The Phenomenon That Is Kimura Takuya: Part 1 (Drama Ratings: Facts and Figures)
Before getting into the main topic, I will first provide a brief introduction and background to the television ratings system in Japan.
Television Ratings System:
The ratings in Japan are measured according to regions: Kantou, Kansai, Nagoya etc. There is no overall ratings system that covers all regions in Japan. The ratings from the Kantou region are recorded as the main ratings measured because that is the busiest metropolition region with the highest population count.
When the ratings are measured and ranked, the television programs are usually divided into different categories: news, current affairs, sports, anime, drama etc.
Japanese Drama Ratings System:
Japanese dramas can be divided into different categories: trendy dramas (also known as "renzoku dorama" or "rendora"), NHK traditional dramas (also known as "taiga dorama") and NHK television serial novels (also known as "renzoku terebi shousetsu", "asadora" or "morning drama").Other categories of dramas can also include the one-shot dramas (also known as "tanpatsu dorama") that can be one-episode dramas or a drama on a single story spanning over 3 to 4 episodes and the NHK continuing late night dramas (also known as "NHK yoru no renzoku dorama" or "yorudora"), which follows a similar format to the NHK "asadora", except that it has generally fewer episodes.
When the ratings are recorded and ranked, NHK traditional dramas and NHK television serial novels are usually excluded from the rankings because they have different formats:
Trendy dramas - usually 8 to 12 episodes per series; changes according to the seasons
NHK traditional dramas - one series usually lasts the entire year
NHK television serial novels - one series usually lasts from half a year to the entire year
Trendy dramas - one episode is usually an estimated one hour excluding special episodes
NHK traditional dramas - one episode is usually an estimated one hour
NHK television serial novels - one episode is usually 15 minutes
Therefore, dramas like "Oshin" and "Gegege no Nyoubou", which are NHK television serial novels, and dramas like "Tenchijin" and "Shinsengumi", which are NHK traditional dramas, are excluded from general rankings.
What counts as "high ratings" for a drama?
During the Golden Age of Japanese dramas, the ratings expectation went something like this:
30% and above - very highly rated
20% to 30% - well rated
15% to 20% - average/mediocre
15% and below - poorly rated
The current ratings expectation for dramas however is:
20% and above - very highly rated
15% to 20% - well rated
10% to 15% - average/mediocre
10% and below - poorly rated
Now that we've set the stage, let's move on to the main topic at hand.
Every time the question of "what's so great about Kimura Takuya" pops up, seven out of ten times the answer would most likely be that the dramas he has starred in are some of the highest rated dramas in Japan. But, how do these dramas really rate and rank? To put things into perspective, here are some drama rating rankings in different contexts.
The Top 15 All Time Highest Rated Single Episode in A Drama (1977.9.26 - 2015.1.28)
ETA: This list was edited/updated as of 2015.1.28
1. Tsumiki Kuzushi (1983) *starring Takabe Tomoko - 45.3%
2. Hanzawa Naoki (2013) *starring Sakai Masato - 42.2%
3. Beautiful Life (2000) - 41.3%
4. Necchuu Jidai (1979) *starring Mizutani Yutaka - 40.0%
4. Kaseifu no Mita (2011) *starring Matsushima Nanako - 40.0%
6. 3 Nen B Gumi Kinpachi Sensei (1980) *starring Sugita Kaoru - 39.9%
7. Hitotsu Yane no Shita (1993) *starring Eguchi Yousuke - 37.8%
8. Good Luck!! (2003) - 37.6%
9. Akai Gekiryuu (1977) *starring Utsui Ken - 37.2%
9. Ienakiko (1994) - 37.2%
11. Hero (2001) - 36.8% *Two episodes managed to achieve this rating: Episode 8 and Episode 11
12. 101 Kai Me no Proposal (1991) *starring Asano Atsuko - 36.7%
13. Long Vacation (1996) - 36.7%
14. Danjou 7-nin Aki Monogatari (1987) *starring Akashiya Sanma - 36.6%
15. Dorama Ningen Moyou (1976) - 34.8%
Source: www.videor.co.jp/data/ratedata/junre/01drama.htm
The Top 10 All Time Fuji TV Getsuku or Gekku (Monday, 21:00) Dramas with the Highest Average Ratings (1987.4.6 - 2015.1.28)
ETA: This list was edited/updated as of 2015.1.28
1. Hero (2001, Winter) - 34.2% *First episode rating: 33.4%
2. Love Generation (1997, Autumn) - 30.7% *First episode rating: 31.3%
3. Long Vacation (1996, Spring) - 29.6% *First episode rating: 30.6%
4. Hitotsu Yane no Shita (1993, Spring) *starring Eguchi Yousuke - 28.2% *First episode rating: 19.5%
5. Asunaro Hakusho (1993, Autumn) *starring Ishida Hikari - 27.0% *First episode rating: 24.7%
6. Hitotsu Yane no Shita Season 2 (1997, Spring) *starring Eguchi Yousuke - 26.7% *First episode rating: 26.3%
7. Sugao no Mama de (1992, Spring) *starring Yasuda Narumi - 26.4% *First episode rating: 25.8%
7. Yamato Nadeshiko (2000, Autumn) *starring Matsushima Nanako - 26.4% *First episode rating: 24.9%
9. Kyoushi Binbin Monogatari Season 2 (1989, Spring) *starring Tahara Toshihiko - 26.0% *First episode rating: 23.1%
10. Pride (2004, Winter) - 25.2% *First episode rating: 28.0%
Special mention: A research conducted in 2007 showed that the average ratings for all Getsuku dramas pre-Kimura Takuya era was 19.6%. The average ratings of the Getsuku dramas that Kimura-san starred in was 27.5%.
NOTE:
(1) The Fuji TV Getsuku or Gekku time slot, which is the Monday 9.00pm - 10.00pm time slot, is considered to be the most prestigious time slot for Fuji TV dramas.
(2) Although Kimura-san wasn't the star in "Asunaro Hakusho", it was this drama that catapulted him into the spotlight.
Source: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%B8%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E6%9C%88%E6%9B%9C9%E6%99%82%E6%9E%A0%E3%81%AE%E9%80%A3%E7%B6%9A%E3%83%89%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E
The Top 10 All Time TBS Nichiyou Gekijou (Sunday, 21:00) Dramas with the Highest Average Ratings (1993.4 - 2015.1.28)
ETA: This list was edited/updated as of 2015.1.28
1. Beautiful Life (2000, Winter) - 32.3% *First episode rating: 31.8%
2. Good Luck!! (2003, Winter) - 30.6% *First episode rating: 31.6%
3. Hanzawa Naoki (2013, Summer) *starring Sakai Masato - 28.7% *First episode rating: 19.4%
4. Karei Naru Ichizoku (2007, Winter) - 24.4% *First episode rating: 27.7% (In the Kansai region, the average ratings for the drama was 30.4% and the first episode rating was 30.5%)
4. Oyajii (2000, Autumn) *starring Tamura Masakazu - 24.2% *First episode rating: 21.7%
5. Love Story (2001, Spring) *starring Nakayama Miho - 21.0% *First episode rating: 24.3%
6. JIN 2 (2011, Spring) *starring Osawa Takao - 21.3% *First episode rating: 23.7%
7. Sweet Home (1994, Winter) *starring Fuse Hiroshi - 20.4%
8. Kamisan no Waruguchi Season 2 (1995, Winter) *starring Tamura Masakazu - 20.3%
9. Shiroi Kage (2001, Winter) *starring Nakai Masahiro - 20.2% *First episode rating: 23.8%
10. Kamisan no Waruguchi Season 1 (1993, Autumn) *starring Tamura Masakazu - 19.9%
NOTE:
(1) The TBS Nichiyou Gekijou time slot, which is the Sunday 9.00pm to 10.00pm time slot, is considered to be the most prestigious time slot for TBS dramas.
(2) "Karei Naru Ichizoku" achieved much higher ratings in the Kansai region because it was a drama set in the Kansai region.
Source: ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E6%9B%9C%E5%8A%87%E5%A0%B4
In this video compiled by fan, she looked at the average ratings for the Top 30 dramas in which a Johnny's member plays a starring role. Therefore, a drama like "Hana Yori Dango" is not listed because the star of the show was Inoue Mao and not Arashi's Matsumoto Jun and in "Gokusen", Nakama Yukie was the star of the show:
In summary, the Top 10 are:
1. Hero (2001) - 34.2%
2. Beautiful Life (2000) - 32.3%
3. Love Generation (1997) - 30.7%
4. Good Luck!! (2003) - 30.6%
5. Long Vacation (1997) - 29.6%
6. Pride (2004) - 25.2%
7. Karei Naru Ichizoku (2007) - 23.9%
8. Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbou Season 1 (1995) *starring Kinki Kids' Doumoto Tsuyoshi
9. Saiyuuki (2006) - 23.2% *starring SMAP's Katori Shingo
10. Engine (2005) - 22.6%
Television Ratings System:
The ratings in Japan are measured according to regions: Kantou, Kansai, Nagoya etc. There is no overall ratings system that covers all regions in Japan. The ratings from the Kantou region are recorded as the main ratings measured because that is the busiest metropolition region with the highest population count.
When the ratings are measured and ranked, the television programs are usually divided into different categories: news, current affairs, sports, anime, drama etc.
Japanese Drama Ratings System:
Japanese dramas can be divided into different categories: trendy dramas (also known as "renzoku dorama" or "rendora"), NHK traditional dramas (also known as "taiga dorama") and NHK television serial novels (also known as "renzoku terebi shousetsu", "asadora" or "morning drama").Other categories of dramas can also include the one-shot dramas (also known as "tanpatsu dorama") that can be one-episode dramas or a drama on a single story spanning over 3 to 4 episodes and the NHK continuing late night dramas (also known as "NHK yoru no renzoku dorama" or "yorudora"), which follows a similar format to the NHK "asadora", except that it has generally fewer episodes.
When the ratings are recorded and ranked, NHK traditional dramas and NHK television serial novels are usually excluded from the rankings because they have different formats:
Trendy dramas - usually 8 to 12 episodes per series; changes according to the seasons
NHK traditional dramas - one series usually lasts the entire year
NHK television serial novels - one series usually lasts from half a year to the entire year
Trendy dramas - one episode is usually an estimated one hour excluding special episodes
NHK traditional dramas - one episode is usually an estimated one hour
NHK television serial novels - one episode is usually 15 minutes
Therefore, dramas like "Oshin" and "Gegege no Nyoubou", which are NHK television serial novels, and dramas like "Tenchijin" and "Shinsengumi", which are NHK traditional dramas, are excluded from general rankings.
What counts as "high ratings" for a drama?
During the Golden Age of Japanese dramas, the ratings expectation went something like this:
30% and above - very highly rated
20% to 30% - well rated
15% to 20% - average/mediocre
15% and below - poorly rated
The current ratings expectation for dramas however is:
20% and above - very highly rated
15% to 20% - well rated
10% to 15% - average/mediocre
10% and below - poorly rated
Now that we've set the stage, let's move on to the main topic at hand.
Every time the question of "what's so great about Kimura Takuya" pops up, seven out of ten times the answer would most likely be that the dramas he has starred in are some of the highest rated dramas in Japan. But, how do these dramas really rate and rank? To put things into perspective, here are some drama rating rankings in different contexts.
The Top 15 All Time Highest Rated Single Episode in A Drama (1977.9.26 - 2015.1.28)
ETA: This list was edited/updated as of 2015.1.28
1. Tsumiki Kuzushi (1983) *starring Takabe Tomoko - 45.3%
2. Hanzawa Naoki (2013) *starring Sakai Masato - 42.2%
3. Beautiful Life (2000) - 41.3%
4. Necchuu Jidai (1979) *starring Mizutani Yutaka - 40.0%
4. Kaseifu no Mita (2011) *starring Matsushima Nanako - 40.0%
6. 3 Nen B Gumi Kinpachi Sensei (1980) *starring Sugita Kaoru - 39.9%
7. Hitotsu Yane no Shita (1993) *starring Eguchi Yousuke - 37.8%
8. Good Luck!! (2003) - 37.6%
9. Akai Gekiryuu (1977) *starring Utsui Ken - 37.2%
9. Ienakiko (1994) - 37.2%
11. Hero (2001) - 36.8% *Two episodes managed to achieve this rating: Episode 8 and Episode 11
12. 101 Kai Me no Proposal (1991) *starring Asano Atsuko - 36.7%
13. Long Vacation (1996) - 36.7%
14. Danjou 7-nin Aki Monogatari (1987) *starring Akashiya Sanma - 36.6%
15. Dorama Ningen Moyou (1976) - 34.8%
Source: www.videor.co.jp/data/ratedata/junre/01drama.htm
The Top 10 All Time Fuji TV Getsuku or Gekku (Monday, 21:00) Dramas with the Highest Average Ratings (1987.4.6 - 2015.1.28)
ETA: This list was edited/updated as of 2015.1.28
1. Hero (2001, Winter) - 34.2% *First episode rating: 33.4%
2. Love Generation (1997, Autumn) - 30.7% *First episode rating: 31.3%
3. Long Vacation (1996, Spring) - 29.6% *First episode rating: 30.6%
4. Hitotsu Yane no Shita (1993, Spring) *starring Eguchi Yousuke - 28.2% *First episode rating: 19.5%
5. Asunaro Hakusho (1993, Autumn) *starring Ishida Hikari - 27.0% *First episode rating: 24.7%
6. Hitotsu Yane no Shita Season 2 (1997, Spring) *starring Eguchi Yousuke - 26.7% *First episode rating: 26.3%
7. Sugao no Mama de (1992, Spring) *starring Yasuda Narumi - 26.4% *First episode rating: 25.8%
7. Yamato Nadeshiko (2000, Autumn) *starring Matsushima Nanako - 26.4% *First episode rating: 24.9%
9. Kyoushi Binbin Monogatari Season 2 (1989, Spring) *starring Tahara Toshihiko - 26.0% *First episode rating: 23.1%
10. Pride (2004, Winter) - 25.2% *First episode rating: 28.0%
Special mention: A research conducted in 2007 showed that the average ratings for all Getsuku dramas pre-Kimura Takuya era was 19.6%. The average ratings of the Getsuku dramas that Kimura-san starred in was 27.5%.
NOTE:
(1) The Fuji TV Getsuku or Gekku time slot, which is the Monday 9.00pm - 10.00pm time slot, is considered to be the most prestigious time slot for Fuji TV dramas.
(2) Although Kimura-san wasn't the star in "Asunaro Hakusho", it was this drama that catapulted him into the spotlight.
Source: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%B8%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E6%9C%88%E6%9B%9C9%E6%99%82%E6%9E%A0%E3%81%AE%E9%80%A3%E7%B6%9A%E3%83%89%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E
The Top 10 All Time TBS Nichiyou Gekijou (Sunday, 21:00) Dramas with the Highest Average Ratings (1993.4 - 2015.1.28)
ETA: This list was edited/updated as of 2015.1.28
1. Beautiful Life (2000, Winter) - 32.3% *First episode rating: 31.8%
2. Good Luck!! (2003, Winter) - 30.6% *First episode rating: 31.6%
3. Hanzawa Naoki (2013, Summer) *starring Sakai Masato - 28.7% *First episode rating: 19.4%
4. Karei Naru Ichizoku (2007, Winter) - 24.4% *First episode rating: 27.7% (In the Kansai region, the average ratings for the drama was 30.4% and the first episode rating was 30.5%)
4. Oyajii (2000, Autumn) *starring Tamura Masakazu - 24.2% *First episode rating: 21.7%
5. Love Story (2001, Spring) *starring Nakayama Miho - 21.0% *First episode rating: 24.3%
6. JIN 2 (2011, Spring) *starring Osawa Takao - 21.3% *First episode rating: 23.7%
7. Sweet Home (1994, Winter) *starring Fuse Hiroshi - 20.4%
8. Kamisan no Waruguchi Season 2 (1995, Winter) *starring Tamura Masakazu - 20.3%
9. Shiroi Kage (2001, Winter) *starring Nakai Masahiro - 20.2% *First episode rating: 23.8%
10. Kamisan no Waruguchi Season 1 (1993, Autumn) *starring Tamura Masakazu - 19.9%
NOTE:
(1) The TBS Nichiyou Gekijou time slot, which is the Sunday 9.00pm to 10.00pm time slot, is considered to be the most prestigious time slot for TBS dramas.
(2) "Karei Naru Ichizoku" achieved much higher ratings in the Kansai region because it was a drama set in the Kansai region.
Source: ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E6%9B%9C%E5%8A%87%E5%A0%B4
In this video compiled by fan, she looked at the average ratings for the Top 30 dramas in which a Johnny's member plays a starring role. Therefore, a drama like "Hana Yori Dango" is not listed because the star of the show was Inoue Mao and not Arashi's Matsumoto Jun and in "Gokusen", Nakama Yukie was the star of the show:
Click to viewIn summary, the Top 10 are:
1. Hero (2001) - 34.2%
2. Beautiful Life (2000) - 32.3%
3. Love Generation (1997) - 30.7%
4. Good Luck!! (2003) - 30.6%
5. Long Vacation (1997) - 29.6%
6. Pride (2004) - 25.2%
7. Karei Naru Ichizoku (2007) - 23.9%
8. Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbou Season 1 (1995) *starring Kinki Kids' Doumoto Tsuyoshi
9. Saiyuuki (2006) - 23.2% *starring SMAP's Katori Shingo
10. Engine (2005) - 22.6%