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. This question of passwords seems to come up frequently. The password protected channels are private user-created channels that the owner has chosen not to share. There is no “password list” floating around somewhere. The KeyholeTV app is a peer-to-peer video client at its root that anybody can use to setup a video channel. It *just happens to have* all the public TV channels available for free. If you are curious about the password feature and how it works, check out the “INFORMATION” section of the official Keyhole TV web site.

    http://www.v2p.jp/video/english/index.html

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  2. Just wondering if anyone knows how to download the mobile version of keyhole tv. I have a blackjack 2 but i just can’t seem to get it to download on my phone.

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  3. Man this is seriously the best thing on the web. Words cannot describe how happy I am to watch Waratte ii tomo, SMAPxSMAP, Best House 123, Mecha Ike, Gaki no Tsukai, Ainori……. the list goes on. Seriously, I love the people who make this possible.

    That said, I was wondering if anyone knew of anyway to increase performance. I try to minimize other bandwidth usage the best I can, but I have 2 other roommates so… yea. My biggest issue is the video freezing every so often. Anyone have any ideas? Just curious ^^

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  6. And by the way, this program is GREAT! It’ll be just perfect for watching the premiere of DragonBallKai on April 5th(at least I know when THAT comes on! haha!) Seriously though, what are some times when anime starts up?

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  8. 3.10 for windows stopped working so i downloaded the latest 3.13 and my virus checker has detected Trojan-Downloader.Zlob.GEN in the setup file. Anyone else got this prob?

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  10. I tried to use the program this morning and I am getting the following message:
    Login timed out. Check your network.

    My network is fine. Any recommendations?

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  15. HELP!! When I go to some stations, they’re all static! The only one not doing that is Fuji TV!! Is there something wrong with my program, or is it just the TV station?

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  16. Getting “Login Time Out. Check your network”. I have never had a problem in over a year with KTV. What is this? I have upgraded to the newest version.

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  18. I’m having the same problem as the others, with login timed out, and check network. My network is fine, and I have the Mac Version. Somebody tell me what is going wrong? It was working a bit ago….

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  21. Network is down. I actually wanted to watch the news due to the FedEx plane crash at Narita Int. Airport. I also read the Japanese site and it will be down due to server maintenance and change of equipment(?). It also states the time frame could vary and it can possibly carry over to the 24th.

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  23. Using Mac and having the same problem … I wanted to use the program for the first time today so I’m really disappointed … but hopefully it’ll work tomorrow

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  27. ya, yesterday i also experience the same prob with you
    my KH also shown timed out
    but now the prob was solved already
    seems like the program i wanna watch not in the list…:(
    i want to watch radio AM558… hope can watch it tonight…

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  29. I loved KeyHole TV. I got it yesterday and it was great (I have Linux Ubuntu 8.10). The sound stopped working, it was easy to fix, I just changed the audio. But, after that.. when the sound went out and was fuzzy, it was painful and so loud to listen to. It’s impossible to tolerate! I’m not sure why this has happened or how to fix it, but I think I may get rid of it for this reason. Otherwise, I’d really recommend it ’cause it was great for those few hours it was working well for me =)

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  30. hiiiiiiiii few days ago i download the keyhole…all was perfect…but now..in this moment when i open the keyhole…i saw that i dont have tv-tokyo…fuji tv!…NTV!!…what happen!!T^T please answer me!!!

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  35. me too~!
    yes..me too..why?
    dunno the problem

    download it?where?how?

    random P.S;
    jeni,where do u live?(thought,i have a friend name same with u..maybe..u’re my friend? LOL)

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  40. me too.
    name changed
    they become like asa,rokaru(local)
    and stuff

    i have to check one by one
    NTV is the only good one…
    (eh..is zoom in on ntv?i forget LOL

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  41. i search in internet the channels…
    coz the names has changed!!!
    the first i dont know…
    -radio
    -daiba (FUJI TV) isnt it??
    -TV TOKYO
    ASAHI TV
    NTV
    3 CHANNELS OF RADIO
    – -.- CHANNEL OF FRANCE…I SUPPOSSE
    -.- OF SAN FRANCISCO
    – 6 CHANNELS OF RADIO
    – AND THE LAST I DONT KNOW T.T

    ANYBODY CAN HELP ME WITH THE NAMES OF CHANNELS

    WHERE’S TBS?? T.T

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