Takaaki Ishibashi

Who is Takaaki Ishibashi?

Takaaki Ishibashi is a Japanese owarai artist, singer and actor.

Born in Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan, Ishibashi moved to Narimasu, Itabashi after his father's bankruptcy in his first grade at an elementary school. He attended Teikyo Junior & Senor High School and is best known as a member of Tunnels with his partner Noritake Kinashi. He is currently married to former actress Honami Suzuki. He is currently the host of the popular music/interview show, Utaban with Masahiro Nakai. He has several nicknames such as "Taka-san", "Taka-chan" and "Takaaki".

Ishibashi is known for "teasing" music artists on his show Utaban, especially Morning Musume. He has over the years come up with different pet names for each member such as Johnson for Kaori Iida or Ka-san for Sayaka Ichii. This is apparently done purely for humor, based on comments made regarding Takaaki by his "victims", and in many cases these taunts actually increase the marketing "buzz" surrounding the artists.

Particularly well known is Ishibashi's fascination with accusing Kei Yasuda of anything from simple hideousness, to outright alien or supernatural evil, which started back when the group debuted. Numerous CG images will depict her as a hag or Kappa or show her in some maniacal facial expression while doing the activities she is speaking of in the interview. Both Kei and her mother apparently credit this humorous "abuse" with Kei's popularity as a member.