Japanese television series
 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.
Background.
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.
Format.
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 claims that using those muscles while learning a language will create strong associations in one's mind and hasten learning.
Each segment starts with a sketch containing both Japanese and English-speaking actors. They act out scenarios such as discussing a movie, asking someone out on a date, or going to the hospital. When one of the Japanese characters is confused on what to say, the sketch pauses and an English phrase appropriate for the situation is introduced. After the phrase is introduced, the show's signature "Zuiikin' Gals" appear, and demonstrate a dance or exercise while chanting the English phrase. The phrases taught in the show are as follows:
Internet meme.
The program was initially broadcast in the spring of 1992 and occupied an early-morning spot. But 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 11.9 million times (as of June 2024). 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.
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.
References.
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