The Best TV Shows on JNN

Every JNN Show Ranked From Best To Worst

JNN’s extensive portfolio includes more than 20 shows, spanning the years from 1968 to 2018. Highlighting JNN’s quality programming, Oyaji Daiko and Brother stand out, premiering in 1968 and 1969. Check out the most acclaimed shows on JNN, with a catalog of over 20 series updated for June 2025.

  • Kamen Rider Stronger
    Kamen Rider Stronger (1975)10.0

    Shigeru Jo joins the evil organization Black Satan after the death of his close friend and mentor Goro Numata. He, promised power, and fueled by a desire for revenge, undergoes surgery to become one of Black Satan's super warriors. However, Shigeru knows that Black Satan were in fact the murderers of his friend; he was using Black Satan in order to gain new powers. The newly powered up Shigeru escapes from the Black Satan headquarters before they can brainwash him into following their campaign of evil and becomes Kamen Rider Stronger. While escaping from Black Satan, Stronger meets Yuriko Misaki another cyborg warrior created by Black Satan who has the ability to transform into Electronic Wave Humanoid Tackle. Together they fight the evil Black Satan and later the Delzer Army to restore peace in Japan.

  • Oyaji Daiko
    Oyaji Daiko (1968)9.0

    The Tsuru family is a family of nine, headed by Kamejiro. Kamejiro is the president of a construction company that has made a fortune in its first generation, but he is a one-man family. His wife, Aiko, is a typical good wife and wise mother type. Kamejiro gets angry and thunders down every week, and the children are afraid of him, calling him "Oyaji Daiko", but he also takes advantage of this.

  • Kamen Rider Black
    Kamen Rider Black (1987)8.5

    Desperate and terrified, Kotaro Minami escaped the clutches of the ancient secret society, Gorgom—but in doing so, left behind his best friend and adoptive brother, Nobuhiko Akizuki. Both have been transformed into beings of immense power in order to serve Gorgom's dark purposes. If left unchecked, Gorgom will destroy humanity and eliminate all traces of its civilization and culture. Now the powerful cyborg known as Kamen Rider Black, Kotaro will use the powers Gorgom gave him to preserve justice and freedom, as well as to save his brother. But Gorgom has their own plans for Nobuhiko—and if Kotaro can't save him, he may have to fight him!

  • Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion: THE ANIMATION
    Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion: THE ANIMATION (2018)8.4

    Hayato Hayasugi (his last name is a pun on the words for "too fast") and other children will serve as conductors to pilot the Shinkalion. The Shinkalion robots are various models of real-life Japanese bullet trains (shinkansen) that transform into robots to fight an unknown evil to protect the safety and peace of Japan. The children must work together with the adults of the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute (SUEI) to defeat a monster that looks like a jet black bullet train.

  • Hancho
    Hancho (2009)7.5

    This is a story about the detectives at the Jinnan Police Station in Harajuku, Tokyo. Azumi Tsuyoshi, head of the Criminal Affairs Department trusts his staff and usually does not interfere with their investigation. However, one day, a dead body is found in the neighborhood. Toyo Ota, a neighbor, is spotted screaming into a microphone towards the victim's house. Azumi who thought this was strange felt the need to investigate this case himself. He starts talking to her and they become friends, but the next day, Toyo surprises him by saying that she is the one who killed the woman and surrenders to the police.

  • The Many Faces of Ito
    The Many Faces of Ito (2017)6.9

    A jaded rom-com screenwriter in her 30s mines four love-sick women for their stories under the guise of providing them with romantic advice.

  • Sakura Wars
    Sakura Wars (2000)6.4

    At the beginning of 1900's, Sakura Shinguji received the mission of defending imperial capital Tokyo and came from Sendai to Tokyo. But, the post which she was assigned was the floral unit of the popular opera group at that time. She tries to become familiar with her new companions while she is perplexed as to what the relationship is between the fight and the opera group. But...

  • Central Ikegami Police
    Central Ikegami Police (2002)6.0

    Police chief in a blue-collar part of town called Central Ikegami, Keisuke is known for his laziness. But looks can be deceiving! Having graduated from an elite university, Keisuke merely prefers to lead an unassuming life without all the politics of climbing the department ladder. But the chief always gets the job done when the people need him, and they appreciate his unpretentious attitude. Some are sure to be surprised when they underestimate this deceptively folksy crime-fighter!

  • Let's Go to Onsen
    Let's Go to Onsen (1999)5.0

    Left at the altar after quitting her job to marry, Kaoru travels to the countryside to work at the Japanese inn and hot spring resort that her mother manages. With her daughter back, Kaoru’s mother decides to groom her to become the next manager, but this causes the woman previously in line for that position to become a jealous rival. On top of that, the rest of the staff don’t respect her and refuse to cooperate at every turn. Fighting to thwart the efforts of her rival, earning the respect of her co-workers, learning a new job and hopefully finding love along the way may be tough, but she is determined to make this her new home!

  • Chargeman Ken!
    Chargeman Ken! (1974)2.6

    It is the year 2074. In a world threatened by aliens... an unlikely hero emerges! Ken Izumi may look like an ordinary 10-year-old boy, but he secretly possesses weapons, armor, and accessories that transform him into the superheroic Chargeman Ken. Ken protects his mom, dad, little sister Caron, robot pal Barican, and the rest of mankind from the diabolical Juralians, shape-shifting alien invaders bent on terrorizing the earth. The only thing standing between the fragile human race and conquest by the Juralians is Chargeman Ken and his unquenchable thirst for fiery, atomic justice!

  • Brother
    Brother (1969)N/A

    The drama depicts the lives and loves of people living in three different environments: a family consisting of two brothers and their parents; a family with a father and a daughter who are not well organized; and a girl who has moved from the countryside to Tokyo to live alone in the whirlwind of the big city, desperately trying to survive.

  • Ningen no Shōmei
    Ningen no Shōmei (1978)N/A

    TV series produced by MBS and TOEI, based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Seiichi Morimura.

  • Yasei no Shōmei
    Yasei no Shōmei (1979)N/A

    A girl survives a massacre of villagers by Japanese soldiers in a remote mountain village, and a member of the Self-Defense Force who stumbled upon the scene of the massacre during training - this suspenseful drama depicts a huge conspiracy in the Tohoku region centered on these two people.

  • Yuki-hime Onmitsu Dōchūki
    Yuki-hime Onmitsu Dōchūki (1980)N/A

    The story begins with Kiyomasa Kato's granddaughter, Princess Yuki, on her way from Kumamoto to Edo to appeal directly to the Shogun.

  • Precious Moments
    Precious Moments (1981)N/A

    The drama depicts the daily lives of three women of the marriageable age who are desperately trying to make some memories before they get married.

  • Sa-shi-su-se-so!?
    Sa-shi-su-se-so!? (1997)N/A

  • Shinkansen Love Story
    Shinkansen Love Story (1997)N/A

    The popular Shinkansen bullet train serves as the setting for a series of romantic encounters, from youthful flirtations to mature relationships, office affairs, and simply the love of life itself. A common thread is maintained by the young chief conductor and his crew of well-worn professionals and first-time pursers.

  • A Twist of Fate
    A Twist of Fate (1998)N/A

    Eri and Shuji meet as next door neighbors and over the course of a year become lovers. However, just as Shuji is planning on asking Eri to marry him, they are each offered job opportunities at opposite ends of the globe. Pulled apart by their careers, they happen to meet years later and are surprised to find they still have feelings for one another. However, the fact that they are both in serious relationships with other people promises to complicate matters.

  • Papa for One Summer
    Papa for One Summer (2003)N/A

    A high school student’s mother passes away leaving her alone with her grief. The girl, Marimo, discovers the name of a father she never knew. Marimo sets off to meet him, but is completely shocked when she finds someone very different from the father she envisioned. Her father, Shinpei, a 38-year-old would-be private detective, is shocked too, and doesn’t believe her until he sees the paperwork. With Marimo muttering “The worst father in the world” and Shinpei lamenting the loss of his freedom, these two are about to learn how difficult and rewarding a father/daughter relationship can be.

  • It was sudden, like a storm...
    It was sudden, like a storm... (2004)N/A

    Kozue Ogawa is a housewife and has been married to Hideo for seven years. They don't have any children, but as they live with her parents at their flower shop, every day is still lively. She is happy with her life and her husband, but she wonders if it is enough. From time to time, she is gripped by this doubt that she cannot raise with anyone. Kozue starts a part-time job in the editing department of the magazine where she used to work. Her former colleague is now working hard as the editor-in-chief. One rainy day, Kozue meets a young man. He is Takuma Fukazawa, a high school student. He seems somehow shrouded in sadness. He is a dance teacher. In the dance studio, there is just the two of them. Takuma curls his hands around Kozue's body, and his dance instruction begins. Their unexpected closeness causes Kozue to hesitate. With her heart pounding, she pushes Takuma's hands away and runs home. But the throbbing in her chest continues. It can't be. But what is this feeling?