| Summary | “Comanechi!” is a physical gag made famous by Japanese comedian Beat Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano) in the 1980s. The performer shouts the word while striking a V-shaped hand pose near the crotch area in an exaggerated manner. The name references the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci, known for her flexibility and splits. |
| Genre | Comedy / One-shot Gag |
| Typical Age Group | 30–70 years old |
| Audience | Japanese variety show fans Fans of classic gag comedy |
| Popularity | ★★★☆☆ Not widely used in modern comedy, but still remembered nostalgically and occasionally referenced in parodies or retro content. |
| Relevance | ★★★☆☆ |
| Usability | ★★★★☆ |
| When to Use | When joking around in a retro or parody context To imitate classic Japanese TV humor |
| How to Use | Stand with feet apart, slightly squat Place both hands in a V-shape near your waist, pointing outward Shout: “Comanechi!” in an exaggerated tone |
| Cultural Note | The name “Comanechi” is a humorous mispronunciation of Comăneci, the Romanian gymnast. Although the gesture has nothing to do with her actual moves, the visual “split-like” pose became symbolic. This gag reflects the absurd, spontaneous style of Japanese variety comedy during the Showa and Heisei eras. It was so well-known that even kids imitated it on playgrounds in the 80s and 90s. |
performance sample video
You can hear this phrase at around 07:27 in the YouTube video.