Who do you think are Japan’s most persuasive celebrities? A recent online survey shows that people polled overwhelmingly chose comedians with enough gift of the gab to carry their own regular TV shows. Master emcee Shimada Shinsuke (51) topped the rankings, and watching him on TV just about any night of the week it’s hard to argue. His mix of humor and often twisted logic to argue his various theories about life and love leave guests in stitches but also get a lot of heads nodding. In the survey carried out over two weeks in January by Just Systems, Shimada ranked top by a mile over equally verbose comedians and TV regulars Akashiya Sanma and Tamori, with Kitano “Beat” Takeshi, Tokoro Joji and relative newcomer Tamura Atsushi of the duo London Boots also making the Top 10. In fourth place was actor and renowned playboy Ishida Junichi, followed in fifth by Japan’s accomplished Olympic baseball coach Hoshino Senichi. Filling out the Top 10 were former prime minister Koizumi Junichiro and Mino Monta, the busiest man on Japanese TV, who surprisingly only squeaked in at No.9.