Events in 1998 in Japanese television.
Launches:
| Show | Station | Premiere Date | Genre | Original Run | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden | TV Asahi | February 7th | tokusatsu | February 7, 1998 – January 31, 1999 | |
| Cardcaptor Sakura | NHK BS2 | April 7th | anime | April 7, 1998 - March 21, 2000 | |
| Cowboy Bebop | TV Tokyo + WOWOW | April 3rd | anime | April 3, 1998 – June 26, 1998 | |
| Cyber Team in Akihabara | TBS | April 4th | anime | April 4, 1998 - September 26, 1998 | |
| Generator Gawl[1] | TV Tokyo | October 6th | anime | October 6, 1998 - December 22, 1998 | |
| Great Teacher Onizuka | Fuji TV | July 7th | drama | July 7, 1998 – September 22, 1998 | |
| His and Her Circumstances | TV Tokyo | October 2nd | anime | October 2, 1998 – March 23, 1999 | |
| Initial D | Fuji TV | April 18th | anime | April 18, 1998 - December 5, 1998 | |
| Lost Universe | TV Tokyo | April 3rd | anime | April 3, 1998 – September 25, 1998 | |
| Master Keaton | Nippon TV | October 5th | anime | October 5, 1998 – March 29, 1999 | |
| Nonchan Noriben | CBC | June 1st | drama | June 1, 1998 – July 31, 1998 | |
| Ojarumaru | NHK | October 5th | anime | October 5, 1998 – present | |
| Outlaw Star | TV Tokyo | January 8th | anime | January 8, 1998 – June 25, 1998 | |
| Seijuu Sentai Gingaman | TV Asahi | February 22nd | tokusatsu | February 22, 1998 – February 14, 1999 | |
| Serial Experiments Lain | TV Tokyo | July 6th | anime | July 6, 1998 – September 28, 1998 | |
| Shomuni | Fuji TV | April 15th | drama | April 15, 1998 – July 1, 1998 | |
| Silent Möbius | TV Tokyo | April 7th | anime | April 7, 1998 - September 29, 1998 | |
| Sorcerous Stabber Orphen | TBS | October 3rd | anime | October 3, 1998 – March 27, 1999 | |
| Space-Time Detective Genshi-kun | TV Tokyo | October 1st | anime | October 1, 1998 – June 24, 1999 | |
| Super Doll Licca-chan | TV Tokyo | October 6th | anime | October 6, 1998 - September 28, 1999 | |
| Super Milk Chan | Fuji TV | June 18th | anime | June 18, 1998 - September 24, 1998 | |
| Trigun | TV Tokyo | April 1st | anime | April 1, 1998 – September 30, 1998 | |
| Ultraman Gaia | MBS | September 5th | tokusatsu | September 5, 1998 – August 28, 1999 | |
| Weiß Kreuz | TV Tokyo | April 8th | anime | April 8, 1998 – September 30, 1998 | |
| Yu-Gi-Oh! | TV Asahi | April 4th | anime | April 4, 1998 - October 10, 1998 |
| Show | Station | Hiatus Date | Genre | Original Run | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboy Bebop | TV Tokyo + WOWOW | June 26th | anime | April 3, 1998 – June 26, 1998 |
| Show | Station | Returning Date | Genre | Original Run | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Monsters (Pokémon) | TV Tokyo | April 16th | anime | April 16, 1998 - November 14, 2002 | |
| Cowboy Bebop | TV Tokyo + WOWOW | TBD | anime | April 3, 1998 - June 26, 1998 |
| Show | Station | Ending Date | Genre | Original Run | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azuki-chan | NHK | March 17th | anime | April 4, 1995 - March 17, 1998 | |
| Cutie Honey Flash | TV Asahi | January 31st | anime | February 15, 1997 – January 31, 1998 | |
| Chūka Ichiban! | Fuji TV | September 13th | anime | April 27, 1997 – September 13, 1998 | |
| Cyber Team in Akihabara | TBS | September 26th | anime | April 4, 1998 - September 26, 1998 | |
| Denji Sentai Megaranger | TV Asahi | February 15th | tokusatsu | February 14, 1997 – February 15, 1998 | |
| Fair, then Partly Piggy | TV Tokyo | September 29th | anime | July 3, 1997 – September 29, 1998 | |
| Flame of Recca | Fuji TV | July 10th | anime | July 19, 1997 – July 10, 1998 | |
| Hare Tokidoki Buta | TV Tokyo | September 29th | anime | July 3, 1997 – September 29, 1998 | |
| Initial D | Fuji TV | December 5th | anime | April 18, 1998 - December 5, 1998 | |
| The King of Braves GaoGaiGar | Nagoya TV | January 31 | anime | February 1, 1997 – January 31, 1998 | |
| Kodomo no Omocha | TV Tokyo | March 27th | anime | April 5, 1996 - March 27, 1998 | |
| Nonchan Noriben | CBC | July 31st | drama | June 1, 1998 – July 31, 1998 | |
| Outlaw Star | TV Tokyo | June 25th | anime | January 8, 1998 – June 25, 1998 | |
| Fuji TV | September 8th | anime | January 10, 1996 – September 8, 1998 | ||
| Serial Experiments Lain | TV Tokyo | September 28th | anime | July 6, 1998 – September 28, 1998 | |
| Super Mashin Hero Wataru | TV Tokyo | September 24th | anime | October 2, 1997 – September 24, 1998 | |
| Super Milk Chan | Fuji TV | September 24th | anime | June 18, 1998 - September 24, 1998 | |
| Silent Möbius | TV Tokyo | September 29th | anime | April 7, 1998 - September 29, 1998 | |
| Trigun | TV Tokyo | September 30th | anime | April 1, 1998 – September 30, 1998 | |
| Ultraman Dyna | TV Asahi | August 29th | tokusatsu | September 6, 1997 – August 29, 1998 | |
| Weiß Kreuz | TV Tokyo | September 30th | anime | April 8, 1998 – September 30, 1998 | |
| Yu-Gi-Oh! | TV Asahi | October 10th | anime | April 4, 1998 - October 10, 1998 |