Legendary Japanese game show Takeshi’s Castle is back! The iconic, hugely influential, and enormously fun show has returned to TV screens this year.
(All photos copyright @ Amazon Prime Studios, all rights reserved)Intro
Cult Japanese game show Takeshi’s Castle is back. The global phenomenon has returned to our screens in a fresh reboot thanks to a new series being streamed by Amazon Prime Studios. It was shown in Japan this year and is now available to UK, US, and European viewers with English commentary. In the UK, popular British comedians Romesh Ranganathan and Tom Davis have been given the job of offering play-by-play punditry as Japanese contestants undertake a series of colourful, fun, and bizarrely difficult physical challenges. But what is Takeshi’s Castle? Why does it have a worldwide cult following? Where can you watch it? And why is it considered one of the most influential TV shows of all time, inspiring everything from TV shows like Total Wipeout to TV dramas like Squid Game and even video games like Fall Guys? Let’s find out all of this and more in our definitive guide to the show, which might just inspire you to visit Japan with the JR Pass.
(All photos copyright @ Amazon Prime Studios, all rights reserved)What Is Takeshi’s Castle?
The original Takeshi’s Castle aired on the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) from 1986 to 1990, and was also shown in various different formats around the world. In short, Takeshi’s Castle is a Japanese game show in which a large number of contestants (between 86 and 142 per episode) compete in a series of physical games set by General Tano (actor and presenter Hayato Tani) and Count Takeshi (comedian Takeshi Kitano) - whose iconic castle forms one of the main challenges. There were also a number of other colourful recurring characters. After getting through multiple rounds of games, the remaining contestants must storm the castle. This final challenge later became a cart battle. Initially, the battle for the castle featured water guns, but this changed to laser tag in later episodes. In the original series, the winner of the final showdown won one million yen.
The series was shot and filmed at Midoriyama (Green Mountain) Studios in Yokohama, Kanagawa, which featured a huge purpose built obstacle course with the famous castle and all manner of other pits, pools, pendulum, slides, stairs, ropes, and more. Over the course of the series, dozens of different games were featured. Here’s a selection:
- Daruma-San is Falling Down: This challenge was inspired by the well known Japanese children's game and featured contestants trying to climb a hill while wearing oversized daruma costumes.
- Dragon God's Pond: In this challenge, contestants had to cross a lake using twenty-five stepping stones, some of which were rigged to sink when stepped on.
- You Can't Continue on an Empty Stomach: Contestants had to hang onto a bun dangling from a chain using only their mouth with their arms bound in a rubber ring.
- Man Eating Holes: This was the penultimate challenge for most of the original series. The contestants had to jump into one of five large holes in the ground, two of which are being guarded and the last three leading to Takeshi's castle.
The New Takeshi’s Castle
Although the original show aired for only four years, its huge success and syndication around the world led it to develop a cult following over the years. It was inevitable that there would be a reboot and after several false starts, a new series aired in April 2023 in Japan. Heralded as the best ever version of Takeshi’s Castle yet, the new show spends more time allowing audiences to get to know each contestant, but retains the series’ trademark colourful sets and crazy challenges. Following the success of the new Japanese show, the series is now being broadcast around the world this year.
In the UK, the new series will be a landmark as it will be the first time that Takeshi’s Castle has been shown unedited. Previously it was reduced to a clip show, first in the late 1980s on ITV and later on Challenge TV where actor and comedian Craig Charles provided commentary. Both variations were popular, especially the latter where the late night and early morning broadcasts of the show led it to become affectionately known as ‘hangover TV’ for a whole generation of students and young people. As such, Takeshi’s Castle is very well known in the UK as well as elsewhere around the world.
(All photos copyright @ Amazon Prime Studios, all rights reserved)
Thankfully, this new series has ditched the clip show format and will broadcast the Japanese episodes as they were meant to be seen with new commentary provided by British comics Romesh Ranganathan and Tom Davis (pictured above). Given the commentary the show is officially titled in the UK as Romesh and Tom Take Takeshi’s Castle.
Takeshi’s Castle’s Legacy and Impact
Where Can I Watch Takeshi’s Castle?
The new Takeshi’s Castle can be watched exclusively on Amazon Prime. It premiered in the UK on 30 August and is set to be shown in the US and other territories soon.
Bonus Recommendations
Has watching Takeshi’s Castle inspired you to plan a trip to the one and only Japan? Want to experience Japan’s colourful contemporary culture for yourself? Then you’re in the right place. Here at JR Pass, you can find out everything you want to know about Japan and plan how to get from A to B with the Japan Rail Pass for unlimited travel on the country’s outstanding domestic rail network. Meanwhile, if you’re a fan of cult Japanese TV shows, films, and culture, then you’ll definitely be interested in the following:
- Our guide to Japan on Film offers an overview of famous films and TV shows set and shot in Japan, from James Bond to Wolverine and more.
- As well as its quirky TV shows, Japan is also famous for its anime and manga, but where to start if you’re a beginner? Try our guide to the Best Manga and Anime to Read Before You Travel To Japan.
- Japan’s colourful contemporary culture obviously includes video games too, so be sure to check out our guide to Japan for Gamers.
- For more general help with your trip, consider our Meet and Greet Service. This is ideal if you would appreciate a helping hand on your arrival in Japan. One of our Japanese travel specialists will meet you in person at the airport, activate your JR Pass, help you reserve train tickets, and book anything else you may want to do upon arriving in Japan. It’s like having a personal assistant to look after you on arrival.
- Similarly, investing in a PocketWifi device means you can stay connected to family and friends online, check directions, language tips, and more, without worrying about running out of data. Our PocketWifi offers unlimited data, supports up to five devices, and they are easy to pick up on arrival and drop off at the end of your trip.
All photos all rights reserved / copyright @Amazon Prime Studios
