The latest weekly TV ratings for the Kanto area, Oct. 31 – Nov. 6 (provided by Video Research):
1. Sazae-san (animation, Fuji TV) – 21.5%
2. Drama Complex, Hotaru no Haka (drama, NTV) – 21.2%
3. Shoten (rakugo comedy, NTV) – 20.7%
4. SMAP x SMAP (variety, Fuji TV) – 20.7%
5. Friday Drama, Hana Yori Dango (drama, TBS) – 20.5%
Sazae-san and Shoten are both long-running family favorites. Drama Complex is a new concept in what for 24 years was the Tuesday Suspense Theater time slot. The new 2-hour show plans to feature a wide variety of types of drama, comedy and action. The first feature starred Matsushima Nanako in an adaptation of the novel “Hotaru no Haka” (Grave of the Fireflies), which was earlier an anime hit for Miyazaki Hayao‘s Studio Ghibli. The Drama Complex theme music was written by guitarist Hotei Tomoyasu, his first composition for a TV show. Smap members continue to enjoy healthy ratings for most of the shows they are involved in, though only SMAP x SMAP, which features all five of them, made the Top 30.