at a New Year celebration; the at front, the behind him (artist unknown, 19th-century Japanese painting)

performance activity invented in Japan

thumb|Comedy duo Makoto Izubuchi|Razor Ramon RG and Razor Ramon HG is a broad word used to describe Japanese comedy as seen on television. The word owarai is the honorific form of the word warai (by adding o- prefix), meaning "a laugh" or "a smile". Owarai is most common on Japanese variety shows and the comedians are referred to as owarai geinin or owarai tarento. Presently Japan is considered to be in an "owarai boom", and many minor talents have been finding sudden fame after a gag or skit became popular.