# Japanese translation requested **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-translation-requested/196857 "2003-08-22T03:44:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-translation-requested/196857/1 "2003-08-22T03:44:26Z")
I am posting this for someone else. Here is the message: * * * All this talk about Japanese gameshow “Takeshi’s Castle” on another post has got me wondering: When each contestant steps up to the podium where they are about to undertake their appointed task (and mostlikely get their face smashed in), they shout some sort of warcry. It sounds like “Kampari-ma!!”. What is the exact phrase, and what does it mean? Does anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Sandlegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@Sandlegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandlegs)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-translation-requested/196857/2 "2003-08-22T04:22:22Z")
what they are probably saying is “ganbari ma-su!!!” which means kind of like, “i will do my best!!!” ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-translation-requested/196857/3 "2003-08-22T06:57:51Z")
i will do my best … to stick to that wall of velcro by doing the tarzan in a velcro suit. ah, fond memories… ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-translation-requested/196857/4 "2003-08-22T07:05:13Z")
**BEST.SHOW.EVER!!!** ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-translation-requested/196857/5 "2003-08-22T14:23:02Z")
In “Rice Bowl Down Hill”, before the contestants get pushed down the waterfall, the host guy shouts something to which the contestants reply (in a sing-song type voice) “KO-KO, KO-KO, KO-KO!” as they tumble down it. Any idea what this means? ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-translation-requested/196857/6 "2003-08-27T04:32:45Z")
Probably “Ikko! Ikko!” which means “Go!,Go!,Go!” or “Let’s Go!” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-translation-requested/196857/7 "2003-08-27T05:11:38Z")
If I were going over the waterfall in that silly bowl, I might be yelling “Iik-u, iik-u, iik-u!” That’s a joke, folks. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-translation-requested/196857/8 "2003-08-27T05:14:52Z")
I haven’t seen the show (I hate Japanese game shows) but I’d guess they are trying to say “go! go!” “Ikko” would be a strange thing to say. It’s more a conversational phrase and doesn’t work well as a chant or yell.