Ken Watabe (渡部建, Watabe Ken, born 23 September 1972),[1] is a Japanese comedian and television presenter. He performs tsukkomi in the comedy duo "Unjash" with his partner Kazuya Kojima.[1] Watabe currently serves as a co-MC with Chisato Moritaka in the Fuji TV program Love Music.[2]
Watabe was born in Hachiōji, Tokyo. He has an older brother and sister. He graduated from Hachiōji Municipal Katakura Stand Elementary School, Hachiōji Tatsunaka Mountain Junior High School, Tokyo Metropolitan Hino High School and Kanagawa University Faculty of Economics.
In 1993, when he was in his second year in university Watabe was invited from his high school classmate Kazuya Kojima to say that he "will not laugh with you" or "have only you". They later formed the comedy duo Unjash. Watabe was told from his partner that he was the fifth member. (According to Arashi no Shukudai-kun, aired on Monday, 14 January 2008)
He graduated from the second year of Jinrikisha Comedy School JCA. Watabe entered a half a year late, and had hardly received classes.
On April 11, 2017, Watabe married fashion model and actress Nozomi Sasaki, who is sixteen years younger than him.[3] Sasaki gave birth to their first child, a son, in September 13, 2018.[4][5]
In June 2020, Shūkan Bunshun published allegations that Watabe had been involved in extramarital affairs throughout their relationship, some of which involved secret meetings at accessible toilet restrooms in Roppongi Hills, and for which he would pay his partner 10,000 yen in cash. Watabe admitted to the relationships and apologized for his behavior, cancelling several of his public appearances.[6][7] Despite this revelation, Sasaki gave birth to a second child, which was born on April 27, 2023.[8]
