The Kiki Series (Japanese for "tasting") is a series of competitions where each member tastes a randomly selected product, mostly food and drink but once cigarettes, from many different brands blindfolded. After the tasting period, they must find the product they tasted from a selection of 8 to 20 different products of various brands. Anyone who selects correctly will receive a 100,000 yen prize money, otherwise they take a variety of punishments, such as being hit in the groin by a Chinko Machine or, more commonly, getting slapped or sprayed CO2 gas by a foreigner.
The Kiki series started in 1998 with Matsumoto asserting that he can correctly differentiate instant noodles. Out of 30 instant noodles he tasted he only get 8 guesses correct. The first proper Kiki episode, with all members participating and the current rule established, is Canned Coffee a year later. The series has been going on, usually at the rate of one to three episodes per year, with the latest airing on 2 January 2019.
It is probable that the wins are not 100% honest. In many instances the members (especially Hamada) take cues from their peers when guessing. Another point is that the senior members from Downtown has the most wins.
Statistics[]
# | Episode | Air date | Items | Results (# of tries, and win/fail) | Notes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hamada | Matsumoto | Hōsei | Endō | Tanaka | |||||
00 | Instant Ramen |
1998-02-08 | 30 | – | FAIL | – | – | – | Special episode, Matsumoto needed more than 25 correct to succeed, he only got 8 correct.) |
01 | Canned Coffee | 1999-11-14 | 20 | (2) FAIL |
(13) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
After all individual attempts, Matsumoto and Tanaka were given a second, joint attempt. |
– | (15) FAIL |
– | – | (15) FAIL | |||||
02 | Tea | 1999-12-19 | 20 | (4) WIN |
(5) FAIL |
(?) FAIL |
(4) WIN |
(?) FAIL |
After all individual attempts, the three who failed were given a second, joint attempt. First win for Hamada, Hōsei, Endō and Tanaka. |
– | (20) FAIL |
(20) WIN |
– | (20) WIN | |||||
03 | Tobacco | 2000-01-30 | 20 | (3) FAIL |
(20) WIN |
(1) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
Double prize money. First win for Matsumoto. |
04 | Curry | 2000-04-23 | 20 | (1) FAIL |
(13) FAIL |
(8) FAIL |
(6) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
|
05 | Beer | 2000-08-13 | 20 | (2) FAIL |
(9) FAIL |
(6) FAIL |
(6) FAIL |
(12) FAIL |
|
06 | Yakisoba | 2000-11-12 | 20 | (1) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
(7) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
|
07 | Bread | 2001-03-11 | 15 | (7) WIN |
(2) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(8) FAIL |
(7) FAIL |
Second win for Hamada. |
08 | Toothpaste | 2001-06-24 | 12 | (5) WIN |
(11) WIN |
(5) WIN |
(5) FAIL |
(7) FAIL |
Third win for Hamada. Second win for Matsumoto and Hōsei. |
09 | Steamed Buns | 2001-11-11 | 15 | (2) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
(6) FAIL |
(9) FAIL |
|
10 | Pudding | 2002-03-17 | 15 | (9) WIN |
(7) WIN |
(1) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(7) WIN |
Fourth win for Hamada. Third win for Matsumoto. Second win for Tanaka. |
11 | Instant Rice | 2002-07-21 | 15 | (2) FAIL |
(10) FAIL |
(13) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(8) FAIL |
|
12 | Yogurt | 2003-02-02 | 15 | (5) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
(7) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(7) FAIL |
|
13 | Chocolate | 2003-05-04 | 15 | (5) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(8) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
|
14 | Orange Juice | 2003-10-12 | 15 | (11) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
(11) FAIL |
(13) FAIL |
|
15 | Instant Miso Soup | 2004-05-09 | 15 | (7) FAIL |
(7) FAIL |
(15) WIN |
(8) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
Third win for Hōsei. |
16 | Lemon Tea | 2004-08-08 | 15 | (3) FAIL |
(7) FAIL |
(12) FAIL |
(7) WIN |
(13) FAIL |
Second win for Endō. |
17 | Mayonnaise | 2005-04-10 | 15 | (8) FAIL |
(9) FAIL |
(6) FAIL |
(13) WIN |
(7) FAIL |
Third win for Endō. |
18 | Yakiniku no Tare | 2005-10-16 | 15 | (4) FAIL |
(15) WIN |
(4) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
(7) FAIL |
Fourth win for Matsumoto. |
19 | Milk | 2006-05-28 | 12 | (6) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(9) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
|
20 | Oolong Tea | 2007-03-11 | 15 | (2) FAIL |
(12) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(6) WIN |
(8) FAIL |
Fourth win for Endō. |
21 | Ponzu | 2007-11-25 | 15 | (4) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
(14) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
Heipo as substitute for Hōsei due to a stomach ache. |
22 | Tonkatsu Sauce | 2008-03-30 | 15 | (2) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(7) FAIL |
|
23 | Natto | 2008-11-09 | 15 | (1) FAIL |
(14) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
|
24 | Ketchup | 2009-03-15 | 15 | (1) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
Heipo as substitute for Hamada due to not feeling well. |
25 | Ham | 2009-09-23 | 12 | (5) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
|
26 | Corn Soup | 2009-12-13 | 12 | (3) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(9) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(6) FAIL |
|
27 | Strawberry Jam | 2010-07-26 | 15 | (1) WIN |
(5) FAIL |
(14) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
Sekine Tsutomu as substitute for Matsumoto. Fifth win for Hamada. |
28 | Apple Juice | 2011-02-27 | 15 | (6) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
(14) FAIL |
(15) WIN |
Third win for Tanaka. |
29 | Potato Chips | 2011-09-25 | 15 | (1) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
|
30 | Canned Tuna | 2012-02-06 | 12 | (4) WIN |
(1) FAIL |
(9) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
Sixth win for Hamada. |
31 | Mizu Yokan | 2012-08-26 | 12 | (2) FAIL |
(8) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
|
32 | Castella | 2012-12-09 | 10 | (1) FAIL |
(9) WIN |
(1) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
(2) WIN |
Fourth win for Tanaka. Fifth win for Matsumoto. |
33 | Fish Sausage | 2013-07-07 | 12 | (2) FAIL |
(11) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
(6) FAIL |
|
XX | Starbucks Challenge | 2013-09-22 | 10 | – | FAIL | – | – | – | Special episode, only Matsumoto participated in this segment. |
34 | Chili Oil | 2013-12-01 | 12 | (5) FAIL |
(7) WIN |
(1) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
Sixth win for Matsumoto. |
35 | Non-alcoholic Beer | 2014-05-25 | 12 | (1) FAIL |
(7) FAIL |
(8) FAIL |
(8) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
|
36 | Cheese | 2014-09-28 | 12 | (4) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(7) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
|
37 | Green Tea | 2015-04-26 | 12 | (1) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(6) FAIL |
(10) FAIL |
|
38 | Anpan | 2015-08-30 | 10 | (1) FAIL |
(8) FAIL |
(10) FAIL |
(10) WIN |
(4) FAIL |
Fifth win for Endō. |
39 | Tomato Juice | 2016-05-22 | 10 | (3) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(6) FAIL |
(5) FAIL |
|
40 | Melon Bread | 2016-10-16 | 10 | (3) WIN |
(1) FAIL |
(1) FAIL |
(2) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
Seventh win for Hamada. |
41 | Frozen Fried Rice | 2019-01-20 | 12 | (4) FAIL |
(9) FAIL |
(9) FAIL |
(11) WIN |
(1) FAIL |
Sixth win for Endō. |
42 | Mentsuyu | 2019-09-22 | 10 | (1) FAIL |
(4) FAIL |
(6) FAIL |
(3) FAIL |
(2) WIN |
Fifth win for Tanaka. |
43 | Milk Tea | 2022-03-20 | 12 | (8) WIN |
(11) WIN |
(4) FAIL |
(8) WIN |
(6) FAIL |
Seventh win for Matsumoto and Endō. Eighth win for Hamada. This episode used COVID-19 safety protocols and there were no punishments after wrong answers. |
# | Episode | Air date | Items | Hamada | Matsumoto | Hōsei | Endō | Tanaka | Notes |
Results (# of tries, and win/fail) |
Total wins so far:
- 8 wins for Hamada.
- 7 wins for Matsumoto.
- 7 wins for Endō.
- 5 wins for Tanaka.
- 3 wins for Hōsei.
Gap since most recent win (as of latest episode - Milk Tea):
- Hōsei - 17 years, 10 months and 11 days.
- Tanaka - 2 years, 5 months and 29 days.
- Hamada - 0 years, 0 months and 0 days.
- Matsumoto - 0 years, 0 months and 0 days.
- Endō - 0 years, 0 months and 0 days.
Longest gap between wins (as of latest episode - Milk Tea):
- Hōsei - 17 years, 10 months and 11 days. (Since third win.)
- Tanaka - 8 years, 11 months and 10 days. (Between second and third win.)
- Hamada - 8 years, 4 months and 9 days. (Between fourth and fifth win.)
- Endō - 8 years, 1 month and 15 days. (Between fourth and fifth win.)
- Matsumoto - 7 years, 1 month and 23 days. (Between the fourth and fifth win.)
Trivia[]
The Kiki sketch was parodied by the impressionist Hori in No-Laughing High School, where he impersonate Tanaka and Housei calling out a wrong product.
The Series was planned to be scrapped after Kiki Beer due to low ratings but it was continued.