Anyone interested in Japanese television is familiar with the term "yarase," which refers to on-air situations staged to look natural and spontaneous.
When the content is news-oriented, charges of yarase will lead to in-house investigations and, if proved, apologies on the parts of senior executives. In the realm of entertainment, however, viewers usually let things slide. In fact, recognizing yarase is a component of media literacy in Japan. Not just because people wise up to subterfuge after years of exposure to it, but also because producers actively incorporate the idea into their shows. Wondering whether something is fake is part of the supposed fun.
One program that has perfected this concept is "The Innen," which TBS broadcasts several times a year. "Innen" means "fate" or "karma," and the subtitle of the show always promises that something momentous will be revealed. Celebrities, most of them situated somewhere on the washed-up spectrum, revisit past scandals and try to come to terms with poor choices and bad behavior. From the outset there is a strong whiff of yarase. After all, who willingly exposes their foibles for the sake of cheap schadenfreude?