The TV Asahi special "Honoo no Challenger" (excluding some regions) will be broadcast from 6:30 pm to 9:54 pm on January 12th. Hosted by Kiyotaka Nanbara and Fuma Kikuchi of "timelesz," the show will see many celebrities take on the role of "challengers" and compete in four major competitions in the hopes of winning a prize of 10 million yen.
The show is a scaled-up revival of the variety show "Ucchan Nanchan's Flame Challenger: If You Can Do This, You'll Win 1 Million Yen!!," which aired regularly on TV Asahi from October 1995 to March 2000 and recorded a peak household audience rating of 21.7% (according to Video Research, Kanto region). This time, the show will feature the famous "Electric Frustrating Stick" as well as "8-Hour Endurance Hide-and-Seek," "10-Person Karaoke Scoring Challenge," and "Get It Wrong and Go Home! Japan's World Heritage Site Quiz."
Minamihara, who has been the MC since the regular broadcast, will be taking on the Electric Frustrating Stick for the first time in about 25 years. Facing the new course, which is the most difficult to date and cost about 30 million yen to produce, Minamihara said with excitement, "When I take on the challenge myself, it looks like a different landscape. But this is the kind of landscape I want to experience!"
"When I walk around town, for some reason electricians often say to me, 'You used to play the Frustrating Stick' (laughs)," he reveals, adding enthusiastically, "I haven't been doing nothing for the past 25 years. I've been strengthening my core and improving the quality of my movements!"
Another MC, Kikuchi, also took on the Irritation Stick for the first time. "I'm the same age as the 'Homura Challenge'... if I don't clear it, who will?!" he exuded confidence. Also taking part in the challenge alongside Kikuchi will be Masaki Hashimoto, Shuto Inomata, and Daiki Shinozuka from "timelesz."
Also taking part in the contest for the first time as challengers will be Nanako Matsushima and other cast members from the drama "Reunion - Silent Truth" (Tuesdays 9pm), which starts on the 13th. Daigo and Nobu from "TV Chidori" (Tuesdays 11:45pm *excluding some areas), and Sawako Agawa and Kazuki Iio from "Sunday My Choice" (Sundays 4:30pm *excluding some areas).
