# 1997 in Japanese television

Events in 1997 in Japanese television.

## Events

* February 8- The final episode of the popular anime series Sailor Moon is aired.
* September 1- Cartoon Network launches in Japan.
* December 16- Dennō Senshi Porygon, an episode of Pokémon, is aired on TV Tokyo in Japan. 20 minutes in the episode, Ash Ketchum's Pikachu uses his Thunderbolt attack on vaccine missiles, causing red and blue strobe lights flashing rapidly. This gives 685 viewers (310 boys and 375 girls) seizures and causes Indigo League (The series of Pokémon) to go into hiatus until April 1998. Its time slot was taken over by Class King Yamazaki (学級王ヤマザキ).
* December 24- AT-X starts broadcasting.

## Debuting this year

| Show | Station | Premiere Date | Genre | Original Run |
| Cutie Honey Flash | TV Asahi | February 15 | anime | February 15, 1997 – January 31, 1998 |
| Chuuka Ichiban! | Fuji TV | April 27 | anime | April 27, 1997 – September 13, 1998 |
| Denji Sentai Megaranger | TV Asahi | February 14 | tokusatsu | February 14, 1997 – February 15, 1998 |
| Doctor Slump (Remake) | Fuji TV | November 26 | anime | November 26, 1997 – September 22, 1999 |
| Fair, then Partly Piggy | TV Tokyo | July 3 | anime | July 3, 1997 – September 29, 1998 |
| Flame of Recca | Fuji TV | July 19 | anime | July 19, 1997 – July 10, 1998 |
| Hare Tokidoki Buta | TV Tokyo | July 3 | anime | July 3, 1997 – September 29, 1998 |
| The King of Braves GaoGaiGar | Nagoya TV | February 1 | anime | February 1, 1997 – January 31, 1998 |
| Love Generation | Fuji TV | October 13 | drama | October 13, 1997 - December 22, 1997 |
| Super Mashin Hero Wataru | TV Tokyo | October 2 | anime | October 2, 1997 – September 24, 1998 |
| Nonchan Noriben | CBC | February 3 | anime | February 3, 1997 – March 28, 1997 |
| Mach GoGoGo | TV Tokyo | January 9 | anime | January 9, 1997 - September 25, 1997 |
| Pocket Monsters | TV Tokyo | April 1 | anime | April 1, 1997 – November 14, 2002 |
| SASUKE | TBS | September 26 | Variety | September 26, 1997 – present |
| Slayers Try | TV Tokyo | April 4 | anime | April 4, 1997 – September 26, 1997 |
| Ultraman Dyna | MBS | September 6 | tokusatsu | September 6, 1997 – August 29, 1998 |
| Yume no Crayon Oukoku | ABC | September 7 | anime | September 7, 1997 – January 31, 1999 |

## Ongoing shows

* Music Fair, music (1964–present)
* Mito Koumon, jidaigeki (1969-2011)
* Sazae-san, anime (1969–present)
* FNS Music Festival, music (1974–present)
* Panel Quiz Attack 25, game show (1975–present)
* Doraemon, anime (1979-2005)
* Soreike! Anpanman, anime (1988–present)
* Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!, game show (1989–present)
* Crayon Shin-chan, anime (1992–present)
* Shima Shima Tora no Shimajirou, anime (1993-2008)
* Nintama Rantarou, anime (1993–present)
* Chibi Maruko-chan, anime (1995–present)
* Azuki-chan, anime (1995–1998)
* Kodomo no Omocha, anime (1996-1998)
* Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kouen-mae Hashutsujo, anime (1996-2004)
* Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, anime (1996-1998)
* Detective Conan, anime (1996–present)

## Hiatus

| Show | Station | Hiatus Date | Genre | Original Run |
| Pocket Monsters | TV Tokyo | December 16 | anime | April 1, 1997 - December 16, 1997 |

## Endings

| Show | Station | Ending Date | Genre | Original Run |
| B-Fighter Kabuto | TV Asahi | February 16 | tokusatsu | March 3, 1996 – February 16, 1997 |
| Brave Command Dagwon | Nagoya TV | January 25 | anime | February 3, 1996 – January 25, 1997 |
| Dragon Ball GT | Fuji TV | November 19 | anime | February 7, 1996 - November 19, 1997 |
| Gekisou Sentai Carranger | TV Asahi | February 7 | tokusatsu | March 1, 1996 – February 7, 1997 |
| Love Generation | Fuji TV | December 22 | drama | October 13, 1997 - December 22, 1997 |
| Mach GoGoGo | TV Tokyo | September 25 | anime | January 9, 1997 - September 25, 1997 |
| Sailor Moon | TV Asahi | February 8 | anime | March 7, 1992 - February 8, 1997 |
| Saber Marionette J | TV Tokyo | March 25 | anime | October 1, 1996 - March 25, 1997 |
| Slayers Try | TV Tokyo | September 26 | anime | April 4, 1997 – September 26, 1997 |
| Ultraman Tiga | MBS | August 30 | tokusatsu | September 7, 1996 – August 30, 1997 |
| You're Under Arrest | TBS | September 27 | anime | October 5, 1996 - September 27, 1997 |