Tag: nhk

  • Currently Watching: So Far in 2026

    The Clown who doesn’t watch television has continued the adventure.

    Over two years ago, I wrote about my television catch-up journey. I did finish watching Jubilee with some gusto, and though I loved the first season of Pachinko (and have The Grass Roots’ Live for Today [1] on music rotation), I have yet to catch up with the second season because of reading that a third (and maybe a fourth) season are planned. My distaste for multiple seasons in American television never diminishes.

    Nine Perfect Strangers was fine (seeing Nicole Kidman in her 2nd Russian evolution from Birthday Girl was something), and just reminds me that with the many shows Kidman is doing, I’ll have a lot to sit through in my retirement years— I suppose that I owe a proper watch to Faraway Downs (I didn’t hate Australia), and I still owe Expats a watch. Then there’s Special Ops: Lioness and Scarpetta, none of which are currently on the watchlist.

    The Underground Railroad is still on the pending list, and I only went through half of Trigun, as well as only going halfway through Magic Knight Rayearth. I also made the mistake of “wanting to re-watch” Inuyasha, only to realize that’s over 150 episodes (of the original series). I’ll be in my 80s when I finish that.

    I started the year by watching WOWOW’s (ever one of my favorites) Sai, and I would’ve watched the miniseries version of After the Quake as well, if Netflix had chosen to carry that instead of the film cut. Which reminds me of the announcement that Netflix made a deal to carry NHK shows— including Taiga dramas, Asadoras and titles on there Drama 10 lineup. Starting with Mampuku, which is kinda long, but I did immediately (less than a week ago) go through Tokyo Salad Bowl, which I enjoyed. In the end, Japanese short miniseries lasting less than 13 episodes for only one season is my desired format.

    After much waiting (I had seen a couple of episodes as a teen), I sat through the first season of Genndy Tartakovsky’s Samurai Jack. It will obviously be an Inuyasha-type of watching, in which I’ll be much older when I get through those shows. I honestly don’t think I would even be able to sit through seasons and seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Battlestar Galactica in this day and age, and I adore those shows.

    Other anime one-shots that I sat through (or had hoped they had been one-shots) were Dandelion, with the best ending theme song and vibe. As well as Mad Bull 34, The Darwin Incident (WHAT WAS THAT ENDING), went through the second season of Dorohedoro, and I’m about to start Lazarus.

    On the non-Japanese more Western-centric side, I saw Rise of the Raven, the Hungarian series about Janos Hunyadi in the 1450s, which I loved. I also watched the miniseries version on Franz Kafka’s life, titled Kafka, which is a total different project to Agnieszka Holland’s Franz movie, which I must admit enjoyed more. Alas, I’m a movie watcher.

    I also did end up peaking at The Amazing Digital Circus.

  • Gonta-kun and Gorori for Brutus for NHK’s 100th Anniversary

    Celebrating 100 years of broadcast, NHK has decided to dust off some of its educational mascots for this nostalgic photoshoot for the September edition of Brutus magazine. Featuring Latin America and Peru’s favorite Gonta-kun (of Dekirukana fame) alongside GORORI from Tsukutte Asobo (つくってあそぼ).

    Gonta-kun hasn’t aged one bit, I must admit. And Ei Takami’s passing back in May 2023 was felt throughout millennial Peruvian twitter who mourned Noppo-san, a key character in our formative years. RIP, Noppo-san.

    Also, you guys- one of the most popular posts on the site is the Okaasan to Issho (おかあさんといっしょ) post I did so long ago, I thought I would update you all that NHK (and Japan in general) has decided to finally enter the digital era, and have set up a bunch of NHK content channel, though I have to be honest, I tried looking up all the content I watched during the special events for the 65th anniversary of Okaasan to Issho and couldn’t find the same clips. I’m pretty sure there was a Poyoyon (ぼよよん) special clip with all the available hosts of the show’s history, and I’m sure I saw a good quality clip of the Power Up song.

    Now a general search only gives you a non-official clip of Kinra Kira Pon (きんらきらぽん) on TikTok, which feeds you into this version of the SUPURAPPI (スプラッピ スプラッパ) song for the anniversary. Archive accordingly.

  • Asahi Kasei – Mainichi o, Taisetsu ni~ PythagoraSwitch Style~

    Damn, Japan. You got too much time in your hands xD

    Everyone’s a big Pythagora Switch fan~ and Asahi Kasei has taken promoting their plastic wrap and ziploc bags to Pythagora levels with this commercial.

    Complete title is まいにちを、たいせつに～キッチンのからくりじかけムービー～全篇

    Original upload was located at youtube.com/watch?v=57KCM5LRmmk

  • Mei Nagano on Hanbun, Aoi

    I’ve been watching NHK’s asadora, Hanbun Aoi (半分、青い。), intermittently like I always tend to do. At first, Mei Nagano made me think of a grown-up Ashida Mana which made no sense… even though Mana-chan is enormous and the last time I saw her it made me feel like those parents who watch their children turn into teenagers in horror. lol

    But now I was watching the most recent episode of Tsurube no Kazoku ni Kanpai (鶴瓶の家族に乾杯) on NHK Premium, and she was featured wearing an up-do samurai bun, white baggy clothes; so relaxed, enjoying her snacks, a dip of her feet in onsen water, greeting fans and playing other young girls. Dorky charisma, yo~ It takes a special ability to have people younger than you to “kawaiiiiiiiiii” you so sincerely. LOL

  • Kuno Yoko’s GARAPIKOPu~ Animation OP

    You know I’m a big fan of NHK’s Okaasan to Issho, right? Like, I’ve been watching it for years, I don’t have children, and my Japanese isn’t improving anymore… but I still watch it. LOL I’m still super shocked that Yoshihisa Kobayashi (小林よしひさ) – the guy that does the gymnastics – is still around since my original post a decade ago. He’s survived like two or three puppet changes, and this is like his third round of hosts— Takumi Mitani left a few years ago, and Daisuke Yokoyama officially left last year, giving way to Atsuko Ono subbing for Takumi, and Yuichiro Hanada taking over Daisuke.

    I still miss Itou Mayu, tho xD

    Anyway, I digress~ during the many changes in themes and puppets, they started showing the Galapico Poo (ガラピコぷ〜 , GARAPIKOPu) segment that begins with an animated intro that I’ve always been a fan of. It’s been years on air, and there’s no official clips (only poor TV-to-CAM captures, because LOL NHK), but I finally found Kuno Yoko (久野遥子) [Tumblr][Twitter] was in charge of the animation. FINALLY.

    (more…)

  • Kou Shibasaki for NHK’s Taiga, Naotora: The Lady Warlord

    I really have no J-entertainment sources any longer xD

    I just found out that Kou Shibasaki’s gonna be in this year’s Taiga drama! More spazzing? It’s called Naotora: The Lady Warlord (おんな城主 直虎). I’m sold already [1][2].

    Bless us all! Look at her wardrobe~ I haven’t fangirled a Taiga since Atsuhime [1][2], which was like 9 years ago. LOL Anyone knows if there’s a subtitled version available?

  • Shiina Ringo’s NIPPON for NHK’s FIFA

    If FIFA’s World Cup is making me choose between Pitbull and Ricky Martin. Okay, I’ll take this~

    NHK got Shiina Ringo to make a song for their coverage of the event, and that’s all we need to know. I’m not sure what’s the coverage is gonna be like down here (cable or networks), but I’m sure we’re stuck with Pitbull.

    I just knew songs were gonna suck when they started announcing the social media contests to “create the song” for the World Cup. Cheap music will always be cheap.

  • Just like a puppy: Rena Nounen

    People were commenting that her eyes sparkle… and they kinda do! And she’s got the cutest dorkiest smile/laugh ever. I dunno if I’m ever going to be able to see her outside her Ama-chan role.

    But how can she be resisted?

    rena-nounen-amachan-towel-001

    Source

  • GoldieBlox’s Princess Machine

    A while back, there was this cool crowdfunding project to develop a game for girls and incentivize careers such as engineering, instead of the same-old same-old games on playing mommy and princess.

    After a legal back-and-forth with the Beastie Boys and the use of the original audio track [1], GoldieBlox took a step back and just removed the song parody. The result is still awesome.

    The same time who did the OK Go music video This Too Shall Pass, taking us once again into a Pythagoras’ Switch throwback.

  • There, There, Rena Nounen

    *pats, pats*

    there-there-rena-nounen

    I really need to make time to watch Rena Nounen and have a clear opinion on her, instead of clouding it with Ama-chan.