The Best Ten was a popular music TV program on TBS channel that ran from January 19, 1978 until September 28, 1989, for a total of 603 episodes. It was broadcasted live every Thursday from 21:00 to 21:54. Every week top ten ranking songs were announced from the 10th position to the 1st using a "ranking board", which was inspired by flap displays at international airports. After announcement of the song the artist would usually appear through the "Mirror Gate", chat with the hosts and proceed to perform the song. Some performances were aired from remote locations. The singers were usually accompanied by a live orchestra, although later in the run karaoke also became common. Hosts: 1. 1978.01.19–1985.04.25 (eps. 1–375) – Kuroyanagi Testuko (黒柳徹子) & Kume Hiroshi (久米宏) 2. 1985.05.02–1985.09.26 (eps. 376–397) – Kuroyanagi Testuko (黒柳徹子) & a rotating male host: Matsumiya Kazuhiko (松宮一彦), Ikushima Hiroshi (生島ヒロシ) or Matsushita Kenji (松下賢次) 3. 1985.10.03–1986.09.25 (eps. 398–448) – Kuroyanagi Testuko (黒柳徹子) & Konishi Hiroyuki (小西博之) 4. 1986.10.02–1989.01.05 (eps. 449–565) – Kuroyanagi Testuko (黒柳徹子) & Matsushita Kenji (松下賢次) 5. 1989.01.12–1989.09.28 (eps. 566–603) – Kuroyanagi Testuko (黒柳徹子), Watanabe Masayuki (渡辺正行) & Karasawa Akihiro (柄沢晃弘)
