Top 15 dramas with the lowest average rating (AsaJo)

AsaJo recently released a list of the top 15 dramas with the lowest average rating:

1) Otto no Kanojo - 3.8% (TBS / Autumn 2013)
Starring Kawaguchi Haruna
HEAT - 3.8% (FujiTV / Summer 2015)
Starring AKIRA

3) Kazoku no Uta - 3.9% (FujiTV / Spring 2012)
Starring Odagiri Jo

4) Message - 4.4% (NTV / Winter 2003)
Starring Mannaka Hitomi

5) Kazoku no Urajijo - 4.5% (FujiTV / Autumn 2013)
Starring Zaizen Naomi

6) Lion Sensei - 4.7% (NTV / Autumn 2003)
Starring Takenaka Naoto
Tatakau! Shoten Girl - 4.7% (FujiTV / Spring 2015)
Starring Watanabe Mayu & Inamori Izumi

8) Risk no Kamisama - 5.1% (FujiTV / Summer 2015)
Starring Tsutsumi Shinichi
Asunaro Sansannanabyoshi - 5.1% (FujiTV / Summer 2014)
Starring Yanagiba Toshiro

10) Keiji Ichiro - 5.2% (TBS / Winter 2013)
Starring Kato Haruhiko

11) Regatta Kimi to ita eien - 5.5% (TV Asahi / Summer 2006)
Starring Hayami Mokomichi

12) Hito Natsu no Papa e - 5.6% (TBS / Summer 2003)
Starring Ueto Aya

13) Ranpo R - 5.7% (NTV / Winter 2004)
Starring Fujii Takashi

14) Masshiro - 5.8% (TBS / Winter 2015)
Starring Horikita Maki

15) Omotesando Koukou Gasshobu - 5.9% (TBS / Summer 2015)
Starring Yoshine Kyoko

Based on the results above, here are some trends I would like to highlight:

- 10 out the 15 dramas come from the last 5 years i.e. 2010 to 2015. This coincides with the general view that drama ratings have been really low in recent years.

- The number of dramas from each of the Big 4 private networks in ascending order: TV Asahi = 1 / NTV = 3 / TBS = 5 / FujiTV = 6 i.e. TBS and FujiTV are in the race for the most number of low-ratings dramas. Surprisingly, TV Asahi's only entry  was Regatta in 2006 which had hogged the No.1 title for a long time before "Kazoku no Uta" came along to be referred to as a textbook example of a lowly-rated flop in the drama world. Now, this undesirable title belongs to "Otto no Kanojo" and "HEAT". This also means that TV Asahi has been doing so well in the ratings game at least in the last 10 years or so even though it was lagging behind the other three for a long time.

- Big and small names alike are not spared the low ratings curse. Apparently, it was rumoured that Odagiri was so sick of being under the ratings pressure brought about by "Kazoku no Uta" that he has reportedly vowed to stick to late-night or WOWOW dramas from now on.

- In terms of the season which has the most worst performers -> Winter = 4 / Spring = 2 / Summer = 6 / Autumn = 3. This seems to coincide with the general observation that summer dramas tend to do badly because people are outside enjoying the summer holidays.

- Being bad at the ratings game doesn't necessarily mean that it is a critical flop too. The most recent example was "Omotesando Koukou Gasshobu" which did rather badly in ratings but its female lead who is a newbie Yoshine Kyoko actually won the Best Leading Actress award in the Drama Academy Award. Baffles me how it happened but she must have won over those who watched the drama and voted for her.

Just an ending note, out of these 15 dramas, I've only watched the first episode of "Risk no Kamisama" which really spooked me so much that I didn't want to continue. It's not that I consciously shy away from these dramas because of ratings but I guess there must be something about them which turns me away.

How many of these dramas have you watched? And do you think they are really as bad as the ratings reflect?

Production press conference of FujiTV summer 2014 drama "Asunaro Sansannanabyoushi"

The production press conference of FujiTV summer 2014 drama "Asunaro Sansannanabyoushi: was held on 9 July at Komazawa University which was attended by the cast Yanagiba Toshiro, Gouriki Ayame, Sorimachi Takashi, Kazama Shunsuke, Ouchida Yuhei and Honkon. The drama which will begin its run from 15 July at 9pm on Tuesdays, is based on a novel by Shigematsu Kiyoshi about a 50-year-old salaryman who becomes the leader of a cheering group in exchange for not being retrenched.

Yanagiba who last wore a school uniform 35 years ago, remarked that he felt hot in this attire but hopes to convert the heat to passion on the set. As for Sorimachi, he revealed that the mood on set was friendly. Gouriki who is the only female in the cheering group, pledged not to lose out to the others although she acknowledged that it was tough to raise her voice during cheering.

Source: Sanspo

Preview of "Asunaro Sansannanabyoushi" - Summer 2014

Title: Asunaro Sansannanabyoushi あすなろ三三七拍子
Official website: here
Official blog: here
O.A. Start Date: 15 July 2014
Timeslot: Tuesdays 9pm
Broadcast by: FujiTV
Original work by: Shigematsu Kiyoshi
Theme Song: Ai no Kotoba - 2014 mix by Spitz
Cast: Yanagiba Toshiro, Gouriki Ayame, Kazama Shunsuke, Takahata Mitsuki, Ouchida Yuhei, Iitoyo Marie, Kikuchi Momoko, Nishida Toshiyuki, Moriguchi Yoko, Honkon, Sorimachi Takashi

Spitz to sing the theme song for FujiTV summer 2014 drama "Asunaro Sansannanabyoushi"

Spitz will be singing the theme song for the upcoming FujiTV summer 2014 drama "Asunaro Sansannanabyoushi" which is due to begin its run from 15 July in the Tuesdays 9pm timeslot. The song titled "Ai no Kotoba" (Love's Words) was released in the band's 1995 album "Hachimitsu" and will be rearranged to form the new version "Ai no Kotoba - 2014 mix -".

The drama's planning-in-charge Mizuno Ayako was thinking of which song to use as the theme when she decided that she wanted to use a Spitz song as she had been an avid fan during her university days. Mizuno then sent a handwritten letter to the band which led to the successful collaboration.

Source: Sanspo

Yanagiba Toshiro to star in FujiTV summer 2014 drama "Asunaro Sansannanabyoushi"

Yanagiba Toshiro will be starring in the FujiTV summer 2014 drama "Asunaro Sansannanabyoushi" which will begin its run from 15 July in the Tuesdays 9pm timeslot. This is his first leading role in 15 years in a terrestrial network drama since 1999's "Ring ~ Saishusho".

The drama is based on the same-titled novel by Shigematsu Kiyoshi about Fujimaki, a salaryman who is 50 years old and gets retrenched suddenly. He is then told to join an university's cheering team at the orders of his company's president where he has to save the team from being disbanded. As preparations for the role. Yanagiba had to undergo intense training from the OBs of University of Tokyo's cheering team.

Co-stars include Gouriki Ayame, a 3rd year student who hates the cheering team for being a place where men are seen as superior to women and wants to destroy it, Kazama Shunsuke, a cheering team member with blonde hair and earrings as well as Sorimachi Takashi, the OB of the cheering team who coaches Fujimaki on the art of cheering.

Source: Sanspo