JAPANESE GAME SHOWS
Crazy, crazier, craziest.
By: Brendan and
Jen
Japanese Game Shows in General
In Japanese prime-time television, there are basically
three genres: documentaries, drama and variety. Game
shows fall into the latter category.
Japanese game shows are well-known for their insane
concepts and obstacle courses. Many also include a quizlike format, but balance the ordinary with out-of-the-norm
questions and equally crazy consequences if the answer
is wrong. For example, one game show asks contestants
to say difficult tongue-twisters. Simple. However, the
consequence for messing it up, would be a nice kick to
the crotch.
Much different than our television, Japanese game
shows never cease to shock, amaze or to make us laugh,
using the absurd as a vessel to communicate to the
media’s audience.
Example of Japanese Variety
A video clip involving rubber bands strapped to the face and
marshmallows on a string. Hilarity ensues.
http://ja10a.wikispaces.com/Japanese+Game+Shows
Takeshi’s Castle (MXC)
風雲！たけし城 Fūun! Takeshi-jō
Though known exclusively in the Americas as MXC, the dubbed
over series is well-known in Japan as Takeshi’s Castle. It’s
named after the host of this show: Takeshi Kitano, a esteemed
actor and director.
The show includes between 100 - 142 contestants that are put
through physical challenges with an end prize of 1 million yen,
which was around $8000 dollars back then.
Originally, Takeshi wanted the game show to be like a liveaction Super Mario game. Essentially, at the heart, Takeshi’s
Castle is. It has contestants running through obstacles,
avoiding rolling balls and costumed maniacs. Sound familiar?
There is also an American dubbed over version called MXC as
well, featuring many of the challenges and hilarity.
Takeshi’s Castle (MXC)
風雲！たけし城 Fūun! Takeshi-jō
Some of the obstacles include: Roller Game/High
Rollers. In this obstacle, contestants are forced to run
across spinning drums much like log rolling, usually
ending with painful impacts of the face and a mouthful of
mystery liquid.
Star Bowling/Skittles is another challenge that never
ceases to be insane. Players pick a huge playing card
which tells their position on a ten-pin bowling layout.
Once in their position, a giant bowling boll would be rolled
towards them and the ones not standing are eliminated.
‘Course, it’s not that easy. Players are dressed up in giant
bowling pin costumes.
Brain Wall /Human Tetris
(脳カベ Nōkabe)
This isn’t a game show, but a component of a game show
called: とんねるずのみなさんのおかげでした ("Tunnels'
'Thanks to Everyone’).
Heavily popularized by YouTube and other video sharing
websites, Brain Wall has been adapted to TV in other
countries.
This part of the game show is definitely absurd, but
clever, involving styrofoam walls rushing toward the
contestant(s), spandex unitards and the need to get
through holes. The objective is to get through the holes in
the sytrofoam walls (the holes may resemble tetris
shapes, famous poses, words, gymnastic-related
positions) without getting pushed into the battery acid
behind them. No, we’re kidding, it’s just water.
Brain Wall /Human Tetris
(脳カベ Nōkabe)
Video clip of one obstacle, styrofoam walls included:
http://ja10a.wikispaces.com/Japanese+Game+Shows
Majide/I Survived a Japanese Game Show
American show influenced by Japanese
(マジで)
Though, not an actual game show in Japan, it is definitely an
example of the Japanese influence on American television.
Majide exists as a show-within-a show in “I Survived a
Japanese Game Show”. In this American, reality/game show,
contestants are unknowingly put on a plane to a Japanese
styled game show.
Although Majide is not an actual game show in Japan, the
producers collaborated with Japanese producers to create
challenges that were identical and common with other popular
game shows.
Contestants may experience the amazing bath houses of Japan
or the great Tsukiji fish market. Or the stranger side of Japan,
including capsule hotels for busy businessmen or the difficult
job of organizing pachinko balls at a pachinko parlour.
Majide/I Survived a Japanese Game Show
American show influenced by Japanese
(マジで)
Majide! is translated as, “You’ve got to be crazy”! And
considering the context of the show, it definitely is. Contestants
are dressed up in ridiculous outfits, sometimes as gigantic
babies or in clothes for the opposite gender. Yes, that’s called
cross-dressing.
Challenges are mostly physical and range from riding tricycles
on a conveyor belt to getting a stranger on the streets to draw a
handle-bar moustache on your face.
Conclusion
In the end, Japanese Game Shows exist to be a crazy way to
free yourself from stresses and to enjoy in the misery of others.
Obstacles can range from wearing a chicken outfit and popping
balloons filled with yolk using your bum to riding a unicycle
across a banana ridden track surrounded by water. However,
they’re not just crazy for no reason. They’re here to entertain
and isn’t television all about that? Laughing at the absurd can
be therapeutic, right? They really ride on the concept of
schadenfreude: joy in the misery of others. Like, who wouldn’t
feel a small piece of happiness when a grandmother gets hit by
a car?
Of course, we’re kidding.
That’s horrible, you sick jerks.