Minimax (Japan)

Minimax Japan is a Japanese cable and satellite television channel operated by Rivia Networks Japan K.K.. The channel is aimed at children and teens.

Minimax Japan was launched in 1996, when Canal+ Television attempted to bring their Minimax brand to the Asian market, making it the second Minimax channel to launch after the Spanish version launched two years earlier. It was the second TV channel in Japan aimed entirely at kids, the first being Kids Station, which launched in 1991.

The network is mostly aimed at the ages 4-15. As a Japanese version of the eponymous television channel in Central European countries, it consists of shows for both younger children and older children, ranging from American, Canadian, and European made series, to several Japanese animated series and films, alongside other non-Japanese programs.

Unlike most other Minimax feeds, it is currently the last remaining channel to retain the original mascots that were used from 1995 (beginning with the now defunct Spain feed) to 2006 (in Central Europe and other countries).

History
Minimax launched on DirecTV channel 270 on July 15, 1996 in Japan. The withdrawal of DirecTV from Japan led to Minimax moving to SKY PerfecTV! channel 279 on October 1, 2000. In January 2006, Minimax switched to telecommunications service utilization broadcasting, and moved to channel 753 on SKY PerfecTV! while also being available on select cable providers. The channel was renewed in October 2006, and then again in February 2012.

Announcers
The channel used three different announcers, which depended on what kind of work was being advertised.


 * Mayumi Tanaka (1996-present, preschool works)
 * Tetsuya Yanagihara (1996-present, comedic works)
 * Yasunori Matsumoto (1996-present, normal works)
 * Kenichi Ogata (1996-present, horror and Halloween works)

Trivia

 * This is the only Minimax feed to utilize a female announcer (Mayumi Tanaka, although male announcers are used as well).