# 2020 in Japanese television

Events in 2020 in Japanese television.
Until end of May, most anime series and television dramas had their production suspended due to the pandemic's massive impact on Japanese television since COVID-19 interrupted the production of television series for several weeks to ensure safety of various people who have been involved the previous process of filming.
For extended information about the massive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the television industry, see further details underneath Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television#Japan.

## Events

| Date | Event |
| January 20 | Anime creator Shoji Kawamori is named chief creative officer of the Small Worlds theme park. |
| February 14 | Voice actress and singer Yui Ogura announced that the 'Valentine's Day Party' event had its visitor policy changed due to the spread of the coronavirus. |
| August 4 | Animation studio Arms Co., Ltd., formerly Dandelion, Triple X (when working on various hentai titles) and Garyū Studio, closes after being filed for bankruptcy in July 22. |

## Ongoing

| Show | Type | Channel | First aired/Japanese period | First aired/Japanese period |
| NHK ||||||
| NHK Amateur Song Contest | Talent show | NHK-G, NHK World Premium | March 15, 1953 (TV) | Showa |
| With Mother | Kids | E-TV, NHK World Premium | October 5, 1959 | Showa |
| Nintama Rantarō | Anime | NHK | April 10, 1993 | Heisei |
| Ojarumaru | Anime | NHK | October 5, 1998 | Heisei |
| Utacon | Music | NHK-G, NHK World Premium | April 12, 2016 | Heisei |
| Nippon Television ||||||
| Soreike! Anpanman | Anime | Nippon Television | October 3, 1988 | Showa |
| Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! | Game show | Nippon Television | October 3, 1989 | Heisei |
| Detective Conan | Anime | NNS | January 8, 1996 | Heisei |
| Fuji Television ||||||
| Music Fair | Music | Fuji Television | August 31, 1964 | Showa |
| Sazae-san | Anime | Fuji Television | October 5, 1969 | Showa |
| FNS Music Festival | Music | Fuji Television | July 2, 1974 | Showa |
| Chibi Maruko-chan | Anime | Fuji Television | January 8, 1995 | Heisei |
| One Piece | Anime | Fuji Television | October 20, 1999 | Heisei |
| TV Tokyo ||||||
| Black Clover | Anime | TV Tokyo | October 3, 2017 | Heisei |
| Boruto: Naruto Next Generations | Anime | TV Tokyo | April 5, 2017 | Heisei |
| Kiratto Pri Chan | Anime | TV Tokyo | April 8, 2018 | Heisei |
| Pokémon (2019 series) | Anime | TV Tokyo | November 17, 2019 | Reiwa |
| Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y: Encounter with N | Anime | TV Tokyo | December 27, 2019 | Reiwa |
| TV Asahi ||||||
| Super Hero Time | Tokusatsu | TV Asahi | September 28, 2003 | Heisei |
| Panel Quiz Attack 25 | Game show | TV Asahi | April 6, 1975 | Showa |
| Crayon Shin-chan | Anime | TV Asahi | April 13, 1992 | Heisei |
| Doraemon | Anime | TV Asahi | April 15, 2005 | Heisei |
| Music Station | Music | TV Asahi | October 24, 1986 | Showa |
| Tokyo Broadcasting System ||||||
| SASUKE | Sports | Tokyo Broadcasting System | September 26, 1997 | Heisei |
| Count Down TV | Music | Tokyo Broadcasting System | April 7, 1993 | Heisei |

## New series and returning shows

| Show | Network | Premiere | Finale | Status |
| Asteroid in Love | Tokyo MX | January 3, 2020 (2020-01-03) | March 27, 2020 (2020-03-27) | Series Ended |
| Darwin's Game | Tokyo MX | January 3, 2020 (2020-01-03) | March 20, 2020 (2020-03-20) | Series Ended |
| Magia Record | Tokyo MX | January 4, 2020 (2020-01-04) | March 28, 2020 (2020-03-28) | Series Ended |
| ID - Invaded | Tokyo MX | January 5, 2020 (2020-01-05) | March 22, 2020 (2020-03-22) | Series Ended |
| Marumaru Manul | Tokyo MX | January 5, 2020 (2020-01-05) | December 15, 2020 (2020-12-15) | Series Ended |
| Room Camp | AT-X | January 6, 2020 (2020-01-06) | March 23, 2020 (2020-03-23) | Series Ended |
| Pet | Tokyo MX | January 6, 2020 (2020-01-06) | March 30, 2020 (2020-03-30) | Series Ended |
| Seton Academy: Join the Pack! | Tokyo MX | January 7, 2020 (2020-01-07) | March 24, 2020 (2020-03-24) | Series Ended |
| Sorcerous Stabber Orphen | Tokyo MX | January 7, 2020 (2020-01-07) | March 31, 2020 (2020-03-31) | Season Ended |
| BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense. | Tokyo MX | January 8, 2020 (2020-01-08) | March 25, 2020 (2020-03-25) | Series Ended |
| Hulaing Babies☆Petit | TV Tokyo | January 8, 2020 (2020-01-08) | March 25, 2020 (2020-03-25) | Series Ended |
| Drifting Dragons | Fuji TV | January 8, 2020 (2020-01-08) | March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26) | Series Ended |
| Plunderer | Tokyo MX | January 8, 2020 (2020-01-08) | June 24, 2020 (2020-06-24) | Series Ended |
| Show by Rock!! Mashumairesh!! | Tokyo MX | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) | March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26) | Series Ended |
| If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die | TBS | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) | March 27, 2020 (2020-03-27) | Series Ended |
| Uchitama?! Have you seen my Tama? | Fuji TV | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) | March 19, 2020 (2020-03-19) | Series Ended |
| Hatena Illusion | BS NTV | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) | June 3, 2020 (2020-06-03) | Series Ended |
| Nekopara | Tokyo MX | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) | March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26) | Series Ended |
| Somali and the Forest Spirit | Tokyo MX | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) | March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26) | Series Ended |
| Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun | TBS | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) | March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26) | Season Ended |
| Infinite Dendrogram | Tokyo MX | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) | April 16, 2020 (2020-04-16) | Series Ended |
| The Case Files of Jeweler Richard | Tokyo MX | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) | March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26) | Series Ended |
| Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga | TV Tokyo | January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10) | March 27, 2020 (2020-03-27) | Series Ended |
| A Certain Scientific Railgun T | Tokyo MX | January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10) | September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25) | Series Ended |
| Laid-Back Camp (live action) | TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi | January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10) | March 27, 2020 (2020-03-27) | Season Ended |
| Smile Down the Runway | TBS | January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10) | March 27, 2020 (2020-03-27) | Series Ended |
| Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It | Tokyo MX | January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10) | March 13, 2020 (2020-03-13) | Series Ended |
| 22/7 | Tokyo MX | January 11, 2020 (2020-01-11) | March 28, 2020 (2020-03-28) | Series Ended |
| In/Spectre | TV Asahi | January 11, 2020 (2020-01-11) | March 28, 2020 (2020-03-28) | Season Ended |
| Ultraman Chronicle Zero & Geed | TV Tokyo | January 11, 2020 (2020-01-11) | June 13, 2020 (2020-06-13) | Series Ended |
| Interspecies Reviewers | Tokyo MX | January 11, 2020 (2020-01-11) | March 28, 2020 (2020-03-28) | Series Ended |
| A Destructive God Sits Next to Me | Tokyo MX | January 11, 2020 (2020-01-11) | March 28, 2020 (2020-03-28) | Series Ended |
| Dorohedoro | Tokyo MX | January 12, 2020 (2020-01-12) | March 29, 2020 (2020-03-29) | Series Ended |
| Kirin ga Kuru | NHK | January 19, 2020 (2020-01-19) | February 7, 2021 (2021-02-07) | Ending 2021 |
| Wasteful Days of High School Girls | TV Asahi | January 24, 2020 (2020-01-24) | March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06) | Series Ended |
| Healin' Good PreCure | TV Asahi | February 2, 2020 (2020-02-02) | February 21, 2021 (2021-02-21) | Ending 2021 |
| Followers | Netflix | February 27, 2020 (2020-02-27) | Currently airing | Continues 2021 |
| Mashin Sentai Kiramager | TV Asahi | March 8, 2020 (2020-03-08) | February 28, 2021 (2021-02-28) | Ending 2021 |
| Tamayomi | Tokyo MX | April 1, 2020 (2020-04-01) | June 17, 2020 (2020-06-17) | Series Ended |
| Kakushigoto | Tokyo MX | April 2, 2020 (2020-04-02) | June 18, 2020 (2020-06-18) | Series Ended |
| Norimono Man Mobile Land no Car-kun | NHK | April 2, 2020 (2020-04-02) | Currently airing | Continues 2021 |
| Wave, Listen to Me! | TBS | April 3, 2020 (2020-04-03) | June 19, 2020 (2020-06-19) | Series Ended |
| Listeners | TBS | April 3, 2020 (2020-04-03) | June 19, 2020 (2020-06-19) | Series Ended |
| Sakura Wars: The Animation | Tokyo MX | April 3, 2020 (2020-04-03) | June 19, 2020 (2020-06-19) | Series Ended |
| Shachō, Battle no Jikan Desu! | Tokyo MX | April 5, 2020 (2020-04-05) | June 28, 2020 (2020-06-28) | Series Ended |
| Gal to Kyōryū | Tokyo MX | April 4, 2020 (2020-04-04) | Currently airing | Continues 2021 |
| Arte | Tokyo MX | April 4, 2020 (2020-04-04) | June 20, 2020 (2020-06-20) | Series Ended |
| Sing "Yesterday" for Me | TV Asahi | April 4, 2020 (2020-04-04) | June 20, 2020 (2020-06-20) | Series Ended |
| Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens | TV Tokyo | April 4, 2020 (2020-04-04) | Currently airing | Continues 2021 |
| Tsugu Tsugumomo | Tokyo MX | April 4, 2020 (2020-04-04) | June 21, 2020 (2020-06-21) | Season Ended |
| Motto! Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori | NHK | April 5, 2020 (2020-04-05) | Currently airing | Continues 2021 |
| Mewkledreamy | TV Tokyo | April 5, 2020 (2020-04-05) | April 4, 2021 (2021-04-04) | Ending 2021 |
| Tomica Kizuna Mode Combine Earth Granner | TV Osaka | April 5, 2020 (2020-04-05) | March 28, 2021 (2021-03-28) | Ending 2021 |
| White Cat Project | Tokyo MX | April 6, 2020 (2020-04-06) | June 22, 2020 (2020-06-22) | Series Ended |
| Princess Connect! Re:Dive | Tokyo MX | April 6, 2020 (2020-04-06) | June 29, 2020 (2020-06-29) | Series Ended |
| Shadowverse | TV Tokyo | April 7, 2020 (2020-04-07) | March 23, 2021 (2021-03-23) | Ending 2021 |
| BNA: Brand New Animal | Fuji TV | April 8, 2020 (2020-04-08) | June 24, 2020 (2020-06-24) | Series Ended |
| Komatta Jii-san | Nippon TV | April 8, 2020 (2020-04-08) | July 1, 2020 (2020-07-01) | Series Ended |
| My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Fin | TBS | April 9, 2020 (2020-04-09) | September 24, 2020 (2020-09-24) | Series Ended |
| Fugō Keiji Balance: Unlimited | Fuji TV | April 9, 2020 (2020-04-09) | September 24, 2020 (2020-09-24) | Series Ended |
| Argonavis from BanG Dream! | TBS | April 10, 2020 (2020-04-10) | July 3, 2020 (2020-07-03) | Series Ended |
| Appare-Ranman! | Tokyo MX | April 10, 2020 (2020-04-10) | September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25) | Series Ended |
| Hakushon Daimaō 2020 | Nippon TV | April 11, 2020 (2020-04-11) | September 26, 2020 (2020-09-26) | Series Ended |
| Woodpecker Detective's Office | Tokyo MX | April 13, 2020 (2020-04-13) | June 29, 2020 (2020-06-29) | Series Ended |
| Olympia Kyklos | Tokyo MX | April 20, 2020 (2020-04-20) | November 2, 2020 (2020-11-02) | Series Ended |
| Digimon Adventure: | Fuji TV | June 7, 2020 (2020-06-07) | September 26, 2021 (2021-09-26) | Ending 2021 |
| Ultraman Z | TV Tokyo | June 20, 2020 (2020-06-20) | December 26, 2020 (2020-12-26) | Series Ended |
| Fire Force (2nd season) | TBS | July 4, 2020 (2020-07-04) | December 12, 2020 (2020-12-12) | Season Ended |
| Lapis Re:Lights | Tokyo MX | July 4, 2020 (2020-07-04) | September 19, 2020 (2020-09-19) | Series Ended |
| The God of High School | Tokyo MX | July 6, 2020 (2020-07-06) | September 28, 2020 (2020-09-28) | Series Ended |
| Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World (2nd season) | AT-X | July 8, 2020 (2020-07-08) | March 24, 2021 (2021-03-24) | Ending 2021 |
| Great Pretender | Fuji TV | July 8, 2020 (2020-07-08) | December 16, 2020 (2020-12-16) | Series Ended |
| Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! | Tokyo MX | July 10, 2020 (2020-07-10) | Currently airing | Continues 2021 |
| Peter Grill and the Philosopher's Time | Tokyo MX | July 11, 2020 (2020-07-11) | September 26, 2020 (2020-09-26) | Series Ended |
| Gibiate | Tokyo MX | July 15, 2020 (2020-07-15) | September 30, 2020 (2020-09-30) | Series Ended |
| Police × Heroine Lovepatrina! | TV Tokyo | July 26, 2020 (2020-07-26) | June 27, 2021 (2021-06-27) | Ending 2021 |
| Kamen Rider Saber | TV Asahi | September 6, 2020 (2020-09-06) | August 29, 2021 (2021-08-29) | Ending 2021 |
| Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai | TV Tokyo | October 3, 2020 (2020-10-03) | October 22, 2022 (2022-10-22) | Ending 2022 |
| The Irregular at Magic High School (2nd season) | Tokyo MX | October 4, 2020 (2020-10-04) | December 27, 2020 (2020-12-27) | Season Ended |
| Saikyō Kamizmode | Tokyo MX | October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09) | April 9, 2021 (2021-04-09) | Ending 2021 |
| 24 Japan | TV Asahi | October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09) | March 26, 2021 (2021-03-26) | Ending 2021 |
| Mr. Osomatsu (Season 3) | TV Tokyo | October 13, 2020 (2020-10-13) | March 30, 2021 (2021-03-30) | Ending 2021 |
| Attack on Titan (Final season, Part 1) | TBS, NHK | December 7, 2020 (2020-12-07) | March 29, 2021 (2021-03-29) | Season Ended Renewed for Final Season (Part 2) |
| Alice in Borderland | Netflix | December 10, 2020 (2020-12-10) | Currently airing | Continues 2021 |

## Ending

| End date | Show | Channel | First aired | Replaced by |
| January 26 | Star Twinkle PreCure | TV Asahi | February 3, 2019 | Healin' Good PreCure |
| March 1 | Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger | TV Asahi | March 17, 2019 | Mashin Sentai Kiramager |
| March 28 | Aikatsu on Parade! | TV Tokyo | October 5, 2019 | JAPAN COUNTDOWN |
| March 28 | Scarlet | NHK | September 30, 2019 | Yell (TV series) |
| March 29 | GeGeGe no Kitaro | Fuji TV | April 1, 2018 | Digimon Adventure: |
| March 31 | Ace of Diamond Act II | TV Tokyo | April 2, 2019 | Shadowverse |
| June 28 | Secret × Heroine Phantomirage! | TV Tokyo | April 7, 2019 | Police × Heroine Lovepatrina! |
| August 30 | Kamen Rider Zero-One | TV Asahi | September 1, 2019 | Kamen Rider Saber |
| November 27 | Yell | NHK | March 30, 2020 | Ochoyan |
| December 26 | Ultraman Z | TV Tokyo | June 20, 2020 | Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey |

## Special events and milestone episodes

| Airdate | Show | Episode | Network |
| January 19 | Chibi Maruko-chan | 30th anniversary 1-hour special:"The Adventure of Maruko and Tama-chan"/"Tarō on a Particular Day" | Fuji TV |
| December 31 | 71st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen | 71st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen | NHK |
| December 31 | Johnny's Countdown 2020-2021 | Johnny's Countdown 2020-2021 | Fuji Television |

## Deaths

| Date | Name | Age | Notable Works |
| January 2 | Shōzō Uehara | 82 | Screenwriter (Super Sentai, Ultraman) |
| January 9 | Yūji Yamaguchi | | Anime director (AM Driver, Smile PreCure!) |
| January 11 | Takeo Tabata | 81 | Actor |
| January 19 | Chisako Hara | 84 | Actress |
| January 20 | Izumi Tanaka|ja| | 88 | Television company president (TBS) |
| January 31 | Katsumasa Uchida | 75 | Actor |
| February 6 | Kitamura Saburo | 82 | Run! K100 |
| February 13 | Ai Kidosaki | 94 | Chef on the Kyō no Ryōri cooking programme. |
| February 13 | Yoshisada Sakaguchi | 80 | Actor, voice actor (Alexander Senki) |
| March 29 | Ken Shimura | 70 | Comedian, television personality |
| April 23 | Keiji Fujiwara | 55 | Voice actor (Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, One Piece), dubbing actor (TUGS, Beast Wars: Transformers) |
| April 23 | Kumiko Okae | 63 | Actress, voice actress, television presenter |
| May 23 | Hana Kimura | 22 | Former Japanese wrestler, acted on Netflix original series Terrace House: Tokyo 2019–2020. |
| July 18 | Haruma Miura | 30 | Actor |
| August 29 | Maria Hamasaki | 23 | Model |
| September 14 | Sei Ashina | 36 | Actress |
| September 21 | Takashi Fujiki | 80 | Actor |
| September 27 | Yuko Takeuchi | 40 | Actress |
| September 27 | Kōsei Tomita | 84 | Voice actor (Doraemon) |