Channel 9 (Oceanic Cable) and 20 (Hawaiian Telcom) Programs are subject to change, without notice. For updated information, call 847-2021)
“Madame Butterfly,” premieres Monday, Dec. 5, at 9 p.m.
Cho-Cho is a young woman growing up under her mother and grandmother’s tutelage after the death of her samurai father. After their sudden death, however, Cho-Cho finds herself without the means to support herself, and is adopted by a wealthy family that owns a brothel in Nagasaki. Her adoptive stepmother promises to continue Cho-Cho’s education, but when she dies unexpectedly, Cho-Cho is forced to become a geisha. As an apprentice geisha, Cho-Cho meets Franklin, an American naval officer. Seeing in him the samurai spirit of her own father, Cho-Cho marries Franklin. But for Franklin, the marriage is nothing but a relationship of convenience.
“Kumokiri Nizaemon,” premieres Friday, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m.
Nizaemon Kumokiri is the greatest bandit of all time. He has a gang of highly skilled thieves who target the wealthy, without ever killing or injuring anyone. They are active throughout the Edo, Tokaido, Nakasendo and Kansai regions. When the Shogunate appoints Shikibu Abe as the new chief of the public security force, it sets off a fierce battle of will pride between Nizaemon and Shikibu.
“Chushingura,” airs in two parts – Thursday, Dec. 15 and 22, at 8 p.m.
The story begins with a feud between Yoshinaka Kira, a chief protocol officer of the Shogun, and Takumi Asano, who was hand-picked by the Shogun to act as his representative with members of the Imperial family. Kira resented having to train Asano, and often sought ways to embarrass him. After one such incident, Asano drew his sword on Kira, but did not kill him. Because acts of aggression were forbidden within the palace, Asano was then ordered to commit suicide. After his death, Asano’s lands and property were confiscated, and his retainers became ronin. Vowing to avenge their lord, the ronin patiently waited for a year, until Kira’s guard was down, before they attacked his compound, killing Kira and avenging their lord.
“Fishermen’s Pride,” Sunday, Dec. 18 and 25, at 9:30 p.m.
A documentary about fishermen in Japan. Our host accompanies fishermen on their boats and in their homes as they share their lives and love for the sea and its bounty.
“Kinako (TV Asahi),” Sunday, Dec. 25, at 8 p.m.
Kinako is a documentary about a police dog who repeatedly failed at her police dog trials, and her trainer, who refused to accept that Kinako was a failure.
The trainer’s name is Kyoko Mochizuki. Kyoko was 18 when she admitted to the police dog training academy to begin her lifelong dream of training police dogs. Soon after, Kyoko met Kinako, a Labrador retriever puppy.
Despite Kyoko’s efforts, Kinako repeatedly fails her tests, but Kyoko refuses to give up. With patience, determination, and tenacity, Kyoko continues to work with Kinako, believing that one day, her hard work will be rewarded.
“Losing Heaven,” Sunday at 5 p.m.
Bridgette and Ellery are childhood best friends, and their bond becomes even stronger when Bridgette’s parents are killed, leaving her an orphan. Ellery’s father adopts Bridgette, making them sisters.
The best friends/sisters grow up and attain careers they love. Everything is going well until Bridgette meets Jonas. Instantly, she falls in love with him, but he only has eyes for Ellery. After Ellery meets him, they fall in love and marry.
Their happiness is shattered when they learn Ellery cannot conceive. Bridgette steps in and offers to be a surrogate mom through in-vitro, and births a daughter.
Ellery gets into a car accident and is in a coma. Bridgette convinces Jonas to annul his marriage to Ellery for the sake of the baby and marry her.
But what happens to the best friends/sisters if Ellery regains consciousness?
“The Imposter,” Sunday at 6 p.m.
Lara and Sara are conjoined twins who, after being separated, are adopted by two different aunts. Aunty Betty takes Lara, so her mean daughter Vanessa would have a playmate. But living in their cruel household forces Lara to run away, and she eventually finds a kind Samaritan who takes her in.
Meanwhile, Sara is adopted by another aunt, whose abusive husband disfigures her face. After plastic surgery to restore her face, Sara realizes the surgeon has made her look exactly like her cousin Vanessa. Only then does she learn that the surgeon and Vanessa are lovers, and the surgery was a plot to create Vanessa’s body double, freeing the couple to travel abroad and spend money stolen from Vanessa’s husband.
“Sanada Maru (NHK),” Sunday at 7 p.m. and Tuesday at 8 p.m.
“Sanada Maru” is the 55th Taiga drama from NHK.
The story about the life of the last great commander in the Warring States period, Yukimura Sanada, whose real name was Genjiro Nobushige Sanada.
Curious and adventure-loving, Nobushige Sanada tore through the the Warring States period and eventually became a legendary commander who even awed the ruler Ieyasu Tokugawa.
He completed the construction of Sanada Maru, which is the last and strongest fortress to defend the most vulnerable gate of the castle during the Siege of Osaka.
“Love and Law (Yomiuri),” Monday at 8 p.m.
Bunta Minowa is a young man who has never held a steady job, and used to be the leader of a motorcycle gang. When he learns of the existence of a stepsister, he vows to kick his carefree lifestyle aside, get a steady job, and make his one and only little sister happy.
The steady job he ends up with is with a law firm, assisting the cool, beautiful attorney Natsumi.
Together, this odd couple has the right mixture of love and wild antics to solve cases.
“Behind the Noren 2 (Fuji),” Tuesday at 9 p.m.
In “Behind the Noren 2,” Naoko continues her training to become the proprietress of her husband’s family’s inn, still trying to earn the respect and acceptance of her mother-in-law, the current “okami.”
This is made even harder when Naoko’s husband Shosuke disappears once again.
When Shosuke is discovered to be living in Taiwan, Naoko’s mother-in-law Shino sends Naoko to Taiwan to bring him back.
During her absence, Shino’s niece Yukiko appears to help out at the inn, and she becomes Naoko’s strongest rival for the position.
“Hatchobori no Shichinin (TOEI),” Thursday at 8 p.m.
This is the story of seven police officers in the district of Hachobori in ancient Edo. Under the direction of inspector Aoyama, they work together to maintain peace and solve the crimes that plague the locals.
“Partners 12,” Thursday at 9 p.m.
The 12th season of this popular detective series.
Detective Ukyo Sugishita, has great insight and cunning skills. His partner, Toru Kai, is strong-minded and rough. And he is excellent in the powers of observation. Together they solve many mysterious crimes.
“Homicide Team 9 – Season 5 (TV Asahi),” Friday at 8 p.m.
Homicide Team 9 which is composed by the few elites, is the most unusual team in criminal investigation divisions of the Metropolitan Police Department. They are always the top as criminal arrest rate. They try to solve criminal cases with struggling and cooperating each other.
“Dotchi (YTV),” Friday at 9 p.m.; repeats on Saturday at 8 p.m.
This popular exciting cooking show returns!!
Which dish??? Hiroshi Sekiguchi and Yuji Miyake hosts an exciting cooking contest between expert chefs, cooking two popular dishes using the best ingredients possible. When the chefs have completed their dishes, a celebrity panel is presented with a choice of which dish they wish to eat. The choice that receives the majority of the votes, “wins” and the panelists get to eat that dish.
“Chasing Moments,” Saturday at 5 p.m.
A thrilling story about love and intertwined relationships.
Alex and Cindy find love and inspiration in each other’s arms. However, when Cindy leaves to study abroad, though devastated, Alex decides he must continue his life and pursue his dreams of becoming a photo journalist. Janice, an older woman, works as an editor-in-chief at a famous tabloid, but her successful career is not mirrored in her personal life. Despite her age gap and social differences their special friendship grows into an unlikely romance. Things get more complicated when Alex learns that Janice is Cindy’s mother!
“Beauty and the Fellow (NHK),” Saturday at 7 p.m.
It’s a girl meets boy tale with a twist. The girl is Ichiko, an agent for stars. Ichiko scouts a young actor named Ryo and struggles to transform him into a superstar. Although reluctant at first, Ryo begins to enjoy acting, and eventually begins to rise to stardom.
Along the way, the two have to navigate the unfamiliar and choppy waters of show business, which adds constant friction to their relationship. It’s a relationship that begins as professional, but morphs into an emotional one, as well.
