If you spent any time on the internet back in 2021 or 2022, you saw it. The green tracksuits. The giant creepy doll. The pink-suited guards with shapes on their faces. Netflix’s Squid Game wasn't just a hit; it was a total cultural takeover. But for fans of Japanese media, something felt… familiar. Almost immediately, the internet was flooded with videos labeled as a Squid Game Japanese parody, ranging from high-budget comedy sketches to adult film spoofs and YouTube satires.
It was inevitable.
Japan has a decades-long obsession with the "death game" genre. Long before Seong Gi-hun stepped onto that ferry, Japanese audiences were devouring titles like Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor, Battle Royale, and Alice in Borderland. So, when Squid Game blew up, the Japanese entertainment industry reacted with a mix of "Hey, we’ve been doing this forever" and "Let’s have some fun with it."
The Humor in Survival
Comedy thrives on subverting high stakes. That’s why the Squid Game Japanese parody scene became so massive so quickly. You take a life-or-death situation—like the "Red Light, Green Light" game—and you swap the threat of a sniper rifle for something absurd, like a giant inflatable hammer or a face full of flour.
Take the legendary Japanese variety show culture. Shows like Gaki no Tsukai have perfected the art of "punishment games" over thirty years. When these creators got their hands on the Squid Game aesthetic, they didn't just copy it. They turned the grim, South Korean social commentary into a playground for slapstick.
It works because the visual language of the show is so distinct. You don't need a translation to know what a guy in a green jumpsuit standing in front of a giant doll means. You just wait for the punchline.
Why Japan Claimed the Parody Crown
There’s a bit of a "friendly" rivalry here. Many Japanese netizens pointed out the striking similarities between Squid Game and As the Gods Will (2014), directed by Takashi Miike. Both feature a deadly version of Daruma-san ga koronda (the Japanese equivalent of Red Light, Green Light). Because of this overlap, many Japanese parodies leaned into the irony. They weren't just parodying the Netflix show; they were often reclaiming tropes that started in manga and J-Horror.
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One of the most viral examples came from Japanese YouTubers and TikTokers who recreated the "Dalgona" challenge. Instead of a needle and a sugar cookie, they’d use ridiculous tools—like a chainsaw or a wet toothpick—or they’d try to carve out impossible shapes like the map of Japan.
It’s fast. It’s chaotic. It’s exactly what the algorithm loves.
The Influence of Kaiji and Soft Power
If you look closely at many a Squid Game Japanese parody, you’ll notice nods to Kaiji. The creator of Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has openly admitted to being influenced by Japanese survival manga. In the parodies, creators often blend the two worlds. They’ll use the iconic "Zawa Zawa" sound effect from Kaiji while dressed in the Squid Game tracksuit.
It’s a weird, full-circle moment for Asian pop culture.
Breaking Down the Most Famous Examples
Let’s talk about the big one. While many parodies were innocent comedy, the adult film industry in Japan (AV) famously produced a high-production-value parody titled Squid Game: The Experience. It was so visually accurate that some people accidentally clicked on screenshots thinking it was a leaked Season 2. They recreated the bunk beds, the stairs, and the playground with eerie precision.
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Beyond that, you have the mainstream variety segments.
Shows like London Hearts or morning talk shows in Tokyo ran segments where hosts tried to survive "childhood games" with a "punishment" twist. Instead of being eliminated from life, they were eliminated from their lunch budget or forced to smell a stinky shoe. This transition from "ultra-violence" to "ultra-inconvenience" is a hallmark of Japanese humor.
- Visual Accuracy: Most parodies spent a lot of money on the pink jumpsuits.
- The Doll: Usually replaced by a popular comedian or a mascot.
- The Music: The "Way Back Then" recorder theme is used in almost every single clip.
Honestly, some of these sketches are better produced than actual TV dramas.
The Cultural Impact of the Parody Trend
Why does this matter? Because it changed how we consume global hits. Squid Game proved that a story can be local but the visuals are universal. The Squid Game Japanese parody trend was the first time we saw a massive, coordinated "fan response" from a neighboring country that arguably invented the genre being parodied.
It also highlighted the difference in tone between the two cultures. The Korean original is a searing indictment of debt and capitalism. The Japanese parodies, for the most part, stripped that away to focus on the "Game" aspect.
It’s about the play. The tension. The ridiculousness of a grown man crying over a cookie.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Parodies
A lot of Western viewers thought Japan was "copying" Korea. That’s a shallow take. In reality, these parodies were a conversation. Creators in Japan saw the global success of a genre they loved and wanted to participate in the "meme-ification" of it.
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Also, it wasn't just professional comedians. High school festivals across Osaka and Tokyo featured students setting up their own "Red Light, Green Light" arenas. It became a social bonding exercise.
How to Find the Best Versions Today
If you’re looking to dive into this rabbit hole, you won't find them all on Netflix. You have to look at:
- YouTube Japan: Search for 「イカゲーム」 (Ika Game) + 「パロディ」(Parody).
- Nico Nico Douga: The "Japanese Reddit/YouTube" where the weirdest, most creative edits live.
- TikTok: Search the hashtag #squidgamejapan.
Most of these are still up, though some have been hit with copyright strikes over the years.
The Actionable Takeaway for Content Creators
If you're a creator or a marketer, there’s a massive lesson here. You don't have to be the first to an idea to win. You just have to be the one who contextualizes it for your audience. The Squid Game Japanese parody worked because it took a global visual and gave it a local soul—specifically, the chaotic, high-energy soul of Japanese variety television.
Next Steps for Deep Diving:
- Check the Source Material: Watch the first episode of Kaiji (available on various streaming platforms) to see the DNA of Squid Game before it was "Netflix-ified."
- Study Variety Formats: Look up "Gaki no Tsukai Silent Library" on YouTube to understand the type of comedy that fueled the Japanese parody response.
- Compare Aesthetics: Look at the color palettes of Alice in Borderland (Japanese) vs. Squid Game (Korean) to see how each country visualizes the "death game" differently.
- Analyze the Parody Cycle: Observe how Season 2 of Squid Game (releasing soon) triggers a new wave of content. The parodies this time will likely be higher budget and move even faster.
The trend isn't dead; it's just waiting for the next green tracksuit to drop.