Takeshi's Castle

***Takeshi's Castle*** is a Japanese game show that aired between 1986 and 1990 on the Tokyo Broadcasting System. It features the Japanese comedian Takeshi Kitano (also known as Beat Takeshi) as a count who owns a castle and sets up difficult challenges for players (or a volunteer army) to get to him. The show has become a cult television hit around the world. A special live "revival" was broadcast on April 2, 2005, for TBS's 50th anniversary celebrations.

## Original *Takeshi's Castle*

The original show involved between 86 and 142 contestants whom General Tani (Hayato Tani) "forced" into a series of physical challenges, in some ways similar to those in *It's a Knockout*, eliminating many of the contestants. Each show finished with a "Final Showdown" in which Count Takeshi (Kitano) was faced by the remaining contestants. In early episodes they would storm the castle set itself in a short-range water gun assault. Later episodes introduced carts with paper rings, and eventually lasers and light-sensitive targets. If the contestant's gun penetrated the paper ring or hit the sensor on Takeshi's cart, against such weapons as a large water gun and a laser-armed plane, Takeshi's cart was deactivated, the castle was "taken" and the game "won". During the water-gun version, If Takeshi was defeated, all surviving players split the prize between them. During the laser-gun version, The player who stopped Takeshi won 1 million yen (which, at the time, was roughly equivalent to $8,000 US or £5,000 sterling).

The series featured extensive landscaping of a fixed campus at TBS-owned Midoriyama (Green Mountain) Studios that included large man-made lakes and extensive permanent obstacles in Yokohama, Japan. The final regular episode aired on April 14, 1989 followed by 4 one-off specials up until October 19, 1990. A special revival took place just outside the TBS Building for the network's Spring All-Star Thanksgiving Festival on April 2, 2005 and featured Lake of the Dragon God and Gibraltar Straight.

### Challenges

Further information: List of challenges in Takeshi's Castle

A wide range of challenges were used throughout the history of *Takeshi's Castle*, some occurring only once or twice, or others in virtually every show, depending upon their popularity and ease of preparation. Many challenges involve falling into water or mud on failure.

### Music

*Takeshi's Castle* challenges used a wide variety of well-known songs from movies, television shows, video games, anime, and other sources.

### Characters

* **Count "Beat" Takeshi** (ビートたけし; Kitano, born 18 January 1947) — The lord of his castle and eventual target of the competition. He also made commentary on the contestants.
* **Takeshi Doll** — During a prolonged period when Takeshi was forbidden to appear on television (his "punishment" for an act of violence against reporters and photos from a scandal magazine), one of the Emerald Guards filled in by wearing his robe and a giant papier-mâché Takeshi head similar to the ones sports team mascots use over their heads.
* **Saburo Ishikura** (石倉三郎, born 16 December 1946) — First advisor of the Takeshi's castle. Discussed the competition with Takeshi and provided comedy skits as well.
* **Sonomanma Higashi** (real name Hideo Higashikokubaru, born 16 September 1957) — Originally leader of the Emerald Guards. He replaced Ishikura as the advisor of the Takeshi's castle in the middle of the series run.
* **Takeshi's Gundan** (Defense Troops) (たけし軍団) — The Count's guards who wore white or emerald green, seen in "Final Showdown" and other challenges, and are more popularly known as "The Emerald Guards". When Higashi became Takeshi's new advisor, Omori Utaemon took over as the leader. Other members included Matsuo Bannai, Tsumami Edamame, Yurei Yanagi, Rakkyo Ide, Great Gidayu, Dankan, Third Nagasima, "Rusher" Itamae, Taka Gadarukanaru, Hakase Suidobashi, Sintaru Mizushima and "Loyal" Tadajij Kikuchi. Rakkyo Ide was the bald guy in the "Monsters Special" who wore a shark outfit and suffered some serious bleeding when he fell in during *Skipping Stones*. These troops were also usually seen in the background behind Takeshi and his advisor during the show.
* **General Tani** (Hayato Tani) (谷隼人, born 9 September 1946) — Known in the UK and Indian version as **General Lee**. Led the contestants through the challenges set by Count Takeshi. His real-life wife, Kikko Matsuoka (born 11 February 1947), appeared in an episode resulting in a comedic conflict between the couple.
* **Tani's Assistant** - On international specials (involving non-Japanese players), General Tani was assisted by a lady who served as his translator whose name is unknown, Chuck Wilson also acted as his assistant in two international specials.
* **Junji Inagawa** (also known as Jyunji Inagawa) (稲川淳二, born 9 September 1946), **Akira Sakamoto** (born 31 July 1949) and **Shingo Yanagisawa** (柳沢慎吾, born 6 March 1962) — Three of the Battlefield Reporters, however there were **many** more. They usually wore safari outfits.
* **Kibaji Tankobo** (丹古母鬼馬二, born 4 January 1950) and **Shozo "Strong" Kobayashi** (ストロング金剛, born 25 December 1940) — Two physically-imposing guards most famous for featuring in the Honeycomb Maze challenge. Kibaji usually wore a long red wig, while Strong was bald, and they painted their faces to further intimidate contestants. In addition to frightening and chasing the contestants in the Honeycomb Maze, Tankobo and Kobayashi also smeared black, sticky paint all over the contestants that they caught in the maze. Tankobo and Kobayashi were considered to be two of the finest henchmen Takeshi had.
* **Brad Lesley**, aka "Animal" (亜仁丸レスリー, 11 September 1958 – 27 April 2013) — American baseball player. His main job was to humiliate and frighten the contestants in any possible way, usually dressed as a samurai complete with a sword. Animal has also been seen in a green sumo suit, spider costume, Fred Flintstone–style outfit, a baseball uniform and a Las Vegas–era Elvis Presley jumpsuit costume.
* **Michiru Jo** (城みちる, born 18 November 1957) — One of the few guards to have been involved from the very first episode and be involved until the show finished, he normally wore a distinctive pink outfit. Jo was a Japanese pop singer in the 1970s.
* **Yoroi/Ritter Chuu** — He was a sixteen foot tall samurai and tried to keep players from reaching the goals in several games. Known in the UK as the **Boxing Monster** because of the size of his hands.
* **Makoto Dainenji** (大念寺誠) and **Katsuo Tokashiki** (渡嘉敷勝男, born 27 July 1960) — Makoto, a karate master, and Katsuo, a boxing champion in Japan, were the *Final Fall* guards, usually wearing outrageous costumes. Katsuo also served as the referee in the *Sumo Rings* game.
* **Masanori Okada** (岡田正典, born 19 October 1953) — Usually seen in the game "Slip Way", he would jump out of the water to push the contestants into the drink if they failed to reach the target. Okada has also played in the *Honey Comb Maze* and other games as well. Also known as the "Sea Goblin" in Japan and was a boxer in the 1970s.
* **Umanosuke Ueda**, (上田馬之助, 20 June 1940 – 21 December 2011) — This aggressive guard, a former wrestler in real life, has been seen in *Honey Comb Maze*, *Square Maze*, *Sumo Rings*, *Grid Iron* and *Bridge Ball*.
* **Youshichi Shimada** (島田洋七, born 10 February 1950) — A guard that was usually seen in the games *Blueberry Hill* in overalls akin to those worn by Dennis the Menace, and in *Wipe Out* dressed up as a female Native American nicknamed "Pocahontas" who would push people into the water if they missed the surfboard.
* **Shoji Kinoshita** and **Shoichi Kinoshita** — Better known as "Popcorn" (ポップコーン, born 1 January 1959), these well-known identical twin actors in Japan were commonly seen wearing rainbow ponchos and bowler hats. They have also worn baseball uniforms and other humorous costumes, appearing in the game *Rice Bowl Down Hill* where they would try and put the contestants off by singing a very annoying chant, 'unda unda unda' as well as *Bridge Ball* and other games. Due to their attire, they were also known as the **Rainbow Warriors**.
* **"Ordinary" Oki Bondo** (大木凡人, born 1 July 1949), **Takayuki Yokomizo, Nobuo Yana** and **Koji Sekiyama** — They participated in the *Karaoke* game. Oki acted as the emcee, Takayuki was the bouncer who ejected contestants who did not sing well, and Koji was the owner of the karaoke bar, later replaced by Nobuo who appeared in the later episodes of the show.
* **Shinoburyo** (忍竜) — Sumo wrestler in Japan who appeared in the game *Sumo Rings* during the series.
* **Large Fuji** (born 26 August 1958 – 14 October 2012) — Replaced Shinoburyo in the later episodes as the purple sumo fighter in *Sumo Rings*.
* **Konishiki Doll** — Only seen in *Sumo Rings* and on an odd occasion of *Tug of War*. The Konishiki Doll was one of the Defence Troops dressed in a large costume which is meant to resemble Konishiki Yasokichi, one of the largest sumo wrestlers to ever live. Known as **"Spud"** in the British version.
* **Noboru "Shin" Suganuma** (すがぬま伸, born 5 July 1952) — Loyal member of Takeshi's Gundan, who wore red and who was a pathetic sumo wrestler in *Sumo Rings*.
* **Ritsuko Nakayama** (中山 律子, born 12 October 1942) — Also known as Refreshing Ritsuko-Ritsuko, she is a professional bowler in Japan who has appeared in the *Star Bowling* game.
* **Yutaka Enatsu** — This Japanese baseball player who was the pie thrower in *Die or Pie* in a single episode.
* **Koji Sekiyama** (関山耕司 born 22 May 1929) — Karaoke bar owner who decided whether contestants singing was good enough to progress through to the next round. Later replaced by Nobuo Yana.
* **Nobuo Yana** (born 13 August 1935) — Replaced Koji Sekiyama as the karaoke bar owner later in the series and decided whether a contestant had sung well enough to progress through to the next round.
* **Yakayuki Yokomizo** (born 2 August 1963) — Bouncer in the karaoke bar who violently withdrew contestants from the building if Sekiyama (later Yana) decided that their singing wasn't good enough.
* **Geisha Girls** or **Bunny Girls** — Led by Miyuki Ono, they helped contestants in several games and also helped Takeshi and his advisor in comedy skits. The others were Harumi Tomikawa, Mika, Mina Morishima, Sawada, and Mitsumi Yokota. Sometimes, when Junji and Shingo were off the show for other commitments, one of them served in the Battlefield Reporter's role.
* **Shizuo Miyauchi** (宮内鎮雄, born 24 January 1945) — Commentator for the original series in Japan. Retired from *TBS* in 2005 after working as a commentator for several decades.
* **Ultraman** - Has appeared in the show on many occasions, among other occasions the first was to help the kids through a number of the challenges in the "Kids Only" special, the second was as a replacement for General Tani (For Unknown Reasons). The third occasion was in the monster's special, along with other members of the "Ultra Brothers". (Due to an ongoing licensing dispute, "The Monster Special" episode of MXC was heavily edited upon its release on DVD, with all Ultraman characters removed.)

## International versions

### Arab countries

In Arab countries the show was called ***Al Hisn*** (Arabic: الحصن‎, lit. 'The Fort'). It originally aired in the mid to late 1980s where it became a cult hit.[*citation needed*] The show was syndicated to multiple TV stations across different countries, which was a common practice at the time for localised foreign programmes. Various public stations may re-run the show on non-specific occasions. Other than the voice-over commentary and the opening/closing themes, the episodes were largely retained as originally aired in Japan. Commentary was provided by Lebanese television personality Riad Sharara (رياض شرارة), then later by Jamal Rayyan (جمال ريان), who is currently a well known news broadcaster in Al Jazeera's Arabic TV news channel. The Arabic version was produced and distributed by Amman-based company Middle East Art Production and Distribution (الشرق الأوسط للإنتاج والتوزيع الفني).

### Australia

A version of the show was produced by The Comedy Channel, it had hosts in the local studio and was redubbed, but unlike the American version it still kept to the real plot of the episode and showed the final challenge, rather than taking random footage and making up "teams". This has since been cancelled and/or finished. The show was hosted by two housemates from series two of Australian *Big Brother* Shannon Cleary and Nathan Morris. It also featured a crossdressing Geisha girl named Beryl. Some episodes featured a special guest third host, including Greg Fleet. Highlights appeared in Australia on the television program *World's Weirdest TV*. The American version *MXC* currently airs on Fox8 (an Australian cable network). The Australian writer and critic Clive James was once a celebrity contestant on the original show.

### Brazil

Further information: List of original challenges in Brazilian Takeshi's Castle

During the 1990s, a version was aired by Rede Globo, called ***Olimpíadas do Faustão*** (Portuguese for "Faustão's Olympics"), as an insert in Fausto Silva's Sunday-afternoon variety show *Domingão do Faustão*. In 1994, rival SBT copied that version, and a legal action by Globo and SBT stopped the broadcasting. On June 1, 2008, SBT Keshi remake reappeared on TV, now licensed, remaking Faustão's known games (as Bridge Ball and The Run Way), not-seen in Globo games (as Skittles and Ride the Wave), and original games (cross a balance beam after spin, or cross a small bridge using a crank-kart). The games are a segment named "Playtime" in the *Programa Silvio Santos*.

### Czech Republic

It was shown by the name *Takešiho hrad* (Czech), with comedic voice-over by two Czech comedians. The commentary was mostly fictional. The show was popular among young viewers.[*citation needed*] The Czech TV channel also broadcast the show to Slovak Republic where it gained some popularity[*citation needed*] as well. In 2011 was *Takešiho hrad* broadcast on channel Prima Cool with a new single-voice commentary.

### Denmark

The Danish TV station TV 2 Zulu bought the rights to air the Challenge version in Denmark, thus making the Danish broadcast identical to that in Britain.

### Finland

On January 7, 2008, the television channel Jim started airing the UK version of the program. The comments are subtitled in Finnish. The show is titled ***Hullut japanilaiset***.

### France

A shortened version given a comedic[*citation needed*] voiceover by comedians Vincent Desagnat and Benjamin Morgaine has been shown on the W9 TV channel since October 2006, in a program called *Menu W9* (which also presented a shortened version of *Sushi TV* on its first season, now replaced by *Sasuke*). It has been also broadcast on the channel M6 which shown 2 episodes per day at 6.50 p.m from Tuesday to Friday. The voices were those of the late sport presenter Thierry Roland and Moon Dailly.

### Germany

A dubbed version of the show aired on DSF in 1999. This version was released on a DVD box set with 12 selected episodes. Two more volumes were planned but were presumably canceled. A German dubbed version of the 2002 UK edit airs from July 3, 2007 on RTL II. There also exists an adaptation called *Entern oder Kentern* (engl.: Board or Capsize) with almost the same games but pirates as antagonists and celebrities as Team Captains. This version was aired on RTL in summer 2007. Shorter versions of episodes with comical commentary air on Comedy Central.

### Greece

A version airs on Skai TV by the name *Το κάστρο του Τακέσι* (Takeshi's Castle). It has been dubbed by Kostas Papageorgiou and Akindynos Gkikas.It aired from 2005 to 2009

### India

A shortened version of the show is aired on the Pogo TV channel from 1 March 2005 with Hindi dubbing by Javed Jaffrey. The show was also experimentally voiced by Indian comedians Raju Srivastav, Sunil Pal, Navin Prabhakar and Ahsaan Qureshi for a short duration.

### Indonesia

The original Japanese show was being re-broadcast (with Indonesian dubs) on TPI channel from 2002 to 2006 and GTV in 2013 and 2014. In 2017, MNCTV acquired the license to remake the show which was later known as ***Takeshi's Castle Indonesia*** (a.k.a. ***Benteng Takeshi Indonesia***) with a grand prize of Rp 100.000.000,-. After two successful seasons, the show was originally planned to enter its third season in 2018; however, due to a drug case involving Reza Bukan (the cast of King Takeshi at that time) the launch of the third season was delayed until mid-2019.

The main cast of *Takeshi's Castle Indonesia* includes Fero Walandouw (as the Captain), Nabila Putri, Poppy Sovia, and Desy JKT48 (as Vice-Captains in Season 1, 2, and 3 respectively), Lee Jong Hoon (as the Reporter), and Reza Bukan and Kenta (as King Takeshi in season 1-2 and 3 respectively).

### Iran

It was aired by the name *Masir-e Talaa'ee* (Persian: مسیر طلایی‎) (when translated it means "Golden Path"), on Iran's Channel 3 in 2009 and 2010. It was hosted by Morteza and Mostafa Hosseini, the brothers of the refugee host Mohammad Hosseini.

### Italy

Renamed ***Mai dire Banzai*** (Never Say: Banzai!) it first aired in 1989 on Italia 1. A reedited version interspersed with clips of another Japanese gameshow called *Za Gaman*, it was given a comedic voiceover by Gialappa's Band, who changed Kitano's and Saburo Ishikura's names to Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi, historically Swiss Italian judges in *Games Without Frontiers*. They also renamed in absurdist comical ways the other figures of the show like calling the in-game reporter 'Pokoto Pokoto', the martially-attire'd host 'General Putzersthoefen' and so on. Gialappa's Band making fun of the duty-bound, stoic stereotype of Japan, described the games and tasks as traditional Japanese past-times and thus rather mundane and humdrum by Japanese standards, introducing a veil of non sequitur to the show which is lacking in English language versions.

The show gained new popularity in the 2000s, when it started being broadcast on various satellite and terrestrial channels with the original title and using the half-hour episodes of the UK shortened version, with independent voiceover (superimposed to the still audible Japanese tack) done by various Italian comedians. As of 2008, this version is broadcast on GXT with the voiceover done by Trio Medusa (previously the show was commentated on by Marco Marzocca with Stefano Sarcinelli and still before by duo Lillo & Greg); shortly after it was re-aired by local broadcasters and by K2. From 10 January 2011, the series is re-transmitted in Italy on Cartoon Network and the voiceover is done by Roberto Stocchi and Francesca Draghetti.

### Lithuania

The show was aired by the name *Takeši pilis*, featuring Fumito Tomoi (a Japanese person living in Lithuania at the time), who dubbed the show in a comic way with his broken Lithuanian. The show was very popular.[*citation needed*]

### Malaysia

The Japanese version was aired over NTV7 in early 2000s, although edited to be shortened to half an hour. The broadcast was added with Malay overdub commentary (the original Japanese audio track is still audible in background). Sometimes in earlier versions, the unoverdubbed parts will be subtitled in Malay. The show was known as *Istana Takeshi* in Malaysia.

As of June 2010, the show is airing again using the American version with Malay subtitles on TV9 but still called Istana Takeshi instead of MXC.

### Mexico

The Japanese version on Azteca 13 of TV Azteca in 1993 and Azteca 7 of TV Azteca was aired in Mexico, which, like the Spanish, has its own stories and invented by giving voices teams.

Due to the success of the American edits of *Banzuke* and *Ninja Warrior*/*Sasuke* on Azteca 7, on May 4, 2015, the program was broadcast by Canal 5 of Televisa, under the name *Castillo Takeshi* and narrated by two presenters from Televisa using the British edit as basis for their own edit. Possibly due to the upscaling from PAL to HD, it had a poor quality image, making it look even older than it was. It took the time slot where ABC's *Wipeout* had been broadcast since 2014. After just three weeks, the show was replaced by ABC's *Wipeout*, which has had a longer more successful run on Mexican TV.

### Netherlands

The British cut of the show aired on August 15, 2009 on Comedy Central, with Dutch voice-over provided by sports commentator Ronald van Dam and actor/comedian Ruben van der Meer.

*Takeshi's Castle Thailand* in its UK format commenced airing on March 22, 2018 with commentary by actress/singer Katja Schuurman and vocalist Pepijn Lanen.