Introverts and Comedy

Today, I’d like to talk a little about comedy — yes, even though I’m no comedian myself 😅

And I’d like to start with a well-known American comedian in Japan: Jason Atsugiri, famous for his catchphrase “Why Japanese people!?”
(“Atsugiri” means “thick-sliced” in Japanese — like thick-cut bacon — so even his name is kind of a joke.)

As an introvert, I rarely laugh out loud in front of others. But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy comedy 😁 In fact, I believe laughter can be deeply healing — even more so for introverted people like me, who tend to quietly bottle up stress from daily life 🥺
So, shall we dive in? 💨

Why Jason Atsugiri?

Why highlight Jason this time?
Simple — I love his kanji jokes.

I’ve always had an interest in the origins and meanings of kanji, so when I watch his routines, it feels like a fun mix of comedy and rediscovering the Japanese language 😌

Take his bit about how we go from 一 (one), 二 (two), 三 (three) …
and then suddenly 四 (four) breaks the pattern.
Most Japanese people probably don’t even think twice about that — unless they’re overly curious types like me 😅

But what makes it fascinating is that his humor comes from an outsider’s perspective. He sees things we take for granted, and that gives his comedy a spark of discovery — like finding something hidden in plain sight ⭐

――― A quick intro to Jason:
He’s originally from the U.S. and studied computer science at Michigan State University, graduating early. He first came to Japan for research, and during his stay, he got hooked on Japanese comedy shows.

He later returned to the U.S., but came back again to Japan as an executive at an IT company. Eventually, he made his debut as a comedian — and became a breakout star through a Japanese TV comedy show, delivering his iconic line: “Why Japanese People!?”

He’s currently living in Japan with his Japanese wife and their children.

What makes something “funny”?

That got me thinking:

why do we laugh?

The simple answer is, “because it’s funny” — but that just raises a deeper question:

what makes something funny?

Of course, there’s no single right answer. Humor is deeply personal. But I was curious, so I tried breaking it down into types and patterns of humor.
(You can see the chart I made for fun!)

Looking at it that way, I realized there are certain patterns to what we find funny.
And maybe, if we introverts keep that in mind and try to find humor in little things,
we might just get through each day with a few more smiles 😌

The Power of Laughter

Introverts don’t always show their laughter openly —
at least I know I don’t. It’s not easy, is it?

But if we can laugh without holding back, it comes with some powerful benefits. Science backs this up, and laughter can even help us connect more easily with others.

• Reduces stress & boosts immunity
  Laughter triggers the release of feel – good hormones (endorphins) and lowers stress hormones (cortisol).
  It helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure, and even strengthens the immune system. Bringing laughter into your everyday life makes it easier to stay relaxed in both mind and body.
• Stimulates the brain & fuels imagination
  Comedy activates both the right and left brain, enhancing creativity and language skills. Understanding puns, sarcasm, or punchlines engages deep thinking and sparks the imagination.
  In that sense, humor becomes a kind of intellectual workout — a joyful way to stay sharp.
• Builds relationships through gentle self-reveal
  Even for introverts who tend to stay quiet, humor can help bridge the distance with others.
  Sharing a laugh is like safe self-disclosure — it breaks the ice. Just being able to laugh at the same thing makes building trust easier.

And that’s just a few of the benefits.
You don’t need to force yourself to laugh.
Even just lifting the corners of your mouth a little, or quietly chuckling to yourself, can make a difference.

We introverts tend to get weighed down easily by the little things… That’s why I want to be the kind of person who can laugh — even in those moments.
Someone quietly strong, with a smile in their heart 😌