Japanese TV shows (but I don't watch anime)

reireimjmj New member

From: Japan Registered: 2012-02-01 Posts: 4

Hey I am studying Japanese, and of course and enjoying my RTK. When not studying that and other texts, I'd like to be able to sit back and relax and watch some Japanese TV that is entertaining.

Now I don't really watch anime, it just rarely suits my tastes. Nothing against you if you like it though. Maybe I just haven't found the right one I don't know.

I occasionally watch J league and baseball here but what I am looking for is recommendations on comedy shows in Japan. I like the "downtown" guys so I watch that when its on, but do you know any other good programs?

Back in the states I was a big fan of HBO comedies such as Flight of the Concords and Curb your Enthusiasm, as well as shows like It's always sunny in philadelphia, the league and Arrested Development.
I know Japan has an entirely different culture, but I was wondering if there are ANY shows that are even remotely similar.

DevvaR Member

From: Australia Registered: 2011-04-28 Posts: 128 Website

I can't think of any similar comedies but what you can do is look for dubbed versions of English shows you like.

reireimjmj New member

From: Japan Registered: 2012-02-01 Posts: 4

Haha really? I mean they do have 30 rock at tsutaya but to watch it in Japanese rather than its intended language? hmmmmmmm
I'll try that sure, but in the meantime does anyone have any other suggestions?

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Odin89 Member

Registered: 2010-07-31 Posts: 49

Someone posted this site a while back, I think it was Zorlee.
http://moviemaga.blog20.fc2.com/

I'm sure you can find something that fits your tastes in there.
As for comedy recommendations, I like ホンマでっかTV and お試しかっ！ (they're not series though, just crazy Variety shows xd)

Nagareboshi Member

From: Austria Registered: 2010-10-11 Posts: 569 Website

Why don't you sign up at ニコニコ動画 http://www.nicovideo.jp/ I bet you will find what you like there. :-)

reireimjmj New member

From: Japan Registered: 2012-02-01 Posts: 4

Thanks! If anyone else has ideas post them, but I'm gunna check these two sites out tonight!

Realism Member

Registered: 2011-05-01 Posts: 206

Gachinko Fight Club is my favorite Japanese program.

I seriously cannot tell if the show is scripted or real. It seems so ridiculous. I don't know if it's still airing, but there are tons of episodes on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dE6dj409AU

theadamie Member

From: Kentucky-Seoul Registered: 2011-07-31 Posts: 91 Website

if you just want listening practice I think dubbed movies from your own country are great. because you know the context really well, which makes it 10x easier to follow and there aren't and references to ancient japanese culture and stuff that you don't know about etc.

I'm reading a German novel "low highschool reading level" that was translated into korean right now "I'm american, but it's similar enough" and I can understand it without a dictionary.

Jombo Member

From: AZ Registered: 2011-11-12 Posts: 48

Try http://www.d-addicts.com/. They have a decent selection of TV/reality shows, just look for anything with the type "j-tv". Some episodes include commercials, which are fun to study because they're short.

I've been tuning in to London Heats, しゃべくり007 (Shabekuri 007), and いきなり！黄金伝説 (Ikinari! Ougon Densetsu) every week.

Oh, and you can also look up Keyhole TV. Its a program where you can stream Japanese television channels or radio in real-time. The quality is pretty bad, but its fun to whip this out when you don't know what to watch. I usually just have it playing on the corner of my screen and I look up shows I find interesting later so I can watch them in higher quality.
http://d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_56753.htm

Last edited by Jombo (2012 March 13, 6:26 pm)

Nukemarine Member

From: 神奈川 Registered: 2007-07-15 Posts: 2347

Here's a ranking by fans of Japanese Dramas to give you good idea what to look out for

http://jdorama.com/topdramas.htm

Combine that with d-addicts to find subtitles other things useful to watch. In time you should find what directors, writers and actors tend to coincide with shows you like. For example, Kizarazu Kats Eye, Ikebukuro West Gate Park and Tiger&Dragon all have the same writer and I really like those shows. As such, checking out other shows by him may be a good idea even if it's not rated high by other viewers.

Another good idea is look at award winning shows. I found that the winners and nominees are worth checking out. A quarterly Japanese award (Japanese TV shows are normally 3 months in length per season) for TV shows is listed here:

http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Television_Dr … emy_Awards

eslang Member

Registered: 2012-01-27 Posts: 98

Jombo wrote:
I've been tuning in to London Heats, しゃべくり007 (Shabekuri 007), and いきなり！黄金伝説 (Ikinari! Ougon Densetsu) every week.

Did you manage to see the episode しゃべくり007 (Shabekuri 007) where Tom Cruise & Cameron Diaz are guest-stars? It's hilariously funny!

Tzadeck Member

From: Kinki Registered: 2009-02-21 Posts: 2484

I pretty much like the same shows you do, and I've found almost no Japanese shows I could watch. Though, I've lived in Japan for three years and I've had a TV the whole time. Never even attempt to watch it anymore though. I've given up.

I watch イッテＱ (is that how it's written?) because my sort-of-girlfriend watches it when she's over. It doesn't make me want to shoot myself in the face, but I wouldn't watch it on my own time.

I don't really like TV in America either though. There are a few American shows I like, but they're all comedies (Arrested Development and Flight of the Concords are both high on my list of favorites).

Last edited by Tzadeck (2012 March 14, 4:15 am)

eslang Member

Registered: 2012-01-27 Posts: 98

reireimjmj wrote:
I know Japan has an entirely different culture, but I was wondering if there are ANY shows that are even remotely similar.

There are many talk shows トーク番組 and variety shows in Japan.

Beat Takeshi 漫才 (manzai) and Newswatch TV shows are pretty interesting.

I also enjoy watching...　『笑点』 and 『ザ!鉄腕!DASH!!』

Jombo Member

From: AZ Registered: 2011-11-12 Posts: 48

eslang wrote:
Jombo wrote:
I've been tuning in to London Heats, しゃべくり007 (Shabekuri 007), and いきなり！黄金伝説 (Ikinari! Ougon Densetsu) every week.
Did you manage to see the episode しゃべくり007 (Shabekuri 007) where Tom Cruise & Cameron Diaz are guest-stars? It's hilariously funny!

No I haven't, when did it air? I want to see it now.

howtwosavealif3 Member

From: USA Registered: 2008-02-09 Posts: 889 Website

Last edited by howtwosavealif3 (2012 March 17, 8:50 pm)

eslang Member

Registered: 2012-01-27 Posts: 98

Jombo wrote:
eslang wrote:
Jombo wrote:
I've been tuning in to London Heats, しゃべくり007 (Shabekuri 007), and いきなり！黄金伝説 (Ikinari! Ougon Densetsu) every week.
Did you manage to see the episode しゃべくり007 (Shabekuri 007) where Tom Cruise & Cameron Diaz are guest-stars? It's hilariously funny!
No I haven't, when did it air? I want to see it now.

It was aired in Oct 2010.

Here are the video links. Enjoy~
しゃべくり007　トム・クルーズ＆キャメロン・ディアス１
http://video.fc2.com/content/20110717PpdtVh6K/
しゃべくり007　トム・クルーズ＆キャメロン・ディアス２
http://video.fc2.com/content/20110717CTYSGBD6/

zigmonty Member

From: Melbourne Registered: 2009-06-04 Posts: 671

reireimjmj wrote:
I know Japan has an entirely different culture, but I was wondering if there are ANY shows that are even remotely similar.

I used to think the same as you. "I like these shows in english, i need to find something similar in japanese". I used to watch a tonne of western stuff that had been dubbed. Then i just started looking up what was popular in japan and watched it (mostly dramas from d-addicts). And i found myself enjoying them, even though they didn't really directly correspond to the sort of stuff i watch in english. Try to broaden your horizons, you might be surprised.

Having said that, i'm with you on the anime thing. I never got into it, even after trying a couple of times (Death Note was ok...).

overture2112 Member

From: New York Registered: 2010-05-16 Posts: 400

Nukemarine wrote:
In time you should find what directors, writers and actors tend to coincide with shows you like. For example, Kizarazu Kats Eye, Ikebukuro West Gate Park and Tiger&Dragon all have the same writer and I really like those shows. As such, checking out other shows by him may be a good idea even if it's not rated high by other viewers.

This has been my method so far but I'm curious if there's anything like anime-planet that suggests shows you might like based on some other show you enjoyed (whether due to similar cast, plot, theme, etc).

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Jombo wrote:

reireimjmj wrote:

eslang wrote:

Jombo wrote:

Jombo wrote:

eslang wrote:

Jombo wrote:

reireimjmj wrote:

Nukemarine wrote: