Table of Contents
Are you looking for the perfect way to kick off your weekend? Look no further than the incredibly fun and often outrageous Japanese game shows! From physical challenges to wacky trivia to bizarre stunts, these shows are sure to keep you entertained for hours! Here’s a comprehensive guide to the 10 best Japanese game shows of all time that you must watch at least once. From classic favorites such as Takeshi’s Castle and Unbeatable Banzuke, to modern hits such as Alice in Borderland and Tokyo Friend Park 2, there’s something for every kind of viewer. So grab some snacks, get your friends and family together, and get ready for some serious fun!
Takeshi’s Castle
Takeshi’s Castle was a Japanese game show. TBS broadcast it from 1986 to 1990. Japanese actor Takeshi Kitano set challenging physical tasks for participants. Episodes had 100–142 competitors. Each episode ended with a “Final Challenge” between Kitano and the remaining players. In this round, competitors shot a paper ring or Kitano’s cart sensor with water cannons. The player won by deactivating Kitano’s cart and taking the castle. Winners received 1,000,000 yen. Nine contestants won the show.
Unbeatable Banzuke
Next up is Unbeatable Banzuke. This Japanese game show first aired in 1995. The Japanese variety sports program Unbeatable Banzuke aired on TV every week on the Tokyo Broadcasting System. The two that follow it was call as Taiiku Oukoku and Ougon Kinniku. Muscle Musical came along and replaced them. Additionally, several holiday-themed films, such as Pro Sportsman No.1 and Sasuke, produce.
Tokyo Friend Park 2
Next up is Tokyo Friend Park 2. This funny Japanese game show first aired in 1994. In this game show, four contestants compete for luxury stuff including foot baths, massage chairs, big-screen TVs, and new cars. Japanese game shows usually feature celebrities. The contestants form teams and play games throughout the show. Each minigame completely wins the team a gold coin which may be use to buy more coins or redeem for prizes at the end of the competition. A team that completes all challenges wins the Grand Slam Prize, usually a Disneyland vacation for four.
Za Gaman
The 1980s Japanese TV series Za Gaman was very popular. It was possibly feature on the British shows Clive James on Television and later Tarrant on TV under the moniker Endurance, both of which were popular with American audiences. Gaman taikai, a Japanese “endurance competition” where students compete for pain tolerance, inspired the curriculum. Keio University teams competed in trials including being buried in sand up to their necks or having reptiles lick their faces. Whoever lasted the longest won.
Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai
In 1989, the show made its debut on television. The participants blindly taste various brands of a predetermined product (often food or drink, but sometimes smokes) in a series of competitions. After the tasting period ends, they have to track down the item they tasted. Winners earn a cash award of around 100,000 yen, while losers face punishment like being slap by a foreigner or getting smack in the groin by a Chinko Machine.
Susunu! Denpa Shōnen
Next up is Susunu! Denpa Shōnen. This one of the weird Japanese game shows first aired in 1998. The participants in the show are famous for their extreme experiences. It received high ratings, gave rise to a companion program called Raiha Shonen, and stirred up controversy because of its sadistic tasks and rule modifications made by the show’s producers if they thought the contestants were doing too well. The fact that some of the show’s portions have also criticized.
Family Stadium
Bandai Namco Entertainment took up the development and publication of the Family Stadium and Famista series of baseball video games after their first release by Namco in Japan. Since 1986’s Pro Baseball: Family Stadium for the Nintendo Family Computer, the series has expanded to many home systems, including the planned Pro Yakyuu Famista 2020 for the Nintendo Switch. Namco’s World Stadium series of baseball video games for arcades, PlayStation, and GameCube was inspired by this collection. The series has sold over 15 million copies since then.
Alice in Borderland
Alice in Borderland is a 2020 Japanese game show on Netflix based on a science fiction thriller drama. The series is directed by Shinsuke Sato, and it stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya as two friends who find themselves stuck in a deserted Tokyo and forced to engage in perilous card games. Players are granted “visas” after their first successful game, and they are progressively extended with each subsequent game. Expiration of a visa results in instantaneous death by red laser fire.
Run for the Money
Run for the money is the Japanese game show Netflix in which celebrity contestants race against the clock to avoid being caught by a group of masked “Hunters” and win cash prizes based on how far and how fast they run. In this game, the prize for making it to the end is a significant quantity of money. Run for the Money is a “real-life tag” game program that has been broadcast on Fuji TV since 2004 and is loved by Japanese viewers of all ages. This hit show has become the gold standard in Japan for survival game shows; it was inspired by onigokko, a traditional Japanese game of tag.
Iron Chef
The Iron Chef is a food game series from Japan’s Fuji Television. The first episode of the show aired on October 10, 1993, and it was a highly staged cook-off in which guest chefs competed against the show’s resident “Iron Chefs” in a race against the clock to create the best dish using a certain ingredient. Although regular episodes stopped airing on September 24, 1999, specials continued to be made until 2002. A total of 309 programs were broadcast. Regular rebroadcasts can be seen on the Cooking Channel in the United States, the Food Network in Canada, and Special Broadcasting Service in Australia.
Conclusion
This is a great guide for those who want to watch some of the best Japanese game shows of all time. The guide provides a comprehensive list of the best Japanese game shows, along with detailed information on each show. These shows offer a variety of interesting and entertaining content that is sure to keep you entertained. Whether you are a fan of Japanese culture or just enjoy watching fun and entertaining programs, these shows are a great way to spend your free time.
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