The theme of the profile series "Kokoro no Idenshi" (Genes of the Heart; NHK-G, Mon., 10 p.m.) is the "development of professionalism." This week's subject is TV personality IKKO, whose main appeal is his flamboyant feminine behavior and appearance. This being NHK, the focus is on his career as a hair and makeup artist who made his mark preparing models for TV appearances and photo spreads.
IKKO discusses his long apprenticeship, which took place at a beauty salon under the watchful gaze of his mentor's wife. While his mentor taught him the tricks of the trade, his wife taught him manners and the proper way to express himself. IKKO says she was a very strict taskmaster, but the things she taught him helped him overcome many of the obstacles that might have otherwise prevented him from achieving his goals.
The portly comedian Hidehiko Ishizuka of the duo Honjamaka made a splash last year when he appeared as mystery writer Yasuo Uchida's iconic Inspector Fukuhara in a drama. This Saturday he returns for an encore on "Doyo Wide Gekijo" (Saturday Wide Theater; TV Asahi, 9 p.m.).