有關日本電視劇在香港的文化研究取徑，不少學者均參照岩渕功一所提出的三個觀點：日本中心、共時性與現代性，並以「文化接近性」的論調來解釋日劇何以能使香港人產生認同。然而，本文認為這些觀點不單未能充分解釋日劇在香港的擴散現象中所呈現之多樣性及複雜性，而且所採用的文本分析及閱聽人研究方法，令結果被簡約化、被視為理所當然、或被過度想像。籍回顧過去的研究理論與方法，本文試圖指出這些理論所呈的問題，並在反思現有的主流研究方法何以不足以了解日劇傳入香港，在生產、流通以及消費三種場域中的意義及影響後，提出未來的研究方向。

While examining the cultural phenomena of Japanese TV drama in Hong Kong, many scholars have been inspired by Koichi Iwabuchi’s perspectives on Japan centered, coevalness and modernity. The notion of “cultural proximity” has also been widely used as an explanation for identification with Japanese TV drama among Hong Kong people. However, the article argues that these views fail to fully explain the diversity and complexity expressed in the phenomena of Japanese TV drama in Hong Kong. The use of textual analysis and audience study generates research results by the reductive method; there is a tendency of taking things for granted or overly imagined. Through reviewing the past studies, this article considers the inadequacies presented in their arguments and the reasons why current mainstream research methods are unable to illustrate the implications and influences of Japanese TV drama in Hong Kong in the context of production, circulation and consumption. Finally, the article offers suggestions for future research.