The 11 Weirdest TV Shows in Japan

Japan is an incredible country, capable of overcoming the biggest challenges and keeping up with one of the greatest world powers. The Japanese have a lot to teach us when it comes to topics such as education, civility and respect for older people. But when it comes to having fun, we Westerners still find many of the Japanese ways to pass the time strange.

In this post, the awesome.club presents some of the most interesting (and most censored and different…) attractions in the Land of the Rising Sun.

“Candy or not candy?” This is the name of the comic Japanese television show that, at first glance, looks like it was taken from an insane asylum. And what else can you think if the goal of program participants is to bite plants, doorknobs, shoes and other unappetizing items? However, this is the only way they have to distinguish a real object from an “object” made of… SWEET. Regardless of whether we find this program strange, it would be absurd not to give credit to the genius and talent of Japanese pastry chefs.

The gecko is an animal that causes fear in many people. Plus, you’d be surprised to see how agile and flexible this urban reptile is when sniffing a raw steak. Now, if that fillet is stuck to your face, it sure shouldn’t be a pleasant feeling to experience how painful and even venomous its bites can be.

This is the summary of the competition on this Japanese entertainment show: the women hold a piece of raw meat to their forehead, position themselves in a huge aquarium and put their nerves to the test. The first to get scared and get her head out of the aquarium, she loses.

It seems quite harmless and even easy. However, the participant must complete the task blindfolded. And it’s also good for the contestant to try not to pay attention to the crowd’s boos every time he bumps into something or trips. The rule that works here is: the more painful, the more fun.

The objective is quite simple: two women blow at the same time into a transparent tube, thus pushing a dry cicada (which, frankly, is very similar to a giant cockroach). The winner will be the one who manages to make her rival “eat” the insect.

Participants in the program must climb a wet and slippery ladder and, at the same time, resist all kinds of “traps” from the people at the top. Sometimes game participants need to put on clothes from, for example, older ladies. In case of failure, the “hero” of the show not only falls down the stairs, but goes directly into a swimming pool.

This program is so insane that it couldn’t have been created in any other country besides Japan. The protagonist of the show needs to eat a portion of traditional noodles. Inside a washing machine. A washing machine that is… spinning. This in front of an audience that can’t stop laughing. Also, to achieve a better “effect”, the participant is dressed in socks and a diaper. And, as you can imagine, this audience is not made up of women.

In this competition, the show’s participants compete to see who can sneeze the fastest. They take turns tickling their noses with a napkin. Some take a few seconds to complete the task and others can’t sneeze even after a minute.

This is a classic competition, also popular in other countries: eating something that is suspended, without the help of the hands. But unlike us, the Japanese prefer marshmallows over apples. And that would still be fine, if the participants’ faces weren’t tied by a rope.

The television show “Tore!” combines intellectual and physical challenges. How long can you stand on a platform that, with each incorrect answer, moves closer to the wall? Some proofs are so specific that, unintentionally, they remind one of the horror movie “Saw”. For example, in one of the episodes, participants had to answer some questions during their own mummification. In case of error, they were completely wrapped in cloth and placed in a sarcophagus. Anyway, the “Tore!” has a huge audience, and Nintendo even created a video game based on that show.

The rules are simple: a woman spins around on her axis, her forehead resting on a baseball bat. As soon as she is dizzy (disoriented), the participant should take a spoon of hot cheese, take it to the man sitting in the chair and feed him.

Generally, to make a nice strike, it is necessary to “think” as if we were a ball. Or even better: be the ball. Participants in this program do an excellent job knocking down bowling pins with their own bodies.