Politics & Diplomacy
Hashimoto to retract sex suggestion for U.S. military
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto aims to retract his remark that U.S. servicemen in Okinawa should use its adult entertainment industry to avoid committing sex offenses.
TV | CHANNEL SURF May 16, 2010
'Mito Komon'; 'Divorce Cohabitation' drama; CM of the week: Suntory's Protein Water
In this week’s episode of Japan’s longest-running historical drama series, “Mito Komon” (TBS, Mon., 8 p.m.), about an itinerant nobleman who travels the land incognito righting wrongs, the white-haired hero and his retinue enter the town of Hamamatsu and encounter the procession of the ...
TV | CHANNEL SURF May 9, 2010
Kimutaku in 'Moon Lovers'; 'unmarriageable' celebs; CM of the week: Daihatsu's Tanto EXE
In what’s being promoted as his “first full-scale love story” in 10 years, SMAP heartthrob Takuya Kimura stars as a successful furniture manufacturer in “Tsuki no Koibito” (Moon Lovers; Fuji TV, Mon., 9 p.m.). Rensuke (Kimura) has become a major force in Japanese interior ...
TV | CHANNEL SURF May 2, 2010
'Zen-Nihon Kaso Taisho,' the trouble with herbivores; CM of the week: Sumisho Fruits
Several weeks ago, NHK profiled Yusei Uesugi, a matte painter who works for George Lucas’s Industrial Light and Magic. Uesugi is a major talent in Hollywood special effects, and he got his start as a contestant on “Zen-Nihon Kaso Taisho” (“All-Japan Disguise Awards”), which ...
TV | CHANNEL SURF Apr 25, 2010
Marijuana addiction special; running commentaries of ordinary events; CM of the week: Hakugen
The discussion show “Heart wo Tsunago” (Linking Hearts; NHK-E, Mon., 8 p.m.) always focuses on a social issue involving young people. This week, the program broadcasts part one of a series on marijuana addiction. Though there are a number of self-help orgnizations dedicated to ...
TV | CHANNEL SURF Apr 18, 2010
Tracing food origins; Korean drama 'Iris'; CM of the week: Reve21
Many travel shows are about food. The new TV Tokyo series, “Gakuryu Shiraberu Toraberu” (Reverse Current Investigation Travel; Mon., 8 p.m.) takes the idea one step further. Every week the show chooses a common foodstuff and traces it back to where it came. Since ...
TV | CHANNEL SURF Apr 11, 2010
Aya Ueto as police detective, 'mystery assessments' variety show; CM of the week: McDonald's
If you want to guarantee sponsors for your drama series, hire actress Aya Ueto. At the moment she’s appearing in a record-breaking 19 TV commercials, which is probably why she manages to star in more than one series a year. In her latest, “Zettai ...
TV | CHANNEL SURF Mar 28, 2010
Mrs. GeGeGe; Secrets of Nisshin, Morinaga and Kappa Sushi. CM of the week: Yakult's Mirumiru
NHK’s daily, 15-minute asa-dora (morning drama) is always about a plucky female, and this season the plucky female turns out to be a real person. The protagonist of “GeGeGe no Nyobo” (GeGeGe’s Wife; M-Sat., BS2 at 7:45 a.m. and NHK-G at 8 a.m.) is ...
TV | CHANNEL SURF Mar 21, 2010
Profile of Rakuten founder Hiroshi Mikitani; CM of the week: Nemurete'masu ka?
This week’s edition of the business-related nonfiction series “Rubicon no Ketsudan” (The Rubicon Decision; TV Tokyo, Thurs., 10 p.m.) covers the rise and rise of Hiroshi Mikitani, the man behind the so-called Internet Mall, Rakuten Ichiba, and, according to Forbes magazine, the sixth richest ...
TV | CHANNEL SURF Mar 14, 2010
Beauty transformation, documentary on working poor; CM of the week: Kirin's Sekai no High Ball
The makeover variety show “Kasupe! Beauty Colosseum” was a weekly series up until a few years ago, and its return to Fuji TV this Tuesday at 7 p.m. is for a 2-hour ” kiseki no daigekihen ” (miracle super change) special. The guest is ...
TV | CHANNEL SURF Mar 7, 2010
Shoplifting teens and sensei secrets; CM of the week: Aguro Bokujo
In the special two-hour drama “Garasu no Kiba” (The Glass Fang; TBS, Mon., 9 p.m.), an FM radio disk jockey named Akiko (Atsuko Takahata) is asked by the authorities to monitor and supervise a troubled teen named Yuka (Moe Arai). Yuka was caught shoplifting ...
TV | CHANNEL SURF Feb 28, 2010
Dramas based on song themes and raising a bounty; CM of the week: toto BIG
The linking theme of the four episodes of “Sotsu Uta” (Graduation Song; Fuji TV, Mon-Thurs, 11 p.m.) is a radio show hosted by DJ Hitomi (Masami Nagisa), who plays songs popularly associated with graduation. On Monday night’s drama, based on Kiroro’s “Best Friend,” high ...
TV | CHANNEL SURF Feb 21, 2010
Secret history of Takiji Kobayasshi; a detective's all-seeing eye; CM of the week: Leopalace 21
Since it was reprinted in 2008, the novella “Kanikosen” (The Factory Ship) has sold 500,000 copies. Originally published in 1929 by proletarian writer Takiji Kobayashi, the story was rediscovered by the current generation of young people who have tried to enter the workforce and, ...