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AJapanese variety show is anentertainmenttelevision program made up of a variety of originalstunts,musical performances,comedy skits,quiz contests, and other acts. Japanese variety shows are characterized by an eccentric, fast-paced style and are typically scheduled during prime television-time for entertainment. They usually feature a variety oftarento hosts, presenters and guests that include celebrities, comedians,J-pop Idols.[1]
Japanese variety shows originated in the 1950s, with early examples likeGesture, a charades-style game show.[2] Game shows, initially featuring trivia competitions, expanded over time to include diverse and unconventional formats, incorporating concepts like eating unusual foods.
The second longest-running Japanese television show, which is a comedy, isShōten which began running in 1966 onNippon TV.[3] After the end of theAmerican occupation of Japan, the public NHK and commercial Nippon television began TV broadcasting in 1953. One of the longest running variety shows is on Nippon TV,Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!, which started in 1989.
Japanese television programs such asMusic Station andUtaban (cancelled 2010) continue in an almost pristine format from the samevariety shows of years before. One notable change in Japanese variety shows since the 1980s is the decreasing use of live backup music. Variety game shows such asNazotoki Batoru TORE! andTeam Fight often featured regular celebrity guests as well as special guest appearances to tie in with forthcoming musical, cinematic and publishing releases; this – a frequent feature of primetime Japanese variety television – has remained consistent over the years.
A once-popular hostKyosen Ōhashi said, "Weird shows that are called Variety only exists in Japan."[4]
One of the more well-circulated clips is a segment inGaki no Tsukai, hosted by the comedy duoDowntown. In one part, if the male contestants fail to say a tongue-twister correctly, they get hit in thecrotch by a spring-loaded pole (The Chinko Machine, or, literally, the Penis Machine), causing great pain.Hitoshi Matsumoto attempted to withdraw but the host - his comedy partner and co-hostMasatoshi Hamada, cajoled him back on the platform.[5][6]
Japanesegame shows have been known for including very cruel challenges, withHollywood Reporter stating in 2008 "the Japanese have elevated cruelty to an art form."[7] In 2002, in the midst of a controversy surrounding the hospitalization ofMuscle Ranking contestants and the death of a middle school student who choked to death imitating a "speed eating" game fromFood Battle Club, it was acknowledged that these game show challenges had caused physical injuries to some contestants.[8] Some of these Japanese game show injuries even included spinal injuries.[8] In 2014, Japanese game shows were still acknowledged for having cruel challenges under the guise of comedy.[9][10]
In the United States of America in December 1994,Saturday Night Live mocked these unique forms of game shows with a sketch called "Quiz Kings".[7][11] They were also mocked in a May 1999 episode ofThe Simpsons called "Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo".[10]
Japanesegame shows have gained international popularity in recent years. A notable example isHole in the Wall, orBrain Wall, which has had local versions in Russia, China, Argentina, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. The latter two are the most successful versions, with theFOX network andCartoon Network each having decent success withUS versions of the format. TheBBC would also find success withtheir own version in the UK.
With foreign game shows gaining interest from American viewers, in 2008,ABC created two game shows that took influence from Japanese game shows. The first of which wasWipeout, a weekly competition show that involved contestants playing in a large obstacle course. The other wasI Survived a Japanese Game Show, which was a reality show that used a fictional Japanese game show to eliminate contestants one by one until the last player standing won a grand prize.[12] Due to the similarities between their shows and other Japanese programs, ABC has been sued byTBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) for allegedly copyingSasuke andTakeshi's Castle.[13]
In recent years, certain Japanese variety shows have gained popularity overseas with shows such asCandy Or Not Candy,[14] having clips circulate across various social media platforms.
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