MetaFilter posts tagged with Japan and TV

He has come, our Ultraman!

Charlemagne In Sweatpants — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:16:07 -0800

Ultraman Hit Song History Legend Hero Hen and Ultraman Hit Song History New Hero Hen are two 45 minute commemoration compilations of theme songs and clips of the Japanese tokusatsu hero Ultraman that were put together for the show's 45th anniversary. If you're pressed for time, you can just watch the original theme song with English subtitles.

STAR WOLF, or, he tried to kill me with a forklift!

JHarris — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 03:43:47 -0800

スターウルフ, "Star Wolf," was a half-hour sci-fi TV show produced and aired in Japan in 1978. (TV Tropes page -- addiction warning) It had somewhat cheesy special effects, understandable being a TV series made just one year after Star Wars, but it made up for it with style, energy, and ACTION PACKED MUSIC.

American viewers will know it best as the show ripped apart and reassembled into two Fugitive Alien movies by Sandy Frank Productions, then shown on two memorable episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000. (Episodes on YouTube: Fugitive Alien, its sequel.) Although the Japanese show got at least two seasons (the second under the title Space Hero Star Wolf), only the first four episodes appear to exist on the internet. Here they are: One - Two - Three - Four. (There are no subtitles, but you should be able to figure out what is going on if you've seen the MST episode.) Star Wolf concerned Ken Shinsei, a member of the evil race of the Star Wolves who live on the planet Varna (or "Valna Star"), the terrors of the universe. But Ken is really an Earthman, raised by the raiders since youth, and has gained super strength from growing up in Varna's high gravity. When he interrupts his pillaging to protect a woman and child from his murderous friend and teammate and accidentally kills him, his adopted people brand him a traitor. He escapes and hooks up with the crew off the oldest ship stationed on the Earth, the Bacchus III, run by the alcoholic and awesome Captain Joe, whose family it was that Ken was trying to protect, gasp shock. Info on the Sandy Frank movies on MST fan site Satellite News: Fugitive Alien and Star Force: Fugitive Alien II. From the show: the infamous Fugitive Alien Medley, a.k.a. "He Tried to Kill Me With A Forklift." Even if you're a MSTie, you may not know that it's all based on the Star Wolf trilogy, a series of sci-fi novels by American Edmond Hamilton. This is posted because, although it has faults, the show is actually watchable, and one or two notches better without Sandy Frank's editing. And you might disagree with me on this, but the music is awesome.

Sunnier Than Sonny And Cher!

The Whelk — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:25:30 -0800

What is Pink Lady? In Japan they are remembered for a string of pop hits in the 70s, but Americans might remember them either from their disco single "Kiss In The Dark" or from an attempt to sell them to the US market in 1980 via a short-lived NBC variety show Pink Lady & Jeff (TVParty summary) with comedian Jeff Altman. (Opening). The show featured their Japanese hits, UFO, MONSTER (a bit more rock and roll), and SOS along with US hits like Boogie Wonderland, McArthur Park and the occasional guest star. (with encore) Also, Roy Orbison. Sadly, the show failed to break out and the two returned to Japan for a series of farewell concerts and retrospectives. Much, much more available at this charmingly retro, utterly exhaustive fan site devoted to them. Or just read the recaps. Bonus from their last concert, Pink Typhoon, a cover of In The Navy

Basking in the warm glow of the television.

DoctorFedora — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:42:31 -0800

Sure, we all know that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is broadcast every year in the US as a Christmas tradition, and that Sweden basically closes every year from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on December 24th to watch Donald Duck, but what about other countries? Germany joins the party by showing an obscure British comedy sketch called "Dinner for One" (YouTube link) every year for New Year's Eve, famous enough that the phrase "The same procedure as last year?" will get you the response "The same procedure as every year, James," and that the parody "Dinner für Brot" ("Dinner for Bread" — YouTube links in German) was created with puppets, based on the original sketch. Japan takes an approach less akin to Sweden and Germany's tradition of airing the same program year after year, instead opting for something more along the lines of the US's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, called Kouhaku Uta Gassen ("Red and White Song Battle" — Wikipedia link), featuring two teams of competing musicans, divided by sex. The show is by invitation only, and is such a cultural touchstone that when Jero, the African-American enka singer (Wikipedia link), was invited to perform at 2008's edition, there was hardly a dry eye in the audience when he talked about promising his late grandmother that he'd one day be famous enough to perform on Kouhaku. And of course, in the United States, who could forget the annual broadcasts of such traditions as It's a Wonderful Life, the Christmas Episode,, Frosty the Snowman (and its rather more poorly regarded '90s sequel, Frosty Returns), and, naturally, 1984's A Christmas Story, based on the novel by Jean Shepherd. A distinctly American cultural touchstone, it's been adapted from In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash (Amazon link) into not only a movie, but also into numerous stage musicals and a 30–second reenactment by animated bunnies. The annual 24–hour marathon of a dozen nonstop showings of the movie for Christmas on TNT (and now TBS) has become famous, but this year it's got competition from one of the Swaziest movies ever made. (Previously, and previouslier)

"Samurai spirit-a!"

mrducts — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:45:13 -0800

Quentin Tarantino is the latest American celebrity to be featured in a TV commercial for SoftBank Mobile Corp, a Japanese telecommunications and media company. Tarantino stars as “Uncle Tara-chan” in the bizarre and very popular “White family” commercial series. The Whites consist of the "Mom", the daughter “Me” (a Softbank shop saleswoman played by popular singer/actress Aya Ueto), the "Older Brother" (played by African American actor Dante Carter), and the father, Otosan, who happens to be a white Hokkaido-ken dog named Kaikun.

Japan's Media Environment

armage — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:21:13 -0800

Japan -- Media Environment Open; State Looms Large (August 2009, PDF) A detailed, 67-page overview and analysis of Japan's traditional and new media environment published by the Open Source Center, an office of the Director of National Intelligence.

All the World Loves a Bronson

brownpau — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:58:46 -0800

Playboy. Cowboy. Mandom. The late Charles Bronson and his perfect chest, in one of his finest early pre-Death-Wish roles. And look out for Percy Helton. Here's a shorter version with more horse. Via here. (Who the hell takes off his shirt or unscrews a bottle of cologne like that anyway?)

TV in Japan

myopicman — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:12:16 -0800

TV in Japan. A hyper representation of what airs, or has aired on Japanese TV. Ranging from action packed to truly awesome (and from monkeys to ninjas), set your eyes to "dazzled" and brain to "frazzled".

You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em ....

anastasiav — Wed, 31 Mar 2004 13:18:21 -0800

In February 2003 Jeremy Shafer, BARF leader, performance artist, smartass, and all-around Origami Wunderkind was invited to participate in a competitive Origami championship on the Japanese reality television show TV Champion - here is his story [.pdf file].

A small brown open-mouthed monster

adrianhon — Sat, 11 Oct 2003 02:25:29 -0800

Domo-kun! Domokun is "a small brown open-mouthed monster hatched from an egg who lives with a wise old rabbit underground." In Japan, he's the mascot of the NHK BS2 channel and is the star of a series of stop-motion shorts (100MB .mov), the fun and warmth of which aren't lost in translation. In the western world, Domokun is better known as the monster chasing that cute little kitty.

Happy Birthday Astroboy

Jimbob — Sun, 06 Apr 2003 22:08:54 -0800

Happy birthday Astroboy - Born on April 7, 2003. Oh how the future has dissapointed; why don't we have flying juvenile robots to protect us from evil? All we have is kitch T-shirts. The history and episode guide to Astroboy, and lots more information on this Japanese cartoon favourite.

Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot

riffola — Fri, 14 Feb 2003 15:20:49 -0800

"Giant Robot attack!" as spoken by the kid every kid wanted to be, Johnny Sokko. If you haven't already seen "'Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot" aka "Giant Robot", go now and buy it on VHS or DVD.

Jiro Changey Kikaida!

Tacodog — Wed, 17 Apr 2002 18:35:18 -0800

Jiro Changey Kikaida! Words instantly recognizable to any Hawaii kid in the 70s. Think Power Rangers, but adusted for a low yen exchange rate. The local Japanese TV station is rebroadcasting the show on Sundays. We used to worship this kind and powerful robotronic guy. Trailers, masks and lyrics, it's all here, just as I remembered it.