探険! ホムンクルス (Exploration! Homunculus: The Mysteries of the Brain and Body)
An information variety show that observed the human body that aired on the TBS network every Saturday from 8:00 PM to 8:54 PM from October 11, 2003 to September 18, 2004.
Partway through the series, it changed to a quiz format and was renamed “Brain Power Exploration Quiz! Homukuru”.
◽Episodes
-
Eps 01-10
-
Eps 11-20
-
Eps 21-30
-
Eps 31-37
- October 11, 2003, Episode 1
Host: Taichi Kokubun - Athletic Fools Are Not Stupid!
Arashi Investigator: Sakurai; Amazing Brains
Dear Friends - Joshima & the Passionate Promise of the Armless Swimmer
Commentator: Kyosen Ohashi - October 25, 2003, Episode 2
Host: Taichi - Amazing!
Arashi Investigator: Matsujun; Dirt-eating Auntie
Dear Friends - Joshima & the Armless Swimmer (Sequel)
Commentator: Mino Monta - November 1, 2003, Episode 3
Host: Taichi - It Doesn't Hurt Even When Stung!! Mystery? Willpower?
Arashi Investigator: Aiba; A Thorough Analysis of the Yoga Brain... The Mystery of Brain Drugs
Dear Friends - The Deaf Kindergarten Teacher - November 8, 2003, Episode 4
Host: Taichi
Arashi Investigator: Ohno; What Parts of the Brain Do the Two Mental Arithmetic Masters Use?
Dear Friends - A pair of female comedians attempting street performances for the first time
Commentator: Kuniko Asagi - November 15, 2003, Episode 5
Host: Taichi - His special move is a visual trick...
Arashi Investigator: Nino; Trick your brain and you can beat Bob Sapp! A simple (secret) technique.
Dear Friends - Akkun's tearful kindergarten sports day - November 22, 2003, Episode 6
Host: Taichi - Eating 30 servings every day! Super gluttonous eating and losing weight...
Arashi Investigator: Matsujun; Is the secret a stretchy stomach? A mobile intestine?
Dear Friends - Akkun's Sports Day Part 2...A Relay of Tears
Commentator: Honjamaka Ishizuka - November 29, 2003 Episode 7
Host: Taichi - Reveal the Secret Tricks of Vision!
Arashi Investigator: Nino; A mysterious space where people grow gigantic... Is the world an illusion?!
Secret Technique for Seeing Things Blindfolded: Leader
Arashi Investigator: Matsujun
Guests: Suzuki Shiro, Megumi - December 6, 2003, Episode 8
Host: Taichi - The Secret of Women's Intuition; A Taiwanese Fortune Teller Visits Japan; The Old Lady Who Wins Rock-Paper-Scissors 99% of the Time;
Arashi Investigator: Sho; ; The Mystery of Seeing People's Minds Scientifically Revealed;
Dear Friends - A Girl Who Breaks Bones Pronely
Guests: Suzuki Shiro, Megumi - December 13, 2003 Episode 9
2-Hour Hypnosis Special + Promotional Program from 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Hosts: Shigeru Joshima, Taichi Kokubun, Mitsuyo Kusano / Inspector: Arashi
Guests: Martin ST. James, Koichi Hamada, Koichi Wajima, Masao Tsuno, Ryuhei Hagiwara, Fumio Yamamoto, Chan Sakamoto, Anna Umemiya, Etsuko Nami, Shinobu Kandori
Super Exploration! Homunculus' World's Most Powerful Hypnosis Thoroughly Revealed!! A Special Discovery of Miraculous Brain Power!
Super Hypnotist Martin Makes a Sudden Return to Japan ▽Shigeru Joshima Can't Let Go! Anna Umemiya Strips!
Slaps Hamako Hard! 30 Celebrities Go Crazy with Hypnotism ▽ Mass Wasabi EEG Experiment - January 10, 2004, Episode 10
World's Strongest Hypnotist Martin (Secret) Special
Hagiwara Ryuu gets drunk on water and punches him hard ▽ The mystery of the super hypnosis that scares puppies
Commentary: Leader, Taichi, Guest: Same as Episode 9
Dear Friends - Sleepover Practice for a Kindergarten Boy with a Sickness that Causes Frequent Toilet Pain
- January 17, 2004, Episode 11
Host: Taichi - Solution! Hippos Have Female or Male Brains?
Arashi Inspector: Ohno; The Secret Revealed with the Latest Lie Detector
Dear Friends - Tears, Tears... The Miracle of Wheelchair Racing
Guests: Ito Seiko, Marcia, KABA. Chan - January 24, 2004, Episode 12
Host: Taichi - Birth of a Baby
Arashi Inspector: Sakurai; Three Fetuses Captured on Special Camera... What's Going Through Their Minds?
Dear Friends: Tears of Joy... A Bedridden 9-Year-Old's Dream Is to Become a Picture Book Author
Guests: Jin Kusano, Mayuko Takada - January 31, 2004, Episode 13
Brain Boosting Quiz!
Guests: Ninomiya Kazunari, Sugita Kawaru, Becky, Emori Toru - February 14, 2004, Episode 14
Host: Taichi - A New Idea!
Arashi Inspector: Ohno; A Brain-Activating Game Created by a Neuroscientist... Just Watch It to Boost Your Brain Power (Secret)
Dear Friends - A One-Armed Swordsman's Dreams and Challenges... A Mother's Thoughts...
Guests: Hiroshi Fujioka, Etsuko Nami, Kaori Manabe - February 21, 2004 Episode 15
Brain Boosting Quiz!
Arashi Investigator: Aiba Masaki; Children's Behavior Depending on Blood-type - February 28, 2004, Episode 16
Matusmoto Jun
Tooru Yamasaki Takes on a Quiz
Kokubun Introduces Beijing Qigong - March 6, 2004 Episode 17
This Week on "Arashi": Sakurai Sho / Guests: Kanpei Hazama, Aiko Sato, YOU
A new quiz to solve crimes, Sakurai delves into the mind of an Itako (medicine). - March 13, 2004 Episode 18
This Week on "Arashi": Ninomiya Kazunari / Guests: Pinko Izumi, Nobuhiro Tsunoda, Yuka Kurotani
Enhance your brain while you play... Brain Power Boost Game ▽ The real reason we hate the sound of scratching on a chalkboard? A monkey gives us a clue. - March 20, 2004 Episode 19
This Week on "Arashi": Matsumoto Jun / Guests: Kansai Yamamoto, Iyo Matsumoto, Eriko Sato, Shingo Murakami (Kansai Johnny's Jr.)
Enhance your brain just by solving this... Brain Power Boost (Secret) Game ▽ "Memories from the Fetus" Remain! The Mystery of Disappearance at Age 3 Revealed - April 17, 2004, Episode 20
This Week on "Arashi": Aiba Masaki / Guests: Ogura Hisahiro, Isono Kiriko, Becky, and Koyama Keiichiro (NewS)
Brain Power Exploration Quiz! Homukuru: An Animal-Finding Quiz to Expand Your Imagination
Why? A Mysterious and Surprising (Secret) Game That Makes You Unable to Write the Hiragana Character "O"
- April 24, 2004, Episode 21
Guests: Sakurai Sho , Hagiwara Ryuryu, Matsumoto Akiko, Higashino Koji, and Otoha
"New Idea: Upside-Down Flag Raising Game" to Rejuvenate Your Brain Age ▽ Really? Is Fidgeting Good for You? Secret Experiment - May 1, 2004, Episode 22
Guests: Aiba Masaki , Ito Seiko, Sugita Kaoru, Yamasaki Toru, Ogura Yuko
A strange tongue twister game to determine your brain age. ▽ How similar are twins? The hilarious results of the frightening Secret Experiment. - May 8, 2004, Episode 23
Guests: Ohno Satoshi , Kataoka Tsurutarou, Hashino Emi, Yazawa Kokoro, Uchiyama Shinji
Which is the bigger Buddha's hair? A basketball? ▽ The Mystery of Babies...The Mystery of the Commercial That Always Stops Crying - June 5, 2004, Episode 24
The Truth and Lies of the ABOAB Blood Type Personality Test! A Special Revealing Your True Self and Compatibility
Guests (Type A Team): Ishida Junichi, Hayashiya Kobuhei, KABA. Chan, Matsumoto Jun
(B-type Team): Kaoru Sugita, Goro Yamada, Honkon, Yuko Ogura
(O-type Team): Junji Takada, Tsurutaro Kataoka, Shigeru Joshima
(AB-type Team): Cha Kato, Teruyuki Tsuchida (comedian, former member of Uturn), Aiba Masaki , Becky
Video Appearances: Ohno Satoshi , Sakurai Sho , Ninomiya Kazunari
Is B the most unwelcome person?! O is the last one!? Are all the popular presenters A?! Are the oddballs AB?!
Kindergarten (Secret) Hilarious Experiment: Brain Power-Boosting Quiz - June 12, 2004, Episode 25
Guests: Ninomiya Kazunari, Shofutei Shohei, Masanobu Katsumura, Mari Hamada, Asami Ishikawa
AB becomes a typhoon... Blood Type Drawing Experiment: Brain Power Game: Why are people so addicted to popping bubble wrap? What about monkeys? - June 19, 2004, Episode 26
Guests: Ninomiya Kazunari, Junji Takada, Kobuhei Hayashiya, Kiriko Isono, Chisato Morishita
Blood Type Surprise Kindergarten Showdown Experiment: Nervous Type A vs. Outgoing Type O (Aiba Masaki)
Super Pleasure: Secret Optical Illusion Quiz to Boost Your Artistic Brain - June 26, 2004, Episode 27
Guests: Matsumoto Jun , Kyoko Enami, Cream Stew, Eriko Sato
Are Type Os Liars? Korea's Strange Blood Types ▽ Babies Aren't Afraid of Scorpions!? What About Heights? What About Fire? (Secret) Experiment - July 3, 2004, Episode 28
Guests: Aiba Masaki , Kenichi Nagira, Wakako Kanae, Seiko Ito, Moe Yamaguchi
Genius? Incomprehensible? AB Blood Types Gather ▽ Southern All Stars Blew Me to Tears... And I Was Surprised!? The Mystery of Tears (Sakurai Sho) - July 10, 2004, Episode 29
Guests: Sakurai Sho, Atou Kai, Nami Etsuko, Yamasaki Toru, NEGUMI
Make your dreams come true with the magic of your mind! Dream interpretation reveals celebrities' true feelings (Aiba Masaki) ▽ Are blood types the winners?! The secret to success! - July 17, 2004, Episode 30
Guests: Tsurutaro Kataoka, Emi Hashino, Shinji Uchiyama, Kokoro Yazawa, Ohno Satoshi
Can your blood type tell you how you gain weight and lose your hair?! ▽ Discovering a common mystery of humanity: A special feature on the mysteries of our bodies moving counterclockwise (Sakurai Sho)
- July 31, 2004, Episode 31
Guests: Ryuhei Ueshiba (Dacho Club), Tomomi Nishimura, Taro Yamamoto, Mariya Yamada, Sakurai Sho
Follow the tricks of your mind... The secret art of reading your mind?! Mental Magic ▽Revival! Nostalgic Anime Riddles - August 7, 2004, Episode 32
Guests: Miyadori Utsumi, Daijiro Harada, Kunimasa Yamazaki, Becky, Aiba Masaki
Are Blood Type Os Popular?! The Secrets of the Thoughtful Young Master ▽A Global Examination... Are Blood Type Personality Tests Universal? - August 21, 2004, Episode 33
Guests: Kanpei Hazama, Junichi Ishida, Uno Kanda, Yoko Kumada, Ohno Satoshi
Corner Guests: Takahiro Azuma (Take 2), The Nakagawa Family
Love Makes You Good at Things! Secret Method for Discovering Type B's Talents▽ A Hilarious Clash Between Osaka and Tokyo: A Secret Hilarious Experiment: Unexpected Regional Characteristics - August 28, 2004, Episode 34
Guests: Yoshizumi Ishihara, Miyuki Kosaka, Honkon, Megumi Yasu, Matsumoto Jun
Which Blood Type is More Susceptible to Panic? A Secret Kindergarten Experiment▽ Decoding Baby Cries...Discovering a Universal Language - September 4, 2004, Episode 35
Guests: Junji Takada, Mariya Yamada, Becky, Matsumoto Jun
New Facts About Type O!? Check Your Blood Type Compatibility▽ The Mysteries of Nagoya Culture: Can Showing Off Saves Money? Hilarious (Secret) Big Experiment - September 11, 2004 Episode 36
Guests: Hideki Takahashi, Keiko Iiboshi, Tetsuro Degawa, Hitomi Manaka, Aiba Masaki
A Big Survey of Blood Types for Success by Occupation ▽The Secret of the Prefecture with the Longest Legs in Japan ▽Children's Bodies Are Full of Mysteries - September 18, 2004 Episode 37 (Final Episode)
Guests: Toru Emori, Naomi Matsushima, Eiko Koike, Chiharu Niiyama, Sakurai Sho
The Miraculous World's Greatest Magic Technique Will Trick Your Brain ▽The Definitive Blood Type Experiment ▽The Mysteries of Regional Characteristics
◽Info
-
Format
-
Corners
-
Cast
The original content of the show consisted of a first half that scientifically examined the mysteries of the human body, and a second half in which Joshima Shigeru interviewed subjects such as "a young man who has lost an arm and is now swimming" and "a boy who has lost a leg and is trying his hand at soccer."
Although the show was later changed to a quiz show with a main theme of brain training, it ended after only one year on the air. This marked the end of Johnny's Jr.'s regular Saturday 8pm program on the TBS network, which had continued since April 2000 with "Gakibara Teikoku 2000!", after four and a half years..
Quiz: Let's Spin It
A buzzer quiz where participants watch a video of an object being placed on a circular table and rotated at high speed, and then guess what is spinning.
Quiz: Let's Crush It
A buzzer quiz where participants watch a video of an object being crushed in a press, played in reverse, and must guess what was crushed.
Game: Russian Flag
This is the so-called flag-raising game. Contestants hold red and white flags and follow the narrator's instructions to raise and lower them. Instructions are given in English, such as "UP" and "DOWN." (For example, red: UP, white: DOWN.) . At first, participants raise and lower the flags as instructed, but from the second set onwards, they must raise and lower the flags in the opposite direction. At first, it's relatively easy, as participants can either reverse the flag or the flag itself, but eventually they must reverse both the flag and the flag itself. If you complete the game by following the instructions, your brain age will be ranked as being in the 60s; if you complete the game by reversing only the flag raising and lowering, your brain age will be ranked as being in the 50s; if you complete the game by reversing only the flag raising and lowering, your brain age will be ranked as being in the 40s; and if you complete the game by reversing everything, your brain age will be ranked as being under 30.
Quiz: Remember It and You'll Never Go Wrong
After memorizing a short video narrated by Hidekazu Nagai, you'll be asked questions based on the video.
Quiz: The Crime Scene
Solve puzzles set in a crime scene setting. Instant Johnson appears on video.
Quiz: Association Octopus
A buzzer quiz where you have to guess what is associated with eight clues.
- CAST
Hosts
Taichi Kokubun (TOKIO)
Mitsuyo Kusano (then a contract announcer for TBS Television)Regular Cast
Shigeru Joshima (TOKIO)
Arashi (Satoshi Ohno, Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya, Jun Matsumoto)
