Monomane Grand Prix

The Monomane Grand Prix is an impersonation variety show broadcast on Nippon Television, first aired on May 3, 2009. It replaced the earlier program "Monomane Battle," which ended in January of that year. Neptune served as the main presenters, with Hélène Hayama and Mika Oguma assisting. The event featured a tournament-style competition with 24 contestants divided into three blocks of eight. Winners from each block advanced to the semifinals, and the final round included four contestants competing for a prize of 1 million yen (approximately $10,000). Another segment, "The Survival," involved one-on-one matches determined by lottery cards. Presenters included Neptune as chairpeople, along with Jun Nagura, Ken Horiuchi, and Taizō Harada. Hélène Hayama and Mika Oguma managed the progress of the show. Contestants in "The Tournament" included Hiroiki Ariyoshi, Ungirls, Ijiri Okada, Satoshi Onoma, Kannazuki, Kōji Tomita, Croket!, The Newspaper, Shinobu-chan, Tamiaki and Ryu, Chōshin Juku, Nakagawake, Yuki Nishio, Nobu and Fukkey, Hanawa, Akimasa Haraguchi, Vitamin S, Takashi Kanemitsu (of Plus Minus), Makita Sports, Monster Engine, Hōsei Yamasaki, and Kōichi Yamadera. "The Survival" segment featured a larger lineup, including many of the same contestants plus additional participants like Kuwabata Ohara, Yoshio Kojima, Zabunguru, Take2, Tony Hirota, Doburokki, Harō Ueda, Hori, Ken Maeda, Mitchy, and Ryu and Twotone Aoki. Judges for "The Tournament" were Akira Nakao, Kunikazu Katsumata, Peeko, and Miyuki Itori. For "The Survival," judges included Tsutomu Sekine, Suzanne, Tsunku, Aya Sugimoto, and Ayana Tsubaki. The program is related to other impersonation shows such as "Tamori no Sekai Sokkuri Taishō" ...