Japan’s television format market continues to stand out on the global stage, with a unique focus on exporting successful unscripted hits while rarely importing foreign concepts. This was highlighted by Virginia Mouseler, CEO of The WIT, during the “Fresh TV: Japan” session at Mip London.
According to data presented by Mouseler, Japan is currently the world’s seventh-largest exporter of formats, on par with South Korea. Despite this impressive export ranking, Japan adapts very few international intellectual properties.
One of the standout Japanese-origin formats that continues to be widely adapted globally is “Dragon’s Den.” This show, along with other international hits like “The Floor,” “The A Talks,” and “The Traitors,” has proven to be popular with audiences worldwide.
When it comes to Japanese formats themselves, titles such as “LOL,” “Freeze,” and the long-standing game show “Run for Money” have been among the most adapted unscripted shows in the past year. These formats showcase Japan’s strength in creating high-concept entertainment centered around simple game mechanics.
Despite its success in exporting formats, Japan remains reluctant to import foreign concepts. Only two international formats were adapted locally in the past year, compared to none the year before. One notable import was the South Korean relationship competition “Wedding Wars,” while the other was a revival of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” after 26 years.
Japan’s reputation for not importing formats is deeply ingrained, as the country ranks 15th globally as a format importer. Instead, much of the focus in Japan is on reviving and reinventing homegrown intellectual properties, such as the recent reboot of the classic game show “Challenges on Fire.”
The presentation also shed light on a new wave of Japanese entertainment formats that emphasize visually driven physical mechanics and social-strategy gameplay. Shows like “Cash or Splash” and Nippon TV’s “Turn” highlight Japan’s commitment to visually captivating and easily exportable game concepts.
Overall, Japan’s television format market continues to thrive on its unique blend of exporting successful formats while maintaining a strong focus on homegrown intellectual properties. This distinct approach sets Japan apart in the global television industry.
