Here are the top 10 non-news programs for the week of December 14 – December 20:

Week of Dec 14 to Dec 20

(Program, Channel, Time & Date, Rating)

1. Drama: Jin Finale, TBS, 21:00-22:19, Dec 20, 25.3

2. Variety: Sho-ten, NTV, 17:30-18:00, Dec 20, 22.5

3. Variety: M-1 Grand Prix 2009, Asahi, 18:30-20:54, Dec 20, 20.6

4. Drama: Aibo, Asahi, [...]

Here are the top 10 non-news programs for the week of December 7 – December 13:

Week of Dec 7 to Dec 13

(Program, Channel, Time & Date, Rating)

1. Variety: Sho-ten, NTV, 17:30-18:00, Dec 13, 23.1

2. Variety: Sanma & SMAP Christmas SP, NTV, 21:00-23:24, Dec 13, 22.2

3. Variety: Nep League, Fuji, 19:00-19:54, Dec 7, 22.1

4. Anime: Sazae-san, [...]

Here are the top 10 non-news programs for the week of November 30 – December 6:

Week of Nov 30 to Dec 6

(Program, Channel, Time & Date, Rating)

1. Variety: Sho-ten, NTV, 17:30-18:00, Dec 6, 22.0

2. Variety: Nep League, Fuji, 19:00-19:54, Nov 30, 21.8

2. Sports: Figure Skating Grand Prix Final, Asahi, 19:03-21:21, Dec 5, 21.8

4. Anime: Sazae-san, [...]

Earlier today, teenage golfer Ishikawa Ryo was awarded the Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize for 2009 by the Japan Professional Sports Association. This is one of the most prestigious awards in sport in Japan, and has been awarded annually since 1968. It was Ishikawa’s second consecutive win, and he was presented with the award by [...]

It’s been a tough few weeks of work, and I haven’t been able to keep up with posts here for a little while, but I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth, and will be back… In the meantime, Merry Christmas to everyone that has visited and supported this site over the last few [...]

With many of the world’s scientists and politicians converging on Copenhagen this week, this is an important time for the people of the world to carefully consider the issues related to ‘climate change’.
For a start, I really don’t like that term. It is as undescriptive as the term ‘global warming’. Indeed, the climate has always [...]

The government is deep in debate over when (and not if) to introduce the so-called ‘green tax’, aimed at reducing ‘greenhouse gas emissions’. But it seems clear that the debate is really about whether or not they will try to fool the public.

Early next year, a provisional tax surcharge (more wonderful political-speak) on gasoline and [...]

A new Yomiuri poll conducted over the weekend had support for the Hatoyama Cabinet down 4 points in the last month, to 59%. This is still a relatively high level of support for a Japanese Prime Minister and his Cabinet, but support has been falling steadily since the election a few [...]

Japanese Box Office: Nov 28 to Dec 4

(Rank, Movie Name, Weekend Box Office (US$), Cume (US$) (Note: US$1=88.81 yen))

1. 2012, $4,416,080, $18,794,134

2. A Christmas Carol, $1,768,323, $12,551,002

3. No More Cry (Nakumonka), $1,434,545, $10,415,839

4. Inglorious Basterds, $849,438, $4,300,841

5. The New Moon, $792,439, $792,439

6. The Sun That Never Sets, $757,391, $26,352,297 [...]

Oricon Singles Chart for the Week of Nov 23 – Nov 29:

(Rank, Artist, Song Name, No. of Units, Last week, Purchase Info.)

1. Lands, Bandage, 211,010, NEW BUY

2. Bump of Chicken, R.I.P./Merry Christmas, 146,642, NEW BUY

3. Porno Graffitti, Anima Rossa, 50,838, NEW BUY

4. Yamashita Tomohisa, Loveless, [...]