Tunnels

 (とんねるず), sometimes romanized as Tonneruzu, is an owarai comedy group and former J-pop musical unit.

They rose to fame in the early 1980s as comedians known for their outrageous dares and stunts on live TV. They debuted as singers in 1981 under indie labels. They appeared as hosts on very popular variety shows that featured other singers or idol groups, such as All Night Fuji alongside the All Nighters and Yuuyake Nyan Nyan alongside Onyanko Club. As a result they became associated with idols, and in 1984 they made their major label debut as a singing unit.

In the early years, the music was intended entirely for comedy reasons, but following the release of their surprise hit single Ame no Nishiazabu, they became a best selling musical unit. In the early 1990s, the group began to release music that had a much more serious tone, such as their award-winning hit Nasakenee.

The group stopped producing music and performing in live concerts around the late 1990s, but are still active as TV show hosts and comedians as a unit.

In 2018 with the conclusion of their long running television show Tunnels no Minnasama no Okagedeshita it was rumored that the group would be breaking up for good, however Kinashi stated that the group would just be less active than before so they could focus on solo activities.

Current Members

 * Ishibashi Takaaki (石橋貴明)
 * Kinashi Noritake (木梨憲武)

Discography
Albums=
 * Albums

Victor

 * 1) [1985.03.21] Narimasu (成増)
 * 2) [1985.11.01] Butsumetsu Sodachi (仏滅そだち)

Pony Canyon

 * 1) [1986.12.28] Canyon Hatsu (キャニオン初)
 * 2) [1987.10.21] Kawaguchi Ko (河口湖)
 * 3) [1988.04.29] 428
 * 4) [1988.05.17] Ichikawa to Miyajima (市川と宮嶋)
 * 5) [1990.06.27] Hono-chan ni Hagahaeta. (ほのちゃんにはがはえた. )
 * 6) [1991.07.10] Minomonta no Gyakushuu (みのもんたの逆襲)
 * 7) [1992.07.24] Gamushura (がむしゃら)
 * 8) [1993.09.17] Warui Uwasa (悪い噂)
 * 9) [1994.09.15] Arrival
 * 10) [1995.07.05] Omae Hyakumade wa Shakyuujuukyuu Made (おまえ百までわしゃ九十九まで)
 * Mini Albums
 * All are under Pony Canyon
 * 1) [1988.01.01] O Nenga (御年賀)
 * 2) [1992.05.05] Mutsuu Ongaku Kyoiku Sansai kara no Tunnels (無痛音楽教育 3才からのとんねるず)


 * Best Albums

Victor

 * 1) [1986.04.25] Jiuta Jisan The Best of Tunnels (自歌自賛 ザ・ベスト・オブとんねるず)

Pony Canyon

 * 1) [1994.06.17] Tunnels Best Ashiato (とんねるずベスト 足跡)


 * Compilation Albums


 * -|Singles=
 * Singles

VAP

 * 1) [1981.08.25] Pyonkichi Rock n' Roll (ピョン吉・ロックンロール)

Japan Records

 * 1) [1982.07.25] Yabashi Bitch na Me Date Night (ヤバシびっちな女デイト・ナイト)

Victor

 * 1) [1984.12.05] Ikki! (一気!)
 * 2) [1985.04.21] Seinen no Shuucho (青年の主張)
 * 3) [1985.09.05] Ame no Nishiazabu (雨の西麻布)
 * 4) [1986.01.21] Kayokyoku (歌謡曲)

Pony Canyon

 * 1) [1986.05.28] Yabusakadenai (やぶさかでない)
 * 2) [1986.08.05] Netako mo Okiru Komoriuta (寝た子も起きる子守唄)
 * 3) [1986.10.21] Ninjo Misaki (人情岬)
 * 4) [1987.02.25] Arashi no Macho Man (嵐のマッチョマン)
 * 5) [1987.04.05] Meiwaku Deshou ga... (迷惑でしょうが…)
 * 6) [1987.06.05] Ookina Osewa Summer (大きなお世話サマー)
 * 7) [1987.09.17] Ora Ora (おらおら)
 * 8) [1988.02.25] Honoo no Escargot (炎のエスカルゴ)
 * 9) [1988.07.06] YAZAWA
 * 10) [1990.08.08] Dou ni ka Naru Sa (どうにかなるさ)
 * 11) [1991.05.29] Nasakenee (情けねえ)
 * 12) [1992.01.24] Gara Gara Hebi ga Yattekuru (ガラガラヘビがやってくる)
 * 13) [1992.09.03] Ichiban Eraibito e (一番偉い人へ)
 * 14) [1993.01.28] Gajaimo (がじゃいも)
 * 15) [1994.02.24] Fu Fu Fu Tsuttesurundesu (フッフッフッってするんです)
 * 16) [1994.12.07] Kani (ガニ)
 * 17) [1996.02.12] Omae ga Hoshii (おまえが欲しい)

Trivia

 * The name "Tunnels" came from their romanized names. "T-Takaaki, N- Noritake.) An "S" was added because they were a two member group. It was initially called "TNS" but employees of Nippon Television decided on the expanded name "Tunnels."
 * Both members attended Teikyo High School in Tokyo and met through playing club sports.
 * They are unofficially produced by | Akimoto Yasushi, as he provided them with a huge number of their song lyrics, as well as giving them ideas of comedy sketch topics.
 * When they appeared on the 42nd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, they were dressed in nothing but red and white underpants and full body paint, with the statement "Juushin-ryo o Haraou (受信料を払おう/Pay Your Reception Fees)" written on the back. Although the stunt was well received by the public, they violated the trust of NHK and never appeared as a group on Kouhaku again.
 * They were the most popular guest hosts of All Night Fuji and Yuuyake Nyan Nyan. They were also a huge influence on promoting audition candidates for Onyanko Club that would later get voted in, most notably Watanabe Marina and Yamamoto Susan Kumiko.