money

[bigblind168]

now after the goofy opening

do celebritys and athletes get paid for being on SASUKE?

or do they do it for free?

[arsenette]

To my knowledge - people being invited to participate in Sasuke (celebrities, athletes and even the All-Stars) are paid for airfare and sorta of a per diem (food, expenses) since they are allowed to be featured and used as advertising for the show. As for being "paid" like an appearance fee (like I know some people would say "I have to be paid $10,000 for an appearance, etc.) I'm not sure about anyone past the All-Stars - maybe? Dunno. To my knowledge I believe the answer would be no.

[The Chief]

I think that they get paid for expenses(like elsie said). I mean, they are ASKING you to come back, they should pay for airfare(or gas) for you to get there.


And, Apprentice...nice.

[lostinube]

Comedians who are part of a talent agency (namely almost every single one of them) are paid a salary but presumably certain costs (travel, food, etc) are covered by their agency in conjunction with the station/production company. For them, especially those low on the totem pole, being on any variety show for any amount of time is part of promoting themselves. Celebs don't make a lot of money in Japan. The agency system in Japan is comparable to the old Hollywood studio system.

mechamechamedia.blogspot.com/2009/03/crash-course-in-comedy-sekai-no-nabe.html

(Note that when Sekai no Nabe-Atsu appeared on SASUKE he hadn't quite hit it big yet.)

However, most comedians are based in Osaka or Tokyo so travel isn't a big deal. For someone like Makoto Nagano, traveling to Tokyo can cost anywhere between 20,000 to 35,000 yen one way.