Kinniku Banzuke


Kinniku Banzuke a.k.a. Unbeatable Banzuke was a weekly Japanese television program and the premier sports entertainment variety show of the Tokyo Broadcasting System. Its successors were Taiiku Oukoku and Ougon Kinniku. They were succeeded by :ja:マッスルミュージカル|Muscle Musical. Several seasonal specials were also made, such as :ja:最強の男は誰だ!壮絶筋肉バトル!!スポーツマンNo.1決定戦|Pro Sportsman No.1 and Sasuke.
Originally a late-night Friday broadcast, the television special was popular and started airing in prime time on October 14, 1995. It was broadcast every season and gained popularity as Sportsman No.1 Ketteisen. Through various games reverting to the origins of sports, professional players and general participants challenged the limits of physical strength and technique, winning prizes if all targets were successfully destroyed.
Kane Kosugi's Shaolin Temple training and :ja:大森晃|Akira Oomori's Muay Thai bouts were also documented in the broadcasts. The popularity of the displays of amazing physical strength and technique by professional players and luck of general participants drove TV Asahi to move its anime time slot up one hour and caused the cancellation of '':ja:平成教育委員会 on Fuji TV.
The use of the program's mascot, Kongou-kun, originally only featured during the broadcast, expanded in 1999 into the program's opening sequence and every game's introduction. Simultaneously, a brandmark for the program, different from its logotype, was created: the English initials, "MR". However, that same autumn, only the mascot remained, and the "MR" brandmark vanished, having only appeared for that brief time.

History

Sudden cancellation

On May 5, 2002, two show participants injured their cervical vertebrae during the filming of an episode entitled "Chikarajima", an obstacle course with a temple-like setting stationed outside. The accidents occurred during the "rock attack" and "rock valley" obstacle portions.
In rock attack, contestants try to catch a giant ball that comes down a 15-degree slope, they must then push the ball back up the slope where a platform leads to the rock valley waterway. In rock valley, they try to walk on the ball, which weighs about 30 kg and has a diameter of 1.8 meters, across the aforementioned waterway 2.5 meters wide and 1.4 meters deep. Wei Tao, a 19-year-old Chinese freshman at Kyoto University, fell into the waterway during the rock valley obstacle. Takunori Isa, a 20-year-old junior at Tokai University, was knocked down when he tried to catch the ball in rock attack and was rolled over by the ball.
It would prove to be the final episode of Kinniku Banzuke. Show production was officially put on hiatus, and the show was effectively cancelled. The dormant space was filled with a special edition of Count Down TV, CDTV Gold, entitled Za! Gekitou! Daikazoku!!. It was revived in 2008, and aired in first-run episodes on G4 and MYX TV in America and Challenge in the UK.

Broadcast time

Saturday at 19:00 JST

Hosts

Courses that are defeated are then recreated in an attempt to be made more difficult and thus "unbeatable". This is why there are different versions next to some names. Sometimes an obstacle is changed between attempts to conquer this game, so there are letters next to the versions. This is most likely done because of the injuries caused by this obstacle. Some of these events have "break zones", where any competitor who reaches that point is allowed to take a 30-second break before they must continue on with the course.
"Struck Out", "Kick Target", etc. – The contest for the 2 million yen prize consisted of many games that formed the "2 Million Yen Dream Plan".

Champions (Grouped by Course)

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United States

This show was seen on America's G4 Videogame TV network as part of its Duty Free TV primetime programming block, under the name Unbeatable Banzuke with Rome Kanda from I Survived a Japanese Game Show as the host. It aired in half-hour episodes, two or three games per episode, in its original Japanese language and partial original broadcast also with English subtitles. The player profiles, rules, and replays, however, are narrated by voice actor Dave Wittenberg, who also narrates Ninja Warrior.

Canada

Same as the American version. It is presented on the Canadian version of G4 called G4 Canada.

Czech Republic

Under the title "Bezkonkurenční Banzuke". Just like in Hungary, the show commenced broadcast in Czech Republic on November 27, 2010 until 2013 on Animax, but the show was completely dubbed to Czech.

Australia

The Australian version is presented on SBS Two. It is currently broadcast every weekday at 6 p.m., and has been since the relaunch of SBS2. Previously, it was not shown very often but was still broadcast every now and again.

Ukraine

In Ukraine Kinniku Banzuke is named "Базука" and broadcast by the Mega channel.

United Kingdom

Under the title Unbeatable Banzuke, the show commenced transmission in the UK on October 6, 2008 on Challenge. It is similar to the US broadcast in length, language and partial original broadcast, but unlike the American version has no subtitles. Brian Blessed is the host and voice-over as costumed character Banzuke Brian over the whole show, including replays, profiles and course attempts. The show also reran on Channel One until its closure in 2011.

Finland

In Finland the show is called Banzuke and it is broadcast on Jim. The show airs on Friday and Saturday nights at 11 pm with two episodes sequentially. The version is same as the American, but with Finnish subtitles.

Hungary

Under the title Verhetetlen Banzuke, the show commenced broadcast in Hungary on November 27, 2010 on Animax. The show is completely dubbed to Hungarian.

Estonia

In Estonia the show is called Lyömättömään Banzuke and it is broadcast on TV3. The show airs on Weeknights at 9 pm with two episodes sequentially. The version is the same as the other international versions, but with Estonian.

Lithuania

In Lithuania the show is called Nenugalimas Banzuke and it is broadcast on TV6. The show airs weekdays at 2 pm with two episodes sequentially. The version is the same as the other international versions, but with Lithuanian.

Sweden

In Sweden the show is called Oslagbar Banzuke and it is broadcast on TV4. The show airs on weekdays at 1 pm with two episodes sequentially. The version is the same as the other international versions, but with Swedish.

France

In France the show is called Imbattable Banzuke and it is broadcast on TF1. The show airs on weekdays at 9 am with two episodes sequentially. The version is the same as the Australian version, but with French.

Spain

In Spain the show is called Unbeatable Banzuke and is broadcast by La Siete. The host is the same as in the USA version. The show is completely dubbed into Spanish.

South Africa

Broadcast as Unbeatable Banzuke on Animax. Since broadcast on Sony Max under the same name.

Portugal

In Portugal the show is called Todos ao Molho and it was first broadcast on SIC K and later on SIC Radical. The version is the same as the other international versions, but with Portuguese commentary.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Bosnia and Herzegovina Kinniku Banzuke is named Nepobjedive banzuke and broadcast on Program plus.

Germany

In Germany the show is called Unschlagbare Banzuke and it is broadcast on RTL II. The show airs on Weeknights at 7 pm with two episodes sequentially. The version is the same as the other international versions, but with German.

Italy

In Italy the show can be seen on GXT. The show airs weekdays at 5 pm with two episodes sequentially. The version is the same as the other international versions, but with Italian.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands the show is called Onklopbare Banzuke and it is broadcast on RTL 4. The show airs weekdays at 12:30 pm with three episodes sequentially. The version is the same as the other international versions, but with Dutch.

Serbia

Broadcast by B92 after the end of Ninja Warrior. Voiced-over by voicers from Ninja Warrior.

Russia

In Russia the show is called Непобедимый Банзуке and it is broadcast on Channel One with host Maxim Galkin. The show airs on Weeknights at 10 pm with two episodes sequentially. The version is the same as the other international versions, but with Russian.

Croatia

In Croatia the show is called Nepobjediv Banzuke and it is broadcast on RTL Televizija. The show airs on weekdays at 12 pm with two episodes sequentially. The version is the same as the other international versions, but with Croatian.

India

In India Kinniku Banzuke is named Unbeatable Banzuke and broadcast on Pogo TV.

Venezuela

In Venezuela the show is called Inmejorable Banzuke and it is broadcast on Venevisión. The show airs Friday and Saturday nights at 7 pm with two episodes sequentially. The version is same as the American, but with Spanish subtitles.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, Kinniku Banzuke is named Unbeatable Banzuke and broadcast on TV3, starting 5 June 2011 every Sunday.

Spinoffs

In the UK, Channel 5 made their own version of this show called Under Pressure. It featured many similar events, namely Hand Walk, Super Rider, Neko de Drive and Sponge Bridge.
Games like Kick Target were separate segments normally attempted by athletes at various training facilities.
For pictures of this version, check:
In Germany, Sat.1 made their own version of the show called Champions Day. It was similar in style to Under Pressure and again featured many similar events. It lasted four episodes.
For pictures of this version, check:

Worldwide

Unbeatable Banzuke is also broadcast in other countries around the world:
CountryForeign TitleTranslationNetwork CompetitorsLanguage HostLocation
Unbeatable BanzukeSubtitled
None
SBS TwoEnglish
Japanese
Rome Kanda as Kei KatoJapan
Imbatible BanzukeDubbedCanal 9Spanish
Unbeatable BanzukeDubbedPogo TvHindiKei Kato Dubbed In HindiJapan
Unschlagbare BanzukeDubbedORFGermanVienna, Austria
Onklopbare BanzukeDubbedVTMDutch
Invencível BanzukeDubbedRede Globo
Rede Record
Portuguese
Непобедим БанзукеDubbedbTVSergey SevostianovBulgarian
Unbeatable BanzukeSubtitledG4 CanadaTianna MadisonEnglish
Japanese
Rome Kanda as Kei Kato and Dave Wittenberg as Narrator Toronto, Canada
Imbatible BanzukeDubbedChilevisiónSpanish
Imbatible BanzukeSubtitledCanal 13Spanish
Nepobjediv BanzukeDubbedRTL TelevizijaJurica Grabušić, András Haklits, Sanja GavrilovićCroatian
Bezkonkurenční BanzukeDubbedTV Nova Animax Věra Pospíšilová-CechlováCzech
Uovervindelig BanzukeDubbedTV3Danish
Lyömättötään BanzukeDubbedTV3Wilson Kirwa, Mårten Boström, Johan Meriluoto, Johanna HalkoahoEstonianTallinn, Estonia
BanzukeSubtitled
Dubbed
JimAnna Iljuštšenko, Risto Mätas, Jenny KallurFinnishRome Kanda as Kei Kato and Dave Wittenberg as Narrator Helsinki, Finland
Imbattable BanzukeDubbedTF1Marta Domínguez, Ignacio CáceresFrenchClovis Cornillac and Valérie Crunchant
Unschlagbare BanzukeDubbedRTL 2German
Ασυναγώνιστες ΒανζυκεDubbedSkai TVGreek
筋肉擂台DubbedTVB JadeChinese
Verhetetlen BanzukeDubbedAnimaxHungarianRome Kanda as Kei Kato and Dave Wittenberg as Narrator
Ósigrandi BanzukeDubbedIcelandic
Unbeatable BanzukeDubbedGlobalTVIndonesianSurya and Udin Bhakti
Unbeatable Banzuke-RTÉ One
RTÉ Two
Challenge
English
Irish
Brian Blessed as Banzuke Brian
טבעת שריריםDubbedHebrew
Unbeatable BanzukeDubbedGXTItalian
筋肉番付シリーズ
DubbedTokyo Broadcasting SystemYukio Iketani, Aizu Nie, Jaromír Spěšný, Naoki Iketani, Jotaro Nagayama, Abe Nachi, Toru Nosaka, Shinya Sakamoto, Sakai Takafumi, Takuya Kirimoto, Kayo Yoshida, Kei Watanabe, Masaki Kitahara, Koki Matsushita, Yuichi Ono, Fuyuki Tsuchiya, Natsuki Hata, Daiki Izumida, Yuichiro Kato, Noriaki Handa, Yoshiaki Handa, Tomoteru Fukuda, Hiromi Matsumura, Ai Yamamoto, Makoto Nagano, Ayako Miyake, Toshihiro Takeda, Shingo Yamamoto, Bunpei Shiratori, Kenichi Moriya, Kazuhiro Saito, Ryoichi Nishijima, Makoto Ikeda, Daiki Kusano, Tsuyoshi Ota, Katsumi YamadaJapanese
  • Ichirou Furutachi
  • Ryuuta Mine
  • Wataru Ogasawara
  • Fumiyasu Sato
  • Ayaka Komatsu
Tokyo, Japan
Neuzveicamais BanzukeDubbedTV3TV6Ronalds ArājsLatvian
Nenugalimas BanzukėDubbedTV3
TV6
Sonata Milušauskaitė, Viktorija Žemaitytė, Virgilijus AleknaLithuanianVilnius, Lithuania
Onklopbare BanzukeDubbedRTL7Thomas DoldDutch
Unbeatable Banzuke-TV 2Hilton ClarkeEnglishAuckland, New Zealand
Usåelig BanzukeDubbedTV3Christina ScherwinNorwegianOslo, Norway
Banzuke InvencibleDubbedPanamericana TelevisiónSpanishRome Kanda as Kei KatoJapan
Unbeatable BanzukeNone
Dubbed
ABCFilipino
English
Ranking NiezniszczalnychDubbedPolsat
Polsat 2
PolishWarsaw, Poland
Todos ao MolhoDubbedSIC RadicalPortugueseBruno AleixoLisbon, Portugal
Imbatabil BanzukeDubbedAnimaxRomanianKei Kato
Непобедимый БанзукеDubbedChannel OneAnastasios GousisRussianMaxim GalkinMoscow, Russia
Nepobedivi Banzuke/Непобедиви БанзукеDubbedB92SerbianIgor Brakus, Vladimir ĐorđevićBelgrade, Serbia
Bezkonkurenční BanzukeDubbedAnimax Czech
Neoboriv BanzukeDubbedKanal ASlovenianLjubljana, Slovenia
근육 반지DubbedMBCKoreanSeoul, South Korea
Imbatible BanzukeDubbedCanal 300Jérôme ClavierSpanishLuis Crespo as Host and Irma Soriano as RefereeMadrid, Spain
Oslagbar BanzukeDubbedTV4Ketill Hanstveit, Marius BakkenSwedishStockholm, Sweden
حلقة العضلاتVoice overed
Subtitled
ArabicDamascus, Syria
筋肉擂台DubbedChineseTaipei, Taiwan
Rakipsiz BanzukeDubbedTurkish
ChampVSChamp Unbeatable Banzuke ThailandDubbed
Subtitled
Modernine TVUdom Nildum, Boonthong Roongsaeng, Siripong Toodsadee, Theerada Kittisiriprasert etc.ThaiDusit Sirisombut, Koopt KooptawatinBangkok, Thailand
Unbeatable Banzuke-ChallengeDavid Grindley, David McKenzie, Germaine Mason, Emma Ania, Hannah EnglandEnglishBrian Blessed as Banzuke BrianLondon, UK
Unbeatable BanzukeSubtitled
None
G4
GSN
Myx TV
Mike DopudEnglish
Japanese
Rome Kanda as Kei Kato and Dave Wittenberg as NarratorLos Angeles, California
American Unbeatable BanzukeSubtitled
None
G4
NBC
English
Japanese
Rome KandaVenice Beach, CA
UkraineБазукаDubbed:uk:Мега |МегаUkrainianRome Kanda as Kei Kato
Inmejorable BanzukeSubtitledVenevisionSpanishRome Kanda as Kei Kato and Dave Wittenberg as Narrator Caracas, Venezuela
Bắp thịt gọi'''Dubbed
Subtitled
VTV1Gianni CarabelliVietnameseHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam