ASIA-PACIFIC – October 22, 2013 – MTV Asia has launched two 30-minute weekly programs about Japanese music: Japan Hits, and MTV 81, which began airing on October 18 and October 20 respectively.
Both programs are airing not only on MTV Japan and MTV Asia, but also across MTV China, MTV Taiwan, MTV Thailand, and MTV Vietnam. According to a press release from Viacom Inc., the programs will also be considered for broadcast outside of Asia.
Japan Hits features a weekly round-up of the best and latest music hits from Japan.
Meanwhile, MTV 81 was first launched in collaboration with Dentsu Inc. as an English-language advertiser-supported digital platform in November 2012, as an increasing number of Japanese artists have gained recognition outside of Japan.
The program brings Japanese pop culture to audiences around the world, lending an insider’s perspective to the pop cultural landscape in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and other cultural hotspots. The digital platform introduces the latest news, interviews, and exclusive live performances of current Japanese artists.
The weekend premiere of MTV 81 was celebrated with two live broadcasts in collaboration with the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF)–the Green Carpet Ceremony streamed live from Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills Arena, and J-Culture in the Frame, which was streamed live exclusively on the program’s website.
At the TIFF, MTV 81 featured director Shoji Kawamori and multimedia and design guru Tom Kawada, who had an exclusive talk session highlighting the current trends of Japanese film. The event also included performances from Dragonball theme artist Hironobu Kageyama, One Piece opening theme singer Hiroshi Kitadani, and J-Pop stars Babyraids, who sang the theme for the drama series Amachan.
"We’re very excited that we are taking Japanese music and culture internationally! There is no doubt that Asian music and entertainment cross borders and Japan has often been cited as a cultural hotspot and creative inspiration," said VIMN Asia’s executive vice president and managing director, Indra Suharjono.
"That’s why MTV 81 was developed to leverage MTV Japan’s connection to music, fashion, and pop culture, whilst offering an internationally focused insider’s point of view on what is shaping the pop culture landscape," Suharjono said. "Just as Japanese artists have lent MTV Japan a domestic appeal, the network is now giving local artists the domestic and global spotlight like never before. MTV 81 will certainly be the platform for Japanese artists to acquire a global fan base.
