Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2010

They say that laughter is contagious—and now here’s proof. On December 23, the first-ever Tokyo International Laughter Competition will inject some levity to the proceedings at a pair of venues across town. According to the organizers, “Competitive laughter is a new international trend, where people demonstrate the skills of contagious laughter to promote more laughter—to the entertainment of a live audience.” The day begins at 11am with an hour-long event in Yoyogi Park (free), followed by a competition to crown Japan’s Best Laugher 2010 in Tsukiji from 12:30-4:30pm (entry ¥6,000). Guests can also catch the Japan
premiere of the documentary Laughology,
plus an appearance by the film’s Canadian
director, Albert Nerenberg.

For more information, or to audition for the competition, contact Akira Sugiura at 070-5599-1410 or dmt@apost.plala.or.jp. To attend the Yoyogi Park event, meet Sugiura at 10:45am at the Omotesando exit of Harajuku stn. Tsukiji Shakai Kyoiku Kaikan, 4-15-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku. Tel: 03-3542-4801. Nearest stn: Tsukiji, A3. http://laughteryoganet.jp