International travel shows are ratings winners on Japanese TV, even if they betray a provincial view of the world. "Sekai Itte Mitara: Honto wa Konna Toko Datta?" ("Try and See the World; Is It Really Like This?"; Fuji TV, Tues., 7 p.m.) is one of the most popular, but it's going off the air and the final show is a special that explores three big American cities: San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles.
Professional wrestler Akira Hokuto visits a San Francisco supermarket with a local housewife and is amazed by the selection of produce, not to mention the processed and prepared food. She wonders how she can bring it all back to Japan. In New York, the comedian called Nagareboshi conducts research into so-called B-class gourmet food, such as tacos and hamburgers, which are juicier than he expects. In Los Angeles, celebrity reporters look into what's fashionable among young people these days.
The world is fun to visit, but it's also a dangerous place, as shown in the documentary special, "Kamera ga Mita: Yukai no Shunkan" ("The Camera Sees: The Moment of Kidnapping"; Fuji TV, Wed., 7 p.m.), which reports on kidnappings.
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