National / Media | MEDIA MIX Jul 4, 2020
Korean drama successfully crash lands on a Japanese audience
by Philip Brasor
A drama about a romance that bridges the gap between two countries that are still at war comes with its own interpretive pitfalls.
National / Crime & Legal Jun 27, 2020
NHK loses first lawsuit over forced viewing contracts as court favors use of modified TV
After three victories in a row, the public broadcaster lost to a plaintiff who bought a TV that was equipped to filter out signals only from NHK.
National Jun 20, 2020
Media giants Fuji TV and Sankei Shimbun apologize for fake opinion polls
Bogus answers appeared in 14 joint Fuji-Sankei surveys between May 2019 and May this year, including Cabinet approval surveys.
National Jun 10, 2020
Japan broadcaster NHK under fire over flawed video on anti-racism movement
by Magdalena Osumi
Public broadcaster NHK has apologized for its attempt to educate viewers on the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States, after its video on anti-racism demonstrations came under fire for lacking context on racial injustice and the police brutality that had spurred such ...
TV May 22, 2020
Ayumi Hamasaki TV drama stays on the right side of absurdity
by Patrick St. Michel
A new drama series highlighting the life of the J-pop star at her peak has fascinated viewers with its hammed-up acting and over-the-top antics.
National May 10, 2020
In Japan, ‘Sazae-san’ — world's longest-running TV cartoon — switches to reruns
The show, adapted from four-frame comic strips by late author Machiko Hasegawa, was acknowledged by Guinness World Records in 2013.
TV May 1, 2020
Japanese taiga drama 'Idaten' goes global with tale of Olympic struggle
by Kaori Shoji
For the first time ever, Japan's national broadcaster, NHK, will show a condensed version of its famous year-long period drama in English.
Entertainment News Apr 30, 2020
No kissing, no extras: How to make TV in the age of the virus
How do you film a soap opera in the age of the coronavirus, when kissing is banned, makeup is scaled back and extras are seen as a danger to everyone’s health? TV producers around the world will be closely watching as "Neighbours” — Australia’s longest-running, ...
National Apr 24, 2020
Drama star Kumiko Okae, host of 'Hanamaru Market,' dies from coronavirus at 63
Actress Kumiko Okae died from pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus at a hospital on Thursday. She was 63. Okae, whose real name was Kumiko Owada, developed a fever on April 3 and was rushed to the hospital in Tokyo three days later after her ...
Business / Corporate Apr 22, 2020
Netflix promises it won’t run out of TV shows during the pandemic
Faced with an unprecedented global health crisis that has frozen businesses around the world, Netflix Inc. is reassuring customers (and investors) that it won’t run out of new TV shows or movies anytime soon. The company has already finished production on almost all of its ...
National Apr 14, 2020
A survey by the Japan Actors Union has found that many of its members are struggling financially during the coronavirus outbreak. A number of respondents said they have been denied performance and cancellation fees for canceled events, drama shoots and other work, but they are ...
World / Social Issues Apr 3, 2020
Parents worry as kids stuck at home get more screen time than ever
For David Krieger’s kids in south Florida, screens were a weekend treat. Now, every day is iPad-appropriate. The family’s schedule tries to cap the fun time on screens for the two kids to an hour between their educational activities, both also on electronic displays: a ...