Tokyo – In February, broadcasting of the NHK’s popular morning serial drama Ama-chan began in Indonesia.

A 24-hour channel run by SKY Perfect JSAT Corp. called “WAKUWAKU JAPAN”, which specialises in Japanese TV programmes, commenced broadcasting in Indonesia on February 22. One of the first offerings from NHK on the new channel is Ama-chan, which is being broadcast with Indonesian subtitles and voiceovers.

The NHK’s programmes that are scheduled to be broadcast are Ama-chan, Oshiri-kajiri mushi, and Gambare! Lulu and Lolo. These are broadcast every morning from 7am to 7.30am.

So far, Ama-chan has been broadcast in Taiwan and Hawaii. In addition to Indonesia, it also started airing in Thailand in February. In Taiwan, the TV drama has gained a healthy following, triggering an Ama-chan boom in Asia.

In Myanmar, NHK is broadcasting the morning serial drama Carnation and also the historical “Taiga” drama Princess Atsu via the local private broadcaster Myanmar National Television (MNTV).

Carnation commenced airing on March 3, and will be shown weekly on Monday through Saturday from 7.30pm. Princess Atsu will begin on April 1, every Tuesday from 9.30pm.

The broadcasting will be carried out mainly by Japan International Broadcasting (JIB) as part of a project being conducted with MNTV.

Promotional programmes for both Carnation and Princess Atsu that were produced jointly by JIB and MNTV were broadcast by MNTV in December 2013 and January 2014, creating a sensation in Myanmar and heightening expectations for the broadcast launch of both dramas.