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?

The 86th Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2015) - Best Supporting Actress

Overall Ranking Top 3

1) Mitsushima Hikari - Do Konjo Gaeru

2) Honda Tsubasa - Koinaka

3) Aso Kumiko - Napoleon no Mura

Voters Ranking Top 5

1) Mitsushima Hikari - Do Konjo Gaeru

2) Maeda Atsuko - Do Konjo Gaeru

3) Jiyoung - Tamiou

4) Toda Erika - Risk no Kamisama

5) Ohara Sakurako - Koinaka

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5

1) Mitsushima Hikari - Do Konjo Gaeru

2) Inamori Izumi - Age Harassment

3) Tanaka Yuko - Mare

4) Tokiwa Takako - Mare / Aso Yumi - Age Harassment

Judges Ranking Top 5

1) Honda Tsubasa - Koinaka

2) Mitsushima Hikari - Do Konjo Gaeru

3) Aso Kumiko - Napoleon no Mura

4) Tanaka Yuko - Mare

5) Tokiwa Takako - Mare / Jiyoung - Tamiou / Toda Erika - Risk no Kamisama

Source: The Television

Preview of "Risk no Kamisama" (リスクの神様) - Summer 2015

Title: Risk no Kamisama (リスクの神様)
Official website: here
O.A. Start Date: 8 July 2015
Timeslot: Wednesdays 10pm
Broadcast: FujiTV
Cast: Tsutsumi Shinichi, Toda Erika, Morita Go, Furuta Arata, Shiga Kotaro, Yamaguchi Sayaka, Mitsushima Shinnosuke, Hira Mikijiro, Tanaka Min, Yoshida Kotaro, Kohinata Fumio

Production press conference of FujiTV Summer 2015 drama "Risk no Kamisama"

The production press conference of FujiTV Summer 2015 drama "Risk no Kamisama" was held on 25 June which was attended by cast members Tsutsumi Shinichi, Toda Erika, Morita Go, Kohinata Fumio, Shiga Kotaro and Hira Mikijiro. The drama which begins its run from 8 July in the Wednesdays 10pm timeslot, features Tsutsumi as a risk management specialist who works with his team to solve the problems faced by various companies. Tsutsumi commented that the theme of this drama is especially timely with the string of corporate problems happening of late. He did wonder if it was appropriate to highlight these issues in a drama but he was highly encouraged by the strong cast line-up and the fantastic atmosphere on the set that he thinks that this will be a high quality production. However, the huge amount of lines he has to memorise this time is rather overwhelming so he feels as if he has almost used up all of his memory capacity in his brain. As for Toda, she plays a capable woman who knows 5 languages but as she can only speak Japanese and has to conduct a conversation in English in episode 5, she will try her best to deal with the situation when they get to that scene.

Source: Sponichi

Morita Go to join the cast of FujiTV Summer 2015 drama "Risk no Kamisama"

V6's Morita Go will be joining the cast of FujiTV Summer 2015 drama "Risk no Kamisama" which is due to begin its run from July in the Wednesdays 10pm timeslot. This marks his first appearance in a private network drama since NTV's "Kuitan 2" shown 8 years ago and his collaboration with Tsutsumi Shinichi and Toda Erika. In this drama featuring Tsutsumi as a risk management consultant, Morita will play his trusted assistant who carries out his orders faithfully and is capable of everything including computer hacking, surveillance and tracking as well as infiltrating into companies to carry out investigations.

In recent years, Morita's focus has been on stage plays including the Miyamoto Amon production "Kinkakuji" in 2011 which was also performed in the US. He was also seen in the 2012 NHK Taiga "Taira no Kiyomori" as Taira no Kiyosada.

Source: Sanspo

Tsutsumi Shinichi and Toda Erika to work together in FujiTV Summer 2015 drama "Risk no Kamisama"

Tsutsumi Shinichi will be starring in the FujiTV Summer 2015 drama "Risk no Kamisama" (The God of Risk) which is his first solo leading role in a drama series in 16 years. He plays the role of a risk management expert who tries to save individuals and companies involved in various problems such as bribery and doctoring of accounts and would resort to anything to achieve his goals. His subordinate will be played by Toda Erika, a smart and aggressive Todai graduate who always gets into trouble with the people around her. This will be the first time that Tsutsumi and Toda are working together in a drama and their hometowns happen to be in Hyogo Prefecture. The two of them will be appearing in the new movie "Kakekomi Onna to Kakedashi Otoko" which is due to be shown in cinemas from 16 May.

Tsutsumi commented that it is interesting to see a drama which delves into the responsibilities and attitudes of a company that gets into trouble and is looking forward to the start of the filming to make a good drama with the cast and crew. On the other hand, Toda said that her first impression of the script was that it felt like she is knowing about the dark side of the adult world for the first time and was surprised at the harsh reality depicted in the story. However, she is confident that they will do well since she will follow Tsutsumi's lead.

Filming begins at the end of May.

Source: Sanspo / Yomiuri Hochi