Events in 1981 in Japanese television.
| Show | Station | Premiere Date | Genre | Original Run | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ai no Gakko Cuore Monogatari | anime | ||||
| Beast King GoLion | TV Tokyo | anime | - February 24, 1982 | ||
| Braiger | anime | ||||
| Golden Warrior Gold Lightan[1] | anime | ||||
| GoShogun | anime | ||||
| Hello! Sandybell | anime | ||||
| Onna Taikoki | Taiga drama | ||||
| Shadow Warriors II | drama | ||||
| Superbook | anime | ||||
| anime | |||||
| Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan | TV Asahi | tokusatsu | - January 30, 1982 | ||
| Urusei Yatsura | Fuji TV | anime | - March 19, 1986 | ||
| Yattodetaman | anime | ||||
| Dr. Slump | Fuji TV | anime | - February 19, 1986 |
| Show | Station | Ending Date | Genre | Original Run | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldios | Tokyo Channel 12 | January 25 | anime | June 30, 1980 – January 25, 1981 | |
| Denshi Sentai Denziman | TV Asahi | tokusatsu | - January 31, 1981 | ||
| Kamen Rider Super-1 | tokusatsu | ||||
| Invincible Robo Trider G7 | Nagoya TV | January 24 | anime | February 2, 1980 – January 24, 1981 | |
| Muteking, The Dashing Warrior | anime | ||||
| Rescueman | anime | ||||
| X-Bomber | tokusatsu | ||||
| Ultraman 80 | TBS | tokusatsu | - March 25, 1981 |