<Tr> <Th> Original release </Th> <Td> May 2, 1986 (1986 - 05 - 02)--October 19, 1990 (1990 - 10 - 19) </Td> </Tr> <P> Takeshi's Castle (風雲! たけし 城, Fūun! Takeshi - jō, literally Showdown! Takeshi Castle) is a Japanese game show that aired between 1986 and 1990, on the Tokyo Broadcasting System . It featured the Japanese actor Takeshi Kitano (also known as Beat Takeshi) as a count who owns a castle and sets up difficult challenges for players (or a volunteer army) to get to him . The show has become a cult television hit around the world . A special live "revival" was broadcast on April 2, 2005, for TBS's 50th anniversary celebrations . </P> <P> The original show involved between 100 and 142 contestants whom General Tani (Hayato Tani) "forced" into a series of physical challenges, in some ways similar to those in It's a Knockout, eliminating many of the contestants . Each show finished with a "Final Showdown" in which Count Takeshi (Kitano) was faced by the remaining contestants . In early episodes they would storm the castle set itself in a short - range water gun assault . Later episodes introduced carts with paper rings, and eventually lasers and light - sensitive targets . If the contestant's gun penetrated the paper ring or hit the sensor on Takeshi's cart, against such weapons as a large water gun and a laser - armed plane, Takeshi's cart was deactivated, the castle was "taken" and the game "won". The player who stopped Takeshi won 1 Million yen (which, at the time, was roughly equivalent to $8,000 US or £ 5,000 sterling). However, there were only nine winners during the show's run . </P> <P> The series featured extensive landscaping of a fixed campus at TBS - owned Midoriyama (Green Mountain) Studios that included large man - made lakes and extensive permanent obstacles in Yokohama, Japan . The final regular episode aired on April 14, 1989 followed by 4 one - off specials up until October 19, 1990 . A special revival took place just outside the TBS Building for the network's Spring All - Star Thanksgiving Festival on April 2, 2005 and featured Skipping Stones and Bridge Ball . </P>

What does the winner of takeshi's castle get