That's GOT to be better than Kirakira, ne?
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Itazura ichiban wrote:

That's GOT to be better than Kirakira, ne?

no kirakira is a little better.

Stop, you're scaring me.
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For those who completely abandoned Sunday evenings on KTSF when, first subtitled doramas ceased to exist and then they even took off Hey, Hey, Hey or (god forbid) JapanPopTV that at least kept you somewhat passively updated on the J-music scene : Heads Up!!

First, it appears that the weekly infomercial for the awful-looking green health drink is gone, and the Sunday schedule now really does start at 8:30pm!!!! In its place is NHK news and the 3-minute "kukkingu" show, which used to be on from 9pm-9:30pm.

But then at 9pm is a new weekly music show!!!! It's called "Music Fair 21" and I seem to recall it being on the KTSF schedule way back in the mid-90s (Geezer? Do you remember? Or am I experiencing dementia already? I'm not THAT old, am I?).

The rest of the schedule is pretty much the same: non-subtitled dorama, Hello Restaurant, the know-it-all lady, and the boring show about successful business persons.

And while I have the floor, I wanted to also mention for all you SF Bay Area J-TV watchers on Comcast cable: If you lamented the disappearance of the FCI/Fuji-TV programming on AZN when Comcast shifted the channel to another tier and then when the Comcast corporation completely pulled the plug on AZN the beginning of this month, well we've all been granted a reprieve!!! ImaginAsianTV immediately picked up the FCI programming!!! Now, while Comcast in SF doesn't carry ImaginAsianTV until 6pm on weekdays, which means the FCI morning news shows aren't available, the remaining FCI programming is not only on Sunday evenings but on Saturdays as well!!!! Both are from 7pm to 9pm. I'm thrilled that I can start watching Ainori again! I had just gotten hooked when Comcast moved AZN to another tier, but I wasn't hooked enough to pay extra for it!

No more maguro fishing then?
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Andru wrote:

But then at 9pm is a new weekly music show!!!! It's called "Music Fair 21" and I seem to recall it being on the KTSF schedule way back in the mid-90s (Geezer? Do you remember? Or am I experiencing dementia already? I'm not THAT old, am I?).

I remember it. They aired it on Saturday nights for some time. In fact, I probably have some episodes stashed on VHS somewhere.

Andru wrote:

And while I have the floor, I wanted to also mention for all you SF Bay Area J-TV watchers on Comcast cable: If you lamented the disappearance of the FCI/Fuji-TV programming on AZN when Comcast shifted the channel to another tier and then when the Comcast corporation completely pulled the plug on AZN the beginning of this month, well we've all been granted a reprieve!!! ImaginAsianTV immediately picked up the FCI programming!!! Now, while Comcast in SF doesn't carry ImaginAsianTV until 6pm on weekdays, which means the FCI morning news shows aren't available, the remaining FCI programming is not only on Sunday evenings but on Saturdays as well!!!! Both are from 7pm to 9pm. I'm thrilled that I can start watching Ainori again! I had just gotten hooked when Comcast moved AZN to another tier, but I wasn't hooked enough to pay extra for it!

I need to check if I have IATV on my Comcast system, but it's good to see Japonica Logos and Ainori back on the air.

I just checked: no IATV on my Comcast lineup.... time to make some phone calls.

Itazura ichiban wrote:

No more maguro fishing then?

Ahhh, didn't you love that show? "Chasing Enormous Tuna!"

I especilly liked the guy who screamed into the camera "UummMMMAAAAIIII!!!!"

It was sushi porn, I think.

dochira wrote:

I remember it. They aired it on Saturday nights for some time. In fact, I probably have some episodes stashed on VHS somewhere.

Yeah, actually I recognized it because I had recently come across an ancient videotape I had stashed away somewhere and found it had a segment of Music Fair from like 1996 or something. A lot of other interesting stuff too on that videotape!

Ahhh, those were the golden days of J-TV on KTSF: programming on Saturdays from 7pm to 11pm or midnite, with two doramas (both subtitled), the usual NHK asadora, Music Fair, a cooking show, that strange "Fujicom Saturday" public interest segment, NHK news, and that 15-minute Christian evangelical show. Am I forgetting any other shows? Later, in that timeslot that Music Fair was in, came other variety shows, like the Laughing Dog.

dochira wrote:

I just checked: no IATV on my Comcast lineup.... time to make some phone calls.

Basic cable on channel 28.
Weekdays 6pm to 12 midnight
weekends 10am to 12 midnight

The Memorial Day special looks to be another downer/tearjerker--Nihon ichi mijikai 'Haha' e no tegami (Official English title "A Brief Message from the Heart").

Apparently the letter-writing contest references in the IMDB summary is real.
There's not much info there, though. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0171572/

1995, though? Really? I don't remember 1995 looking quite so 1980s.

On another note, man, Teppan Shoujo Akane is EXACTLY what I figured it would be. Exactly the same as "Yakitate! Japan," that curry show, etc. etc. (but without the total over-the-top-ness that made those a guilty pleasure). Ehhh.
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Hmmm. I haven't found Imagin Asian anywhere on the Comcast lineup for me here in the East Bay.

It feels weird. With KTSF showing another dreadful children's show (Teppan Shoujo Akane) and no Taiga to watch this year... for the first time in... 15 years or so I started hunting around for something else to tape on Saturday nights.

So far what I've found is Ch 245 TV Japan; Not Available to me. Ch 247, TV Asi; Not Available to me. Ch 262, Jade TV; Not available to me. And Ch 21... mostly just Chinese shows, or Korean shows dubbed in Chinese.

But it wasn't all bad luck. Around 5pm Ch 136 (G4) showed a Japanese game show called "Unbeatable Banzuki" with English Subtitles. (Mostly just a lot of physical stunts.)

And I discovered that Ch 197 is something called The Korean TV network of Northern California. There was a Costume Drama on at 5, fully subbed. And the evening ended with episodes of the sit com "Hello Franceska", also fully subbed.

It seems 197 is the Korean TV Network all day on Saturdays. I have no idea what other programing they have since the cable guide had no info for that channel.

I haven't watched much Korean TV in the past so I don't know what I'm in for. But who knows... maybe it's time to expand my horizons. And almost anything has to be better than the snore fest KTSF is offering up.

And sorry. I know that those channel listing probably only apply to the comcast customers who live within a mile of my house.
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What do you mean no Taiga?
There is, they just haven't had any bloodshed yet.
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Well, Music Fair on Sunday evenings is turning out to be a bore for me, and I just cannot get into that new dorama about the "Amazing Deer Man." And, yes Teppan Girl and Homemaker on Saturdays does seem like children's programming. The Memorial Day special will at least be a nice change, as ancient as it looks.

I'm sorry to mention this to those who have Comcast but don't live right in SF and therefore don't have ImaginAsianTV: There will be something much better than Music Fair soon. Hey! Hey! Hey! is returning to the FCI lineup next Sunday.

Geezer, I have enjoyed SOME Korean TV. When Winter Sonata aired a couple of years ago, I just had to watch it to find out what all the fuss was about. While that series did indeed hook me, others I've tried watching have not, not like J-dorama does. But recently there is a show that's gotten its hooks into me: it's called X-Boyfriend. You might find it on that Channel 197 on your system. It's a reality show which uses hidden cameras as they track down someone's ex, usually a boyfriend but sometimes a girlfriend. And they try to convince the ex to appear in the TV studio in front of a live audience to meet the person who wanted to see them again. They usually agree and there is a usually a heartwarming reunion, although usually they only want to be friends. And, yes, it is all subtitled.

HELLO....NEW TO THIS FORMAT...I'M CURRENTLY FOLLOWING THE "HOMEMAKER" SERIES ON KTSF-26. I MISSED THE 5/10 EPISODE CAN I GET A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF WHAT HAPPENED ? I WAS OUT AND MY RECORDER DIDN'T. ALSO, HOPE TO HAVE INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO ENJOY J-DRAMA ENTERTAINMENT AND JAPANESE CULTURE GENERALLY. THANKS SO MUCH...
BIRU
[/b]

First thing you need to do is turn off your Caps Lock.

My apologies...I really have very little familiarity with online etiquette. I was just trying to send a quick message on an all too brief lunch break. Also, you just try typing with paws. I also do not understand how this really works...for instance did I just reply specifically to you alone or can anyone on this site read this ? Would really appreciate information on 5/10 episode of "Homemaker" before Saturday's episode airs.
Domo,
Biru

OLDDOGBIRU wrote:

My apologies...I really have very little familiarity with online etiquette. I was just trying to send a quick message on an all too brief lunch break. Also, you just try typing with paws. I also do not understand how this really works...for instance did I just reply specifically to you alone or can anyone on this site read this ? Would really appreciate information on 5/10 episode of "Homemaker" before Saturday's episode airs. Domo, Biru

OldDog, I sent you a private message. Check your inbox.

Were we the only ones bothered by poor broadcast quality last night?
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Nope. KTSF looked old and faded for me as well.
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