Media
TV Tokyo
TV Tokyo (テレビ東京), known colloquially as Tele-tou (テレ東), is one of Japan's six major terrestrial broadcasters, operating as the flagship station of the TX Network. Founded as Tokyo Channel 12 in 1964 and rebranded in 1981, the network reaches the Kanto region and beyond through affiliates in Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Hiroshima.
TV Tokyo built its identity on anime and niche programming, producing some of the most enduring titles in the medium, from Pokémon and Naruto to Nana and Beck. Its drama slate skews toward genre experimentation: the network has championed midnight dramas and unconventional formats that larger rivals overlook, creating a pipeline for prestige-adjacent shows with cult followings.
In 2026, the network co-produced Gimbap and Onigiri, a cross-cultural romantic drama starring South Korean actress Kang Hye-won and Japanese actor Eiji Akaso. The series, which premiered January 12, 2026, signaled TV Tokyo's continued investment in content that bridges Japanese and Korean entertainment markets.
1 articlestv-tokyo.co.jp
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Ambassadors & Partners
2026
Gimbap and OnigiriK-Drama
2026
Gimbap and OnigiriK-Drama
Fans Also Ask
What anime does TV Tokyo broadcast?
TV Tokyo is home to some of the most iconic anime franchises in history, including Pokemon, Naruto, Boruto, and Inuyasha. The network has been a dominant force in anime broadcasting since the 1990s, airing hundreds of series across its 60-plus year history.
Is TV Tokyo the same as Tele-tou?
Yes. TV Tokyo (テレビ東京) is officially nicknamed Tele-tou (テレ東) in Japan. It is the flagship station of the TX Network, broadcasting on digital channel 7 in the Kanto region. The station moved to its current Roppongi headquarters in 2016.
What is the TV Tokyo drama Gimbap and Onigiri about?
Gimbap and Onigiri is a 2026 TV Tokyo romantic drama about a Korean animation student house-hunting in Japan who falls in love with a part-time restaurant worker. The series stars Kang Hye-won and Eiji Akaso and premiered on January 12, 2026.
Who owns TV Tokyo?
TV Tokyo is owned by TV Tokyo Corporation, a subsidiary of TV Tokyo Holdings Corporation, which is ultimately controlled by Nikkei, Inc. -- Japan's leading financial newspaper publisher. That parentage gives the network a heritage connection to business news programming alongside its entertainment and anime output.
When did TV Tokyo first broadcast?
TV Tokyo launched on April 22, 1964, originally as Science TV Tokyo Channel 12. The station renamed itself Tokyo Channel 12 in 1968, then Television Tokyo Channel 12 in 1981 before adopting the current TV Tokyo name that same year. It completed its analogue-to-digital transition in 2011.
