{{Short description|Japanese comedian, entertainer and personality}} {{Expand Japanese|topic=bio|古坂大魔王|date=October 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Daimaou Kosaka | image = Daimaou Kosaka 20190125d.jpg | caption = Kosaka in 2019 | native_name = 古坂大魔王 | native_name_lang = ja | birth_name = Kazuhito Kosaka (古坂 和仁) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1973|7|17}} | birth_place = Aomori, Japan | other_names = Pikotaro | alma_mater = Japan Institute of the Moving Image | occupation = Comedian, recording artist | years_active = 1992–present | known_for = "PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)"<br>Muryou Hatakaminami in Kiramager | spouse = {{marriage|Hitomi Yasueda|3 August 2017}} | children = 2 | footnotes = '''Same year/generation as:'''<br />Cream Stew }} {{Nihongo|'''Kazuhito Kosaka'''|古坂和仁|Kosaka Kazuhito|born 17 July 1973|lead=yes}},<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://realsound.jp/2016/10/post-9677.html|title=ピコ太郎「PPAP」なぜ世界的に流行？ 古坂大魔王のプロデュース力を探る|last=Watanabe|first=Akihiro|date=12 October 2016|website=Real Sound|publisher=Blueprint Co., Ltd|access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref> better known by his stage names {{Nihongo|'''Daimaou Kosaka'''|古坂大魔王|Kosaka Daimaō|lit: "Kosaka the Great Demon King"}} and {{Nihongo|'''Pikotaro'''|ピコ太郎|Pikotarō|stylized in all caps as '''PIKOTARO'''}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avex.jp/pikotaro/en/#profile|title=ピコ太郎(PIKOTARO)オフィシャルサイト|website=www.avex.jp}}</ref> is a Japanese comedian, television personality and entertainer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.allabout.co.jp/articles/c/466033/|title=ピコ太郎からたどる「お笑いテクノ」の歴史|last=四方|first=宏明|date=19 October 2016|website=All About NEWS|publisher=All About, Inc.|access-date=20 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201235117/https://news.allabout.co.jp/articles/c/466033/|archive-date=1 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kosaka introduced Pikotaro as another personality promoted by him,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cinematoday.jp/page/N0086347|title=ピコ太郎？に世界が夢中！ジャスティン・ビーバー、CNNもハマる|date=28 September 2016|website=シネマトゥデイ|publisher=Cinematoday Inc.|access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref> but they are considered the same person.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/1650663|title=ピコ太郎、視聴者からの質問に対する優しい"返し"が「名言かも」「素晴らしい」と話題に|last=E-TALENTBANK Co., Ltd.|date=29 December 2016|website=modelpress|publisher=Netnative Inc.|access-date=20 January 2017|archive-date=11 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911225412/https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/1650663|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://smart-flash.jp/showbiz/15171|title=ピコ太郎『ボキャブラ天国』同窓芸人が語る「あいつの正体」！|date=10 January 2017|website=Smart FLASH|publisher=Kobunsha|access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref> He is currently signed with Avex Management Inc. under Avex Group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avex-management.jp/artists/talent/TKDMA|title=古坂大魔王|website=avex management Web|access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref>
He is best known for his single "PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37480920 |title=How a 'Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen' earworm took over the internet |last=Chen |first=Heather |date=27 September 2016 |website=BBC News |access-date=15 October 2016}}</ref>
During US President Donald Trump's fall 2017 trip to Asia, Kosaka was chosen to sing at the official state reception, reportedly due to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's wish to keep the mood "upbeat".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/07/pen-pineapple-apple-president-donald-trump-pikotaro|title=Pen-Pineapple-Apple-President: Donald Trump meets Pikotaro|author=Guardian Staff|date=7 November 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=8 November 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Kosaka is also known for portraying Muryou Hakataminami in ''Mashin Sentai Kiramager'' (2020–2021).
== Personal life == Daimaou Kosaka married Hitomi Yasueda, a gravure model, on 3 August 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://88news.net/ppap-piko-taro-married-model-girlfriend-hitomi-yasueda/|title=PPAP Piko-Taro married model girlfriend Hitomi Yasueda - 88news|date=14 August 2017|work=88news|access-date=15 August 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=15 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815104941/http://88news.net/ppap-piko-taro-married-model-girlfriend-hitomi-yasueda/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 17 June 2018, Yasueda gave birth to their first daughter<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldofbuzz.com/pikotaro-used-his-pineapple-pen-song-to-calm-crying-daughter-and-it-worked/|title=Pikotaro Used His 'Pineapple Pen' Song to Calm Crying Daughter, and It Worked!|last=Tan|first=Sheralyn|date=21 June 2018|website=WORLD OF BUZZ|language=en-US|access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref> and on 27 October 2020, their second.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comedian Kosaka Daimaou welcomes his second daughter |url=https://www.tokyohive.com/article/2020/10/comedian-kosaka-daimaou-welcomes-his-second-daughter |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=tokyohive}}</ref>
== Discography ==
=== Albums === ==== Studio albums ==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ Most noteworthy studio album; selected chart positions and certifications: ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| JPN ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| JPN<br>Physical |- ! scope="row"| ''PPAP'' | *Released: 7 December 2016 *Label: Avex Trax *Formats: CD, digital download | 5 || 3 | |} === Singles === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Most noteworthy single; year released, peak chart position, and album name: ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | JPN<br /><ref name="JPN">{{cite magazine|title=Japanese Music: Top Japanese Songs Chart: Oct 22, 2016|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/japan-hot-100/2016-10-22|magazine=Billboard|access-date=13 October 2016}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | CAN<br /><ref name="CAN">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2016-12-10|title=Canadian Music: Top 100 Songs Chart (December 10, 2016)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=29 November 2016}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | US<br /><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://headlineplanet.com/home/2016/10/18/pikotaros-ppap-pen-pineapple-apple-pen-debuts-billboard-hot-100/|title=Pikotaro's "PPAP (Pen Pineapple Apple Pen)" Debuts On Billboard Hot 100|date=18 October 2016|publisher=Headline Planet|access-date=18 October 2016}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)"<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chen|first1=Heather|title=How a 'Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen' earworm took over the internet|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37480920|website=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 October 2016|date=27 September 2016}}</ref> | 2016 | 1 || 36 || 77 | ''PPAP'' |- |}
==== Other singles ==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Other singles; years released, peak chart positions, and album names respectively: ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | JPN<br /><ref name="JPN"/> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | CAN<br /><ref name="CAN"/> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | US<br /><ref name="auto"/> |- ! scope="row"| "The Theme Song of Pikotaro"<ref>{{cite web|title=The Theme Song of PIKOTARO - Single by PIKOTARO on Apple Music|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-theme-song-of-pikotaro/id1161607746?app=itunes&i=1161607755|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019020039/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-theme-song-of-pikotaro/id1161607746?app=itunes&i=1161607755|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2016|website=iTunes|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=17 October 2016}}</ref> | rowspan="5"| 2016 | — || — || — | rowspan="6" {{N/A}} |- ! scope="row"| "Romita Hashinikov"<ref>{{cite web|title=Romita Hashinikov - Single by PIKOTARO on Apple Music|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/romita-hashinikov-single/id1161607687|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019020719/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/romita-hashinikov-single/id1161607687|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2016|website=iTunes|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=17 October 2016}}</ref> | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Kashite Kudasaiyo"<ref>{{cite web|title=Kashite Kudasaiyo - Single by PIKOTARO on Apple Music|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/kashite-kudasaiyo-single/id1161607941|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019020130/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/kashite-kudasaiyo-single/id1161607941|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2016|website=iTunes|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=17 October 2016}}</ref> | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Neo Sunglasses"<ref>{{cite web|last1=Luo|first1=Steph|title=Japanese singer releases new song after viral PPAP hit|url=http://news.asiaone.com/news/showbiz/japanese-singer-releases-new-song-after-viral-ppap-hit|website=AsiaOne|publisher=Singapore Press Holdings|access-date=17 October 2016|date=11 October 2016|archive-date=13 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113233617/http://news.asiaone.com/news/showbiz/japanese-singer-releases-new-song-after-viral-ppap-hit|url-status=dead}}</ref> | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "PPAP vs. Axel F." | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "I Like OJ" | 2017 | — || — || — |}
== Filmography == Kosaka portrays Muruyo Hakataminami (the owner of Carat, mentor to the Kiramagers, and Younger Brother to Kiramei Silver) on ''Mashin Sentai Kiramager''. His role as Pikotaro (most notably making PPAP) has been referenced many times, including (but not limited to):
* In the main base, a poster can be seen reading "'''P'''erfect '''P'''erformance '''A'''nd '''P'''hysical" in an Acrostic style. * Episode 16's pre-credits scene has Juuru holding a pineapple and an apple while asking whether Mixelan (the new mecha, and a cement mixer) can mix fruit. Hakataminami is standing next to him the whole time. * In the movie, he earnestly performs the song to wake the team up during a fight with a dream-themed monster.
Footage of Kosaka's ''Pineapple Pen'' song was utilized in ''The Emoji Movie''.
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://avex.jp/pikotaro/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kosaka, Daimaou}} Category:1973 births Category:20th-century Japanese people Category:21st-century Japanese people Category:Avex Group talents Category:Japanese male comedians Category:Living people Category:People from Aomori (city)