Sho Sakurai hosts revival of ‘Ultra Quiz’ as domestic preliminaries begin

The legendary quiz program ‘Ultra Quiz’ has officially returned, with its first domestic preliminary round held on September 12 at Giants Town Stadium in Inagi, Tokyo. To mark the 50th anniversary of the program, the scale of the competition has been expanded to a global level, covering approximately 42,000 kilometers across Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Sho Sakurai has taken over as the new main host, receiving a symbolic passing of the torch from former host Akira Fukuzawa. The event also featured appearances by past champions and the return of Kazuo Tokumitsu, known as the ‘ally of the losers,’ to support contestants who failed the challenge.

Winners from the domestic preliminary round will advance to a second round, eventually competing for the title in New York. The full competition is scheduled to be broadcast on Nippon TV on January 1 and 2, 2027.