Sportsman No.1 (series)


Pro Sportsman No. 1, later revived as Sports Danshi Grand Prix abbreviated as SpoDan was an annual program made by Monster9, the same company that produced series such as Kinniku Banzuke and SASUKE and broadcast on TBS TV.

Core installments

Pro Sportsman No.1 Ketteisen (1993–2009)

The original series that began as a pilot in 1993. A group of professional athletes competes in a modified pentathlon or heptathlon of events that combine strength, balance, speed and general athletics.

Geinōjin Survival Battle (1996–2007)

A spinoff of Pro Sportsman No.1 that retains the same general formula, with shorter overall runtimes and a lineup consisting entirely of athletics celebrities.

Sports Danshi Grand Prix (2012–present)

A reboot of the series produced after the dissolution of former production studio Sportsman No.1, Sports Danshi Grand Prix features a mix of athletes, former champions and celebrities together. The series was retitled due to an ongoing legal dispute with former producer Ushio Higuchi and his studio GoldEggs.

Other series

Battle of the Four Kings (1995), Power Sportsman (1996) and Kairiki Battlefield (2022)

A series of tournaments under the same core concept as Sportsman No.1, with the competitor pool made up of Sumo wrestlers and Strongmen.

Amateur Sportsman (1995-1996)

A side series produced in conjunction with the Japanese Olympic Committee under the working title Clash of Olympians. In this case, amateur refers to athletes who are not being paid in professional leagues, rather than true amateur. The lineup is consistently most of current and former Olympians, and is widely referred to as "Olympian Sportsman" among fans.

Speed Sportsman (1996)

A one-time special that featured exclusively high-speed events revolving around running. This tournament is notable for having the debut of the now iconic event Shotgun Touch.

Queens Challenge Battle (2002–2004)

A women's spinoff of Sportsman No.1 that features a group of women taking on modified events.

Glory Sportsman (2010)

A one-time special that featured a large lineup of 50 competitors attempting the Monster Box.

Noniku Battle Atamaccho (2012)

A one-time special that featured a pair competing together on modified events that feature traditional Sportsman events mixed with intellectual aspects.

Strongman No.1 (2023–2024)

Airing as a special during the final three specials of Honoo-no Taiiku-kai TV, Strongman No.1 saw seven professional athletes in different fields competing for the title. In addition, a team composed of four Taiiku Kai TV staff who competed alongside the professionals.

Winners