2020 in Japanese television

Events in 2020 in Japanese television.

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Until end of May, most anime series and television dramas had their production suspended due to the pandemic's massive impact on Japanese television since COVID-19 interrupted the production of television series for several weeks to ensure safety of various people who have been involved the previous process of filming.

For extended information about the massive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the television industry, see further details underneath Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television#Japan.

Events

Date	Event	Source
January 20	Anime creator Shoji Kawamori is named chief creative officer of the Small Worlds theme park.	[1]
February 14	Voice actress and singer Yui Ogura announced that the 'Valentine's Day Party' event had its visitor policy changed due to the spread of the coronavirus.	[2]
August 4	Animation studio Arms Co., Ltd., formerly Dandelion, Triple X (when working on various hentai titles) and Garyū Studio, closes after being filed for bankruptcy in July 22.	[3]

Ongoing

Show	Type	Channel	First aired/Japanese period		Source
NHK
NHK Amateur Song Contest	Talent show	NHK-G, NHK World Premium	March 15, 1953 (TV)	Showa
With Mother	Kids	E-TV, NHK World Premium	October 5, 1959	Showa
Nintama Rantarō	Anime	NHK	April 10, 1993	Heisei
Ojarumaru	Anime	NHK	October 5, 1998	Heisei
Utacon	Music	NHK-G, NHK World Premium	April 12, 2016	Heisei
Nippon Television
Soreike! Anpanman	Anime	Nippon Television	October 3, 1988	Showa
Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!	Game show	Nippon Television	October 3, 1989	Heisei
Detective Conan	Anime	NNS	January 8, 1996	Heisei
Fuji Television
Music Fair	Music	Fuji Television	August 31, 1964	Showa
Sazae-san	Anime	Fuji Television	October 5, 1969	Showa
FNS Music Festival	Music	Fuji Television	July 2, 1974	Showa
Chibi Maruko-chan	Anime	Fuji Television	January 8, 1995	Heisei
One Piece	Anime	Fuji Television	October 20, 1999	Heisei
TV Tokyo
Black Clover	Anime	TV Tokyo	October 3, 2017	Heisei
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations	Anime	TV Tokyo	April 5, 2017	Heisei
Kiratto Pri Chan	Anime	TV Tokyo	April 8, 2018	Heisei
Pokémon (2019 series)	Anime	TV Tokyo	November 17, 2019	Reiwa
Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y: Encounter with N	Anime	TV Tokyo	December 27, 2019	Reiwa
TV Asahi
Super Hero Time	Tokusatsu	TV Asahi	September 28, 2003	Heisei
Panel Quiz Attack 25	Game show	TV Asahi	April 6, 1975	Showa
Crayon Shin-chan	Anime	TV Asahi	April 13, 1992	Heisei
Doraemon	Anime	TV Asahi	April 15, 2005	Heisei
Music Station	Music	TV Asahi	October 24, 1986	Showa
Tokyo Broadcasting System
SASUKE	Sports	Tokyo Broadcasting System	September 26, 1997	Heisei
Count Down TV	Music	Tokyo Broadcasting System	April 7, 1993	Heisei

New series and returning shows

Show	Network	Premiere	Finale	Status	Source
Asteroid in Love	Tokyo MX	January 3, 2020 (2020-01-03)	March 27, 2020 (2020-03-27)	Series Ended
Darwin's Game	Tokyo MX	January 3, 2020 (2020-01-03)	March 20, 2020 (2020-03-20)	Series Ended
Magia Record	Tokyo MX	January 4, 2020 (2020-01-04)	March 28, 2020 (2020-03-28)	Series Ended
ID - Invaded	Tokyo MX	January 5, 2020 (2020-01-05)	March 22, 2020 (2020-03-22)	Series Ended
Marumaru Manul	Tokyo MX	January 5, 2020 (2020-01-05)	December 15, 2020 (2020-12-15)	Series Ended	[4]
Room Camp	AT-X	January 6, 2020 (2020-01-06)	March 23, 2020 (2020-03-23)	Series Ended	[5]
Pet	Tokyo MX	January 6, 2020 (2020-01-06)	March 30, 2020 (2020-03-30)	Series Ended
Seton Academy: Join the Pack!	Tokyo MX	January 7, 2020 (2020-01-07)	March 24, 2020 (2020-03-24)	Series Ended
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen	Tokyo MX	January 7, 2020 (2020-01-07)	March 31, 2020 (2020-03-31)	Season Ended
BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense.	Tokyo MX	January 8, 2020 (2020-01-08)	March 25, 2020 (2020-03-25)	Series Ended
Hulaing Babies☆Petit	TV Tokyo	January 8, 2020 (2020-01-08)	March 25, 2020 (2020-03-25)	Series Ended
Drifting Dragons	Fuji TV	January 8, 2020 (2020-01-08)	March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26)	Series Ended
Plunderer	Tokyo MX	January 8, 2020 (2020-01-08)	June 24, 2020 (2020-06-24)	Series Ended
Show by Rock!! Mashumairesh!!	Tokyo MX	January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09)	March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26)	Series Ended
If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die	TBS	January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09)	March 27, 2020 (2020-03-27)	Series Ended
Uchitama?! Have you seen my Tama?	Fuji TV	January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09)	March 19, 2020 (2020-03-19)	Series Ended
Hatena Illusion	BS NTV	January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09)	June 3, 2020 (2020-06-03)	Series Ended
Nekopara	Tokyo MX	January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09)	March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26)	Series Ended
Somali and the Forest Spirit	Tokyo MX	January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09)	March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26)	Series Ended
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun	TBS	January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09)	March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26)	Season Ended
Infinite Dendrogram	Tokyo MX	January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09)	April 16, 2020 (2020-04-16)	Series Ended
The Case Files of Jeweler Richard	Tokyo MX	January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09)	March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26)	Series Ended
Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga	TV Tokyo	January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10)	March 27, 2020 (2020-03-27)	Series Ended
A Certain Scientific Railgun T	Tokyo MX	January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10)	September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)	Series Ended
Laid-Back Camp (live action)	TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi	January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10)	March 27, 2020 (2020-03-27)	Season Ended	[6]
Smile Down the Runway	TBS	January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10)	March 27, 2020 (2020-03-27)	Series Ended
Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It	Tokyo MX	January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10)	March 13, 2020 (2020-03-13)	Series Ended
22/7	Tokyo MX	January 11, 2020 (2020-01-11)	March 28, 2020 (2020-03-28)	Series Ended
In/Spectre	TV Asahi	January 11, 2020 (2020-01-11)	March 28, 2020 (2020-03-28)	Season Ended
Ultraman Chronicle Zero & Geed	TV Tokyo	January 11, 2020 (2020-01-11)	June 13, 2020 (2020-06-13)	Series Ended
Interspecies Reviewers	Tokyo MX	January 11, 2020 (2020-01-11)	March 28, 2020 (2020-03-28)	Series Ended
A Destructive God Sits Next to Me	Tokyo MX	January 11, 2020 (2020-01-11)	March 28, 2020 (2020-03-28)	Series Ended
Dorohedoro	Tokyo MX	January 12, 2020 (2020-01-12)	March 29, 2020 (2020-03-29)	Series Ended
Kirin ga Kuru	NHK	January 19, 2020 (2020-01-19)	February 7, 2021 (2021-02-07)	Ending 2021
Wasteful Days of High School Girls	TV Asahi	January 24, 2020 (2020-01-24)	March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)	Series Ended
Healin' Good PreCure	TV Asahi	February 2, 2020 (2020-02-02)	February 21, 2021 (2021-02-21)	Ending 2021
Followers	Netflix	February 27, 2020 (2020-02-27)	Currently airing	Continues 2021
Mashin Sentai Kiramager	TV Asahi	March 8, 2020 (2020-03-08)	February 28, 2021 (2021-02-28)	Ending 2021
Tamayomi	Tokyo MX	April 1, 2020 (2020-04-01)	June 17, 2020 (2020-06-17)	Series Ended
Kakushigoto	Tokyo MX	April 2, 2020 (2020-04-02)	June 18, 2020 (2020-06-18)	Series Ended
Norimono Man Mobile Land no Car-kun	NHK	April 2, 2020 (2020-04-02)	Currently airing	Continues 2021	[7]
Wave, Listen to Me!	TBS	April 3, 2020 (2020-04-03)	June 19, 2020 (2020-06-19)	Series Ended
Listeners	TBS	April 3, 2020 (2020-04-03)	June 19, 2020 (2020-06-19)	Series Ended
Sakura Wars: The Animation	Tokyo MX	April 3, 2020 (2020-04-03)	June 19, 2020 (2020-06-19)	Series Ended
Shachō, Battle no Jikan Desu!	Tokyo MX	April 5, 2020 (2020-04-05)	June 28, 2020 (2020-06-28)	Series Ended
Gal to Kyōryū	Tokyo MX	April 4, 2020 (2020-04-04)	Currently airing	Continues 2021
Arte	Tokyo MX	April 4, 2020 (2020-04-04)	June 20, 2020 (2020-06-20)	Series Ended
Sing "Yesterday" for Me	TV Asahi	April 4, 2020 (2020-04-04)	June 20, 2020 (2020-06-20)	Series Ended
Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens	TV Tokyo	April 4, 2020 (2020-04-04)	Currently airing	Continues 2021	[8]
Tsugu Tsugumomo	Tokyo MX	April 4, 2020 (2020-04-04)	June 21, 2020 (2020-06-21)	Season Ended
Motto! Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori	NHK	April 5, 2020 (2020-04-05)	Currently airing	Continues 2021
Mewkledreamy	TV Tokyo	April 5, 2020 (2020-04-05)	April 4, 2021 (2021-04-04)	Ending 2021
Tomica Kizuna Mode Combine Earth Granner	TV Osaka	April 5, 2020 (2020-04-05)	March 28, 2021 (2021-03-28)	Ending 2021	[9]
White Cat Project	Tokyo MX	April 6, 2020 (2020-04-06)	June 22, 2020 (2020-06-22)	Series Ended
Princess Connect! Re:Dive	Tokyo MX	April 6, 2020 (2020-04-06)	June 29, 2020 (2020-06-29)	Series Ended
Shadowverse	TV Tokyo	April 7, 2020 (2020-04-07)	March 23, 2021 (2021-03-23)	Ending 2021
BNA: Brand New Animal	Fuji TV	April 8, 2020 (2020-04-08)	June 24, 2020 (2020-06-24)	Series Ended
Komatta Jii-san	Nippon TV	April 8, 2020 (2020-04-08)	July 1, 2020 (2020-07-01)	Series Ended
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Fin	TBS	April 9, 2020 (2020-04-09)	September 24, 2020 (2020-09-24)	Series Ended
Fugō Keiji Balance: Unlimited	Fuji TV	April 9, 2020 (2020-04-09)	September 24, 2020 (2020-09-24)	Series Ended
Argonavis from BanG Dream!	TBS	April 10, 2020 (2020-04-10)	July 3, 2020 (2020-07-03)	Series Ended
Appare-Ranman!	Tokyo MX	April 10, 2020 (2020-04-10)	September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)	Series Ended
Hakushon Daimaō 2020	ytv	April 11, 2020 (2020-04-11)	September 26, 2020 (2020-09-26)	Series Ended	[10]
Woodpecker Detective's Office	Tokyo MX	April 13, 2020 (2020-04-13)	June 29, 2020 (2020-06-29)	Series Ended
Olympia Kyklos	Tokyo MX	April 20, 2020 (2020-04-20)	November 2, 2020 (2020-11-02)	Series Ended
Digimon Adventure:	Fuji TV	June 7, 2020 (2020-06-07)[Notes 1]	September 26, 2021 (2021-09-26)	Ending 2021	[11]
Ultraman Z	TV Tokyo	June 20, 2020 (2020-06-20)	December 26, 2020 (2020-12-26)	Series Ended
Fire Force (2nd season)	TBS	July 4, 2020 (2020-07-04)	December 12, 2020 (2020-12-12)	Season Ended	[12]
Lapis Re:Lights	Tokyo MX	July 4, 2020 (2020-07-04)	September 19, 2020 (2020-09-19)	Series Ended	[13]
The God of High School	Tokyo MX	July 6, 2020 (2020-07-06)	September 28, 2020 (2020-09-28)	Series Ended
Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World (2nd season)	AT-X	July 8, 2020 (2020-07-08)	March 24, 2021 (2021-03-24)	Ending 2021
Great Pretender	Fuji TV	July 8, 2020 (2020-07-08)	December 16, 2020 (2020-12-16)	Series Ended
Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out!	Tokyo MX	July 10, 2020 (2020-07-10)	Currently airing	Continues 2021
Peter Grill and the Philosopher's Time	Tokyo MX	July 11, 2020 (2020-07-11)	September 26, 2020 (2020-09-26)	Series Ended
Gibiate	Tokyo MX	July 15, 2020 (2020-07-15)	September 30, 2020 (2020-09-30)	Series Ended
Police × Heroine Lovepatrina!	TV Tokyo	July 26, 2020 (2020-07-26)	June 27, 2021 (2021-06-27)	Ending 2021
Kamen Rider Saber	TV Asahi	September 6, 2020 (2020-09-06)	August 29, 2021 (2021-08-29)	Ending 2021
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai	TV Tokyo	October 3, 2020 (2020-10-03)	October 22, 2022 (2022-10-22)	Ending 2022	[14]
The Irregular at Magic High School (2nd season)	Tokyo MX	October 4, 2020 (2020-10-04)	December 27, 2020 (2020-12-27)	Season Ended	[15]
Saikyō Kamizmode	Tokyo MX	October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)	April 9, 2021 (2021-04-09)	Ending 2021
24 Japan	TV Asahi	October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)	March 26, 2021 (2021-03-26)	Ending 2021
Attack on Titan (Final season, Part 1)	MBS, NHK	December 7, 2020 (2020-12-07)	March 29, 2021 (2021-03-29)	Season Ended Renewed for Final Season (Part 2)
Alice in Borderland	Netflix	December 10, 2020 (2020-12-10)	Currently airing	Continues 2021

Ending

End date	Show	Channel	First aired	Replaced by	Source
January 26	Star Twinkle PreCure	TV Asahi	February 3, 2019	Healin' Good PreCure
March 1	Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger	TV Asahi	March 17, 2019	Mashin Sentai Kiramager
March 28	Aikatsu on Parade!	TV Tokyo	October 5, 2019	JAPAN COUNTDOWN
	Scarlet	NHK	September 30, 2019	Yell (TV series)
March 29	GeGeGe no Kitaro	Fuji TV	April 1, 2018	Digimon Adventure:	[11]
March 31	Ace of Diamond Act II	TV Tokyo	April 2, 2019	Shadowverse
June 28	Secret × Heroine Phantomirage!	TV Tokyo	April 7, 2019	Police × Heroine Lovepatrina!
August 30	Kamen Rider Zero-One	TV Asahi	September 1 2019	Kamen Rider Saber
November 27	Yell	NHK	March 30, 2020	Ochoyan
December 26	Ultraman Z	TV Tokyo	June 20, 2020	Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey

Special events and milestone episodes

Airdate	Show	Episode	Network	Source
January 19	Chibi Maruko-chan	30th anniversary 1-hour special:"The Adventure of Maruko and Tama-chan"/"Tarō on a Particular Day"	Fuji TV	[16]
December 31	71st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen		NHK
	Johnny's Countdown 2020-2021		Fuji Television

Deaths

Date	Name	Age	Notable Works	Source
January 2	Shōzō Uehara	82	Screenwriter (Super Sentai, Ultraman)	[17]
January 9	Yūji Yamaguchi		Anime director (AM Driver, Smile PreCure)	[18]
January 11	Takeo Tabata	81	Actor	[19]
January 19	Chisako Hara	84	Actress	[20]
January 20	Izumi Tanaka|ja|	88	Television company president (TBS)	[21]
January 31	Katsumasa Uchida	75	Actor	[22]
February 6	Kitamura Saburo	82	Run! K100	[23]
February 13	Ai Kidosaki	94	Chef on the Kyō no Ryōri cooking programme.	[24]
	Yoshisada Sakaguchi	80	Actor, voice actor (Alexander Senki)	[25]
March 29	Ken Shimura	70	Comedian, television personality	[26][27]
April 23	Keiji Fujiwara	55	Voice actor (Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, One Piece), dubbing actor (TUGS, Beast Wars: Transformers)	[28]
April 23	Kumiko Okae	63	Actress, voice actress, television presenter	[29][30]
May 23	Hana Kimura	22	Former Japanese wrestler, acted on Netflix original series Terrace House: Tokyo 2019–2020.	[31]
July 18	Haruma Miura	30	Actor	[32]
August 29	Maria Hamasaki	23	Model	[33]
September 14	Sei Ashina	36	Actress	[34]
September 21	Takashi Fujiki	80	Actor	[34]
September 27	Yuko Takeuchi	40	Actress	[32][34]

See also

• 2020 in British television (Brexit)
• 2020 in television

References

1. Originally started on April 5, 2020

1. "Anime creator Shoji Kawamori named chief creative officer of Small Worlds theme park". 2020-01-20. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
2. "Yui Ogura's event changes visitor policy due to the coronavirus". 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
3. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (2020-08-05). "Ikki Tousen, Elfen Lied's Studio Arms Declares Bankruptcy". Anime News Network.
4. "Marumaru Manul TV anime shorts premiere on January 5". 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
5. "Laid-Back Camp Anime Gets 2nd Season". Anime News Network. October 7, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
6. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (November 20, 2019). "Laid-Back Camp Manga Gets Live-Action Series in January". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
7. "Sony Music, Aniplex Produce Norimono Man Mobile Land no Car-kun Kids' TV Anime". Anime News Network. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
8. "Yu-Gi-Oh! Franchise Gets New Anime Series in 2020 for 20th Anniversary". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
9. "Takara Tomy's Tomica franchise gets Earth Granner TV anime in April". 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
10. "Hakushon Daimaō Gets New TV Anime in Spring 2020". Anime News Network. February 4, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
11. "Digimon Adventure gets new TV anime reboot in April". 2020-01-20. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
12. Sherman, Jennifer (December 27, 2019). "Fire Force Anime Gets 2nd Season, Stage Play in Summer 2020". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
13. Loo, Egan (May 11, 2020). "KLab, Kadokawa's Magic Idol Anime Lapis Re:LiGHTs Unveils July Debut, Opening Song in 2nd Promo Video". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
14. "Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibōken Manga Gets New Anime Adaptation in Fall 2020 (Updated)". Anime News Network. December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
15. "The Irregular at Magic High School Anime Season 2 to Premiere in July". Anime News Network. January 4, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
16. "Anime series Chibi Maruko-chan gets 1-hour 30th anniversary special on January 19". 2020-01-07. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
17. "上原正三さん死去". 朝日新聞社. 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
18. スタジオディーン版『Fate/stay night』の魅力 〜山口祐司監督追悼コラム〜 (in Japanese)
19. "田畑猛雄さん ８１歳＝俳優 ／大阪". 毎日新聞社. 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
20. "女優の原知佐子さん死去". 時事ドットコム. 時事通信社. 2020-01-20. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
21. "田中和泉氏が死去 元TBS（現TBSホールディングス）社長". 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 2020-01-23. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
22. "俳優の内田勝正さん死去". 時事ドットコム. 時事通信社. 2020-02-05. Archived from the original on 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
23. 沖縄タイムス 沖縄芝居の名役者 北村三郎さん死去 2020年2月6日閲覧。
24. 「きょうの料理」に長年出演 料理研究家の城戸崎愛さん死去. NHK News Web. 2020-02-13. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
25. "坂口芳貞さん死去80歳 Ｍ・フリーマン吹き替えも". 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
26. "Japanese comedian Ken Shimura dies from coronavirus: NHK". Reuters. 29 March 2020.
27. 志村けんさん死去　新型コロナ感染で肺炎. The Nikkei. 30 March 2020
28. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (2020-04-16). "Voice Actor Keiji Fujiwara Passes Away at 55 Due to Cancer". Anime News Network.
29. "Actress Okae Kumiko dies from coronavirus". NHK World. April 23, 2020. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
30. "Drama star Kumiko Okae, host of 'Hanamaru Market,' dies from pneumonia at 63". Japan Times. April 24, 2020. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
31. "Japanese wrestling star Hana Kimura dies aged 22". BBC News. 2020-05-23. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
32. 윤설영 (2020-09-27). "톱배우 다케우치 충격의 죽음…日연예인 이달만 3명 극단선택" (in Korean). Joongang Ilbo. 일본에선 최근 몇 개월 사이 연예인의 자살 사건이 잇따르고 있다.
33. "Reality show star criticized online before death". NHK. 2020-08-29.
34. "日 연예계 잔혹한 9월…다케우치 유코, 득남 8개월 만에 사망" (in Korean). The Facts. 2020-09-27. 일본 연예계는 지난 7월 인기 배우 미우라 하루마(30)가 유서를 남긴 채 사망한 것을 시작으로 8월 방송인 하마사키 마리아(23)가 자택에서 숨진 채 발견됐고 9월 들어서는 지난 14일 배우 아시나 세이(36). 21일 원로 배우 후지키 타카시(80)가 세상을 떠났다.