# Chad Mullane

Chad Mullane (born 28 November 1979) is an Australian comedian, actor, writer, director, translator, academic and producer based in Japan.

## Career

Chad became the first non-Japanese comedian to enter Japan's highest-profile comedy college Yoshimoto New Star Creation (NSC) and join Yoshimoto Kogyo in 1998. As an award-winning manzai artist he has since hosted, co-hosted and made guest appearances on thousands of comedy and variety television shows. Having ranked among the top 50 comedians in Japan by reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious M-1 Grand Prix for a record eight-years consecutively, he still performs live at theaters across Japan as one part of his comedy duo (which is also called "Chad Mullane.")
As an actor Chad has performed in many award-winning films, drama series and he has also been featured in several advertising campaigns. As a writer he has frequently contributed to publications at NHK Publications and The Japan Times, and he has also authored the book The Peculiar Case of Japanese Comedy. As an academic he teaches comedy at NSC, guest lectures at universities throughout Japan and will be one of the founding lecturers at Tokyo's 'i University' opening in 2020. Chad has been an advisor to the Japanese government and its promotion of Japanese culture through the Cool Japan initiative since March 2019.

## Influences

Growing up in Australia, Chad was exposed to American, British and Australian humor, but developed an interest in owarai (Japanese comedy) after a student exchange program took him by chance to Osaka (a.k.a. "The City of Comedy.") Having been exposed to the rich culture of uniquely Japanese comedy (including manzai, conte, shinkigeki, oogiri and batsu game,) and being particularly fascinated by the talent of comedy duo Downtown's Hitoshi Matsumoto, Chad joined NSC, after which he spent two years as an apprentice to The Bonchi's Osamu (the first manzai artist to sell out the 14,000 capacity Nippon Budokan.) By taking Osamu as his mentor, Chad became one of only three "brothers" to cult comedian Jimmy Onishi (of Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!-fame) and shinkigeki leader Hiro Yoshida. Chad was recognized by Hitoshi Matsumoto in 2006, and after being nicknamed "The Osaka-ralian," was invited to appear on the bi-annual TV show all comedians aspire to be on: Hitoshi Matsumoto no suberanai hanashi. Chad has since collaborated with Matsumoto on several TV shows and films.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Title | Result | Notes |
| 1999 | Imamiya Ebisu Manzai Contest | Won |
| 2001 | M-1 Grand Prix 2001 | Third Round |
| 2002 | M-1 Grand Prix 2002 | Semi-Finalist |
| 2003 | M-1 Grand Prix 2003 | Semi-Finalist |
| 2004 | M-1 Grand Prix 2004 | Semi-Finalist |
| 2005 | Shibuya Rockwest Cup | Won |
| 2005 | M-1 Grand Prix 2005 | Semi-Finalist |
| 2006 | R-1 Grand Prix | Semi-Finalist |
| 2006 | M-1 Grand Prix 2006 | Semi-Finalist |
| 2007 | M-1 Grand Prix 2007 | Semi-Finalist |
| 2008 | M-1 Grand Prix 2008 | Semi-Finalist |
| 2009 | M-1 Grand Prix 2009: The Final | Semi-Finalist | Record number of semi-final appearances |
| 2010 | CBC Radio King of Hamaguri | Won |
| 2010 | MBS New Generation Manzai Award | Finalist |
| 2012 | Sendai Comedy Contest | Won |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Moon & Cherry | Paul |
| 2007 | Ten Nights of Dreams | Yassan |
| 2007 | Honeystar | Groom | Written & directed by |
| 2008 | Lala Pipo | Mr. Lala Pipo |
| 2009 | Elite Yankee Saburo | First Guy to Die |
| 2009 | Nodame Cantabile: The Movie | Paul Dubois, Jane Dubois, Jean Dubois, Claude Dubois |
| 2010 | Nemuriba | Chad |
| 2010 | Not Enough Hands | Chicken Ball Boy | Written & directed by |
| 2012 | Grafreeter Toki | Jack Hanma |
| 2012 | Space Brothers | Raleigh Cuomo |
| 2012 | Paper Rabbit Rope | Jose the Alpaca (voice) |
| 2014 | Judge! | Alex Moylan |
| 2014 | Dogeza Japan | Mr. Mediocre | Written & directed by |
| 2015 | Samurai of the Dead | Zombie George |
| 2015 | Sideline | Nabihiko Tsuji |
| 2016 | Kamen Rider Ghost: The 100 Eyecons and Ghost's Fated Moment | Thomas Edison |
| 2017 | Zen and Bones: Henry Mittwer | John Mittwer |
| 2017 | The Stand-In Thief | Dave Ross |
| 2018 | Movies: Mr. Fukyô vs eiga-tachi | Mr. NEET |
| 2018 | Jesus | Jesus | Won New Director's Award at 2018 San Sebastián International Film Festival |
| 2019 | Roots | Tommy | Short film |

### Television
#### Drama Series

| Year | Broadcaster | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | MBS | Hitori Janai No | Mark | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | MBS | Drama Damas | Conman | 1 episode |
| 2007 | NHK | Imo Tako Nankin | Eddie Spencer | 5 episodes |
| 2008 | NHK | Hitomi | Jason | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | NHK | Ghost Friends | Ryan | 1 episode |
| 2010 | YTV | Kinoshita Bucho to Boku | Emcee | 1 episode |
| 2011 | NHK | Haha ni nattari, naranakattari | Chad | 1 episode |
| 2011 | NHK | Kumajiro: Otoko-tabi | Okami-san | 5 episodes |
| 2012 | NHK | Seishun Nine | Kotaro | 5 episodes |
| 2013 | NHK | Takanashi-san | Tom | 1 episode |
| 2015 | YTV | Itsutsu-boshi Tourist | Mark Houston | 1 episode |
| 2015 | NHK | Sono Otoko, Ishiki Takai-kei | Tom | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | MBS | Tonari no Seki-kun to Rumi-chan no Jisho | Chef Bob | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | NTV | Hotel on the Brink | Pierre Tanaka | 10 episodes |
| 2018 | NHK | Babysitter Gin! | Steve Fever | 1 episode |
| 2019 | TV Tokyo | Secret × Heroine Phantomirage! | Art | 1 episode |

#### Daily Shows

| Year | Broadcaster | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2013-2016 | NHK | Shigoto no Kiso Eigo | Chad |
| 2015- | NHK | Eigo de Asobo with Orton | Peachy (voice) | Also written by |

#### Weekly Shows

| Year | Broadcaster | Title | Role |
| 2003-2005 | TVK | Kyanagawa | Himself |
| 2004-2005 | Fuji TV | Quiz! Hexagon | Himself |
| 2006 | Fuji TV | Impact! | Himself |
| 2006-2007 | Fandango TV | Itadaki∞ | Himself (host) |
| 2006-2008 | Fuji TV | Bakusho! Red Carpet | Himself |
| 2007 | TV Tokyo | Webtama ww | Himself |
| 2007-2008 | Tokai TV | Morisugi | Himself |
| 2007-2008 | NTV | Kuchikomi! Johnny | Himself (co-host) |
| 2007-2009 | NHK | Kyou kara Eikaiwa | Himself (co-host) |
| 2007-2009 | TV Tokyo | Honban desu: Chad's Shanghai Walker | Himself (co-host) |
| 2008 | KTV | Tsukai! Everyday | Himself (co-host) |
| 2010-2011 | NHK | Matsumoto Hitoshi no Konto: MHK | Narrator |
| 2010-2012 | TV Tokyo | Ohasta 645 | Chad-mushi |
| 2011-2013 | TBS | Power Pulin | Narrator |
| 2011-2016 | NTV | Nep & Imoto's Sekai Banzuke | Himself |
| 2012-2013 | LaLa TV | Everybody! Good Gakuen | Himself (co-host) |
| 2012-2013 | Nerdist Channel | Weird S*it from Japan | Himself (host) |
| 2012-2015 | NHK | Bitworld | Takeshi Tanaka |
| 2014-2015 | TV Tokyo | Hakkutsuberry | Narrator |
| 2014-2015 | TV Tokyo | Ohasta 645 Go! Go!! | Narrator |
| 2014-2015 | Dlife | Chad & Kids Omoro-English | Himself (host) |

### Music videos

| Year | Artist | Title | Role |
| 2007 | JYONGRI | Hop,Step,Jump! | Himself |
| 2009 | 100s | Sorya Sou Da | Himself |

### Advertising Campaigns

| Year | Company | Title | Role |
| 2006 | Kirin Beverage | Namacha Panda to Kuraso | (Lyrics sung by) |
| 2008 | Coca-Cola Japan | Aquarius Vitamin Guard | Vitamin C/Himself |
| 2009 | Keihan Electric Railway | Okeihan Music Story | Noel Morinoshoji |
| 2010 | Nihon Wasou | Kareshi wa Gaikokujin, Kyoushitsu no Hi | Himself |
| 2012 | LOTTE | Fit's Sijo Saikyo! Kakurenbo Campaign | Himself |
| 2014 | Konami | World Soccer Collection | Himself |
| 2019 | Osaka Gas | Natsu no Eikaiwa Kyoushitsu | Himself |

## Publications
### Books

| Year | Publisher | Title | Notes |
| 2017 | NHK Publications | Strange Tales: Japanese Comedy | ISBN 4140885394 |

### Regular Contributions

| Year | Publisher | Magazine/Paper | Title | Language |
| 2007 | NHK Publications | Kyou Kara Eikaiwa | "Chad's Body Language Lesson" | Japanese |
| 2007-2008 | NHK Publications | Kyou Kara Eikaiwa | "Chado-Chado-ish Failures" | Japanese |
| 2007-2008 | INFAS Publications | Ryuko Tsushin | "Chad's Moteru Eikaiwa" | Japanese |
| 2007-2008 | Shueisha | Margaret | "Chad's Operation: Margaret" | Japanese |
| 2008 | NHK Publications | Shin Sankagetsu Topics | "Chadotta Tales" | Japanese |
| 2009 | NHK Publications | Shin Sankagetsu Topics | "Chad's Japan-Australia, Go!" | Japanese |
| 2009-2010 | NHK Publications | Jissen Business Eigo | "The English Triangle" | Japanese |
| 2011-2014 | NHK Publications | Jissen Business Eigo | "Growing Up in Australia" | Japanese |
| 2015-2017 | The Japan Times | The Japan Times ST | "Chad's Thoughts" | English |
| 2015-2017 | The Japan Times | The Japan Times ST | "Chad's Omoro People Journal" | English |
| 2018- | The Japan Times | The Japan Times Alpha | "How Do You Say That!" | English |
| 2021- | Yomiuri Shimbun | Yomiuri Kodomo Shimbun | "Chad's Showtime" | Japanese |

## Translation Works
### Feature films

| Year | Title |
| 2006 | Chromartie High the Movie |
| 2007 | Big Man Japan |
| 2009 | Yatterman |
| 2009 | Symbol |
| 2010 | Farewell, Mr. President |
| 2010 | What a Life!! |
| 2010 | The King of Jail Breakers |
| 2011 | Omrice |
| 2011 | Deadball |
| 2011 | Moonlight Mask |
| 2011 | Saya Zamurai |
| 2012 | TSY: Time Slip Yankee |
| 2012 | Typhoon Family |
| 2012 | All Tied Up With My Own Rope |
| 2013 | Abductee |
| 2013 | SEIZA |
| 2013 | Jelly Fish |
| 2013 | R100 |
| 2014 | Oh! Father |
| 2014 | The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji |
| 2015 | Samurai of the Dead |
| 2015 | At Home |
| 2015 | Mr. Maxman |
| 2015 | Secret Breaths |
| 2016 | CHIN-YU-KI: Journey to the West with Farts |
| 2016 | What if you can talk to your belongings |
| 2016 | Hentai Kamen: Abnormal Crisis |
| 2017 | MINT |
| 2017 | Carton MOOn |
| 2017 | The Stand-In Thief |
| 2017 | Jojoen |
| 2017 | Spark |
| 2018 | Watashi no Jinsei Nanoni |
| 2019 | Violence Voyager |
| 2019 | Kuso Mitai na Eiga |
| 2019 | Little Miss Period |
| 2019 | Dosukoi! Sukehira |
| 2019 | Tokyo Adios |
| 2019 | Tonde Saitama |
| 2023 | Shin Kamen Rider |

### Web series

| Year | Broadcaster | Title | Notes |
| 2016 | Netflix | Hibana: Spark | 10 episodes |
| 2018 | Netflix | Jimmy: The True Story of a True Idiot | 9 episodes |
| 2018- | Amazon Prime | Hitoshi Matsumoto's Documental | Seasons 1–5 |

### Illustrated Books

| Year | Title | Author |
| 2009 | Dr. Ink's Starry Sky Cinema | Akihiro Nishino |
| 2010 | Zip & Candy | Akihiro Nishino |
| 2012 | The Music Box Planet | Akihiro Nishino |

## Impressions

Haley Joel Osment Sylvester Stallone Michael Schumacher Setsuko from Grave of the Fireflies Celine Dion Paris Hilton Disney Witches Zlatan Ibrahimović Diego Forlán Carles Puyol