Tag: Japanese TV

Gaki no Tsukai New Year’s No Laughing Batsu Special Returns to Japanese TV!

nolaughingsciencelab1By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

The cast of Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! (ダウンタウンのガキの使いやあらへんで!!) will be producing yet another No Laughing Batsu (punishment) game. Now confirmed after a sighting of this year’s bus (every year a bus is used to transport the cast to their ultimate destination). With owarai (Japanese comedy) duo Downtown (Hitoshi Matsumoto and Masatoshi Hamada), comedian Hōsei Tsukitei (formerly known as Hōsei Yamasaki), and second owarai duo Cocorico (Endō Shōzō and Tanaka Naoki) going on to other projects outside the Gaki no Tsukai series, rumors of the specials coming to an end have circulated for the past 3 years. Also the age of the oldest cast members (both were 52 at the last batsu) would make continuing on with specials that reward the contestants who break out laughing with physical punishment, harder with every new special. It was believed last year’s No Laughing Detective Agency was the final batsu after an end credits roll gave a nostalgic look at previous batsus.

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Reddit User Creates Web Comic Based on Popular Japanese Variety Series ‘Gaki no Tsukai’

downtownnolaughBy James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

It’s been proven that you can never have enough of Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! (ダウンタウンのガキの使いやあらへんで!!). That’s why when Reddit user and Gaki fan, PowederGHG, decided to make a web comic website called Zenin-Outo! based on the variety show, he was applauded for his efforts. Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! stars owarai (Japanese comedy) duo Downtown (Hitoshi Matsumoto and Masatoshi Hamada), comedian Hōsei Tsukitei (formerly known as Hōsei Yamasaki), and second owarai duo Cocorico (Endō Shōzō and Tanaka Naoki). The show that’s been broadcasting on Nippon TV since 1989 has segments of physical challenges, cooking, and batsu (punishment) games. Once a year the stars host a New Year’s batsu special.

Zenin-Outo! has garnered praise from even the hardcore Gaki fans in Reddit’s Gaki no Tsukai forum. “I’m already a big fan. Just have fun with it and don’t get burned out on the commitment of it. Thanks for creating such an awesome little comic” posted Majaura.

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New Look Promoted in Pokémon Sun and Moon Anime

pokemonsmpromoBy James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

With the games of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are slated for a November release on the Nintendo 3DS system, it only makes sense there would be an anime to accompany it. Pokémon Sun and Moon anime is coming but the new series takes a departure from Pokémon‘s traditional art style of hard lines and embraces more fluid animation. Of note is Satoshi’s (Ash Ketchum in North America) softer and more youthful appearance. This may suggest a change in animation production company. We can’t seem to find any animation company’s credit on home network TV Tokyo’s Pokémon page, nor can we find a news piece (as of yet) that suggests a change in animation production company, but we suspect Toei is handling this one.

This new series brings the Pokémon adventure to the Alola region where we see Satoshi adjusting to life as a transfer student at a new school.

Have a look at the trailer that premiered on Japanese TV today. We here at Otaku no Culture would love to hear your thoughts.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs3SrEPII-I&w=560&h=315%5D
 
Source(s): Anime Paw Facebook group.

Video Source(s): PikaFan World.

Rare Japanese Variety Show Beta King (光速脳天!ベタキング) Appears on YouTube

betaking1By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

If you have never watched Beta King (光速脳天!ベタキング) during its short-lived run in 1996, now’s your chance. The Japanese variety program starred popular young comics of their day (like manzai duo Buffalo Goro) and was one of the funniest variety shows I had ever seen. The show was a mix of improvisation, sketch comedy on the fly, and obstacle course competitions.

betaking2

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