Latest news with #Takeshi'sCastle
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Goa's JSan comes to Soka, Bengaluru
JSan in Goa is a Japanese restaurant helmed by chef Vishesh Jawarani. The izakaya gastro pub comes to Bengaluru's popular cocktail bar, Soka for a pop-up. The pop-up has 100 seats and is only on for one day. The afternoon will see JSan's favourite dishes paired with unique cocktails by Soka. The highlights of the menu are dishes like tomato geotjeori, made of cherry tomatoes, tofu crema and a tempura furikake. The tuna tartare is paired with umami pro max, a Tequila and vermouth cocktail by Soka. The pork tonkotsu ramen goes with a drink called Takeshi's Castle, a Bombay Sapphire creation. The chicken karaage goes hand in hand with JSan Derulo, a white rum drink. ₹1,200 per head. On July 13, 12.30 PM. At Soka, Domlur, Indiranagar. For more details, call 9353045053
Tokyo Weekender
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
How Japanese Reality TV Went Global
Japanese reality TV is an art form which rejects all boundaries. Whether it's taking bites out of household objects to establish if they are ' candy or not candy ,' testing if your partner can identify you from your rear-end alone or being mummified while answering trivia questions, there are few ideas too wacky for Japanese TV executives. The style is so instantly recognizable that ABC once created an American series titled I Survived A Japanese Game Show , which was built entirely on the premise that nothing quite compares to Japanese game shows. Yet, despite often being dismissed as absurd light entertainment, Japanese reality TV has a global reach and influence. List of Contents: Documental: the latest international success story Takeshi's Castle: The OG of Japanese TV A Viral Future Awaits Documental: The Latest International Success Story In March 2025, Amazon Prime Video launched a new UK comedy show, The Last One Laughing , in which 10 of Britain's top comedians were locked in a room for six hours and the last one to laugh won a cash prize. It was a hit, earning rave reviews and quickly became one of Amazon Prime Video's top shows of the year. However, the format was originally born in Japan. Hitoshi Matsumoto , who announced he was taking a break from the entertainment industry last year after being accused of sexual assault, pitched the last one laughing concept directly to the company over dinner with the head of content at Amazon Studios for Japan in early 2016. The Japanese show, hosted by Matsumoto, first aired on November 30, 2016, under the title Hitoshi Matsumoto presents: Documental. The simplicity of the format made production incredibly efficient. The entire six-episode season could be filmed in a single day, unlike many other reality shows. Also, the format was perfect for going viral. Every minute of the hysterical interactions between the straight-faced comedians could be clipped and packaged onto social media. After its roaring success in Japan, Amazon decided to spread the idea globally. Today, Documental has been reimagined in 28 different countries, with the UK version being just the latest. In France, the third season of the show broke Amazon Prime Video's record for the biggest day-one launch, and in Italy, it remains Prime's most-watched Italian show. Speaking to The New York Times , Prime executive James Farrell credited the success of the show to its cultural adaptability. The Japanese original often featured comedians stripping off naked to make others laugh, but the latest British version featured national treasure Bob Mortimer singing, 'Raspberry jam is nice, but it's full of f***ing pips'. Documental, however, is not the first Japanese TV show to inspire international spin-offs. The blueprint for global game show domination came from the cult classic Takeshi's Castle . Takeshi's Castle: The OG of Japanese TV Takeshi's Castle was a cult classic game show devised by Takeshi Kitano, which aired between 1986 and 1990. Inspired by the release of Super Mario Bros. in 1985, Takeshi pitched the game show to Tokyo Broadcast System. Takeshi played a count, while contestants had to overcome physical hurdles to reach his castle. It combined Japanese wackiness with very high production value. Challenges ranged from remaining standing as a human bowling pin to dressing as an old man and staying as still as possible while lying on foam blocks in an earthquake simulator . The show quickly took off internationally and was remade in countries throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including in the US, the UK, the Philippines and India. The recent Japanese revival of the show in 2023 brought another wave of international imitations, with a new Indian and British series announced soon after. Beyond the remakes, Takeshi's Castle inspired a generation of obstacle course game shows like Total Wipeout and the Ninja Warrior franchise. The legacy, though, is felt beyond game shows. The Netflix hit series Squid Game , for instance, was also influenced by Takeshi's Castle . A Viral Future Awaits A major problem faced by broadcasters in the social media age is language limitations. This point was highlighted by the most subscribed YouTuber, Mr Beast, in a recent interview with Mark Zuckerberg. Japanese game show footage, however, is experiencing a renaissance in the social media era. TikTok and Instagram Reels are awash with random clips of these programs because of the international appeal of slapstick. Watching a man trying to carry a tray of hot tea across a slanted, slippery floor, now that is comedy. It is also universally appreciated. The other major strength of Japanese game shows is that the format often prioritizes having many short segments rather than one overarching concept. This means a Japanese game show contains multiple ideas for studios around the world to copy, only increasing its influence. The format is also optimized for creating viral moments, unlike other types of reality TV that require a deeper understanding of the contestants and dynamics. While clips of eccentric Japanese TV often elicit reactions of disbelief, its true influence is far-reaching and only likely to grow in significance.
India Today
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Inside Japan's fantasy-fuelled love hotels
Love hotels in Japan are often theme based (Photo: Hotel Chronos via India Today Lifestyle Desk Love hotels in Japan are beyond intimacy and kinks. Its history is centuries old but today offers a unique experience for travellers. These love hotels are often based on larger-than-life themes. When someone says Japan, you probably think of cherry blossoms, matcha tea, kimonos, ikigai (okay, Takeshi's Castle too). But of course, the country is much more than just that. One minute you're sipping that viral matcha latte, and the next, you might find yourself wandering through ancient temples and shrines. If food is your real escape, you could be gorging on fresh sushi or slurping a bowl of soul-soothing ramen. But visiting Japan for its 'love hotels', does that pique your interest? It might sound a bit risque for our Indian sensibilities, but in Japan, love hotels are a cultural curiosity tucked behind discreet facades in Tokyo's Shibuya or hidden in the neon-lit backstreets of Osaka. And no, these aren't your run-of-the-mill hotel rooms. Designed for privacy and short-term stays, they're often used for romantic escapades, and trust us, the interiors are worth writing home about. Not your average hotel What is a love hotel? Honestly, the word is self-explanatory in essence. This is Japan's most private public secret. Love hotels work as short-stay hotels that allow guests privacy for lovemaking, intimacy and more, but judgment-free. People can rent or 'rest' (as it is called) a room by the hour. Overnight stays are welcome too. No shame, no judgement, just vibe. Don't be embarrassed - that's the idea. And yes, these hotels are what you want them to be. Imagine: a castle, Hello Kitty bondage rooms, sci-fi pods, prison cells, hospitals, underwater aquarium, you name it. Love hotels in Japan often offer costumes on rent. (Photo: Getty Image) Back in the day The concept of a love hotel dates back centuries, almost to the 16th century. PDA (public display of affection) was not always cute. It is still often hushed up in several societies. In Japan, secret quarters emerged during the Edo period, where entry and exits were discreet. Hence, people came up with a workaround. Teahouses popped up where people met 'discreetly,' away from society's prying gaze. Eventually, as society progressed and the lifestyle evolved, these teahouses got a neon glow-up! It turned into love hotels or rabu hoteru in Japanese, with dramatic concepts fuelling the fantasy in the 21st century. When you check into a love hotel Today, one can find love hotels as dramatic as possible. The rooms often boast neon lights, interactive beds, luxury couple bathrooms, TVs with adult content, karaoke rooms, etc. It is designed to pique as well as satisfy your kinks. It's a playground for adults to go wild and how! A UFO-themed love hotel in Japan (Photo credits: Getty Images) One USP of love hotels in Japan is how they keep identity discreet. It's giving incognito but make it kinky. Bookings are mostly done online or via vending machines that offer an array of options to pick your vibe. Interaction with staff is limited. At some counters or receptions, it is obstructed by opaque glass windows to avoid any awkward eye contact. Now, what if you bump into someone while entering or exiting a love hotel? French photographer Franois Prost, speaking to The Guardian , said, 'The hotels are often designed so you don't have to cross paths with anyone else. You can go straight from your car into a lift going up, and there is always a separate lift to go back down, to avoid bumping into people. A lot of the hotels don't even have receptionists any more – you book online, or choose your room from an automatic vending machine.' According to The Guardian , the country probably has around 37,000 love hotels - but the numbers may vary. Sometimes, these places even crop up in rural areas, secluded junctions, and miss the census. Lovers' escape to tourists' delight What started as a place where people expressed and explored sexual liberation has today found a place in a traveller's bucket list. It is no longer merely a concept, but an experience. It is not limited to dates, flings, or cosplay kinks. Solo travellers, tourists often rent it by the hour and save on shelling for the entire day, and some only do it for the gram. Today, the concept has travelled across borders, but it still exists more as a global whisper than a mainstream trend. In India, the closest equivalent to Japan's love hotels might be budget chains like OYO, which became popular for offering rooms on an hourly basis and not requiring proof of marital status. This made them a discreet option for unmarried couples seeking privacy, something that's still hard to come by in a country where public displays of affection are often frowned upon. However, this progressive policy met resistance from conservative sections of society, where such bookings were viewed as morally questionable. Other countries like France, Brazil, Thailand, Singapore, amongst other countries have also caught up with the concept of love hotels or love motels, as they are also called. When someone says Japan, you probably think of cherry blossoms, matcha tea, kimonos, ikigai (okay, Takeshi's Castle too). But of course, the country is much more than just that. One minute you're sipping that viral matcha latte, and the next, you might find yourself wandering through ancient temples and shrines. If food is your real escape, you could be gorging on fresh sushi or slurping a bowl of soul-soothing ramen. But visiting Japan for its 'love hotels', does that pique your interest? It might sound a bit risque for our Indian sensibilities, but in Japan, love hotels are a cultural curiosity tucked behind discreet facades in Tokyo's Shibuya or hidden in the neon-lit backstreets of Osaka. And no, these aren't your run-of-the-mill hotel rooms. Designed for privacy and short-term stays, they're often used for romantic escapades, and trust us, the interiors are worth writing home about. Not your average hotel What is a love hotel? Honestly, the word is self-explanatory in essence. This is Japan's most private public secret. Love hotels work as short-stay hotels that allow guests privacy for lovemaking, intimacy and more, but judgment-free. People can rent or 'rest' (as it is called) a room by the hour. Overnight stays are welcome too. No shame, no judgement, just vibe. Don't be embarrassed - that's the idea. And yes, these hotels are what you want them to be. Imagine: a castle, Hello Kitty bondage rooms, sci-fi pods, prison cells, hospitals, underwater aquarium, you name it. Love hotels in Japan often offer costumes on rent. (Photo: Getty Image) Back in the day The concept of a love hotel dates back centuries, almost to the 16th century. PDA (public display of affection) was not always cute. It is still often hushed up in several societies. In Japan, secret quarters emerged during the Edo period, where entry and exits were discreet. Hence, people came up with a workaround. Teahouses popped up where people met 'discreetly,' away from society's prying gaze. Eventually, as society progressed and the lifestyle evolved, these teahouses got a neon glow-up! It turned into love hotels or rabu hoteru in Japanese, with dramatic concepts fuelling the fantasy in the 21st century. When you check into a love hotel Today, one can find love hotels as dramatic as possible. The rooms often boast neon lights, interactive beds, luxury couple bathrooms, TVs with adult content, karaoke rooms, etc. It is designed to pique as well as satisfy your kinks. It's a playground for adults to go wild and how! A UFO-themed love hotel in Japan (Photo credits: Getty Images) One USP of love hotels in Japan is how they keep identity discreet. It's giving incognito but make it kinky. Bookings are mostly done online or via vending machines that offer an array of options to pick your vibe. Interaction with staff is limited. At some counters or receptions, it is obstructed by opaque glass windows to avoid any awkward eye contact. Now, what if you bump into someone while entering or exiting a love hotel? French photographer Franois Prost, speaking to The Guardian , said, 'The hotels are often designed so you don't have to cross paths with anyone else. You can go straight from your car into a lift going up, and there is always a separate lift to go back down, to avoid bumping into people. A lot of the hotels don't even have receptionists any more – you book online, or choose your room from an automatic vending machine.' According to The Guardian , the country probably has around 37,000 love hotels - but the numbers may vary. Sometimes, these places even crop up in rural areas, secluded junctions, and miss the census. Lovers' escape to tourists' delight What started as a place where people expressed and explored sexual liberation has today found a place in a traveller's bucket list. It is no longer merely a concept, but an experience. It is not limited to dates, flings, or cosplay kinks. Solo travellers, tourists often rent it by the hour and save on shelling for the entire day, and some only do it for the gram. Today, the concept has travelled across borders, but it still exists more as a global whisper than a mainstream trend. In India, the closest equivalent to Japan's love hotels might be budget chains like OYO, which became popular for offering rooms on an hourly basis and not requiring proof of marital status. This made them a discreet option for unmarried couples seeking privacy, something that's still hard to come by in a country where public displays of affection are often frowned upon. However, this progressive policy met resistance from conservative sections of society, where such bookings were viewed as morally questionable. Other countries like France, Brazil, Thailand, Singapore, amongst other countries have also caught up with the concept of love hotels or love motels, as they are also called. Join our WhatsApp Channel
