The BEST episodes of Japanorama
Every episode of Japanorama ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Japanorama!
A BBC documentary programme where presenter Jonathan Ross travels to Japan to explore Japan's current popular culture, and how it came to be that way. Based on Jonathan Ross's love for all things Japanese, Japanorama takes the viewer through post-war Japan, showing its amazing rise from the ashes of war in movies, TV-shows, anime, manga and more.
#1 - Owarai (Comedy)
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/28/2006
What is considered funny in Japan? This episode covers; Jackass style performances, comedy robot and Hard Gay (comedian).
#2 - Sex
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/1/2002
"Warm water under a red bridge", "Paradise TV", 24 hour erotic show. "The realm of the senses". Interview with directors etc. "Kings of pink", Etiquette: Chopsticks! Arousing anime. Starts of with "Plastic Little" (1994). "Legend of the overfiend" (1989). "Figure" (2001), cosplay with masks. "Tokyo Decadence"
#3 - Otaku (Nerds)
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/14/2006
The world of Otaku, roughly translated as ‘nerd’, is explored. Such phenomena as Cosplay (dressing in costumes), Maid Cafes and model collecting are covered
#4 - Zoku (Tribes)
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/21/2006
A review of some of the groups in Japan as well as Japan’s obsession with uniforms. Covered are girl bikers, gangsters and goths. Designer Paul Smith tells about his phenomenal popularity in Japan
#5 - Densetsu (Legends)
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/9/2007
This episode includes: Ultraman, 3 Most important anime (that are not Akira, Ghost in the Shell or by Miyazaki), Princess Tenko (magician), Tarako (pollock roe song), ramen, Sonny Chiba(Japanese martial arts actor) .
#6 - Horror
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/1/2002
This episode includes: Interview with an architects, and Godzilla actors. Etiquette: Numbers "Kwaidan" (1964) "Scarecrow" (2001) "St.John's Wort" (2001) "Ring" (1998), interview with the director. and "Ring 2" "Barefoot Gen" (1983), interview with writer. JUNKO MIZUNO, interview Interview with "Dir en grey" and fans
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#7 - Kaidan (Horror)
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/16/2007
This episode includes: Horror manga, a visit to the haunted hospital in the Fuji-ku Theme park, kimodameshi (confronting ghosts), interview with Demon Kogure, Japanese Horror films, Junji Ito (horror manga writer), Kaoru Ijima ("death" photographer), Ero Guro (Erotic Horror films).
#8 - Gyaru (Bad Girls)
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/23/2007
Kogyaru (bad girls), Para Para (a type of Japanese line dancing), Maeken (cross dressing Para Para dancer) Bad Girl Films, Reiko Ike (actress), Anna Tsuchiya (actress/ singer), Female Wrestling, Ying Ling (female wrestler), Female Singers and Bands.
#9 - Science Fiction
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/9/2002
This episode includes: "Ultraman", with interview with the director. "Tetsuo: The iron man" (1998). Interview with director. Games, interview with the CEO of UGA. Etiquette: How to enter a room. Astro boy (1963), and Akira. "Ghost in the shell" and "Avalon", interview with director (Mamoru Oshii) Robot pets, and robotpeople. I.K.U., a movie on hi-tech sex.
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#10 - Youth
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/1/2002
This episode is about Japanese entertainment. It includes: "Water boys" TV show and film about male synchronized swimming "Cupheads" Madame Shirota’s Customs and Sayings: How to Laugh. JPOP Idols Interview with Hideaki Anno and footage from the live movie "Love and Pop" (1998). "Hostbed" , this is how internet was meant to be. A interview with Miyazaki and footage of Battle Royale
#11 - Crime
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/1/2002
This episode is about the Japanese Mafia Yakuza. It includes: "Tokyo drifter" (1966) "Branded to kill" (1967) "Brother" (2000), interview with Takeshi Kitano Etiquette: How to exchange business cards. Interview with the director Takashi Miike. "City of lost souls" (2000), "Audition" (1999), "Ichi the killer" (2001) Reality TV, "Crybaby". Interview with producer and winner. Pizzicato 5, interview. Defining the difference between anime and cartoons. "The professional: Golgo 13" (1983)
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#12 - Swords
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/1/2002
This episode is about warriors and swords in Japan. It includes: Manga: "Lone wolf & cub". Interview with "Kazuo Koike". Etiquette: How to bow "Zatoichi and the one armed swordsman" (1971) "Samurai Fiction" (1998), interview with director. "Red shadow". "Ninja scroll" Breadman "Onibaba" (1964) Kanasisters "Supercar"/"White surf style no.5". "Seven Samurai" (1954) "Yojimno" (1961), hosts from Akira.
#13 - Kawai (Cute)
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/12/2006
Cute is perhaps the most pervasive concept in Japan. This episode covers Hello Kitty, Gloomy Bear and Super DolfieMadame Shirota’s Customs and Sayings: Where to throw your toothBottom tooth, throw over your roof. Top tooth, throw under your house.
#14 - J-Art (Japanese Pop Art)
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/2/2007
Segments include: Takashi Murakami (pop artist), Toast Girl (performance artist), Yoshitomo Nara (pop artist), toy-art, Tomohiro Yasui (origami robots), Hard Gay , Keiichi Tanaami (psychedelic artist).
#15 - Gaijin (Outsiders)
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/19/2007
Jonathan Ross steps outside the mainstream to explore Gaijin - outsiders, those who don't fit in conformist Japan. He meets the Bosozoku, boy biker gangs, and explores the world of Drifting; uncovers the dotty world of artist Yayoi Kusama; and looks at the latest take on the Samurai with an exclusive preview of Samuel L. Jackson's new animation series adapted from the manga, Afro Samurai.
#16 - Bushido (Samurai Spirit)
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/5/2006
Topics covered include: Beetle Sumo, 'Kill Bill' star Chiaki Kuriyama, mobile phone controlled robot warriors, a film about a Calamari Wrestler and even eating the deadly poisonous blow fish.
#17 - Ai and Koi (Love and Romance)
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/26/2007
Shinto Penis shrine, host clubs, Takarazuka theatre (all female performer musicals), yaoi manga (boy with boy manga), air sex, latex love dolls.
#18 - Kakkoii (Cool)
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/10/2006
This episode covers what’s cool in Japan, including cell phones, pop music videos, robots and even shoes.Nigo, the creator of Bathing Ape, gives a bit of an look into what makes his brand cool.Madame Shirota’s Customs and Sayings: How to laugh.Also explored are the weird videos of Nagi NodaThere is an interview with the star of many of Japans cult films, Tadanobu Asano, known as the Japanese Johnny Depp.The Magic Numbers make their debut on their sell out tour of Japan.