Walk into any Japanese home during prime time, and you will likely find a . Unlike the scripted reality TV of the West, Japanese variety shows often feature comedians reacting to bizarre challenges, traveling to remote locations, or playing physical games. These shows are the primary engines for celebrity creation, involving tarento (talents) whose job is simply to be entertaining personalities. Alongside this runs the taiga drama—a year-long, historical epic that serves as a national lesson in samurai-era history.