Japanorama

Japanorama
Title card of Japanorama
Created byHotsauce TV
Written byJack Barth
Directed byPeter Boyd Maclean
StarringJonathan Ross
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of series3
No. of episodes18
Production
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkBBC Choice
BBC Three
UKTV
ReleaseSeptember 2002 (2002-09) –
November 2007 (2007-23)
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Japanorama is a series of documentaries presented by Jonathan Ross, exploring various facets of popular culture and trends of modern-day Japan.

Each episode has a theme, around which Ross presents cultural phenomenon, films, music, and art that exemplify facets of Japan. The series is colourful in both its creative use of subject matter, and its use of bright colours that helped accent the action on screen rather than distract from it. Subjects are separated by eye catches that often featured the artwork of Junko Mizuno. Ross hosted each episode in suits so bright and stylised they could have been stolen from an anime character.

Fans have praised the series for the care that both Ross and the BBC have placed in its production. Time was given to delve into each subject, and he was able to interview various figureheads of culture and industry, including Mamoru Oshii, Hayao Miyazaki, Takeshi Kitano, Takashi Miike, Takashi Murakami, and Sonny Chiba.

The theme song of the show was Kiyoshi no zundoko bushi by Kiyoshi Hikawa.