Sonomanma Higashi Video | Speeches and Interviews

Sonomanma Higashi (そのまんま東, literally "Higashi without change" or "simply Higashi"), born September 16, 1957 as Hideo Higashikokubaru (東国原 英夫, Higashikokubaru Hideo) in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, is a former Japanese comedian who is most known for his role in the popular game show, Takeshi's Castle, and as the governor of Miyazaki Prefecture from 2007 to 2011. He was succeeded by Vice Governor Shunji Kono. After graduating from Senshu University, Higashikokubaru apprenticed to Takeshi Kitano and became a comedian in 1982. He appeared on Takeshi's Castle,... MORE

Sonomanma Higashi (そのまんま東, literally "Higashi without change" or "simply Higashi"), born September 16, 1957 as Hideo Higashikokubaru (東国原 英夫, Higashikokubaru Hideo) in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, is a former Japanese comedian who is most known for his role in the popular game show, Takeshi's Castle, and as the governor of Miyazaki Prefecture from 2007 to 2011. He was succeeded by Vice Governor Shunji Kono. After graduating from Senshu University, Higashikokubaru apprenticed to Takeshi Kitano and became a comedian in 1982. He appeared on Takeshi's Castle, which was dubbed on Western television as Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (MXC). On that show, he was dubbed as Kenny Blankenship. On January 21, 2007, Higashi was elected governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, replacing former governor Tadahiro Ando, who resigned after being arrested for bid rigging. He uses his official name (Hideo Higashikokubaru) as governor of Miyazaki. In 2010, he decided not to run for re-election. He left office on January 20, 2011. Higashikokubaru ran in the Tokyo gubernatorial election on April 10, 2011, in which he lost to incumbent governor Shintarō Ishihara. Higashikokubaru graduated from LESS