Every sports freak knows superstar pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka's strikeout stats and salary details, but do they know the really important things about the Red Sox pitcher, such as what his wife spends their money on? This and other vital information will be revealed on "Sports Legend" (Nihon TV, Monday, 9 p.m.), a quiz-format special program that will look at astonishing and yet unknown anecdotes related to some of Japan's most famous athletes.
For instance, we'll find out about an odd 5 million yen purchase made by veteran soccer player Kazuyoshi Miura and whether or not it's true that the famously natty "King Kazu" actually sleeps in expensive suits. Other objects of scrutiny include boxer Koki Kameda, figure skater Mao Asada and tennis star Maria Sharapova.
Most human behavior can be reduced to psychology, so it isn't surprising that the seemingly mundane matter of impulse-buying has become a subject of academic study. This week, NHK's science-you-can-use variety program "Tameshite Gatten (Trial and Success)" (NHK-G, Wednesday, 8 p.m.) will attempt to explain the mechanism that caused you to buy that purple sweater you've only worn once in two years.