Career
He is one of the popular duo (kombi) Ninety-nine with Takashi Okamura, who are one of Yoshimoto Kogyo"s most successful acts. Yabe is considered the straight man in the duo. Yabe also plays Luigi in the Japanese Hot Mario Bros advert campaign.
Born in Osaka, Yabe played soccer in his youth.
As a sportscaster on television Asahi"s program "Yabecchi Football Club," he interviewed soccer players Ronaldinho and Alessandro Delegate Piero.