(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.)
ItteQ! is one of the most popular TV shows in Japan. It airs every Sunday night.
It is my favorite TV show. I don’t watch much television, but I watch ItteQ! almost every week.
The show has been on the air for about 20 years.
I really enjoy watching it. When it isn’t on, I feel disappointed. While I’m watching it, I can forget all my daily worries and problems.
The show even sells desk calendars. I bought one and keep it on my desk.
In a nutshell, ItteQ! is a variety show in which Japanese celebrities travel around the world, challenge themselves, and do funny or dangerous things. Most of the cast members are comedians, so the show is always entertaining.
My favorite segments are “Which Is the World’s Most Exciting Festival?” and “Paparazzi Degawa.”
Which Is the World’s Most Exciting Festival?
In this segment, a comedian travels around the world to compete in unusual local festivals and tries to become the champion.
One time, he participated in the Dairy Cow Festival in Australia. After drinking two liters of milk, he had to run. While running, he threw up the milk. It was absolutely hilarious.
He also took part in the Timber Rafting Championship in Finland. He rode a floating log and rafted about 200 meters through raging rapids.
Paparazzi Degawa
In this segment, Degawa, one of Japan’s most famous comedians, and model Maria Tani visit international film festivals.
Their goal is to chase famous movie stars and get autographs and photos with them.
Degawa and Tani wear white karate uniforms and shout at movie stars to stop. Degawa often yells, “We are humans! We are the same!” Somehow, they have managed to get autographs from stars such as Nicolas Cage and Gary Oldman.
Degawa speaks funny, broken English, but his passion is contagious. He shouts from the bottom of his heart, and somehow it often moves the movie stars. Over the years, Degawa and Tani have pulled off many miracles.
Appearing on ItteQ! is a dream for many entertainers in Japan. The show is so popular that appearing on it can make someone famous.
Over the past 20 years, the program has had countless unforgettable moments. Here are my three favorites.
1. Making Shabu-Shabu with a Geyser
(Shabu-shabu is a Japanese dish in which thin slices of meat are briefly cooked in boiling broth.)
A Japanese comedian tried to make shabu-shabu using one of the world’s largest geysers in Iceland.
Holding raw meat with chopsticks, he carefully approached the geyser and tried to dip the meat into the boiling water. Just then, the geyser suddenly erupted, blasting him with scalding hot water.
He screamed, rolled around on the ground, and everyone burst into laughter. It was one of the funniest scenes in the show’s history.
2. Racing a Komodo Dragon
A Japanese comedian raced against a Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard, which can grow up to about three meters long.
They raced for 50 meters.
Komodo dragons are powerful predators that are capable of killing large animals, so the race was extremely dangerous.
Because of this incredible challenge, she became very famous.
3. Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling
Another Japanese comedian participated in the famous Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling race in England.
In this event, competitors chase a three-kilogram wheel of cheese down an incredibly steep hill.
The cheese can reach speeds of nearly 100 km/h. The slope is so steep that almost everyone tumbles down instead of running. Some participants even break bones or suffer concussions.
The comedian also lost his footing and rolled all the way down the hill. Even while tumbling, he kept trying to get back on his feet. Amazingly, he finished in second place.
That scene became legendary, and he became one of the show’s biggest stars.
The Staff Behind the Show
The people behind the scenes also deserve a lot of credit. They arrange schedules, make appointments, conduct research, and edit the footage. Because of their hard work, the performers can focus on entertaining the audience.
Watching ItteQ! is always a lot of fun. It helps me forget the stress of everyday life.
However, the performers have a very tough job. They often put themselves in dangerous situations, and sometimes they even risk their lives.
There is so much serious and frightening news in the world today. That’s why a show like ItteQ! is so valuable.
What about your country? Is there a TV show that makes people laugh as much as ItteQ!?