When travelling, I spend a bit too much time just watching the TV – I love seeing all the different programmes, formats and adverts, even if I can’t understand them. As well as the cavalcade of youtube clips, you can watch some stations online – there’s an app called Livestation that has quite high quality feeds (including the Aizu Wakamatsu train station webcam), but often not enough users to sustain the p2p network, and best of all, KeyHoleTV, broadcasting many channels of Japanese TV live.

Of course, there’s the timezone issues, and finding understandable schedules is currently impossible. Luckily, my esteemed colleague Yumiko Tanaka has a few suggestions for this weekend – all times in JST (thanks, Yumiko!) -

“爆笑レッドカーペットまさかの土7昇格SP!!
2009/04/18 19:00〜20:54 フジテレビ

I am planning to wake up earlier to watch this on this on Saturday morning (11am) GMT! It’s a special version of a comedy competition show, which I regularly watched on YouTube. The title means ‘burst into laughter read carpet’. Yep, nonsense.

チューボーですよ!
2009/04/18 23:30〜24:00 TBS

Cooking program. Non-chef celebrities cook and learn by looking at master chefs at the same time.

サザエさん
2009/04/19 18:30〜19:00 フジテレビ

Sazae-san. Popular cartoon since 1969! Sunday evening with supper thing for me. (their title songs are very good too)

行列のできる法律相談所
2009/04/19 21:00〜21:54 日本テレビ

This week, they will decide the best B-class gourmet, which is cheap and casual street food.