Japan’s Nippon TV to unveil drama & dating crossover format ahead of ATF

Japan’s Nippon TV is preparing to launch a new unscripted reality singing format at Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), which takes place next month.

Vocals Like Locals brings together amateur singers from around the world to sing a local hit from their favourite foreign country. Trying to sound like a native of their selected country, while not necessarily even speaking the local language, each contestant will battle to impress judges to reach the final.

The show is joined by First Kiss Boys / First Kiss Ladies, which combines both drama and mockumentary programming, along with interwoven storylines.

First Kiss Boys is a drama series that follows a schoolboy who uses his skills of creating lyrics to express himself. After receiving his first kiss, he finds out that the girl who he shared it with is starring in a dating reality show for women who want to do-over their first kiss with another person.

First Kiss Ladies, meanwhile, is a mockumentary reality series that intersects with the drama through a crossover story, which follows six women who try to capture the heart of one man to replace their first kiss. As cast members improvise their conversations, real confrontations start to arise.

Mikiko Nishiyama, EVP of international business development at Nippon TV, said the titles had been “strategically developed as formats” after analysing buyers’ requirements.

Nippon has been expanding its internaitonal operations over the past 12 months, stirking a deal with Netflix in November last year and partnering with Envision Entertaiment on scripted format CONNECTED in Feburary.