The Top 100 Historical Persons, aired on Nippon Television on May 7, 2006. The program featured the results of a survey that asked Japanese people to choose their favorite great person from history. The show featured several re-enactments of scenes from the lives of the people on the list.

The survey asked Japanese people to name their most-liked historical figures, not the most influential. The selection was not restricted to Japanese people, and only about two thirds of the names are Japanese, mostly important Japanese historical figures, such as samurai, prime ministers, war leaders, authors, poets. and popular Meiji restoration figures.

The program was followed up with a women-only Top-100 list which aired September 23, 2006. and History’s 100 Most Influential People: Hero Edition which aired in March 2007.