Yoshio Kojima

is a Japanese comedian famous for appearing only in a small bathing suit, during both performances and interviews. Among his well-known catchphrases are "Sonna no kankei nee" (そんなの関係ねぇ or "What does that matter?", usually as a reaction to an intentional mistake in his routine) and "Oppapī" (おっぱっぴー), an abbreviation of "Ocean Pacific Peace", (オーシャン・パシフィック・ピース). A soundbite such as "Oppapī", or something similarly random is commonly used by Japanese comedians as an easy to remember and easy to repeat hook that can help popularise them and their comedy. His following has grown outside Japan thanks to the internet and videos posted on sites such as YouTube. He says "chintonshantenton" showing the music of traditional Japanese instrument (shamisen).

Biography

Kojima was born in Kumejima, Shimajiri District, Okinawa and grew up in Chiba, Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo. He studied at Waseda University, earning a degree in Japanese literature.

Kojima's "Sonna no kankei nee" was nominated in the 2007 buzzwords-of-the-year contest (nihongo|shingo ryukogo taisho|新語・流行語大賞) in Japan. [cite news | url=http://mainichi.jp/enta/geinou/graph/200712/03/?inb=yt | title=新語・流行語大賞：遼クン「またハニカんじゃう」　小島よしおは「新ギャグ５０個考案中」 | publisher=Mainichi Shimbun | date=December 3, 2007 | accessdate=2008-01-23 | language=Japanese] [cite news | url=http://www.asahi.com/special/07-08/news/TKY200712030313.html | title=どげんかせんといかん・ハニカミ王子　新語・流行語大賞 | publisher=Asahi Shimbun | date=December 3, 2007 | accessdate=2008-01-23 | language=Japanese]

References

* [http://www.latimes.com/business/la-ca-webscout1jul01,1,2327178.story?coll=la-mininav-business&ctrack=1&cset=true Los Angeles Times article]
* [http://www.jca.apc.org/okinawashadai/news/060803_eve.html 静かな夜を返せ！/未明離陸に抗議集会]