Japan’s TBS, A Smith & Co adapting luck-based format Kisuke for US market

Ninja Warrior originated on TBS as Sasuke

Tokyo Broadcasting System

Japanese network Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) is adapting its competition format Kisuke in the American market alongside A Smith & Co Productions.

The project, titled Dumb Luck in the US market, is being spearheaded by TBS’s American subsidiary TBS International.

The family-friendly format is based on chance and, per a description, requires “no smarts, zero skill and absolutely no strength or stamina” on the part of the contestants. Participants are pitted against one another in luck-based obstacles and hope to avoid the punishment of freezing water, electric shocks and explosive flour cannons.

Kisuke first launched in Japan in 2024 as a segment on TBS Japan’s daily morning variety show Love It! That success led to a two-hour special being produced and winning its time slot. The special was developed and produced by TBS Television with TBS International and A Smith & Co.

TBS is no stranger to the US market, where its reality competition format Sasuke has been adapted by NBC as American Ninja Warrior, currently in its 18th season. That adaptation is also produced by A Smith & Co Productions (Hell’s Kitchen, Floor is Lava), which is part of Tinopolis Group.

As it has looked to grow its presence in the US market, TBS recently formally hired unscripted television veteran Elwin de Groot to a senior unscripted development exec role. That hire came after the relocation of sales and development executive Shuji Maeda to LA from the broadcaster’s Tokyo headquarters.

The Dumb Luck special was produced by Yoshimi Ito and Takuma Inoue alongside chief director Haruhiko Yasuoka for TBS Television. Others involved in the project include TBS International’s Goshu Segawa, de Groot and Shuji Maeda and A Smith & Co’s Arthur Smith, Eli Baldrige and Tim Dix.

“We saw its universality, comedy-based nature and ability to offer something quite different in today’s market,” said Segawa, who serves as VP of TBS International.

“We quickly decided that A Smith & Co were the ideal partners for developing Dumb Luck and believe it will win over American audiences just as Ninja Warrior has.”

Baldrige, who serves as executive VP of development at A Smith & Co, added: “TBS and A Smith have a longstanding track record of creating shows that connect, entertain and sustain, and we’re excited to once again partner to bring this show and its bold, comedic energy to life for US audiences.”