The Best TV Shows on NHK BS1

Every NHK BS1 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

NHK BS1 has delivered an expansive roster of over 20 shows, dating from 1983 all the way to 2018. Among NHK BS1’s finest offerings are Mrs. Pepper Pot and Hey! Bumboo, which debuted in 1983 and 1985, respectively. Stay up-to-date with over 20 of NHK BS1’s elite series, with our list refreshed for February 2026.

  • The Legend of Snow White
    The Legend of Snow White (1994)9.7

    The Legend of Snow White is a Japanese anime series produced by Tatsunoko Production and based on the European fairy tale. Directed by Tsuneo Ninomiya and using a screenplay written by Jinzō Toriumi, the series premiered on NHK on April 6, 1994 and ran for 52-episodes until its conclusion on March 29, 1995. The series uses two pieces of theme music: one opening theme, "Heart no mori e tsuretette" by Miki Sakai with Red Dolphins, and one ending theme, "Folk Dance" by Mebae Miyahara.

  • Churasan
    Churasan (2001)9.7

    The 64th NHK Asadora Renzoku Drama is Churasan, a story of a young woman, Kohagura Eri, who was born in Kohamajima Island, Okinawa on May 15, 1972, the day when Okinawa was returned to Japan from the U.S. Eleven years later, Kamimura Shizuko and her two sons, Kazuya and Fumiya, from Tokyo come to stay as the guests of a small inn run by Eri’s family. Eri’s fun-loving, yet eccentric family welcomes them warmly. However, Eri is shocked to hear one of the sons, Kazuya is terminally ill and Shizuko and her sons came to Okinawa to spend his last moment together in beautiful nature. Fumiya, Kazuya’s younger brother, and Eri promise to marry each other someday. However after Kazuya’s death, Fumiya and his mother leave the island to go back to Tokyo. Years later, they are reunited, Eri as a nurse and Fumiya, a doctor, working at the same hospital in Tokyo.

  • Ryōmaden
    Ryōmaden (2010)9.1

    Ryōmaden is the 49th NHK Taiga drama. It was shown on NHK from January 3 to November 28, 2010 spanning 48 episodes. The story centers on the life of 19th-century Japanese historical figures Iwasaki Yatarō and Sakamoto Ryōma. It has been announced that the series will be aired in several other countries, for example Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

  • Segodon
    Segodon (2018)8.3

    Saigo Takamori, the hero of the Meiji Restoration, was born to a poor, low-ranking samurai family in the Satsuma domain (present day Kagoshima Prefecture). His simple honesty caught the attention of its charismatic feudal lord of Satsuma, Shimazu Nariakira. Nariakira’s assertion that the love of people is what will enrich and strengthen the nation captivated Saigo who took on Nariakira’s secret mission and eventually became a key person for Satsuma. Not a portrait of him survives today and much of his life is a mystery. He is a man who was twice exiled and thrice married. He overthrew the Tokugawa Shogunate with exceptional bravery and action. Although he accomplished the restoration, he lost his life in a fight with the new Meiji government.

  • Azuki-chan
    Azuki-chan (1995)8.2

    Azusa Noyama is a 12-year-old girl student, taking 5th grade, but everyone knows her as Azuki-Chan, nickname that she dislikes. Yuunosuke Ogasawara, a new student, asks her about her nickname, saying that he likes it. Azuki falls in love with him, and they start going out together. They share a diary, and become boyfriend and girlfriend.

  • Clouds Over the Hill
    Clouds Over the Hill (2009)8.2

    Saka no Ue no Kumo is an NHK 21st Century special drama which was aired over three years starting from November 29, 2009. The series runs 13 episodes at 90 minutes each. The first series, with 5 episodes, was broadcast in 2009, while series two and three, each with 4 episodes, were broadcast in late 2010 and 2011. While most episodes were shot in Japan, one of the episodes in series two was shot in Latvia. The TV series is based on the novel Saka no ue no kumo by Ryōtarō Shiba and adopted by Hisashi Nozawa. The theme song of the drama series is titled "Stand Alone". It was composed by Joe Hisaishi, written by Kundo Koyama and performed by British soprano singer Sarah Brightman.

  • Mrs. Pepper Pot
    Mrs. Pepper Pot (1983)8.0

    Mrs. Pepper Pot lives in a small village with her husband, and enjoys a unique life because she has a small magic spoon that helps her reduce her size, and during that, Mrs. Pepper Pot embarks on a series of adventures during which she communicates with animals easily.

  • Soar High! Isami
    Soar High! Isami (1995)8.0

    Soar High! Isami is an anime series made by Group TAC and directed by Gisaburô Sugii. The anime is based on The Hakkenden but is set in the future. The anime was broadcast on NHK between April 8, 1995 and March 30, 1996. It is licensed by Hirameki International in the USA.

  • The Twelve Kingdoms
    The Twelve Kingdoms (2002)7.9

    Nakajima Youko is your average somewhat timid high school student. One day, a strange man named Keiki appears before her, swearing allegiance. Before she could properly register what was happening, demon-like creatures attack Youko and her friends, after which they are pulled into a different world. A world unlike what she has ever known. Separated from Keiki, Youko and her friends must do whatever they can if they wish to survive in this new world.

  • Yae's Sakura
    Yae's Sakura (2013)7.9

    Yae no Sakura is a 2013 Japanese television series. It is the 52nd NHK taiga drama. The story focuses on Niijima Yae, who is portrayed by Haruka Ayase.

  • Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G
    Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G (2010)7.5

    Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G is an original video animation series produced by Sunrise to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Gundam plastic model kits. It's directed by Kou Matsuo and written by Yousuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Kaichiro Terada. The OVA was released in August 15, 2010 to December 19, 2010 with 3 15-minute Episodes. Unlike other Gundam titles, Gunpla Builders Beginning G takes place in a present-day timeline. Aside to the OAV, two manga sequels were released in Dengeki Hobby Magazine.

  • Master Keaton
    Master Keaton (1998)7.1

    The amazing Taichi Keaton works on cases around the globe that always lead to adventure! He combines his arsenal of multidisciplinary expertise in investigation, archeology, and survival with his experience as a professor, a Falklands Conflict veteran and a SAS agent to unravel the often dangerous challenges in each riveting episode.

  • Montana Jones
    Montana Jones (1994)7.0

    The series takes place in the 1930s and is about the adventures of Montana Jones, who goes treasure hunting with his cousin Alfred Jones and the beautiful reporter Melissa Thorn. They visit real locations and cities like the Pyramids of Giza, the Taj Mahal, Istanbul or Easter Island. Frequently they cross paths with Lord Zero - a rich, eccentric art lover and master thief.

  • Twelve Warrior Explosive Eto Rangers
    Twelve Warrior Explosive Eto Rangers (1995)7.0

    Twelve Warrior Explosive Eto Rangers is a 1995 Japanese anime television series. The Eto Rangers are based on the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.

  • Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple
    Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple (2004)6.7

    Young Mabel West is the daughter of mystery writer Raymond West, who wants her to lead a normal life. Rebelling against this, Mabel wants to be a great detective, and sets out for London to become assistant to none other than Hercule Poirot, the great Belgian detective who resides there. She finally wins the reluctant approval of her father, and embarks on an exciting life of mystery and suspense - his only demand being that she occasionally spend some time with her great-aunt, Jane Marple, in the small village of St. Mary Mead.

  • Dear Brother
    Dear Brother (1991)6.5

    It’s Nanako’s first day at Seiran Academy, a prestigious all-girl’s high school famous for its exclusive and elegant “Sorority.” Only ten members will be accepted this year, and competition is fierce! Despite seeming fairly unremarkable on the surface, Nanako is selected as a member – instantly making her a target for her jealous and angry classmates. But the bullying doesn’t stop Nanako from forming friendships with the three most popular students, and even falling in love.

  • Ninja Boy Rantaro
    Ninja Boy Rantaro (1993)6.5

    Rantarō, Shinbei and Kirimaru are ninja apprentices in the Ninja Gakuen, where first grade ones are called "Nintamas". They must learn everything a ninja must know, but as for our heroes, money, food or playing are more interesting. The series show the everyday adventures of our heroes.

  • Hey! Bumboo
    Hey! Bumboo (1985)4.6

    Bumboo is a talking car, innocent in many ways, Bumboo searches for her mother throughout many adventures and dangers, battling villains and stopping thieves while discovering that she may not be the only talking car of her kind in the world.

  • Telepathy Shoujo Ran
    Telepathy Shoujo Ran (2008)N/A

    Telepathy Shōjo Ran Jiken Note is a novel series by Atsuko Asano. A manga adaptation by Toshitsugu Iida is serialized in the shōnen manga magazine Shōnen Sirius. A twenty-six-episode anime adaptation aired in Japan between June 21 and December 20, 2008. It is being produced by TMS Entertainment and was broadcast by NHK.

  • Jun to Ai
    Jun to Ai (2012)N/A

    Jun to Ai is a Japanese television drama series. It debuted on October 1, 2012 and was broadcast until March 30, 2013. It is about a girl named Jun Kanō, raised in Miyakojima, Okinawa, who moves to Osaka to work in a hotel. There she meets a man named Itoshi Machida, with whom she falls in love. It is the 87th NHK Asadora.