Nippon TV Unveils Trio of MIPCOM Highlights

TOKYO: Nippon Television Network Corporation (Nippon TV) plans to present a variety of new titles in Cannes, including the drama series Death Note, the entertainment program Matsuko-Roid and the reality/game show format The Kindergarten.

Death Note follows Light Yagami's mission to kill off all criminals, creating a world without bad people while using a notebook known as Death Note. The live-action drama is based on a popular comic book serialized between 2003 and 2006.

Matsuko-Roid is hosted by Japan's cross-dressing commentator Matsuko Deluxe and his life-sized android. The program explores what television and the world will be like when androids become mainstream.

The Kindergarten has been a hit for more than 17 years in Japan and is now being offered as a format for the first time. The observational show uses such fun tactics as mysterious monsters, a quiz game and on-camera confessions to capture the daily lives of adorable young children.

"One of our key mottos at Nippon TV is 'viewers come first,' and we are confident that these three news projects will be well received by our Japanese audiences, as well as viewers around the world for our format The Kindergarten," said Yukiko Kimishima, Nippon TV's divisional president of international business development. "We are also delighted to be celebrating the tenth anniversary of our international format hit Dragon's Den [Shark Tank in the U.S.], which continues to soar in both popularity and ratings in over 25 countries and regions."