In a Japanese business communication course taught at Clemson University (South Carolina), Japanese television drama is used to help language students understand the style of Japanese communication and improve their communicative ability. The course design was based on the following: (1) research on Japanese perceptions of the language needs for good communication between foreign workers and their co-workers in Japan; (2) research on Japanese communicative behaviors; and (3) the values placed on the group, hierarchy, and harmony as expressed in the Japanese communicative style. Textbooks were not found to introduce or teach these cultural values because they are most often not expressed verbally. Commercially published audiovisual materials were seen as too unnatural in form and emphasis. A Japanese television drama focusing on business and containing English captions was selected because of its realistic and appropriate content and language, motivating value, and ease of comprehension. The 4.5-hour drama was divided into eight segments, and four strategies were used to study each of those segments. Strategies include presentation and use of vocabulary before viewing; summarizing in Japanese; detailed questioning and discussing; and special related projects. Sample exercises and a brief bibliography are presented. (MSE)