The 10 Best Japanese Game Shows Of All Time
Different countries seem to specialize in different TV shows. The Brits are great at tight, twisty—and cozy—mysteries. Korea dominates the drama world. And Japan? Well, aside from anime, they also make some of the most over-the-top game shows ever. Often these competitions involve physical and mental endurance, absurd situations, and unwitting celebrities. Here’s our guide to 10 of them that transcend the language barrier.
With one exception, these aren't available for regular streaming. Instead, you'll find them mostly on YouTube, a service called Bilibili based in Shanghai, and even the Internet Archive, among others; we'll provide the necessary links below.
One of the hallmarks of game shows in Japan is punishment for failure, and Missitsu Nazotoki Variety Dasshutsu Game DERO! pushed that concept to the limit. When it premiered in 2009, the most obvious comparison was to the hit Saw movies—contestants were locked inside rooms with “deathtraps” like quicksand, compressing walls, rising water, and more. They had to compete to solve puzzles and answer questions before the situation became dire and they “died.” No, DERO! didn’t rack up a real-life body count. But even though the traps weren’t really lethal, they certainly drove participants into a state of hilarious panic.
Watch a playlist of episodes on YouTube(Opens in a new window)
Sentosha: Battle Wars is one of the more excessive ideas for a game show I’ve ever seen. Blending the gimmickry of American Gladiators with the automotive mania of Top Gear, contestants must drive their vehicles through explosions, over rickety ramps, and through bizarre terrain, all in the name of “danger-tainment.” The legal liability here is enough to give an insurance company fits. The
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