Matsumoto tasting by smearing chocolate on his face in Kiki Chocolate
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.
Hamada getting darted in the ass by a black demon in Kiki Chocolate
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 | Matsu. | 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. |
| # | Episode | Air date | Items | Hamada | Matsu. | Hōsei | Endō | Tanaka | Notes |
| Results (# of tries, and win/fail) | |||||||||
Total wins so far:
- 7 wins for Hamada.
- 6 wins for Matsumoto.
- 6 wins for Endō.
- 4 wins for Tanaka.
- 3 wins for Hōsei.
Longest gap since most recent win (as of latest episode - Frozen Fried Rice):
- Hōsei - 14 years, 7 months and 23 days.
- Tanaka - 6 years, 0 months and 23 days.
- Matsumoto - 5 years, 1 months and 0 days.
- Hamada - 2 years, 2 months and 16 days.
- Endō - 0 years, 0 months and 0 days.
Longest gap between wins (as of latest episode - Frozen Fried Rice):
- Hōsei - 14 years, 7 months and 23 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.
