TV | CHANNEL SURF Feb 5, 2012

'Star Draft Council'; L'Arc-en-Ceil anniversary; CM of the week: Able/Chintai

“Star Tanjo” (“Birth of a Star”) was one of the most influential TV series of the 1970s, an audition show that launched the careers of dozens of idol singers. “Star Draft Kaigi” (“Star Draft Council”; Nippon TV, Tues., 10 p.m.) takes the general structure ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jan 29, 2012

'Stepfather Step'; 'Kiruto no Ie'; CM of the week: Nichii Gakkan

Replacing the historical drama “Mito Komon” in its Monday evening slot is a much different type of series, a “humorous mystery” called “Stepfather Step” (TBS, 8 p.m.), based on a novel by Miyuki Miyabe. A professional thief (Takaya Kamikawa) steals only from people who ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jan 22, 2012

Women's investigative instincts — "Kaseifu," "Strawberry Night"; CM of the week: Ellair

Nanako Matsushima was the comeback story of 2011 with her starring role in the hit Nippon TV drama “Kaseifu no Mita” (“Mita the Housekeeper”). Fuji TV is hoping the magic lasts with its new Monday night series, “Lucky 7″ (9 p.m.), which features Matsushima ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jan 15, 2012

A woman's investigative intuition; the family funeral business; CM of the week: Softbank

Last year, Nippon TV beat perennial winner Fuji TV in the drama ratings competition, and starts 2012 with a show that’s already attracting attention. “Dirty Mama” (Wed., 10 p.m.) is a police drama whose principal cop combines the slovenliness of Colombo with the extra-legal ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jan 8, 2012

Rock meets French cuisine in 'Hungry'; launch of 'Taira no Kiyomori'; Shin-Sereberu:

Synergy is the name of the game in the new drama series “Hungry” (Fuji TV, Tues., 10:15 p.m.), which incorporates two themes: rock music and French cuisine. In episode one, we’re introduced to Eisuke (Osamu Mukai), a young man whose dream is to be ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Jan 1, 2012

New version of Mukoda's 'Hanayome'; 'breaking news' from archaeology digs; CM of the week: Real Ukon

The late Kuniko Mukoda wrote television family dramas that were considered more realistic than the usual sentimental fare. On Monday, TBS presents a new version of an old favorite, “Hanayome” (“Bride”; 9 p.m.), starring Pinko Izumi, who is usually the muse of Sugako Hashida ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Dec 25, 2011

'Takeshi Art Beat' on tap dancing; New Year's Eve TV roundup; CM of the week: Dorea

Ever wonder where director/star “Beat” Takeshi Kitano got the idea of the big tap-dancing finale for his 2003 remake of the samurai classic “Zatoichi”? It came to him after he saw the American dancer Savion Glover, who the program information says influenced Michael Jackson’s ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Dec 16, 2011

Farewell special for 'Mito Komo'; drama features brother-actors Watari, Watase; CM of the week: Bathclin

Japan’s longest-running historical drama series, “Mito Komon” (TBS, Mon., 7 p.m.), ends on Dec. 19 with a special two-hour farewell installment. The series started in 1969 and has been sponsored by the same company (Panasonic, formerly National) the whole time. The peripatetic nobleman Komon ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Dec 11, 2011

'Chushingura' in a wide-show style; Watanabe/Minami's TV drama debut; CM of the week: Saikyo Jump

Dec. 14 is a special day in Japan. On that date in 1702, the 47 retainers of the Lord of Ako exacted revenge on Kira Kozuke-no-suke, the Edo official who caused their lord’s death a year earlier. This story is known popularly as “Chushingura” ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Dec 4, 2011

Extreme shopping special; 'martial-arts love comedy'; CM of the week: Mikakuto

Variety shows have been forging open collaborations with commercial enterprises for some time now, but never as blatantly as TV Tokyo’s two-hour special “Sennyu! Mitchaku 24 Jikan Kuizu” (“Infiltrate! Intense 24-hour Quiz”; Mon., 8 p.m.). A large video crew and a team of celebrities, ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Nov 27, 2011

Back home with Kotoshogiku; dramatized Minato novel 'Kyogu'; CM of the week: Toyota

The premise of the new variety series “Japan 47 Channels Super” (TBS, Wed., 9 p.m.) is to show viewers how great Japan is. The numeral in the title refers to the 47 prefectures, which means the themes are regional ones. This week, the show ...

TV | CHANNEL SURF Nov 20, 2011

Factories floundering in Thailand; textile master Junichi Arai; CM of the week: Epson

More than 400 Japanese companies have operations in Thailand, most of them manufacturers taking advantage of the country’s lower wages and open trade agreement with China. However, these factories have come to a virtual standstill due to rising floodwaters. TV Tokyo’s business documentary series ...