TV | CHANNEL SURF Aug 12, 2012

"Court Martial in the Field of Battle"; Why didn't Japan Surrender?; CM of the week: Meiji Bono Cheese

Commercial stations normally broadcast specials about the end of the war at this time of the year, but apparently they spent too much money on Olympic coverage, and a large portion of air time this week is devoted to recaps. It’s up to NHK ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Aug 5, 2012

"Intimate TV"; Reconstructing Tut's death; CM of the week: Morinaga Weider

The variety special “Nakayoshi Terebi” (“Intimate TV”; Fuji TV, Tues., 7 p.m.) brings together commentators from Japan, China and South Korea to argue over current affairs and poke fun at one another’s cultures and economies. In the typical variety-show manner, it’s all done in ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jul 29, 2012

Gross national happiness; Beloved Unfortunate Women; CM of the week: Summer Jumbo

Master explainer Akira Ikegami makes his sixth appearance on “Mirai Seiki Jipangu” (“Future Century Japan”; TV Tokyo, Mon., 10 p.m.) for a two-part exploration of the Kingdom of Bhutan in the eastern Himalayas. Bhutan is famous for having the highest Gross National Happiness in ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jul 22, 2012

Crime-fighting concierge; "We Rent Out Families"; CM of the week: Daihatsu

Atsuko Asano plays the title role in the mystery special “Okinawa Rizoto Konsheruju Gushiken Yoko no Meisuiri Ibitsu-na Misshitsu” (“Okinawa Resort Concierge Yoko Gushiken’s Excellent Deduction of the Irregular Locked Room”; TV Tokyo, Wed., 9 p.m.). Hotel guest Maiko (Akiko Ogata) calls the front ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jul 15, 2012

"The Future of Earth! Urgent Coverage!"; Heroine teacher; CM of the week: Hotto Motto

Monday is a holiday, and Nippon TV will air a 90-minute special in the afternoon about sustainability called “Chikyu no Mirai! Kinkyu Shuzai!” (“The Future of Earth! Urgent Coverage!”; 2:55 p.m.), hosted by popular announcer Seiji Miyane. The special looks at secrets to future ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jul 8, 2012

The brief life of Kaneko Misuzu; "Yumin Super Woman" visits Mt. Koya; CM of the week: The Try Group

Right after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the only commercials on TV were from the non-profit Ad Council. One of them featured a touching children’s poem by Misuzu Kaneko (1903-1930) about the primacy of sibling relationships. The poet’s brief life is dramatized in “Kaneko ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jul 1, 2012

Another tax drama; murder mystery at the archery club; CM of the week: Delicare

Nippon TV obviously thinks we’re not sick of taxes yet because this week they launch a new drama series called “Tokkan” (Wed., 10 p.m.), an abbreviation of tokubetsu kokuzei chōshūkan, or “special national tax collection officer.” Mao Inoue plays Miki Suzumiya, who wants a ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jun 24, 2012

Visiting the real Morocco; Meeting the showbiz parents; CM of the week: Scalabo

The travel show “Sekai Itte Mitara Honto wa Konna Toko Datta” (“If You See the World This is What You Really Get”; Fuji TV, Mon., 10:30 p.m.) expands to an hour for a special on the Kingdom of Morocco, which has become very popular ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jun 17, 2012

Job-hunting tips; history of Cook Islands; CM of the week: Clorets

As everyone knows, the job market is tight — even for young people just entering the workforce. This week, the NHK “real life” information program, “Otona e Tobira TV” (“The Door to Adulthood TV”; NHK-E, Thurs., 7:25 p.m.) offers advice for job seekers, who ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jun 10, 2012

Investigation of the 'long life' hormone; forensics mystery; CM of the week: Kagome

A new obsession in Japan is something called the “long life” (chōju) hormone, a naturally occurring chemical that prolongs the life of the person who produces it. The medical variety show “Shujii ga Mitsukaru Shinryojo” (“The Clinic Where You Can Find Your Own Home ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jun 3, 2012

Time travel to eco Edo; AKB48 elections; CM of the week: Masami Hisamoto for Kao

June 3 through 10 is Eco Week on Nippon TV, so it is airing some specials emphasizing environmental issues. One is “Chotaiken! Time Warp Ryokosha Oedo-hen” (“Super Experience! Time Warp Travel Agency Oedo Edition”; Tues., 9 p.m.). The Time Warp Travel Agency sends customers ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF May 20, 2012

Time-travelling reporters; celebrity genes; CM of the week: Schick

As if there wasn’t enough news to cover now, NHK has started sending reporters back in time on the variety show “Time Scoop Hunter” (NHK-G, Tues., 10:55 p.m.). Journalists use “warp technology” to travel to different eras to collect information about how people really ...