ABC starts taping Japan-set reality show

LOS ANGELES, May 16 (UPI) -- ABC's new reality series "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" has begun shooting in Japan, the network said.

The unscripted reality series/game show is to premiere June 24 on ABC.

ABC said the show is about "10 Americans -- many of whom have never traveled outside the United States -- who are whisked away to Japan and compete in the ultimate Japanese game show … with hilarious results."

The winner is to take home $250,000.

Guiding the U.S. players through their time in Japan is host/interpreter Tony Sano, a U.S. actor fluent in Japanese; a house mother and resident pot-stirrer, Mamasan; and game show host Rome Kanda, who leads the contestants through zany challenges.

Throughout the course of the series, contestants will be seen trying to eat food attached to the head of a teammate who is running in place on a fast-moving treadmill; collecting stuffed animals while dangling from a moving crane; and attempting to smash goo-filled oversized eggs with only their rear ends while wearing chicken suits.