On Monday, NHK starts a new morning drama, which means U.S. actress Charlotte Kate Fox, who played the female lead in the previous series, ¡°Massan,¡± will be leaving Japan soon. But before she does she has to do at least one variety show, so she¡¯ll be the guest for the regular ¡°SMAP Bistro¡± segment on ¡°SMAP X SMAP¡± (Fuji TV, Mon., 9 p.m.).
In the segment, SMAP leader Masahiro Nakai entertains the guest, while his bandmates, divided into two teams, compete to make dishes that will please the guest¡¯s taste buds. In this instance, Fox has requested a ¡°Japanese-style breakfast.¡± While the two groups cook away, she relates anecdotes about the making of ¡°Massan¡± and her life in Japan. She also reveals a previously undisclosed talent for picking up objects adroitly with her toes, a skill also possessed by Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, who challenges her to a contest.
Back in the ¡®70s, capsule hotels epitomized a futuristic concept of Japan. Now, they seem almost quaint and old-fashioned, although in the last year or so they¡¯ve become quite popular among young people.
The NHK series ¡°Documentary 72 Hours¡± (NHK-G, Fri., 10:55 p.m.) places a camera crew in a capsule hotel for 72 straight hours, taping the activity and talking to patrons, many of whom are foreign tourists who say they heard about the inns by word of mouth. ¡°It¡¯s like a cave,¡± one of them comments on the peculiar shape of the ¡°rooms.¡± The crew also interviews some Japanese students who are staying in the hotel prior to taking their university entrance exams.
CM of the week: Kincho
It¡¯s that time of year again. Time to pack away all your sweaters and winter clothing with moth-proofing products, of which Kincho¡¯s GonGon is the most famous in Japan.
In the first ¡°episode¡± of what promises to be a series of CMs, Anna Tsuchiya, who¡¯s been appearing in the company¡¯s ads for three years, plays ¡°evil woman, Gonko,¡± who is admiring the wardrobe of a young bride played by Miki Higashi.
¡°They¡¯re beautiful,¡± Gonko enthuses, taking in the colorful clothing. ¡°Just like the closet of a newlywed.¡±
She strokes a red pullover and says under her breath, ¡°He still has the matching sweater we bought.¡±
Higashi hears this and is struck dumb as Gonko slowly turns to her with the creepiest expression you¡¯ve ever seen.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.