Yasuko

Yasuko, real name Kanon Yasui, was born in Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1998.

Her parents divorced when she was two, and she was raised by her mother in a financially unstable household.

Yasuko often struggled to afford even the basics, sometimes surviving on bread scraps from supermarkets.

She experienced deep loneliness, bullying, and spent periods in a child welfare facility, particularly during her high school years.

She practiced Judo in high school, but was isolated by classmates and even resorted to eating lunch in the restroom.

During this time, she had minimal contact with her mother and became self-reliant at a young age.

After graduating from Yamaguchi Prefectural Ube Chuo High School, she joined the Ground Self-Defense Force, working as a bulldozer operator in the 4th Engineering Group until 2019.

Rosy images of Self-Defense Force life clashed with harsh realities, with Yasuko earning special licenses and gaining skills in shooting and swimming.

After leaving the military, she took on various cleaning jobs and even worked as a school janitor in Tokyo.

A friend from her military days persuaded her to venture into comedy, leading her to initially form a duo called "New Humanity."

When her partner abruptly quit, she courageously became a solo performer, quickly catching attention with her military-inspired skits and "Hai~" catchphrases.

Yasuko joined Sony Music Artists after passing an audition and has remained active as a comedian since 2019, all while continuing as a reserve Self-Defense Force member.

Her national breakthrough came with a third-place win at the "Gurunai Omoshiro-so 2021" comedy contest and regular television appearances, including becoming a staple member of the "Gochi" segment of "Gurunai."

In 2024, she participated as a charity marathon runner on "24-Hour TV," raising over 400 million yen to support children in foster care, an initiative inspired by her own upbringing.

Yasuko has been the recipient of many honors, proving her powerhouse presence in the entertainment industry.

She was named the top "Breakthrough Comedian of 2023" by Oricon, won the LINE NEWS AWARDS 2024 Talent Division, and received the Yahoo! Search Grand Prize 2024 in the comedian category.

She also won the "anan AWARD 2023" for the Reply Division and took third place in the 2021 Gurunai Omoshiro-so contest.

In 2025, she was officially recognized by the Chief of Staff, Ground Self-Defense Force for her contribution to public awareness of defense activities.

Yasuko once lived with fellow comedian Poruko Takada.

Her closest friends include actress and model Hinami Mori, who has called Yasuko one of her best friends.

Yasuko is an animal lover, with two dogs named "Step" and "Wagon" (after her family's minivan), and a cat named "Hiace" (after another car model).

She also keeps a cat named "Abishi" at home.

During childhood, her nickname was "Shike-chan," reflecting her shy nature.

She originally aspired to be a veterinarian or manga artist but turned to the Self-Defense Forces due to economic necessity after high school, even applying to work at a pachinko parlor.

Yasuko has said she wishes to give back to child welfare facilities, inspired by her own experiences growing up in institutional care.

Yasuko is a big fan of the manga "Nichijou," with her trademark pose—a hand flatly facing forward—inspired by that series.

Unsurprisingly, her love for comedy was a surprise even to herself, as she barely watched TV before becoming a comedian.

She once mistook a cafe dishwasher for a trash can and was fired for filling it with food waste, humorously illustrating her "airheaded" charm.

She sports a short, neatly-parted hairstyle in her performances.

Her distinctive comedic style includes providing "military" answers or impressions on command, convincing people that anyone could fit into the Self-Defense Force.

Her "Hai~" catchphrase became iconic after she realized TV subtitles were labeling her repeated use of the phrase.

She is also popular among peers for her cheerful attitude and willingness to help.

Yasuko has published original singles and has a regular column in JUNON magazine called the "High-Tension Diary."

She appeared in live-action dramas, did voice work for animation, and starred in commercials for major Japanese brands.

Notable collaborations include original meals with 7-Eleven and endorsement work for Suntory and other household names.

Despite controversy over an alleged power harassment incident during her time in the Self-Defense Forces, Yasuko addressed the issue promptly, with many industry insiders agreeing her reputation remained largely unaffected due to her direct handling and the broader context of military culture.