Nippon TV's July 2016 original hit drama series "Your Home is My Business!," which stars Ms. Keiko Kitagawa, returns as a special drama (one special episode).

Making a comeback as "Your Home is My Business! Returns," the show will air in Japan on Friday, May 26th at 9 pm. What's more, through Nippon TV's GEM channel in Southeast Asia, the special drama is set for a same-day, same-time simulcast in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

This drama showcases genius real estate agent Machi Sangenya as the main character. With "there isn't a home I can't sell" as her catchphrase, Machi goes beyond the scope of her job and trespasses into the personal problems of her clients. Through all sorts of means, she solves their problems and ultimately gets them to buy a home, without fail. Machi's boldness, assertiveness, trademark command "GO!" and the colorful cast of characters made this exciting drama the talk of the town. The final episode of its original July 2016 season run garnered a 13.0% viewer rating, setting a record for this drama series. (Source: Video Research, Kanto region, September 14, 2016 broadcast.) "Your Home is My Business!" has come to enjoy high international acclaim, having been broadcast and/or streamed in South Korea, Taiwan, and many countries throughout Southeast Asia. Moreover, the drama and its producer have been featured in various industry magazines in the US, Europe and of course Asia.

"Your Home is My Business! Returns" is set two years after Machi left Teiko Real Estate. She comes back to work for two weeks as a temporary employee with the task of saving the struggling company from weak sales. Follow Machi as she closes one deal after another with uniquely colorful clients that include a Chinese man with a passion for hoarding Japanese properties, an elementary school child star who buys a home for his father, and a poverty-stricken single mother. What's more, you can catch up on what's been going on with Machi's colleagues and see how they react to her sudden return. Don't miss the excitement at Teiko Real Estate as Machi unleashes her time-tested sales techniques.

"I'm truly happy that a Nippon TV drama is set to be simulcast on our GEM channel. "Your Home is My Business!" was aired in Japan last year and thanks to Ms. Keiko Kitagawa's fabulous acting and slightly comical trademark command "GO!", the drama series quickly became an incredible hit," commented Mr. Atsushi Hatayama, President of International Business Development at Nippon TV. "We also announced last April that Shanghai-based production company Youhug Media has acquired the format rights to this drama, with production set to begin in 2018 in China. We look forward to getting more remake inquiries from other countries for this scripted format. I'm also excited that Mr. Koji Yano, a Japanese actor with a successful track record in Chinese dramas, will be joining the cast (in the role of a Chinese client who amasses Japanese real estate). I hope this will allow a wider audience to enjoy the show at the same date and time as Japan. You can count on Ms. Kitagawa to entertain you with their delightful interactions."

Nippon TV's first-ever same-time-as-Japan broadcast in Southeast Asia through GEM was in September 2016 with the drama "Guard Center 24." "Your Home is My Business! Returns" is the company's second simulcast. Nippon TV became the first commercial broadcaster to simulcast a drama in six countries and territories in Asia. It shows no signs of slowing down as it builds on its momentum to cater to the needs of an ever-expanding international audience.

■Comment from Ms. Keiko Kitagawa:
"I'm thrilled to be able to come back with a one-off sequel and entertain the fans who supported our first season. I'm sure that those who will be watching beginning with this special drama will also enjoy the story. Children will be delighted with the entertaining facial expressions of the cast (laughs), and adults will be moved by the many lines that reflect various life experiences. People from all walks of life will find this special drama highly entertaining, so I hope you will tune in. It's a wonderful surprise to see last year's drama series becoming such a hit in Asia and getting set for a remake in China. I couldn't believe that so many people were watching the drama series only one hour after the Japan broadcast in the six countries and territories that GEM serves, last July season. I also received a lot of messages from fans overseas who told me they were enjoying the show, so I'm incredibly excited that we can give them a sequel. This time, we also have scenes in Chinese for those who speak Chinese to enjoy. I'm curious to know what our viewers abroad think of the scenes that I believe are funny particularly because they're in Japanese. But I'm sure that those who liked the drama series will enjoy this special drama as well, so I hope you all tune in."

Ms. Keiko Kitagawa takes pride in the successful drama series and comes back to co-star with Mr. Koji Yano, who will treat the audience with his brilliant command of the Chinese language. This is a production you surely can't miss!
 

Having established a long career in China, Mr. Koji Yano joins the special drama in the role of Jiang, a Chinese man who comes to Teiko Real Estate in search of a home. We interviewed him to get his thoughts on this project.

Ｑ．How do you feel about being cast in "Your Home is My Business! Returns"?
I enjoyed watching "Your Home is My Business!" so I was absolutely thrilled to get the offer. I have been in movies and comedy dramas in China but this is my first time appearing in a Japanese drama with a comedic touch. I'm really excited about it.

Ｑ．You are playing the role of a Chinese man who comes to Teiko Real Estate to buy a home. How do you prepare differently when you play a non-Japanese character?
I need to speak Chinese for this role, so it's important to learn the script well. Besides the language, it's also crucial to study the unique ways in which Chinese people speak. When I went to China in 2000 and played a Chinese role for the first time, I was not able to say my Chinese lines with feelings. The words did not instantly trigger the emotions associated with them, so there were delays in my reactions and it was quite a challenge. Up to this day, I make sure I'm not simply reciting the Chinese script. I process what I have to say in my mind as if I were going to say it in my native tongue, and then I deliver my lines.

Ｑ．What do you find most challenging about saying your lines in Chinese?
I find the Beijing accent quite difficult. A lot of times they end their sentences with "儿（ér）,"　which is a sound made by curving the tongue. For example, when people in Beijing say "你去哪儿了？（nĭ qù năr le）" or "Where did you go?" they make the "儿（ér）" sound in the end by rounding up the tongue. This is unique to Beijing natives and it's challenging for me even to this day.

Ｑ．You have been in many Chinese dramas. What's the difference in how Japanese and Chinese dramas are filmed?
The speed of filming is completely different. In China, there's a simple rehearsal and then we jump right into the actual take, so the shooting moves along very quickly. There are even times when we finish shooting 30 episodes in two and a half months. (In Japan, it takes an average of two and a half months to shoot a 10-episode drama.) In comparison, it seems like there's more time in Japanese drama sets to film slowly. As for the acting, I feel like except for the language, it's fundamentally the same in both countries.

Ｑ．"Your Home is My Business! Returns" will be broadcast at the same time in Japan and several countries in Asia. It's such a popular drama that the rights to remake it have already been acquired in China. What are your thoughts on that?
It's amazing! (laughs) I hope this triggers a wave of Japanese dramas expanding throughout Asia. If that happens, I think Japanese content in general will gather more interest and gain more fans. In that sense, the fact that "Your Home is My Business! Returns" is being rolled out in Asia at such a large scale is an incredible start.

Ｑ．Do you have a message for viewers in Asia who are looking forward to the show?
"Your Home is My Business!" is number one! (laughs) I'm delighted to join the members of "Your Home is My Business!" I hope that in addition to the people in Japan, those throughout Asia will watch our show. I'll try to jump on that momentum and strive to reach greater heights as well! (laughs)

■Mr. Koji Yano:
Born in Osaka in 1970, Mr. Koji Yano appeared in a Chinese drama for the first time in 2000. Since then, he has starred in historical dramas such as "The Proof of Memories," "Sniper," and "Jade Phoenix." He also appeared in the spy action movie "East Wind Rain," entertainment show "Day Day Up" and numerous other productions, establishing a strong presence in China. On October 17, 2007, Mr. Yano was selected by Newsweek Japan as one of the "100 Most Respected Japanese in the World." In September 2012, he was recognized by the Japanese Minister for State National Policy and presented with a letter of appreciation for his "Global Success and Promotion of Japan." In August 2015, he was awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation for promoting mutual understanding between China and Japan.