Zuiikin' English - Format

Format

At the beginning of the show, the host and mastermind, Fernandez Verde, demonstrates his philosophy in learning languages. 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 feels that using those particular muscles while learning the language of that culture will create strong connotations in your mind and faster learning.

Then a sketch starts like an ordinary language lesson program. Every time a new English phrase is introduced, the sketch pauses and switches to the Zuiikin Gals, a threesome gymnastic exercise team. They start to perform synchronised exercises with innocent smiles on their faces while chanting the phrase hypnotically to idyllic techno-pop sounds. The choice of phrases include the following:

• Take anything you want
• Call an ambulance please
• Spare me my life
• I was robbed by two men
• How dare you say such a thing to me
• Unbelievable! It's amazing! We did it!
• I can't stand the sight of you
• Never mind
• You drive me crazy
• Don't make fun of me
• Leave me alone
• Is there anyone who speaks Japanese
• Let's go Dutch
• It's your fault that this happened
• Hasta la vista, baby
• I have a bad case of diarrhea

In the final episode, three English native speakers formed the Zuiikin Boys and demonstrated gymnastic movements while chanting supposedly useful Japanese phrases. One such phrase, "tsumaranai mono desuga" (つまらない物ですが) ends up translating rather roughly to "please accept this trifling thing". No translations are provided during these Japanese lessons as they are for the English lessons, only Japanese characters and romanisations.