J-ENT HISTORY: On this date… January 31

1996

“Furuhata Ninsaburo” episode 6 airs. A detective story starring actor Tamura Masakazu. Kimura Takuya plays the role of a grad student renown for his expertise in explosives. There is a bomb scare but is he responsible?  Furuhata investigates!

1997

“Music Station” features Okamoto Mayo, Oda Yuji, PAMELAH, Tokunagi Hideaki, V6 and Kanae.

“Risou no Kekkon” episode 4 airs. A story about an Osaka woman with intense emotional feelings about trying to find the ideal person to marry.   Stars Takenouchi Yutaka, Tokiwa Takako, Enomoto Kanako, Nogiwa Yoko, Ito Shiro and more.

1998

“San Shimai Tanteiban ~Spark girls. Be cool.  Be cute.~” episode 4 airs.  A drama starring Yoshikawa Hinano, Suzuki Ran Ran and Nomura Yuka.

1999

“Salaryman Kintarou” episode 4 airs.  Katsunori Takahashi stars as Kintaro Yajima, a former bosozoku (motorcycle gang) member turned fisherman.  He makes the leap to corporate life after saving the life of a company president.

“CountDown TV” features L’Arc~en~Ciel and Aikawa Nanase, DISCOGRAPHY on Amuro Namie’s greatest hits album, VIDEO DISCOGRAPHY on GLAY’S VIDEO 3 and this month’s MV WINNER

2000

“2000-nen no Koi” episode 4 airs. On Christmas Eve, two brothers enter the country with the task of killing their real father. But one of the brothers kills the other and runs off into the woods. On the other hand is Mashiro Rieru (portrayed by Nakayama Miho), who works as a computer engineer. She is really bored with her life. One day, she goes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and meets mysterious man by the name of Nogami (portrayed by Kaneshiro Takeshi). But little did she know that the so-called Nogami was the elder brother who recently entered the country.

“SMAP x SMAP” features an. Ultraman Kimura segment, a tongue twister segment, BISTRO SMAP with a sumo wrestler and SMAP singes “Let it Be”.

2005

“Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ” airs and features Johnny’s groups: SMAP, KinKi Kids, V6, TOKIO, Takki and Tsubasa, NEWS, Arashi.  Also, features Nakamori Akina, D-51 and SAYAKA.

“SMAP x SMAP” features Minaka Ryoko, a caveman segment, SMAP sings “Tomodachi e”.

CountDown TV TOP SONGS OF 2004 SPECIAL featuring Aiko, CHEMISTRY, Orange Range, Nobody Knows, Hamasaki Ayumi, Matsuura Aya, Ootsuka Ai, and countdown of top #1’s from each month of previous years.