Explaining what an 'Ohgiri Facilitator' actually is
An expert in applying 'Ohgiri' to create environments
I call myself an 'Ohgiri Facilitator' and work to incorporate Ohgiri (a word game involving witty responses to prompts) into corporate training, municipal and government programs, and school education settings.
When people hear 'Ohgiri,' they might strongly associate it with 'something comedians perform on stage' or 'something to watch and enjoy.'
However, my use of Ohgiri is not aimed at making others laugh as a 'performance.' It is about designing 'what one can feel and learn' through laughing and enjoying. Yes, my expertise lies in making Ohgiri reproducible as a 'learning mechanism' or 'communication tool.'
An approach born from an educational background
I was not originally a comedian or a rakugo performer; I am someone from an 'educational background.' I have specialized in pedagogy and learning environment design.
Based on that knowledge, I began researching and practicing 'Ohgiri for life and work' in 2018, and established a corporation in 2020. I have trademarked and systematized 'Ohgiri Facilitation®' and 'Ohgiri Method®'.
When I share this background, I am often asked, 'Were you a comedian?' or 'Did you train as a rakugo performer?' But in reality, I have never been a so-called 'entertainer.' (Though there was a time I toured comedy clubs alongside comedians.)
Because I am someone from an educational background, I believe I was able to turn Ohgiri into a form of learning that anyone can practice, and view it as an activity that serves as an applicable teaching material.
Why the 'Ohgiri Method®' now?
Modern society is full of problems where there is no single correct answer.
What is needed there is 'creative thinking,' 'flexible dialogue skills,' and 'an attitude of sharing and learning together, rather than just winning or losing.'
Ohgiri has the power to naturally foster these.
It is highly compatible with 'ways of seeing the world' and 'ways of behaving' that break down the 'correct answer disease' stemming from 'school-based values'—where one inevitably judges things as right or wrong, and cannot act or speak without a guarantee that they won't be marked wrong.
The feature of the Ohgiri Method® is that it does not depend on talent or expertise.
No special skills like those of a comedian are required at all.
It is a science that allows anyone to participate, face questions, try out ideas and expressions, and enjoy doing so, enabling people to experience the power of humor and co-creation regardless of their ability.
The know-how to practice that method and the power to create the environment are the skills of Ohgiri Facilitation®—the ability to construct, direct, and provide the optimal Ohgiri.
What kind of prompt is good? What kind of rules are good?
How is it best to behave as an MC?
It is not the case that Ohgiri is the same in every setting. It changes according to the participants, the situation, and the purpose. Yes, just like the answers in Ohgiri, there is no set correct answer for creating an Ohgiri environment. You need the ability to provide 'the best possible thing' for that specific moment.
Just like muscle training or exercise. You need to train with 'what suits you'
For example, 'Whiteboard or sketchbook?' 'How many minutes for thinking time?' 'Is it really okay to have a hand-raising system or unlimited answers?' These are all considered based on the situation and purpose.
It's not just about doing Ohgiri; it's about ensuring you get effective insights and learning through an optimal Ohgiri experience.
It is similar to exercise or muscle training. The effect is different depending on whether you just move your body or practice the exercise that suits you in the amount that suits you, right?
Delivering Ohgiri in the form that best empowers you.
That is the job of me, Nobuhiro Yamamoto, an Ohgiri Facilitator.
By the way, my activities are also introduced on the following website.
Ohgiri.jp https://ohgiri.jp/