#suzukky

[timebokanman]

[maximumthrill]

“What’s the Chinese Kanji for Toilet Paper look like?

[timebokanman]

[timebokanman]

Today marks the 7th anniversary since Time Bokan 24 broadcast.

[timebokanman]

[timebokanman]

[timebokanman]

Explaining the joke: In Time Bokan 24′s fourteenth episode "The Ninja Hattori Hanzō Was Actually a ______!", the true history is that famed ninja Hanzo Hattori instead was a stage magician.  While it might be easy to think the gag is that ninja magic like one sees in media was trick magic, it’s actually another goofy pun!  Hanzo throughout the episode tells his audience that it’s his Hanzo Power ( ハンゾパワー) that lets him perform his magic.

The popular Japanese magician Mr. Maric (Mr.マリック) has a signature phrase that he uses to describe what he uses to perform his illusions: Hand power (ハンドパワー)!  This is overtly spelled out by Tokio when he initially mishears Hanzo’s technique as such!  In addition, when Bimajo shows up to ruin the act, Tokio almost mistakenly identifies her as Mr. Maric!

But it’s Bimajo who takes the reference and gag further...

Sporting a different outfit, Bimajo identifies herself as Dr. Bimajo while she goes on to explain the truth behind how every illusion is pulled off.  This too...

...is a reference to Japanese magicians!  Her outfit and name are evoking Dr. Leon (Dr.レオン), another popular illusionist who has performed his feats on all sorts of shows and stages.  While both are relatively unknown in a casual Western audience, Dr Leon has even been involved with providing some trick ideas to David Copperfield.  David Copperfield’s most famous trick, you might recall, was making the Statue of Liberty disappear before a live audience...

[timebokanman]