Within the overpopulated world of Viral videos, a unique breed of shorts stands out of the landscape like a magnificent Mount Fuji of awesomeness. Japanese show videos are the cream of the crop in hilarious, amazing, and all-out wacky scenes caught on camera. These videos provide short but oh-so-gratifying pieces of Japanese TV goodness, and prove that Japanese television is light-years ahead of our time.
There’s something very relaxing about a spa on top of a snowy mountain… except when a prank show rigs the spa house for the visitors to ‘enjoy’ an insane ride on their relaxation chairs. Some of the best dokkiri (hidden camera pranks) available on the Net.
This is what happens when you have kids watching Anime from very young. They only want to learn from cute cartoon animals and… things that should not be considered cute at all. One of those viral videos that made us westerners raise an eyebrow and laugh our asses off.
This clip, as well as several others, come from “Kasou Taishou”, a semi-annual talent show that showcases acts by amateur performers (called ‘Human Art’ by some), rated by a panel of judges. You have to see these acts to understand just how impressive they get to be. The creativity of the artists performing in this and other acts is uncanny, as you’ll soon discover. Here we have a trip underwater as seen from behind the goggles of a scuba diver…
For those who don’t already know, the movie “The Ring” is a remake of the immensely popular japanese movie “Ringu”, which made the J-Horror movie genre incredibly popular worldwide. So if you think “the video” that curses people to die in seven days is popular in the west, you can’t imagine how popular it is among the Japanese… and that includes cute innocent Japanese girls. In other words, this prank is every Japanese girl’s worst nightmare come true.
If bizarre is what you want in your viral videos, look no further. An insane English lesson that became very popular in viral video outlets. This video made many a westerner think, “is this really how crazy Japanese are?” and made the cultural gap a laughing matter. Possibly the joke’s on us, because the makers of this skit probably knew how ridiculous this premise was, and intentionally provided an ironic view of Japanese culture; something that got lost on many who watched this segment overseas.
A very cute Kasou Taishou performance with a cool twist at the end. It starts off pretty unimpressive… apparently. I thought you’d learned by now not to underestimate Japanese shows…
An impressive and even touching act. Yet another gem from Kasou Taishou.
A compilation of random pranks with a quirky Japanese twist. You won’t be disappointed.
The popular painting by Katsushika Hokusai meets the ingenious mind of Salvador Dali in this Kasou Taishou act. Impressive artistic prowess in motion.
One of the most famous Japanese videos of the Viral age. The nasty things these poor fellas go through… and they have to keep quiet while at it! Only one of the many hilarious segments from the variety comedy show “Gaki No Tsukai”.
I think the title pretty much says it all. Japanese prank madness at its finest.
This is one of the most impressive displays of “human kabuki theatre” in an act from Kasou Taishou. It can be accurately described as ‘A Matrix food fight’.
A hilarious and very original game, proving that ‘Game shows’ in Japan are way beyond what ‘game shows’ in the West are considered to be. This is only the tip of the iceberg of how wacky and funny game shows get over there. If you search ‘Japanese game show’ on YouTube, many other games with ostentatious amounts of zaniness await. And if you want more ‘human tetris’, use those search words on YouTube and you’ll find even more segments from this game show.
Amazing. You will be thoroughly impressed by the complexity of the act, and the skill of these performers.
The video that started it all. An action-packed ping pong match that changed the landscape of viral videos forever. I remember how watching the ‘cinematic’ effects in this one literally took my breath away. This short but amazing act made millions around the world drop their jaws in utter awe and admiration, and opened the golden gates to the wonderful world of Japanese show viral videos. The rest is history.
Contributor: Kreachure
Yes, Silent Library (#6) is my favourite show ever! I absolutely love the ***** Japanese people do to each other!
And #5 I love too! I’ve seen most of these before, but it’s always great to have new ones!
For the English lesson one, this is awesome too:
And if you’re really bored and a facebook user:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2237276503
I loved this list too – I had only seen one or two of the videos – I am glad to have seen the rest!
Oh – and Happy Anzac Day to the kiwis and aussies on the site! We will remember them.
Hilarious !!!! I LOVE the Tetris one
jfrater: I had my own little dawn service in the middle of my host family’s garden… The think I’m strange now (like they needed any more proof), but it was worth it for the Aussie/Kiwi pride. I’m going to make me some Anzac biccies now!
I watched the Human Tetris and couldn’t stop laughing XD Hilarious!!
I’ve seen them all already ^^
But it’s a good list for those who didn’t
oh geez, i was rolling on the floor at the library clip!!!!!!!! now to go watch the rest
i can’t stop singing! ‘i was robbed by two men, i was robbed by two men, I was robbed by two men……..’
Maybe I’ll use this in my next English classes next week!
Great Job Keatchure! Wonderful compilation.
I am in agreement; #11 English Lesson lampoons our culture and our perception of Japanese culture. Very Clever.
I think it safe to assume that the Japanese do not suffer the sue-happy environment that exists in North America. I am rather jealous of their relaxed attitude towards nudity and bodily functions as well.
The performance art is wonderful. How to convey so much with so little. Puts CGI in its proper place.
Jfrater, Kiwiboi, Carpe_Noctem et al;
I will add a splash of rum to my coffee this morning and be thinking of you guys.
Jeffreygvl; It doesn’t matter that you have seen these before; they represent the best of the genre, are presented in a cohesive, intelligent, and very entertaining manner. Provides an interesting over-view unavailable elsewhere.
Cool list, but “incredible” in another title? There are synonyms for “incredible” and “amazing!”
Hilarious. I love these! Great list!
Ahh! I knew the ping pong video would be there! But didn’t expect it to be number one!
and i thought Everybody Poops was graphic…
I can’t see the videos, but there is a show from over there that the US over dubs with joke comments. In US its called Most Extreme Challenge.
Keatchure:
Yet another reason to love this site!
Viewing Japanese game show videos (in America, at work) is clearly the reason The Internet was created. The good humor (and lack of lawyerly influence) these videos exhibit should be a lesson to the rest of the world.
All (most) my favorites in one place…Thank You.
Man, I wish YouTube weren’t blocked at work. These video lists always suck for me. :-/
stevenh “Viewing Japanese game show videos (in America, at work) is clearly the reason The Internet was created.”
Agreed! Unfortunately in a call center I can’t use sound, so a few I will have to save for later, but most I can get the idea well enough with no sound!
The Japanese are years ahead of us in entertainment. They are clearly the superior race.
“The Japanese are years ahead of us in entertainment. They are clearly the superior race.”
You’re damn right they are:
East Asians average higher on IQ tests than Whites, both in the U. S. and in Asia, even though IQ tests were developed for use in the Euro-American culture. Around the world, the average IQ for East Asians centers around 106; for Whites, about 100; and for Blacks about 85 in the U.S. and 70 in sub-Saharan Africa.
http://www.amren.com/mtnews/archives/2005/04/blackwhiteeast.php
Hi all, thanks for the praise (for my list and Japanese people too, apparently
) and I’m glad you liked my choices. There’s plenty more crazy Japanese stuff out there on ‘teh interwebs’, so consider this list only an appetizer.
Is there a reason you keep calling me Keatchure? Weird!
Anyways, I guess this was a subtle change of pace from the usual ‘controversial’ lists and whatnot around here, even though they seem more popular.
Next time I make a comment on other lists that seems too serious or negative, please remember this list, because this kind of crazy and funny is almost always where my head’s at. Let’s all lighten up more often!
Oh, and
.
That was HILARIOUS! Thanks Kreature for helping me pass the time at work with some giggles. I feel like those guys in the library trying to contain my laughter!!
Well, I was making a joke. But I question the article that cites those statistics. It has been removed from it’s original source, and I’m always a little weary of physiological scientific testing that draws a distinction between races, as scientifically we have proven that there is no such thing as physiological “race” as we colloquially refer to it. Secondly, unless I am mistaken, they did not state which IQ test was used, or the average age of the participants. This is problematic, since it has been shown that the standard Weshler and Stanford-Binet intelligence tests have faced severe scrutiny in the past for exhibiting a racial bias towards african-americans. In addition, the IQ test can only be “reliably” applied during the devlopmental years of a child’s life. Intelligence tends to level off as you get older. IQ tests measure your performance as compared to the performances of other kids at the same place in your development. If adults were used for this experiment, or even participants older than 12 or 13, the results could be very skewed.
Not to denigrate the Japanese. They are overall an extremely intelligent people. But their idea of entertainment is clearly superior to our own. Any country that can get away with blowjob competitions on prime-time TV just by barely obscurring the member with a little opaque dot is a good one in my book.
Oops I spelled your name wrong. Thank you KREACHURE.
Good list, this is funny stuff.
Rylan, I hate to clue you in, but IQ scores don’t mean one race is superior to another. Some races tend to have higher birthrates, some have better immune systems, better skin, denser bones and better muscular structure. Some cultures have higher emotional intelligence. The superior human race is the one that will endure the coming tribulations.
I too object to posting vague IQ references.
Those folks in Sub-saharan Africa are using their innate intelligence in order to keep breathing. Not learning how to take IQ tests.
The dog eat dog competitiveness of Japanese society; they begin training for said tests just about as soon as they begin to speak; also spawns ridiculously high suicide rates.
We’re not much different under the skin; the main difference is in our respective circumstances. There but for the grace of god go I.
My husband and I sat here at 1am watching and laughing at these and being amazed at the incredible art! Great list thanks Kreachure!
You’re quite welcome!
Ha, you guys need to lighten up.
It hardly matters to me, but if you believe all races have the same level of intelligence, you’re pretty ignorant.
I’m going to stop now though since this isn’t an appropriate place to debate it, and political correctness prevents the issue from being discussed intelligently anyway.
i have the belief that all people around the world are equally retarded and only those who can point out that one race is better than another sticks out as even dumber than the rest of us monkeys. what makes the japanese great is their ability to poke fun and entertain each other with a smile on their face and a love for a good fun laugh.
“higher emotional intelligence”
What does that even mean? Sounds like some vague, made-up nonsense to me. New Age much?
Rylan: If it doesn’t matter to you, then why did you bring it up?
The fact of the matter is, the whole idea of “intelligence” is still controversial in modern scientific circles. There is not one, single consensus among psychologists as to what “intelligence” really means, which is why the IQ tests don’t measure someone’s “smarts”…they measure their mental performance in the context of their peers. If someone is bad at math, but good at languages, would you say they are smart or dumb? If someone does poorly in school but shows a natural talent for music, or auto-repair, would you say they were smart or dumb? The point is, the whole idea of “intelligence” is not as clear cut as you might think it is. Measuring people with completely different upbringings in completely different parts of the world, where different thought and behavior patterns exist and perspectives are radically different from our own, with the same set of standards is asinine. If IQ is about how you perform in context of your peers, why would that provide an accurate reflection of your intelligence if you are sub-saharan African measured against american school children?
And, really, what this comes down to is the fact that studies like this are inherently racist, by measuring the links between “intelligence” (a genetically-controlled, though vaguely defined, measure) and “race” (a socially-constructed delineation). Race is not a genetically supported idea. There are no “races” in science, no “blacks” or “whites” or “latinos” or “asians,” etc.
I’d be willing to bet that, if properly designed, internally-fixated tests were administered to each different group, you’d find that the gamut of intelligence runs from mental handicap to genius in all of them. And if you think any different, Rylan, you’re pretty racist.
Bob: According to the Evil Wiki, emotional intelligence is a real concept, described as “an ability, capacity, or skill to perceive, assess, and manage the emotions of one’s self, of others, and of groups.” Ever met an adult that acts like a kid…immature, childish, petty? They have a low emotional intelligence.
Rylan: We can discuss the issue intelligently if you’d like. I’d like to see some intelligence from you first, though.
Oh boy. Somehow you managed to stir up controversy in a completely innocent and uncontroversial list.
Seriously, consider lightening up. It’s good for your health!
Ahhh… those crazy japanese, of course they made human tetris which is *****ing hilarious.
Surprised that “Pie Hell Punishment” didn’t make it. A guy has to go through his morning routine…without making any reaction to the constant barage of cream pies being thrown in his face.
2nd and 3rd parts can be found under the user’s video list/side bar.
Kreachure;
Allowing folks to spew biased, misleading, and inflammatory statistics without challenge is irresponsible. That goes treble for overtly racist comments.
Rylan; And what criteria did you use to judge me as ignorant? Is it because I realize that circumstance plays a larger role in perceived intelligence than potential? Exactly how intelligent would you be, deprived of nutrition, health care, and your smug white-bread upbringing?
Having a nice theoretical discussion in my living room I would have Einstein; stranded on a desert island, I want the fellow from Sub-saharan Africa. Different requirements, different intelligence.
Kreachure: You don’t know me too well if you think I’m all business all the time. And if you wouldn’t mind reading back over the comments, I didn’t stir up anything. I was baited. Not intentionally baited, but baited nonetheless, with the posting of that ignorant “study” and the equally ignorant comment that followed.
As the saying goes, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. You might have intended this list to be innocent and uncontroversial, but we all see things a little differently.
Only in Japan are they not afraid to scare little girls and throw elderly men out of warm cabins into the cold snow. Hehe!
Japanese people are so funny!
Kreachure:
I didn’t intend to misspell your name… Sorry.
Weird how a wonderful and benign list can spark some flame debate…
Rylan is not necessarly wrong in his statistics. What is wrong, however, is the thought that any ‘IQ test’ can be culturally neutral, and that the statistics are valid.
While I do not know the stats that he is quoting, (1) to my knowledge, no test of ‘innate intelligence’ has ever existed and (2) even the hack tests used in the USA were never meant to be used in a multi-cultural setting.
Keep in mind that IQ tests are usually language dependant so the quality of comparison depends on the quality of translations – suspect at best.
m2c
Japanese Toilets prank doesn’t make it to the list?
Mom424: All I said was that it’s kinda ridiculous to have a clash when this list is supposed to be as clean and innocent fun as it can get in this site. And how am I supposed to ‘allow’ or ‘disallow’ anything here? It’s my list, but not my website.
As other comments prove, most people are actually having fun with this list, which is what you should’ve been doing instead of paying attention to feather rufflers and keeping up bitter arguments over things that have little to no relation to the list. Isn’t the world filled with enough bitterness elsewhere?
I’m nobody’s boss, but can’t we just stop fighting for at least a while and enjoy the simpler things in life? Pleeeeeeeeze?
Looks like you forgot one. No minors please. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2WWryJsrEw
“Rylan: If it doesn’t matter to you, then why did you bring it up?”
Because it was a joke.
Why aren’t the posts showing up?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_intelligence
*****!
Search “race intelligence” on Wikipedia and check out the first two results.
To clarify, I’m not afraid to acknowledge that there are real differences among races (intelligence being one of them), but I treat everyone as if they are equal.
“Is it because I realize that circumstance plays a larger role in perceived intelligence than potential?”
So you admit that potential (genetics) is a factor? Again, I’m not a racist and I only meant it to get people worked up, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t validity to it.
Haha, I’ve seen #1 before. Long live Japan!
“The state of knowledge does not permit a precise estimate, but half a century of work, now amounting to hundreds of empirical and theoretical studies, permits a broad conclusion that the genetic component of IQ is unlikely to be smaller than 40 percent or higher than 80 percent. The most unambiguous direct estimates, based on identical twins raised apart produce some of the highest estimates of heritability. For purposes of this discussion, we will adopt a middling estimate of 60 percentheritability, which, by extension means that IQ is about 40 percent a matter of environment
Sorry, I hijacked this list. Delete my comments, by all means.
Rylan;
Why would our site administrators delete your comments?
Free speech applies to everyone, even those with misconceptions.
Where in my comments did I say that heredity has nothing to do with intelligence? My comment is that intelligence does not follow the man-made racial divisions that you subscribe to. Differences in overall scoring are cultural and due to circumstance. ie; grinding poverty will affect IQ. Brain development requires nutrition. Potential is thwarted by economic and geographical chance.
Raise 500 white children, 500 asian children, 500 black children, 500 whatever other race I’ve forgotten, give them the same pre-natal care, upbringing, nutrition, schooling; the vagaries in intelligence would be the same regardless of race.
Don’t be telling me to google; 5 minutes and I can prove anything you want. Anyone can publish anything on the internet. You quote us some sources, we’ll see what you come up with. You made the comment, defend it.
anytime you post a coded link in comments you chance having that comment thrown into moderation. like anywhere online that has commenting, there are filters for spam and other things any site has had issues w/ in the past. as with the use of numbers here (and other things.)
if your comment has a link in it. or numercial numbers not text numbers. or if you are certain you commented correctly and it still does not ‘show’ …do not keep entering the same comment or similar comments. it is either in moderation due to it being filtered or it could be your system and/or ISP has delayed its input. or it could be LV has a hiccup.
when you keep commenting it throws off the count for those people who are still counting comments or using the numbered comment as reference in their own comment…both of which are extremely lousy ideas btw. do no count. do no use the number of the comment. just address that person by name in your response. leave the counting of comments to J if he’s running a contest or whatnot.
basically when in doubt ..do not hit enter again.
as for any comments in moderation, i always release the most recent timestamp. so gimme a minute.
and please …everyone should read or re read the comment posting etiquette ..the link directly under this comment box.
“You quote us some sources, we’ll see what you come up with.”
Like I said, my posts aren’t showing up if I include links; start by searching “intelligence race” in Wikipedia and checking out the first two results (you’ll find legitimate resources within both, so don’t assume otherwise).
“Raise 500 white children, 500 asian children, 500 black children, 500 whatever other race I’ve forgotten, give them the same pre-natal care, upbringing, nutrition, schooling; the vagaries in intelligence would be the same regardless of race.”
Where could I find the resources that support this statement?