Japanese TV... What would you suggest for good viewing?

[Emoni]

Well, in Japan now and I have a little cell phone TV (barely works, but I may get a small tv for my room later), but I'm a bit at a loss of what is actually on to watch half the time. I really have little time to watch constantly and take notes as college starts soon, but I want to see a few good shows.

I'm curious what suggestions anyone might have for shows I should seek out, or maybe a way to find an English (at least for now while I'm still learning Japanese) listing of the shows on and at what times. I'm wondering about the good, the bad, and the soooo baaaad it it's good.

Thanks for any help that is given.

[Mike Cash]

The best thing on Japanese television is the off switch.

[Silverpoint]

Get a dish or cable.

[Emoni]

The best thing on Japanese television is the off switch.

Ouch... That bad?

[Mike Cash]

I always say that at first you don't watch Japanese television because you can't understand Japanese....and then later you don't watch it because you can.

[budd]

i used to think like that
but now looking at it as a way to study japanese culture without being noticed, it's quite enjoyable
the only thing (for me) is worrying if the show will bash foreign people at some point in the series, ie: odoru daisousasen, oyaji, ningen shoumei etc etc etc

[Dutch Baka]

London hearts, Mechaike .. etc etc

have a look at www.d-addicts.com.. there are some Torrents, of programs, tv dramas etc etc

[misa.j]

I would suggest to watch NHK; they have news every hour and speak standard Japanese. There are no commercials on NHK and seems like their program is well-balanced, like little history drama, quiz show, entertainment show or documentary here and there.

[cicatriz esp]

NHK was the only station I could stomach when I was there. It had some pretty informative programs, though it may seem boring to really young people.

[Mikawa Ossan]

Japanese TV can be pretty meaningless, but if you truly want to understand Japanese culture, I would agree that watching TV is a good way to learn certain aspects. Especially what is considered funny and how to be stupid. These are actually very important things to know, in my humble opinion.

The Japanese can get difficult, but I like "Hey!Hey!Hey! Music Champs" if it's still on air. I also used to like "SMAP X SMAP". Another show that I liked is a Columbo(?) ripoff, but fun nonetheless, "Furubata Ninzaburou". This last one can be found at video rental shops. One more recommendation is the old series "Otoko ha Tsurai yo", which INHO is quite good. Hope this helps!

[Kara_Nari]

SMAP BISTRO!!!!! Hey!Hey!Hey! These shows are great, then the travel shows. Dorama....

[Mike Cash]

I'll chime in with Mikawa Ossan and heartily recommend Furuhata Ninzaburo, a show which I enjoyed and looked forward to when it was on the air. We sometimes rent the videos.

A show recommendation from somebody who ordinarily uniformly loathes Japanese television should count for something, I hope.

[yukio_michael]

Some of the better produced dorama programmes are okay, Gokusen, (edit: I had 'Genshiken', which is an anime about otaku, not the tv dorama gokusen about the yakuza school teacher, as played by Shinobi star, and all around beautiful corporate shill Nakama Yukie), Waterboys, the improbable story of Densha Otaku. That said, at first, seeing Beat Takashi in a funny hat was amusing, but after the 3rd or 4th time, it got old.

Japanese tv exists for two people only really, housewifes and 12 year old girls. If you are either of these two people you should love it, otherwise don't bother. You should have a healthy appetite for repetition, because you'll be seeing the same guys from SMAP, the Hard Gay guy, Papaya-san, the Maiuu guy, random apperances by Yaguchi Mari, etc etc, all the time.

Hey, in the interest of science I just turned on TV and Hard Gay is on Bakushou Mondai right now! Enjoy your shrill infotaining variety programmes. ;)

[Dutch Baka]

haha yeah, Smap, and Densha otoko rulez... rock and i love it hehe

but i was a little bit suprised about that there isnt that much Anime on tv.. Anime anime, not pokemon stuff..

[Emoni]

So what about Japanese cable and satelite? To be honest I wasn't sure if they existed for Japanese TV, but what about the shows on those?

[Mike Cash]

Satellite is available. Cable availability depends on your area.

We have cable here in my city. I took a look at the channels offered and was less than impressed by them. They can't find decent programming to fill up the normal broadcast channels, so I have always wondered how they plan to get enough stuff to fill up cable channels to boot.

[Elizabeth]

NHK was the only station I could stomach when I was there. It had some pretty informative programs, though it may seem boring to really young people.
I actually really enjoy NHK TV and radio (which I still get practically every waking moment online :p ) and there's another all-news cable network but I can't recall the name right now.

If you don't understand at all, it's probably not going to matter much anyway to have English listings or whatever and you can judge yourself by just flipping the dial.

[Silverpoint]

Sky PerfecTV puts out some kind of English listings guide once a month I believe but you have to subscribe to it. Most of the English language channels (terrestrial and digital) also have listings in the Daily Yomiuri.

[Dekamaster]

Does anyone know where I could get a good "Last Christmas" website ? Last Christmas was the Fall 2004 dorama of Fuji TV. Thanks...

[budd]

depends on the definition of good -- but i guess would be an okay place to start is
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Last_Christmas
studio ooto subbed it for peoples who don't have a connection
song is still popular -- heard it playing wednesday while walking into jr akihabara exit

[-Rudel-]

I like the show "トリビアの泉". :-) Toribia no izumi

http://wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/trivia/index.html

[doinkies]

Actually, um...I rather like the music and variety shows ^^;; I watch うたばん, Music Station, 歌笑 HOT HIT 10, etc. I don't usually watch SMAPxSMAP unless someone I like is one of the guests. But I like J-dramas too.

As for NHK's programming...the annual Taiga Dramas (historical dramas) are interesting to watch, I think. Although this year's one (Yoshitsune) just ended.

[Ewok85]

I used to get home just in time (on a tuesday I think) to watch 内村プロデュース with my older host brother.

Crude, simple humor that made me smile :)

[pipokun]

龍虎飯店 ryukohanten
This is an iron chef like program.
2 chefs compete in 3 cooking bouts, and each bout for a dish is for only 5min.
It is a midnight program, so I record it and watch later.
ryukohanten (http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/ryu-ko/index.html)

[Apollo]

NHK news :blush: :blush: