Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd. (吉本興業株式会社 YoshimotoKōgyō Kabushiki-gaisha) is a major Japanese entertainmentconglomerate, with its headquarters based in Osaka. It was foundedin 1912 as a traditional theatre, and has since grown to be one ofthe most influential companies in Japan, employing most of Japan'spopular owarai (comedy) talent, producing and promoting the showsthey appear in, and even maintaining its own amusement park.