in Featured, Japan

KeyHoleTV: Watch Live Japanese TV Online!

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March 2020 update: I have found a better way to watch Japanese TV Online, check out AQ Stream!!!

Have you ever wanted to know how to watch real-time, live Japanese TV for free? Maybe you’re trying to learn Japanese, but want to hear real Japanese and not the type you hear in Anime. Well, there is a free program called KeyHoleTV that will let you do just that. KeyHoleTV is part of a project by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs testing out P2P (peer to peer) technology. You can also stream your live video using the same technique with a program called KeyHoleVideo. While the audio and video isn’t the highest quality, it is watchable. KeyholeTV has a decent, but limited selection of channels. The more prominent channels are TBS, TV Tokyo, TV Asahi, and Fuji TV. There are also a few smaller channels and user broadcasts that change randomly. If you’re interested in downloading it, here’s a step by step guide.

1. Download KeyHoleTV

Head over to http://www.oiseyer.com/index3-win10-e.php and download the file labeled “SetupKHTV4.26.exe ” or you can click here: Download KeyHoleTV.

2. Install KeyHoleTV

3. Run KeyHoleTV

When you run KeyHoleTV for the first time, you will see a window like the one below. Just type in a username and password and click “Start Registration” to sign up. You will need this username and password each time you start the application, so don’t lose it!

4. Channel listings

KeyholeTV Starting screen

After successful registration, you will see the channel listings for KeyHoleTV. On this screen, you will see the channel name, a preview picture of what’s currently playing, and the number of viewers watching that specific channel. When you see a high number of people watching, it usually means something good is on. Remember that here in the United States, we are about 14 hours behind JST (Japan Standard Time).

So a lot of the popular shows and Anime will come on at odd times for us. Here is a listing of the current channels as of today. The channels are always changing. Match the beginning of the channel name with the English in red:

KeyholeTV Channel Listings in English

Once you have started watching a channel, you must click the blue stop button to select another channel to watch.

5. Premium Module

New with this version is a Premium module key. By purchasing this key, you will get a faster bitrate. You are probably wondering how much faster it is, so I decided to buy a premium account to test it out. Is it faster? Yes, but not by much. I do not notice any skipping what so ever where I did see very choppy sound sometimes on a standard account. If you are serious about watching Japanese TV Online, it may be worth the purchase.

So there you go. If you are using this to help you with learning Japanese, I hope you get a lot out of KeyHoleTV. I will be updating this page when I see new channels, so bookmark the page or subscribe to my RSS Feed, so you don’t miss anything. Below are a few TV Guide Japan type websites so if you know Japanese, or can figure out what the kanji means, you can have a better idea of what’s playing.

(OUTDATED) A brief explanation of the buttons:

  • KeyholeTV Online Button Logs you on and off of the server. Sometimes you will see errors saying that you are not connected to the server. Just click the button Off, and then back On to log back in.
  • KeyholeTV Mute Button Allows you to mute the sound. Trigger On and Off.
  • KeyholeTV Video Button Allows you to stop and start the video.
  • KeyholeTV Update Channel Listings The channel listings refresh every now-and-then. Use this button to manually update the channel listings for KeyHoleTV.
  • KeyholeTV Watch Channel Button After you have selected a channel in the channel listings window, click the Watch button to view the channel.
  • KeyholeTV Search Channel Listings Right now, you don’t have to worry about this button as there are not many channels available on KeyHoleTV. However, in the future, this button is going to be a must-have.
  • KeyholeTV Chat with the Broadcaster I haven’t seen any broadcasters chatting, but I assume that KeyHoleTV has the option of allowing the viewers to chat with the presenters. There is a popular channel that features actress Risa Ishimoto, not sure if you can chat with her or not.
  • KeyholeTV Video Tab This tab allows you to view the video window.
  • KeyHoleTV Program Tab This tab allows you to view the channel listings.

KeyHoleTV, what will you use it for?

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Japanese TVjapanese tv onlinejapanese tv shows onlinekeyhole tvkeyholetvwatch japanese tvwatch japanese tv online

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Written by xorsyst

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639 Comments

  1. I think it is an allround good program.
    KooTV IS better quality, but not AS simple. And as said before specialising on chinese language.
    I don’t see why I have to give in a password let alone what it is but hey! Otherwise its quite good.

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  2. I was so looking forward to using it, but all I get is the program tries to log in and a few seconds later I get the message that the login has timed out. I do use Windows XP. I’m glad others can enjoy the program, but I can’t :-((((

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  5. disappointed unable to find Japanese samurai dramas to watch online. could you please send me a link, I would appreciate that! thankyou, arigatou

    ryszard

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  6. @mae: did a quick scan for NHK this morning, and I didn’t see it on the channel list.

    @achikochi: My video plays rather smooth, but the sounds is low quality. I too cant wait for improvements.

    @ryszard: I have seen Japanese samurai dramas on Keyhole, you just have to catch them on at the right time. It is TV afterall. Do you know some titles that you are looking for? I can help you find out when they are on.

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  7. Could someone tell if the channel Fuji tv is on keyholetv cause i cant find it and my channel list have different kanji from the kanji at the picture in this page why is that?

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  10. Hi again! There are some channels that I cant watch because I dont have the password… Is there a way I could find the passwors for the channels? Thanks again!

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  12. This app is great!!! :) A few questions:

    1. I don´t have TV Tokyo! How come??
    2. Is there a version to watch other TVs as well. E.g. Chinese stations?
    3. What are those channels you need password to?? Do you have a password??
    4. It works based on peer-to-peer. But what kind of data does it collect from my PC? I hope no spyware etc.!!

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  14. I hope TV Tokyo comes back! Of course, I’m not particularly picky about channels right now. I too hope there will be some future improvements in quality. I’m actually listening to “FMCocolo KANSAI Multi language radio” right now and am enjoying it.

    Oh! And for people who can’t see the number of viewers in a channel, I’m sure it’s the numbers beside “WATCH”.

    Looks like the most people are watching Odaiba (オダイバ) [125 people] and Akasaka (アカサカ) [61 people]! Hm. *changes channel to check them out*

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  17. KeyHoleTV is great. I love Absolute Girlriend on Fuji TV. KeyHoleTV helps me in this one. The only problem is that the sound doesn’t synchronise with the movie. May I ask what’s the minimum speed of the internet connection so as to enjoy watching programs. Thank You! I would recommend this to my friends. Ja ne. Kiwotsuketene. =)

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  18. @nina, @cisa, @valezka: Some people do have passwords set on channels, and there is no way around it without asking them directly. I’m not sure what they are broadcasting, but they definitely dont want people watching it.

    @cisa: KeyholeTV is only for Japanese stations. For Chinese channels, you may want to try out TVkoo. Also, there is no spyware on KeyholeTV what so ever. It is run by a company with ties to the Japanese government.

    @ikegokid: no there is no way to delay the channels, you just have to wake up at really early times to watch the good stuff.

    @maffi: i have a 10mbps cable connection, and I never really notice a sync problem with the audio and video.

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  21. *Xorsyst: Well, I do have a 10mbps cable connection.. Maybe the problem is I live here in the Philippines, that’s why.. Sorry for bothering you with that question.. Thanks anyway.. I really like KeyHoleTV it’s great.. Thank You again.. More Power.. *Ciao

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  22. *Xorsyst: Waah.. The information I have written was wrong.. Well, we only have a broadband connection that runs at 384kbps at most.. Does that have connection with that? I want to know.. Sorry for the bother.. Thanks.. More Power.. *Ciao

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  25. Can someone tell me what channels are those in KeyHoleTV? I can’t download an additional language.. My computer has a small hard disk drive space.. 200 Mb is too large for me.. Please tell for example, the first channel is FujiTV, the second one on the list is TBS.. Like that.. Thanks to those who will help me.. *Ciao

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  26. I can’t find any of those channels listed. They’re not there! Those that appear aren’t in the list, I have no idea what channels they are. HELP?

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  27. @angel: I’m going to update the list of channel names. The channel names are whatever people want to put for the name, so it’s impossible to have the most current ones all the time.

    @maffi: Honestly, that should be fast enough. It may have something do with your line quality though. You can have a fast connection, but if the line quality isn’t good, you are not going to have a consistant signal if that makes sense.

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  32. TV Tokyo = テンノウス. This is amazing by the way – thanks so much!! I’m currently watching some weird show (drama??) with two women eating. XD

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  36. Does anyone know why what I’m watching on TV Tokyo is completely different than what they list as “now playing” on their official website? What I’m watching does not match up with their schedule at all..

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  37. Hello there… was wondering what is the channel for FUJI TV? Please help me, it doesn’t indicate which is the channel for Fuji TV on my screen.

    I have several Jdoramas and TV shows I’d like to watch in FUji TV like specifically Arashi’s shows!

    Thanks a lot!

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  39. Hey! Thankies for this program, it’s great and i can watch live japanese TV. But i can’t seem to find TBS though….i really want to watch the T concert thats airing tonight in japan.
    Thankies again ^^

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  40. Hi hi~ Just dropping by to say thanks for the program! But, I can’t find TBS, and when I try to type it (in Japanese, it doesn’t come out right. Can you type it for me so I can search for it. I really want to see the T concert for Tohoshinki! Please help~

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