Grouchy, grizzled former Liberal Democratic Party star Koichi Hamada refuses to move gently into retirement. He continues to show up on whatever variety show will have him and bellow about what's wrong in the government and elsewhere. And apparently this attitude still attracts new fans, including "sexy idol" and Yokohama University graduate Kaori Manabe, who, as a guest on the travel show "Pittanko Kan-kan" (TBS, Tuesday, 6:55 p.m.), requested that Hamako show her around his former constituency, the Uchibo region of Chiba Prefecture.
Accompanied by the show's host, popular TBS announcer Shinichiro Azumi, the pair start their journey in the harbor town of Futtsu, where Hamada was born and raised, and partake of its fresh fish. While dining, the salty old pol waxes sentimental about his combative past and reveals what actually drove him to seek elected office in the first place. He also talks candidly about his reputation as the loudest heckler in the history of the Diet.
Triple threat model-actress-singer Anna Tsuchiya beefs up her rock credentials with her new single, "Crazy World," which she showcases on the half-hour concert series "Bokura no Ongaku (Our Music)" (Fuji TV, Friday, 11:30 p.m.). She performs the song live as well as older favorites like her smash "Rose," from the hit movie "Nana."