Matsumoto Hitoshi is a Japanese comedian best known as the boke half the popular owarai duo Downtown alongside Masatoshi Hamada. He was born and raised in Amagasaki, just outside of Osaka city and prefecture, and technically in Hyōgo Prefecture, though he usually refers to himself as an Osakan. He directed, produced, and starred in the 2007 movie Big Man Japan, which was shown at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight section. Matsumoto was born in Amagasaki, Hyōgo, to a poor family. He has one older sister and one older brother, Takahiro Matsumoto (松本 隆博), an established folk guitarist who released an autobiographical book titled "Matsumoto's Older Brother" (松本の兄 Matsumoto no Ani). He has expressed his feelings about growing up in a poor household in a poem titled Chicken Rice (チキンライス Chikin Raisu) which Hamada turned into a song in 2004. In his poem, he wrote how laughter was the only way to get through those times. He credits his poverty for giving him a good imagination and sense of play, as it forced him to invent his own games to entertain himself. His favorite manga as a child was Tensai Bakabon by Fujio Akatsuka. He aspired to become a manga artist. He is a skilled artist (unlike Masatoshi Hamada). He attended Ushio Elementary School, where he met Masatoshi Hamada. He graduated from Amagasaki Technical High School in 1982. Although he secured a job at a printing office, to pursue his dream of becoming a comedian, he was invited by Hamada in 1982 to enter Yoshimoto Kōgyō. Together, they became Downtown and made their major debut in 1983. Watch drama online for free.