Zuiikin' English (Japanese: 英会話体操 Zuiikin’ English, Hepburn: Eikaiwa taisō Zuiikin Ingurisshu) is a Japanese television series originally aired in 1992 by Fuji Television. Eikaiwa, Taisō and Zuiikin mean "English conversation", "gymnastic exercises" and "voluntary muscles", respectively. The series combines English language lessons with gymnastic exercise programs. The series consists of 24 episodes.
In 1987, Fuji Television, call sign JOCX-TV, branded their late-night/early-morning slots collectively as JOCX-TV2 (meaning "alternative JOCX-TV") in an effort to market the traditionally unprofitable time slots and give opportunities to young creators to express their new ideas. The broadcaster produced numerous experimental programs on low budgets under this and follow-on brands until 1995. One such program tried to help viewers to fall asleep while another showed an actor reading out a well-known novel and nothing else. Zuiikin' English was born under these circumstances.
Formatedit
At the beginning of the show, Fernandez Verde, the host, explains his theory of language learning. He proclaims that different cultures use muscles in different proportions due to their customs. For example, in one episode he states Japanese people have stronger lower back muscles (from bowing and keeping a lower posture), and a different leg muscle structure (due to squatting for long periods of time). He believes that using those muscles while learning a culture's language will create strong associations in one's mind and hasten learning.
Then a sketch starts like an ordinary language lesson program. Every time a new English phrase is introduced, the sketch pauses and switches to the Zuiikin Gals, a threesome gymnastic exercise team. The girls perform synchronized exercises while smiling and chanting the phrase. The choice of phrases include the following:
Take anything you want.
Spare me my life!
I was robbed by two men.
Call an ambulance please.
I have a bad case of diarrhea.
I feel feverish and sluggish.
I am allergic to penicillin.
Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?
How many of these should I take?
Will my insurance cover today?
You must be tired from your long flight.
He gives his sincere regards.
Is the taxi on its way?
How much do you think it will cost?
Please take the roundabout route to avoid the traffic jam.
In the final episode, three native English speaking men formed the Zuiikin Boys and demonstrated gymnastic movements while chanting supposedly useful Japanese phrases. One such phrase, "tsumaranai mono desuga" (つまらない物ですが) ends up translating rather roughly to "please accept this trifling thing". No translations are provided during these Japanese lessons as there are for the English lessons, only Japanese characters and romanisations.
Initial broadcasting in Japanedit
The program was initially broadcast in the spring of 1992. It occupied an early-morning slot around 5 AM.[2] This allocation itself was probably a move to perfect the parody because the long-running gymnastic exercise program by national station NHK was also broadcast in early mornings (around 6 AM). This early broadcast time was one of the main reasons why the series passed unnoticed to most people in Japan.
Internet memeedit
It was not until the broadcaster decided to rerun the series from November 2005 on their satellite channels that the program, and especially the Zuiikin Gals, started to attract international attention as a meme, the English phrase "I have a bad case of diarrhea" receiving the most attention. The diarrhea clip uploaded on YouTube has been viewed more than 11,000,000 times (as of May 2023). Clips from the show have been featured on radio and TV programs such as The Opie and Anthony Show, The Soup, Anderson Cooper 360, Upload with Shaquille O'Neal and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in America, and Rude Tube and 8 out of 10 Cats in the UK.[citation needed]
The Zuiikin Gals are Maiko Miyazawa (宮沢麻衣子), Reiko Saito (斎藤レイ子) and Takako Inayoshi (稻吉貴子), whose names are displayed at the beginning of each exercise. Inayoshi is still active in the entertainment business as an actress.[3]
Referencesedit
^Ashcraft, Brian (31 May 2012). "Behind the Meme: This Lady Had a Bad Case of Diarrhea". Kotaku. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
^Green, Amanda (30 July 2013). "Learning English Through Awkward Aerobics in 1992". Retrieved 17 June 2017.
^"Inayoshi Takako" (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 November 2022.
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
zuiikin, english, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, possibly, contains, original, research, please, improve, verifying, claims, made, addin. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed December 2007 Learn how and when to remove this message This article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information November 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message Zuiikin English Japanese 英会話体操 Zuiikin English Hepburn Eikaiwa taisō Zuiikin Ingurisshu is a Japanese television series originally aired in 1992 by Fuji Television Eikaiwa Taisō and Zuiikin mean English conversation gymnastic exercises and voluntary muscles respectively The series combines English language lessons with gymnastic exercise programs The series consists of 24 episodes Zuiikin EnglishThe Zuiikin instructors英会話体操Eikaiwa taisō zuiikin EnglishCreated byN APresented byN AStarringMaiko MiyazawaRei Saito 1 Takako InayoshiCountry of originJapanNo of seasons1No of episodes24Original releaseNetworkFuji TelevisionRelease1992 1992 Contents 1 Background 2 Format 3 Initial broadcasting in Japan 4 Internet meme 5 References 6 External linksBackground editIn 1987 Fuji Television call sign JOCX TV branded their late night early morning slots collectively as JOCX TV2 meaning alternative JOCX TV in an effort to market the traditionally unprofitable time slots and give opportunities to young creators to express their new ideas The broadcaster produced numerous experimental programs on low budgets under this and follow on brands until 1995 One such program tried to help viewers to fall asleep while another showed an actor reading out a well known novel and nothing else Zuiikin English was born under these circumstances Format editAt the beginning of the show Fernandez Verde the host explains his theory of language learning He proclaims that different cultures use muscles in different proportions due to their customs For example in one episode he states Japanese people have stronger lower back muscles from bowing and keeping a lower posture and a different leg muscle structure due to squatting for long periods of time He believes that using those muscles while learning a culture s language will create strong associations in one s mind and hasten learning Then a sketch starts like an ordinary language lesson program Every time a new English phrase is introduced the sketch pauses and switches to the Zuiikin Gals a threesome gymnastic exercise team The girls perform synchronized exercises while smiling and chanting the phrase The choice of phrases include the following Take anything you want Spare me my life I was robbed by two men Call an ambulance please I have a bad case of diarrhea I feel feverish and sluggish I am allergic to penicillin Is there anyone who speaks Japanese How many of these should I take Will my insurance cover today You must be tired from your long flight He gives his sincere regards Is the taxi on its way How much do you think it will cost Please take the roundabout route to avoid the traffic jam How far is it still Let me off at the next corner Keep the change I ll get started on it immediately Lovely golf weather today It s in the middle of the fairway Would you like something cold to drink What is the fastest way to get to a theater Thank you for inviting me tonight You have a wonderful place I m afraid I must be going Unbelievable It s amazing We did it Is that so Really Are you sure Never mind The climax scene really got to me How dare you say such a thing to me You drive me crazy Don t make fun of me It s your fault that this happened Leave me alone I can t stand the sight of you Hasta la vista baby Let s go Dutch Do you have plans for tomorrow Will you go out with me tomorrow I will pick you up at your place You look sensational in that dress Are you serious about anyone I want us to be more than just friends Here s to your lovely eyes I m here on business I m here for pleasure I m by myself I work for a trading company That s par for the course What time will we arrive in Tokyo The earlier the better Could I have your name card I think so too Basically I agree with you I can t see eye to eye on that point In the final episode three native English speaking men formed the Zuiikin Boys and demonstrated gymnastic movements while chanting supposedly useful Japanese phrases One such phrase tsumaranai mono desuga つまらない物ですが ends up translating rather roughly to please accept this trifling thing No translations are provided during these Japanese lessons as there are for the English lessons only Japanese characters and romanisations Initial broadcasting in Japan editThe program was initially broadcast in the spring of 1992 It occupied an early morning slot around 5 AM 2 This allocation itself was probably a move to perfect the parody because the long running gymnastic exercise program by national station NHK was also broadcast in early mornings around 6 AM This early broadcast time was one of the main reasons why the series passed unnoticed to most people in Japan Internet meme editIt was not until the broadcaster decided to rerun the series from November 2005 on their satellite channels that the program and especially the Zuiikin Gals started to attract international attention as a meme the English phrase I have a bad case of diarrhea receiving the most attention The diarrhea clip uploaded on YouTube has been viewed more than 11 000 000 times as of May 2023 Clips from the show have been featured on radio and TV programs such as The Opie and Anthony Show The Soup Anderson Cooper 360 Upload with Shaquille O Neal and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in America and Rude Tube and 8 out of 10 Cats in the UK citation needed The Zuiikin Gals are Maiko Miyazawa 宮沢麻衣子 Reiko Saito 斎藤レイ子 and Takako Inayoshi 稻吉貴子 whose names are displayed at the beginning of each exercise Inayoshi is still active in the entertainment business as an actress 3 References edit Ashcraft Brian 31 May 2012 Behind the Meme This Lady Had a Bad Case of Diarrhea Kotaku Retrieved 6 May 2019 Green Amanda 30 July 2013 Learning English Through Awkward Aerobics in 1992 Retrieved 17 June 2017 Inayoshi Takako in Japanese Retrieved 4 November 2022 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zuiikin 27 English amp oldid 1184746670, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
