Gaki no Tsukai’s No Laughing Police Station is a notorious installment of the annual “batsu game” (punishment game) series on the variety show Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! The episode originally aired in 2006 as a three-hour special, featuring cast members Masatoshi Hamada, Shōzō Endō, and Hōsei Yamasaki[7].
The premise follows the losing contestants—Hamada, Endō, and Yamasaki—who, after losing a Russian roulette style elimination game, must endure a 24-hour challenge in a police station setting where they are forbidden to laugh[4]. Any slip results in immediate punishment, typically a physical reprimand. Throughout the challenge, the show’s producers orchestrate a series of comedic skits, surprises, and appearances by guests designed specifically to make the contestants laugh, testing their endurance and composure[4].
This installment is particularly memorable for its elaborate pranks and creative segments that push the participants to their limits. The comedic tension is heightened by the cast’s attempts to suppress laughter amid absurd and unexpected scenarios, a hallmark of the series’ enduring popularity[6].
The “No Laughing Police Station” batsu game is a widely referenced and fan-favorite entry in the larger Gaki no Tsukai batsu game tradition, solidifying its place in Japanese variety show history[2]. Officially broadcast by Nippon TV and its regional affiliates, the show continues to attract a devoted fanbase, both domestically and internationally[2].
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