Prime Time

In America, the prime time television slots (8pm-10pm) are often filled with sit-coms, dramas and other TV shows where the viewers relate and care about actors and actresses portraying fictional characters (I'm looking at you Glenn from the Walking Dead) sometimes more than real life people in their lives.

In Japan, they have shows like that also, but they are often shown before 8pm or after 10pm, so what shows make it on Japanese prime time? Food, food and more shows about food. I'm not talking Food Network-type shows that viewers can learn secret recipes from top chefs, in Japan food shows are all about eating.  The typical food show in Japan centers around three or more famous Japanese actors and/or actresses touring different restaurants around the country and enjoying their native dishes. I say enjoying because in my 2+ years of watching shows like this, I have never seen anyone not like their food, as a matter of fact, they often go over-the-top with how much they enjoy the food, like it's the best thing they've ever eaten in their lives.

Now you would think that a TV show where a group of celebrities (the three men in the picture are hugely famous in Japan) visit three or four restaurants around the country that usually ends up with them visiting a restaurant in an onsen (a hot spring hotel) and taking a dip at the end of the show would be enough, but the show also cuts back to the studio where the host is joined by MORE famous Japanese stars, that comment on how delicious the food looks, and a huge audience.

There are also shows about competitive eating in Japan. It is hugely popular and most of the contestants are very famous only for their eating. They often visit restaurants around the country and enjoy the local cuisine, too, but they eat tons of it.  Looking at the portions, I would be full after just one plate, but these girls (yes, they are mostly girls) can put away more than 30-40 plates!  The most insane part of this is that all of the girls are cute and thin and they are all immensely popular in Japan.  Some of them are even idols! When talking to co-workers about it, all I have to say is my favorite is the girl who always wears Native American feathers in her hair and everyone know exactly who I am talking about, her name, her history and all kinds of stuff that only the most die-hard fans should be able to rattle off on command.

The funniest thing is that sometimes they take the show over to America and have the competitive eating contests in Times Square where it is Japanese VS Americans.  It's funny because the Americans are always so over-the-top American with red, white and blue shirts, mirrored sun glasses, baseball caps with huge beards and gruff voices.  It can be a little insulting though, it would be like if in America all the Japanese people were portrayed as otaku with huge glasses and pocket protectors.