Boy band Arashi has been getting a lot of work recently from NHK. In addition to their second consecutive hosting gig for the year-end song contest, they've been tapped to navigate "Asu ni Kakeru Tabi" ("Travels Building a Bridge to Tomorrow") a series of five programs, three of which air this week (Mon.-Wed., 10 p.m.), that look at "ideas that point to a bright future for Japan."

On Monday, Masaki Aiba goes to Miyako Island, Okinawa, to find out how locals are developing renewable energy. Jun Matsumoto journeys to Kyoto on Tuesday to learn about new and old "food cultures" that could be growth industries. And on Wednesday, Sho Sakurai visits a village in Kochi where youth are reviving the area's forestry business.

Nippon TV is also broadcasting a consecutive night mini-series this week, but in drama form. "Pinjo no Merry Christmas" (Mon.-Wed., 12:18 a.m.) addresses the local tendency to think of Christmas as being a time for romance. "Pinjo" means "single woman," and the three-part drama stars Shihori Kanjiya as Kaede, a 28-year-old who hasn't had a date in years.