In Japan, Owarai (お笑い) is a broad word used to describe Japanese comedy as seen on television. It is the honorific form of the word warai, meaning "a laugh" or "a smile". In Japan, people are very fond of their comedians, and the most famous in modern times are called owarai, which is a pair, usually of men, one of whom is the tsukkomi and the other the boke. For modern Japanese comedy acts, it is a general term that is geared to stand up or television performances. With the birth of television, Owarai began in Japan but this typical pairing is based on the much older comic art form of manzai, based in the Kansai region. On a wide variety of Japanese television shows, popular Owarai acts are regularly featured. For comedians, it is also common to participate in variety shows, game shows, food tasting, travel segments, physical challenges, strange games, obstacle courses, hidden-camera pranks, improvisation challenges, and music acts.

. Japan is considered to be in an "Owarai boom", presently and many minor talents have been finding sudden fame after a gag or skit became popular. In the acts of many modern talents, this tradition is continued. They are largely outnumbered by the men, and they tend to take more minor roles, while there are many women talents. The main outlet for most comedians is the Japanese variety shows and along with drama and anime, they are some of the most popular shows on Japanese television. In Japan, as a general term "variety show" can refer to "straight" variety shows with an appropriate myriad of topics, segments, and games. To focus more on stand-up and skits, and quiz/trivia type shows featuring comic elements also used for comedy oriented shows. A variety show will always follow the same format, and guests from Japanese music and talent pools are frequent is not be accepted. People who work in Owarai are known as "Owarai-geinin" or "Owarai-tarento". If they are a Manzai couple, then they're known as "Owarai-Konbi". Japan's most famous Owarai-geinin comedians are Sanma, Tamori, and Beat Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano).

"Owarai-geinin" today they take part in various activities and have diversified. On variety shows, a category that's about as popular as drama and anime many of them appear. Several styles are there within that category that are game shows based on physical competitions, math and science programs, cooking shows, and travel programs. 

Usually, Owarai based on gags or skits by individuals or comedy teams. Between Manzai and Owarai there are a couple of similarities and differences that make them so unique from each other. There are usually two to three comedians, and many of them perform as MCs on TV and Variety shows, Similarly to Manzai, in Owarai. Beat Takeshi, Sanma, and Tamori are the three most popular owarai in Japan

Beat Takeshi: Takeshi Kitano is the real name, was born in Tokyo in 1947, and has been a big name not only in Japanese comedy since the 1970s but since the 1980s in Japanese cinema, too. Also, he is a prolific author. His serious side these days seems to have almost eclipsed his funny side.

Akashiya Sanma: In 1955 usually just Sanma (literally "Pacific saury") was born Takafumi Sugimoto in Wakayama prefecture. Famous for his large protruding teeth, he is the ultimate motor-mouth comedian, always revving at full speed, laughing uproariously, and an excellent mimic.

Tamori: In 1945 born Kazuyoshi Morita in Fukuoka is best known as the host of the legendary TV program Waratte Ii Tomo which has aired every day since 1982 from the famous Studio Alta in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Tamori has been known for his trademark dark glasses that Tamori is rarely seen without since the late 1970s.

Over most of the Japanese television, some concepts of variety shows are consistent though they may be considered quite different from those seen in the western world.