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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Written by xorsyst

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639 Comments

  1. Oh my god. Thanks dude. This is unbelievable. With a few clicks of a button i as watching Japanese TV. I’m so going to get better at Japanese. This is truly outrageous despite the quality. Arigato.

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  4. I installed a new antivirus in my pc then I opened KeyholeTV and I encountered this error, “Login timed out. Check your network.” Like that.. In my firewall, KeyholeTV is allowed.. Why is it happening?

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  5. I installed it but when i watch it, i can see the picture but it has no sound….. ive tried cliking mute and turning volum up and down… and the actual computer isnt on mute… its just soundless any idea what to do?

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  9. @Yuki: You may want to reinstall it after downloading the latest version. I had that same problem, then a fellow reader pointed out that there was an updated version. After reinstalling, it worked fine.

    @lugia, CHP: Since KeyholeTV’s channels are user broadcasted, sometimes certain channels suddenly disappear. They will be back and it’s usually just temporary.

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  11. Just wanted to say Thanks! 本当にありがとうございます！ずっと日本のテレビを見たかった！We lived in Japan for 8 years. My children also speak Japanese so it has bee great to watch again. Its amazing to think I can sit in my living room in Australia and watch Live TV in Japan. Keep up the great work! We are very grateful.

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  16. keyhole tv is great but how come there’s not NHK channels
    no matter how many updates had done…there’s no sign of it…
    hope that NHK channel will be created soon in keyhole TV.

    thank you

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  19. @flamon : i think it has something to do with your connection and location.. i mean if you’re at the other side of the world and far away from japan, it’s more likely to have an out-of-sync sound or no sound at all.. it happens to me too.. and if your connection is as lousy as mine, it may also be a factor..

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  20. @flamon : i think it has something to do with your connection and location.. if you have a lousy connection as mine, then more likely the data being transmitted is too slow than it should be.. same with location.. can be a factor too..

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  23. xorsyst
    Thanks for maintaining this useful web page.

    Would you happen to know if the streamed programs can be “recorded” using VLC? This is typically done if the source’s http or mms address is known.

    Thanks.

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  34. hmm… i love to listen radio with KeyHoleTV
    i usually listen to JOCR 558 alternative~
    sometimes will watch japan programme too..
    Drama will depends..

    Last time i saw Nack5 in the list
    but cannot find it in list now
    i think it falls to randomly changing category XDD
    just a bit upset
    hope can having more channel stable~
    THX ya~;)
    hmm btw I hope the fm yokohama could be put in list as well~

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  37. i just downloaded keyholetv..im soo happy but then i got no sound.. do you know why? ive tried again and again but still no sound.. ive even change the mute and unmute..can someone help me?

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  39. After I download the keyhole TV. It pop up a window said “KeyHoleTV can not Use waveOutOpen Err:1”. I can’t open Keyhole now, may I ask how can I solve it? Thanks a lot.

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  41. I downloaded KeyHole but I can’t hear anything? I have checked all the sound sources, played with “mute on/off” and play iTunes just to make sure it isn’t my computer but still no sound. What should I do?

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