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Brain Wall
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Brain Wall
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Brain Wall (脳カベ, Nōkabe) is a component of the Japanese variety show The Tunnels' Thanks to Everyone. Video clips from the show proliferated on video-sharing websites and the concept was eventually adopted by several other countries. It became popularly known to non-Japanese speakers and YouTube fans as simply Human Tetris or Hole in the Wall, named for its involvement of the physical body and a supposed close resemblance to the rules of the video game Tetris.

Game rules

[edit]

The rules of the game are the same, and how points are awarded varies from country to country.

  • Contestants wearing helmets and elbow and knee pads and a silver (or gold in some countries) spandex unitard stand on the "Play Area". A Styrofoam wall, 4 metres (13 ft) wide by 2.3 metres (7.5 ft) tall, consisting of cut-outs resembling Tetris blocks, is revealed and moves towards the contestants in a 15 metres (49 ft) path. They have to make use of their wits in seconds to assume the position that will allow them to fit through the opening(s). Later episodes involve the use of more complicated shapes, such as words, gymnastic positions, shapes from popular culture, and even above-ground-level shapes. Contestants usually have to twist and bend their bodies with agility and dexterity to fit through the hole in the wall.
  • If contestants fail to fit through the hole, they are pushed by the wall into a pool of water that is 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) deep behind them and no points are awarded.
  • Contestants play in teams and only win points if they are able to fit though the wall. Points are awarded if the contestant(s) in the round are able to successfully cross the Styrofoam wall completely, except in the following situations :
    • No points are awarded if any of the contestants fall into the water due to any reason, even if they successfully pass through the wall. (There have been instances where the wall is cleared but contestants find themselves trapped over the water)
    • No points are awarded if the contestants crash through the styrofoam wall causing it to break apart.[1]

The first component of the game involves a solo contestant, while later components involve groups of two people or more.

International versions

[edit]

The production rights to the show outside Japan is owned by Fremantle and the program has been produced in over 45 countries.

Country Name Host Network First day aired
Albania Sfida Ilda Bejleri and Denard Xhillari DigitAlb 2016
Arab League Arab world[2] جدار جبار
Jidar Jabbar 		Mansour El Ghassani (Season 1, 2010) Abu Dhabi TV September 20, 2010
Said Al Memari (Season 2, 2011)
Argentina[3] El muro infernal Alejandro Wiebe Telefe March 3, 2008
Australia[4] Hole in the Wall Jules Lund Nine Network August 6, 2008
Brazil[5] De cara no muro Fausto Silva Rede Globo May 2009
Belgium (Flemish)[6] Hole in the Wall Roos van Acker VT4 September 2009
Bulgaria[7] Дупка в Стената
Dupka v Stenata 		Rumen Lukanov Nova TV July 18, 2008
Cambodia[8] Hole in the Wall: ល្បែងជ្រែកជញ្ជាំង Udom Vivath
Sarita Reth
VJ Anbe (2011–2013)
Tim Ratha (2013–2015) 		CTN (2011–2013)
MyTV (2013–2015) 		September 10, 2011
Canada (French)[9] Le mur Benoît Gagnon V September 3, 2009
Chile[10] La muralla infernal Javiera Contador and José Miguel Viñuela Megavisión 2009
Fernando Godoy and Lucila Vit
Croatia[11] Pazi, zid! Mia Kovačić Nova TV 2008
Colombia[12] Duro contra el mundo Carlos Calero RCN TV February 4, 2008
Maleja Restrepo August 20, 2022
Costa Rica Ojo con la pared Nancy Dobles Teletica June 2, 2012
China 动洞墙 Zhu Zhen (朱楨) and Xue Zhi Qian (薛之謙) SMG
正大综艺-墙来啦 Qiang Zhi (人强子) and Xun Zhu (朱迅) CCTV September 19, 2010
Denmark Hul i hovedet Uffe Holm TV3+
Estonia Auk Seinas Tõnis Milling TV3 Spring 2009
Egypt الجدار الكبير
El-Giddar El-Kebir 		Ahmed Essam DMC 2020
Finland Reikä seinässä Mari Kakko Nelonen March 15, 2009
France Le Mur Infernal Laurence Boccolini TMC November 12, 2007
Germany Ab Durch die Wand Sonja Zietlow and Dirk Bach RTL October 18, 2009
Greece Μια τρύπα στο νερό
Mia trypa sto neró 		George Pyrpasopoulos Mega TV December 13, 2008
Hong Kong 大咕窿 Yishan Ng
Calinda Yuen-wai Chan
Dickson Wong 		TVB Jade May 9, 2009
Hungary Kalandra fal! Balázs Sebestyén and János Vadon and Majka and Joci Pápai and Bence Istenes RTL May 4, 2009
India Hole in the Wall Cyrus Sahukar POGO July 28, 2008
Indonesia Hole in the Wall Pandji Pragiwaksono RCTI December 17, 2007
Steny Agustaf (Mom Edition) 2008
Indra Herlambang June 26, 2023
Yossi Mokalu
Udjo Permato 		Global TV February 27, 2009
Israel ראש בקיר
Rosh Bakir 		Shai Goldstein and Daror Rafaeli Channel 10 2008
Japan 脳カベ
Nōkabe 		Tunnels, Toshihiro Itō and
Asami Miura (servant) 		Fuji TV July 26, 2006
Lithuania Skylė sienoje Aistė Paškevičiūtė and Džiugas Siaurusaitis TV3 2008
Malaysia Bolos Zizan Razak Astro Ria 2008
Mexico Aguas con el muro Martín Altomaro and María Inés TV Azteca May 11, 2008
Netherlands Hole in the wall Beau van Erven Dorens and Gerard Joling SBS6 October 10, 2009
Norway Ylvis møter veggen Kjetil André Aamodt and Kjersti Idem along with Ylvis TVNorge September 15, 2008
Paraguay El muro Roberto Willis Canal 13 November 2008
Peru Tecsuperate George Slebi Panamericana Televisión June 2009
Philippines Hole in the Wall Ogie Alcasid and Michael V. GMA Network April 20, 2009
Poland Hole in the Wall Adam Małczyk, Adam Grzanka and Michał Pałubski TV4 March 7, 2009
Portugal Salve-se Quem Puder Diana Chaves and Marco Horácio SIC and SIC K June 1, 2009
Romania Vedete-n Figuri Dan Fintescu and Dina Marina Prima TV January 16, 2009
Russia Стенка на стенку
Stenka na Stenku 		Vasily Utkin, Gennady Bachinsky and Sergey Stillavin (2007)
Ivan Urgant and Alexander Tsekalo (2007–2008) 		Channel One October 6, 2007
South Korea 지화자
Jiwhaza 		Choi Gwi-hwan SBS April 14, 2007
Spain[13] El Muro Infernal Julian Iantzi La Sexta July 4, 2008
Sweden Hål i väggen Johan Petersson (Season 1, 2008)
Erik Ekstrand, Mackan Edlund (Season 2, 2009-2010) 		TV6 September 14, 2008
Taiwan 齊天大勝
Who's the Winner
Topic: Hole in the Wall 爆衝型人 		Jacky Wu TTV June 16, 2007 – September 29, 2007
Thailand เกมกำแพงซ่า
Game-Kampang-Zaa
Crazy Wall Game 		Kanchai Kamnerdploy (September 3, 2011 – March 24, 2012) Channel 7 September 3, 2011
2012
Wattana Kumthorntip (March 25, 2012 – March 30, 2014)
Somjit Jongjohor (October 13, 2012 – March 30, 2014)
เกมกําแพงซ่า น็อกเอาท์
Game-Kampang-Zaa-Knockout
Crazy Wall Knockout Game
2013
เกมกำแพงซ่า สไตรค์
Game-Kampang-Zaa-Strike
Crazy Wall Strike Game
2014
Turkey Bak Şu Duvara Behzat Uygur Star TV 2009
Ukraine Море по коліно
More po kolino 		Dmytro Perepelkin ICTV August 29, 2010
United Kingdom Hole in the Wall Dale Winton BBC One September 20, 2008
Anton du Beke September 26, 2009
United States Hole in the Wall Brooke Burns and Mark Thompson FOX September 7, 2008
Teck Holmes Cartoon Network October 6, 2010
Syndication
Uruguay El Muro Roberto Larrañaga Canal 10 December 2008
Vietnam Người đi xuyên tường Hoài Linh and Đại Nghĩa (Season 1 and 2)
Nguyên Khang (Season 3 and 4)
Liêu Hạ Trinh (Season 3)
Diệu Nhi (Season 4) 		VTV3 December 26, 2014
Người đi xuyên tường nhí (Kids version) Ốc Thanh Vân and Đình Toàn HTV7 July 2017

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Brain Wall

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Brain Wall (脳カベ, Nōkabe) is a game segment originating from the Japanese variety television show Tonneruzu no Minasan no Okage deshita (The Tunnels' Thanks to Everyone), which aired on . Debuting in 2006, the game requires contestants to run toward an approaching wall featuring cut-out shapes reminiscent of blocks and contort their bodies to fit through the openings without falling into a pool of water below. Failure results in humorous splashes, emphasizing quick reflexes and flexible posing. The segment, hosted by the comedy duo Tunnels (Takaaki Ishibashi and Noritake Kinashi), quickly became a highlight of the long-running show, which entertained audiences with its blend of celebrity guests, sketches, and challenges from 1988 until its finale in 2018. Internationally, Brain Wall earned the nickname "Human Tetris" for its visual similarity to the classic , where players manipulate falling tetrominoes. Viral clips proliferated online in the mid-2000s, boosting its global fame and inspiring adaptations like the U.S. series Hole in the Wall on Fox, produced by FremantleMedia, in which contestants contort their bodies to pass through cut-out shapes in an approaching wall or fall into a pool of water. Brain Wall's enduring appeal lies in its simple yet physically demanding format, which tests human agility in absurd, high-stakes scenarios, influencing trends worldwide and cementing its status as a cultural of Japanese television eccentricity.

History

Origins in Japanese Television

Brain Wall, known in Japanese as Nōkabe (脳カベ), translates literally to "Brain Wall" and was conceived as a challenge that tests participants' ability to contort their bodies through irregularly shaped holes in an approaching wall. This segment emphasized humor derived from failed attempts, often resulting in contestants tumbling into a pool below, blending elements of spatial puzzle-solving with physical feats. The challenge debuted on July 27, 2006, as a recurring segment within the long-running variety show Tonneruzu no Minasan no Okage deshita (The Tunnels' Thanks to Everyone), which had been airing since 1997. Hosted by the comedy duo Tonneruzu—comprising and , popularly known as the Tunnels—the show featured Nōkabe as one of its high-energy interludes designed to maintain viewer engagement during its extended two-hour runtime. The segment's format was developed by the production team at to provide quick, visually dynamic content that could be filmed efficiently and appeal to a broad audience through its accessible yet demanding physical requirements. It debuted as part of the "Mojimoji-kun HYPER" game. Inspired by the block-fitting mechanics of the video game Tetris, Nōkabe required contestants to mimic Tetris-like shapes with their bodies, evaluating their spatial awareness and flexibility in a live, comedic setting. This concept quickly gained traction within the show's variety format, serving as a short burst of entertainment amid other sketches and games, and later earning the international moniker "Human Tetris" due to its puzzle-resembling gameplay.

Evolution and Broadcast Run

Brain Wall originated as a minor segment within the Fuji TV The Tunnels' Thanks to Everyone, quickly gaining popularity and becoming a recurring highlight. The segment's core physical challenge involved contestants contorting their bodies to fit through irregularly shaped holes in an approaching wall, which contributed to its viral appeal through humorous failures and successes. The segment ran recurrently from its 2006 debut until the conclusion of the parent show in 2018. It aligned with the show's format toward more diverse challenges and celebrity involvement. Reruns and compilation specials featuring Brain Wall continued sporadically on Fuji TV after 2018, maintaining its cultural footprint. The segment contributed to the show's broad appeal in Japan's competitive television landscape.

Gameplay Format

Core Mechanics

Brain Wall, known in Japanese as Nōkabe (脳カベ), features contestants competing to navigate a large advancing Styrofoam wall adorned with pre-cut openings in diverse shapes, such as abstract forms, geometric patterns, and pose-inspired silhouettes. The wall, typically painted in bright pink and mounted on tracks for controlled movement toward the players, serves as the central obstacle in this physical challenge segment from the variety show Tonneruzu no Minasan no Okage Deshita. Contestants, often celebrities organized into two opposing teams such as a "Star Team" and a "Comedian Team," wear protective gear including helmets and padding to mitigate injury risks during attempts. The fundamental rule requires participants—either singly or in teams of up to three—to contort their bodies precisely to match and pass through a designated hole without making contact that could damage or cause them to fall. Success demands exact alignment, as even minor misalignment results in the contestant being knocked off balance by the oncoming wall. Upon failure, players are propelled backward into a shallow pool of positioned behind the wall, leading to immediate elimination from that round without any score accrual. Gameplay unfolds across multiple rounds of increasing complexity, beginning with simpler, more accessible shapes that allow straightforward passage and advancing to intricate designs requiring coordinated multi-limb positions or group synchronization. Each attempt operates under a brief time constraint for positioning before the wall approaches. Teams earn points for each successful traversal, accumulating totals that determine the episode's victors. Over the show's run, minor evolutions refined these rules for smoother production, but the core emphasis on physical agility and humorous mishaps remained intact.

Challenges and Variations

The challenges in Brain Wall featured a diverse array of cutout on the advancing wall, categorized broadly into geometric forms like triangles and circles, poses such as the "Y" with arms outstretched, and thematic designs including animal silhouettes or object mimics like pop culture references. Contestants employed key strategies to succeed, including rapid assessment of body alignment to match the shape precisely, preemptive practice of poses to build flexibility, and enhanced team coordination during paired challenges where one player might assist another's positioning for synchronized fits. Midway through the segment's run, variations were introduced to heighten difficulty and entertainment value, such as accelerated wall movement for retry challenges; failure to fit through resulted in zero points and a humorous splash into the underlying pool. Complex shapes often tested limits of human flexibility, frequently leading to spectacular failures that amplified the segment's comedic appeal.

Production Details

Hosts and Crew

The primary hosts of the Brain Wall segment were the comedy duo Tunnels, consisting of and , who provided energetic live commentary and hype to engage audiences during the physical challenges. Ishibashi typically took the role of the dynamic leader, driving the segment's fast-paced energy, while Kinashi offered through humorous reactions and banter. Executive producers from Fuji TV oversaw the segment's development and integration into the show. The director team handled on-set coordination to ensure smooth execution of the high-energy gameplay. Supporting crew included coordinators who prioritized participant safety, incorporating measures like the water pool to cushion falls during failed attempts. Guest appearances by prominent Japanese celebrities were frequent, boosting the segment's and drawing larger viewership.

Set Design and Technical Aspects

The Brain Wall segment features a central set piece consisting of giant movable panels constructed from lightweight , which allows for safe physical interaction while minimizing injury risk during high-speed approaches. These panels are mounted on a hydraulic frame that enables rapid repositioning and resets between contestant attempts, ensuring efficient production flow in a segment that can involve multiple rapid-fire challenges. Safety protocols are integral to the set design, incorporating pre-challenge warm-up exercises to prepare contestants for the physical demands of posing and timing their movements. The production used water sprays for failed attempts, with medical staff on standby throughout filming to address any strains or minor injuries. Technical innovations enhance both the visual appeal and operational efficiency of the segment. Cameras capture dynamic shape reveals as the wall advances, providing clear views for contestants and viewers alike, while slow-motion replays emphasize comedic failures for entertainment value. Lighting is strategically placed to improve visibility and add dramatic flair to the proceedings. The set was positioned in a Fuji TV studio in to accommodate audience seating encircling the wall, fostering live reactions that amplify the energetic atmosphere of the broadcast.

International Adaptations

Early International Versions

The premiere international adaptation of the Japanese Brain Wall format occurred in , where it was incorporated as a segment titled "Brain Wall" within the Burst! Mental Concentration on SBS in 2007. This version retained the core mechanics of contorting through oddly shaped holes in a moving wall but incorporated teams featuring celebrities to appeal to local audiences, enhancing the entertainment value through familiar pop culture figures. In , the format launched with the United Kingdom's Hole in the Wall on , premiering on September 20, 2008, and hosted by with serving as a team captain. The show emphasized celebrity contestants competing for £10,000 prizes donated to charity, positioning itself as family-oriented Saturday night entertainment with a focus on lighthearted rather than high-stakes competition. Early Asian expansions included the Indonesian adaptation Hole in the Wall on RCTI, which debuted on December 17, 2007, hosted by Pandji Pragiwaksono and maintaining the original wall traversal challenges while adapting for local humor. These initial versions outside Japan typically featured shorter, standalone 30-minute episodes compared to the integrated segments in the original Japanese program, placing greater emphasis on comedic mishaps and audience engagement over substantial monetary rewards.

Global Expansions and Modifications

The North American debut of the Hole in the Wall format occurred with its U.S. adaptation on , premiering on September 7, 2008, and hosted by alongside announcer Mark Thompson. The series ran for one season until early 2009, featuring adult contestants in teams competing to fit through outlined shapes in an approaching wall while wearing protective helmets and padding. A revival aired on from October 2010 to January 2012, adapting the format for audiences with teams of parents and children, emphasizing broader for younger viewers. In , adaptations emerged to cater to regional audiences, with Mexico's version titled Aguas con el Muro debuting on in 2008 and hosted by Martín Altomaro and María Inés Guerra. This iteration incorporated local humor and physical challenges suited to the market, running through 2009. In , FremantleMedia pursued distribution of the format under the title Buraco na Parede, targeting networks like SBT amid growing interest in imported game shows by 2009. The Australian version premiered on the in August 2008, hosted by Jules Lund, and featured celebrity teams navigating the wall's shapes for charity-linked prizes. By 2012, the format had expanded to over 45 countries worldwide, reflecting its appeal as a low-barrier export from the original Japanese Brain Wall. International versions commonly localized elements to resonate with cultural contexts, such as adjusting prizes to include regionally relevant rewards like vehicles in high-stakes markets and diversifying contestant pools to feature athletes or celebrities for added spectacle. The format saw revivals in later years, including a return in on starting June 26, 2023, and a pilot reboot on in the UK in 2025.

Cultural Impact

Popularity and Media Influence

The Brain Wall segment achieved viral fame through clips of the Japanese original shared on YouTube starting around 2006, amassing millions of views and popularizing the nickname "Human Tetris" among international audiences unfamiliar with the original title. By late , the phenomenon had gained widespread recognition, with related videos nominated for of the year and individual clips exceeding 10 million views across platforms. This online buzz translated into broader media crossovers, including parodies in Western entertainment. A 2013 Saturday Night Live sketch satirized the style of Japanese game shows, highlighting the absurd physical contortions central to Brain Wall's appeal. The concept also influenced digital gaming, inspiring the 2010 "Human Tetris Project" by and —a social networking application linked to mobile devices that encouraged users to recreate Tetris-like body poses through community challenges. At its peak in the mid-2000s, Brain Wall boosted the visibility of its parent . International adaptations capitalized on this momentum, with the U.S. version Hole in the Wall premiering to 7 million viewers in 2008 and the U.K. edition averaging 6.1 million per episode across its run.

Legacy in Entertainment

Brain Wall's innovative physical challenge format significantly influenced global production, serving as the foundation for the international adaptation Hole in the Wall. Originating as a segment on Fuji Television's variety program The Tunnels' Thanks to Everyone, the concept was licensed worldwide, leading to versions broadcast in over 45 countries, including adaptations on in the United States, in the , and CCTV in . This expansion underscored Fuji TV's pivotal role in exporting Japanese formats, blending with audience participation to create a template for quirky, high-stakes challenges in unscripted television. The segment's enduring appeal stems from its viral dissemination online, where clips proliferated on under the moniker "Human Tetris," amassing millions of views and popularizing the genre of fail videos featuring contestants' humorous mishaps. This digital legacy helped shape internet humor culture, inspiring fan recreations and parodies that continue to circulate at events and on social platforms, while highlighting the mechanics of in visual media. In 2025, the piloted a of the U.K. Hole in the Wall hosted by following a successful test, but ultimately decided not to proceed with production.

References

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  22. https://screenrant.com/db/tv-show/hole-in-the-wall/
  23. https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/hole-in-the-wall-canceled-cartoon-network-16757/
  24. https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/caderno-g/fremantle-quer-vender-novos-reality-shows-no-brasil-b4fu4odzjq0o7y5l1hw1ojm8e/
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1288431/
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  28. https://www.idntimes.com/hype/entertainment/episode-perdana-hole-in-the-wall-indonesia-2023-c1c2-1-01-4npdr-2yh8bb
  29. https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/holeinthewall-bbcpilot-recordingrep1
  30. https://www.wired.com/2007/12/viral-video-of/
  31. https://www.notsonoisy.com/tetris/
  32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLVmybhXqtU
  33. https://www.ea.com/news/tetris-company-ea-mobile-announce-human-tetris-project
  34. https://ew.com/article/2008/09/08/sports-hole-in/
  35. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jun/18/hole-wall-second-series-bbc1
  36. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14900569/Alison-Hammond-host-Hole-Wall-reboot.html
  37. https://hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/entertainment/television/hole-in-the-wall
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