Known For
SMAP×SMAP was an ongoing weekly Japanese variety show on Kansai TV and Fuji TV starring the members of SMAP. The show began on April 15, 1996 and it aired from 22:00 to 22:54 every Monday. The show's usual ratings were higher than 20%, which is considered high since most variety shows range from 10-20%. Each episode begins a variety of skits, comedic performances, and/or games. These are followed by Bistro SMAP, in which the SMAP members compete against each other to impress celebrity judges with their gourmet cooking. Last is a musical performance by SMAP which may include celebrity guests, as well.
Set in the 18th century, the show follows the Shogun Yoshimune, who likes to disguise himself as a low-ranking samurai and go into his capital of Edo to see the life of the common man, as well as to seek out and punish evildoers who would hurt his citizens. He is aided by Magistrate Oo'oka and a vivacious fireman, Tatsugoro, as well as a rotating cast of other recurring characters. Along with Zenigata Heiji and Mito Kōmon, it ranks among the longest-running series in the jidaigeki genre. Like so many other jidaigeki, it falls in the category of kanzen-chōaku, loosely, "rewarding good and punishing evil."
Mita Sakura is considered to be weird by her colleagues at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, because she voluntarily works in the unidentified bodies department. About 20,000 unidentified bodies exist in the country and Mita Sakura works on returning these unknown deceased people to their families. She has a colleague, Tsukimoto Makoto, who works in the same department. They are totally opposite in terms of their personalities and interests. Mita Sakura is bright and warm-hearted, but Tsukimoto Makoto is calm and cold-hearted. They do share the same desire to return these unidentified bodies to their families. To find the identities of these deceased people, they rely on the few clues that are left behind on them.
Tenchijin is the 48th NHK Taiga drama. It airs on NHK from January 4, 2009 every Sunday from 20:00 to 20:44 JST to November 22, 2009 spanning 47 episodes. The story centers on the life of the 16th century samurai Naoe Kanetsugu. Production began on April 27, 2007. The story is based on the novel Tenchijin by Masashi Hisaka and was adapted for screen by scriptwriter Eriko Komatsu. The series' music composer was Michiru Oshima. The protagonist of the drama, Naoe Kanetsugu, was taught by Uesugi Kenshin in his youth that to conquer the world is a trifling matter, but what matters is to live one's life with righteousness. After Uesugi's death, Naoe supports Uesugi Kagekatsu, who holds the destiny of Echigo province.
The heroine Balsa is a skilled bodyguard and a masterful spear-wielder. One day she rescues Prince Chagum who has fallen into a river. The prince is carrying a mysterious spirit egg in his body, and is in danger of being assassinated by his father, the Mikado, who fears this will damage his imperial prestige. Balsa embarks upon a perilous journey when she accepts the queen’s plead to protect her son from her husband.
Kekkon dekinai otoko, known in English as He Who Can't Marry, is a 2006 Japanese drama broadcast by Fuji TV. The theme song is "Swimmy" by Every Little Thing. The drama was produced by Kansai Telecasting Corporation and Media Mix Japan.
Koichi Domoto and Tsuyoshi Domoto entertain their guests by doing whatever their guests want to do.
Yu Takanashi, a former surgeon, joins the Comprehensive Diagnosis Department at Tenikai General Hospital, where he works alongside the brilliant yet eccentric Takao Ameku to solve mysterious medical cases.
In a world where giant robots are built and used for labor, a special police force of robots is created to handle crimes relating to these machines.
Who will run Japan? The prime minister or a mastermind? A political thriller about the "fixer" pulling strings behind the scenes controlling the political, business, and legal worlds as the greed of money and power intersect.
Photo Gallery

Movie Credits (87)
Follows a young man with a dark family past who visits the village of his late mother and encounters a private eye hired by hostile villagers as a killing spree unfolds.
The eighth shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, fights against evil rampant in Edo while blending in with the common people as Tokuda Shinnosuke, the third son of a poor samurai retainer, commonly known as "Shin-san". The story depicts Yoshimune, who is shaken by the issue of succession, the drama within Edo Castle, and a difficult case involving a conspiracy that occurs in the castle town, with the addition of new characters and a sense of the era.
Kasumi, a high school student, has lived her life with curling in a scenic town near Karuizawa, home to the oldest curling field in Honshu. In her elementary school days, she won the championship with her childhood friends, on the team called Miyo Stella. However, the team later disbanded, and Kasumi was left feeling depressed. Meanwhile, the town was in the midst of an international curling tournament being held locally. Kasumi's passion is rekindled, as she thinks, "This is my chance to play in an exhibition match at an international tournament where I can compete against strong teams that will be competing in the Olympics!"
Junior high school student Yuki, a member of a travelling theater troupe, changes schools every month for performances. Because of this, he does not expect to meet people at any of his schools and does not try to make friends. However, when he attends a new school, his homeroom teacher asks him to deliver something to a classmate who hasn't been coming to school, but has excellent grades. By chance, he becomes friends with him, and Ken's ex-girlfriend Maya joins them, and as the three of them spend more and more time together, Yuki begins to wish that they could see him on stage as an actor.
One day, 11-year-old Kaede suddenly collapses during class. After tests, she is diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, beginning a long and painful battle with the disease. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are nothing but harsh for young Kaede, but her only emotional support is Yoshi, who is battling the same disease in the bed next to her. Around the same time, IT company owner Kengo Yanai loses his beloved daughter to leukemia. As a business owner, Kengo has no choice but to prioritize his work, but the loss of his daughter sends his once happy family spiraling into disintegration. Having lost his family, Kengo's only pride in life is that he became a bone marrow donor.
An old house stands amongst newly built buildings, as if it has been left behind. Tamako, a popular fortune teller, has been living there alone with her son, Tadao, for years. Because he has intellectual disability and autism, their neighbors often complain about his unpredictable behaviors. One day, Tamako is informed that a room is available in a group home owned by a company that runs the community workshop Tadao works at. Residents there all have intellectual disability but are living together to be independent from their families. Tamako decides to let Tadao move into the group home, but the sudden change of environment confuses him.
A police officer rehired after retiring investigates a case.
One samurai is ordered to kill another by their master in punishment.
After her brother goes missing, a young psychologist visits an infamous haunted and cursed location known as ‘Howling Village’ to investigate his disappearance and uncover her family’s dark history.
HIRAKATA a major apparel manufacturer in financial crisis, decides to launch a new brand to revive its fortunes, and brings back Yuji Fujimura (Masanobu Takashima) who left the company after a previous conflict with the president. and gathers a group of young craftsmen under his wing, including patterner Kyoko Kayeda (Akane Hotta), assistant Seita Yoshino (Hiroki Iijima), and shoemaker Yuriko Kishimoto (Miyuu Nishimura).
A man with family troubles suddenly loses his job and finds a light of hope through a magnificent 1,000 year old community festival that he reluctantly joins.
Centers on three childhood friends in a love triangle. Yori moved back to the countryside, and started wearing glasses and not being noticed by girls. Meanwhile, Shizuku entered the entertainment industry alongside Subaru, and both began working as a model and actor, respectively. But when Yori turns 16, he re-enters their lives.
A young woman grows emotionally as she overcomes the deaths of those dear to her after meeting a female mortician..
The film follows the relationship between a mother and her son. In 1945, the mother played by Sayuri Yoshinaga fled with her two sons from the Russians to Hokkaido. In 1972, her son played by Masato Sakai returns to Japan after finding success in the U.S.
An old widower who lives with his two daughter runs a tofu store,one day a distant relative comes to his home looking to heal his wounded heart after losing his family in the 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
Kohei, a deaf university student, meets lively Taichi and finds rare connection. But as their bond deepens, Kohei must confront his fear of growing too close.
Shuji Mimura works as a broadcast writer. He learns that he doesn't have much time left to live. He decides to concentrate on the future of his beloved family. Shuji Mimura's final plan is to find the best man to marry his wife Ayako.
TV Credits (75)
After discovering her husband's affair and an even more devastating secret, a woman chooses to rebuild her life on her own terms while her remorseful husband fights for a second chance.
Yu Takanashi, a former surgeon, joins the Comprehensive Diagnosis Department at Tenikai General Hospital, where he works alongside the brilliant yet eccentric Takao Ameku to solve mysterious medical cases.
East Shinjuku Night High School has students with various challenges. Delinquent Taketo is trapped in a negative spiral. Filipina-Japanese Angela struggles with schoolwork, while Kasumi spends all her class hours in the infirmary. Shozo had to leave school to work in his youth. With guidance from their new science teacher, Fujitake, they work on an experiment for an academic conference.
Mita Sakura is considered to be weird by her colleagues at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, because she voluntarily works in the unidentified bodies department. About 20,000 unidentified bodies exist in the country and Mita Sakura works on returning these unknown deceased people to their families. She has a colleague, Tsukimoto Makoto, who works in the same department. They are totally opposite in terms of their personalities and interests. Mita Sakura is bright and warm-hearted, but Tsukimoto Makoto is calm and cold-hearted. They do share the same desire to return these unidentified bodies to their families. To find the identities of these deceased people, they rely on the few clues that are left behind on them.
Set in the mid-Edo period, this drama follows Sachi, who works as an apprentice at the Osaka Tenma kimono merchant Isuzuya and strives to carve a way to success despite the challenges she faces.
A mediatised married couple who no longer love each other is highly optimistic about getting a divorce. However, external circumstances will get in their way and they will have no other choice but to work hand in hand to reach their ultimate goal: getting a divorce.
Who will run Japan? The prime minister or a mastermind? A political thriller about the "fixer" pulling strings behind the scenes controlling the political, business, and legal worlds as the greed of money and power intersect.
The First Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Department, which is based in the Dai-Tokyo Police Station , is headed by Keiichiro Funakoshi, the Chief of the First Investigation Division . This is a department that specializes in considerations that lead to solutions. Along with Ryu Fujii , a new detective who was newly assigned for some reason , they lead to the solution of many difficult cases one after another while colliding with each other's strengths.
Follows the people in the "Long House of Good People" who are different in appearance, a group of villains disguised as good people. They sometimes help ordinary people in difficulty, sometimes rescue friends in critical moments, and use their superb skills to fight against evil forces.
Is it pleasant to be object of obsession of a perfect man? This is the start of a cohabitation story between a woman who thinks "It's more fun to be fulfilled with my interests rather than love," Waka, and a man who has an unrequited love while doing everything he can to persuade her, Shinobu! Waka, who's a librarian, was looking for a place to move into with her huge collection of books. In the midst of that, she suddenly reunited with Shinobu, a researcher, who suddenly kissed her back in high school while reading Tanizaki Junichirou's "A Fool's Love"...?! They suddenly started living together, and when he confessed that he "liked" her, Waka turned him down immediately?!!
Natsumi's (Hikaru Takahashi) younger sister Haru passes away because a disease. She was just 19. Natsumi loved her younger sister a lot. Meanwhile, Haru was engaged to Togo. Togo comes from a distinguished family, who runs a large company. His parents care about pedigree a lot and suggests to Natsumi that she should now date Togo. Natsumi turns down their request, but Toho accepts his parents request to date Natsumi. Suddenly, Natsumi asks Togo to take her to places where he took her younger sister. Togo is surprised by her request, but he begins to take Natsumi around. Natsumi soon becomes attracted to Togo, but she feels a sense of guilt for her feelings.
Chika Tsuchiya is a female detective in the former accounting department. It's a habit never let go of the calculator & always convert things into money.
Kyoko Muromachi, Yayoi Ichijo and Misuzu Yasaka work at a police station. Kyoko Muromachi works in the general affairs section, Yayoi Ichijo in the public relations section and Misuzu Yasaka in the cafeteria as a cook. Even though they are not detectives, they obtain information about cases and gather at the police station cafeteria to analyze the information. They actually find tips that can solve cases.
The heroine Balsa is a skilled bodyguard and a masterful spear-wielder. One day she rescues Prince Chagum who has fallen into a river. The prince is carrying a mysterious spirit egg in his body, and is in danger of being assassinated by his father, the Mikado, who fears this will damage his imperial prestige. Balsa embarks upon a perilous journey when she accepts the queen’s plead to protect her son from her husband.
Ryo Saeba is a private detective and a sweeper who rids society of evil. He is also known as City Hunter. He works with partner Kaori Makimura. An accident leads to Kaori Makimura's death and her heart is transplanted to Xiang-Ying. Xiang-Ying then appears in front of Ryo Saeba.
Koichi Domoto and Tsuyoshi Domoto entertain their guests by doing whatever their guests want to do.
Undercover cop Sakura Mizusawa assumes many faces as she teams up with a hot-blooded detective, Masato Takeuchi, to form a crime-solving tag team with an ear for the truth. With an uncanny ability to connect all the disparate voices she hears undercover, Sakura goes in complete pursuit of criminals, giving her undivided attention to incidents that could happen to anyone and alleviating the suffering of the weak and disadvantaged.
