The “Rated K” segment is one of the many projects lined up under the long-term collaboration between the two companies. It is based on NHK’s program segment “Happy Surprise,” which features different people who want to surprise a special person they care about by setting up a fake documentary.
In the special ABS-CBN-NHK-produced “Happy Surprise” segment that airs in “Rated K,” Filipino-Japanese sumo wrestler Masunoyama surprises and shows his love and gratitude for his Filipino mother, Maria Christine, who raised him and his siblings on her own.
Under the impression that “Rated K” anchor Korina Sanchez is featuring Filipinos living in Japan, Maria Christine goes around the famous tourist attractions and landmarks in Tokyo with Korina. As she is being interviewed, Maria Christine is suddenly surprised by a flash mob of sumo wrestlers, led by her son Masunoyama, which moves her to tears.
The segment will also be shown this month in “Happy Surprise” in Japan.
ABS-CBN business unit head Linggit Tan said the collaboration with NHK will enable ABS-CBN to expand and penetrate the Asian market.
“Television is a global medium and we need to explore other things we can do for TV and for Filipinos. We’ve done co-productions with Malaysia, where Jericho Rosales and Gerald Anderson are very popular, and other foreign TV networks have licensed and aired our shows, but we also want to get into Japan and do something together. This might be one of the ways to get into the bigger Asian market, to boost our content, and be recognized globally,” she said.
“NHK, as a public broadcaster, wants to showcase Japanese culture, and most especially, show their appreciation for Filipinos,” she added.
NHK said that its “firmly established” collaboration with ABS-CBN, its first with a foreign company, is a landmark moment for the corporation.
“ABS-CBN is highly regarded as the leading broadcaster in the Philippines that constantly produces high-quality entertainment programs. We regard ABS-CBN as our best partner to develop content together because we can share the value of entertainment with people at the network,” said NHK.
NHK also said it believes the “Happy Surprise” co-production will touch and make both Filipinos and the Japanese people happy.
“We regard ‘Happy Surprise’ as the very first success we achieved on the long track. We are having collective and intensive discussions for extending our cooperation further. Just wait until you’ll see our second big surprise,” NHK said.
“Happy Surprise” previously featured Ivy Beldad, a Filipina nurse who passed the licensure exam in Japan and was the first-ever foreigner and Filipino to be surprised in the program. Ivy’s life story will soon be portrayed in the top-rating drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya.”
Catch the “Happy Surprise” co-produced by ABS-CBN and NHK showcasing Masunoyama, his mother Marie Christine, and their family in “Rated K” this May 25 (Sunday), 8:30 PM on ABS-CBN.
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