... of "banzai!"

Ee ja nai ka!

"What the hell?" I said. Not to be taking a sudden interest in Japanese, but taking a big response to a mindless game show that Central actually aired every Monday 9:30pm. (Ironically I know the details so well.)

"Banzai!", for those who is clueless about what I'm refering to, is hosted by Japanese "fun-wanna-be"s, and it proposes both everyday and unusual situations to the viewers, and offers different guesses to what the meaningless outcome would be. Why would anyone guess how much this guy is going to sell his chicken pattie? Why would anyone try to predict how long can this guy shake the artiste's hands? And I ain't gonna deduce how long the biscuit can be dipped into a cup of coffee before it breaks off!

This show, originally aired in UK in 2003 (which FOX will buy over in a year later in Feb), was targetting these English families and/or friends to come together to wager against each other, and supposedly having created fun. Perhaps it has allowed television to reach a new level of interaction. Perhaps, I say, since the more subtle reason is providing what they need - interaction. Pessimistic way of seeing things, or simply just biased? Maybe, but I sure ain't biased. (2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 nose, 1 mouth. Yup! We're the same!)

For those who wants to know, here's the real reason for such a show, or so I say. Know that the Japanese has gambling as a big part of their lives. No, not 4-D or Toto, dumb dumb. I'm talking Pachinko, a slot like machine available throughout Japan. Very popular among the working class, many believing it as a form of 'stress removal'. The attempt to translate this gambling habit into a game show results in "Banzai!". Or so I say.

This is no advertisement to deter anyone from watching it. Freedom of right and choice. But take my advice, don't watch it alone. I should know.

HEY! I AIN'T JUDGING YOU!