| Summary | “Kuse ga sugoi!” literally means “The habit is strong,” but it’s used to react to someone with a very exaggerated or peculiar behavior, accent, or style. This catchphrase was made popular by Nobu, the straight man (tsukkomi) of the Japanese comedy duo Chidori. He delivers it with a unique intonation, turning it into one of the most recognizable comedy phrases in modern Japan. |
| Genre | Comedy / Manzai (Tsukkomi Line) / Variety TV Phrase |
| Typical Age Group | 15–40 years old Popular with fans of modern Japanese variety shows and comedy. |
| Audience | Fans of Japanese comedy (manzai or owarai) Viewers of variety programs Younger people who use it as slang |
| Popularity | ★★★★☆ Still widely used in Japanese media and casual conversation. It has become a slang phrase to describe anyone or anything that stands out due to eccentric traits. |
| Relevance | ★★★★★ |
| Usability | ★★★★★ |
| When to Use | When someone’s outfit, accent, or behavior is really unique To tease a friend in a fun, light-hearted way As a humorous comment online (meme use) |
| How to Use | Look surprised or confused, then say: “KUSE ga sugoi!!” Emphasize “KUSE” in a drawn-out, rising tone like Nobu does. |
| Cultural Note | The phrase rose to fame through the duo Chidori, especially in shows like Ame Talk. Nobu’s delivery style—sudden, loud, and slightly bewildered—turned this simple observation into a catchphrase. It became part of modern Japanese slang and is often used on SNS or in memes when people want to react to something “too unique to ignore.” |
Parody performance
You can hear a similar phrase at about 01:42 in this YouTube video.
In this case, the tsukkomi is “Kusegayowai” instead of “Kusegasugoi.”
By flexibly changing the ending of the sentence, you can create laughter that suits the situation.