Nippon Television has chosen top star Junichi Okada to play the lead role in the Japanese version of the international quiz format “The Floor” from Talpa Studio, founded by John de Mol.
The special marks the format’s debut in Asia after being rolled out in more than 30 countries across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Australia.
Starting March 28th, it will be broadcast as a three-hour prime time special on Nippon Television and its affiliate stations nationwide.
The Japanese version introduces local touches not found in other markets. All 32 players are selected from the celebrity world, rather than general participants, making this the only edition in the world with an all-star cast. Contestants compete in head-to-head visual quizzes on a large LED floor divided into 32 sections. Each battle is built around the contestant’s designated specialty. The player who ultimately controls the board wins a prize of 10 million yen ($63,000).
This special will be Okada’s first challenge as a quiz host. He has recently gained an international following through his role in the Netflix drama series The Last Samurai Standing.
“As an actor, I never imagined that I would have the honor of hosting a world-famous quiz show, so the opportunity from Nippon Television really surprised me,” Okada said in a statement. “Most of my recent TV work has been tied to my interests, such as martial arts, history, and programs related to drama and film projects.” “What drew me to it was the absolute seriousness of the one-on-one battles and the ‘there are no second chances’ atmosphere. The energy on set at Nippon Television was amazing and it was extremely exciting to watch the contestants compete with such intensity while having so much fun. I’m sure the viewers will feel the same excitement.”
Megumi Kudo, Nippon Television’s senior manager of programming and platform strategy, said the format’s broad cross-generational appeal and ability to keep viewers on their toes were central to the decision to commission the format. She described Okada as an ideal “game master”, someone who can alternate between heightening the tension on the floor and providing warm support to the contestants, and said Nippon Television was confident Okada would improve the Japanese version of the show.
Sebastian van Barneveld, global distribution director at Talpa Studios, labeled the Japanese launch a landmark moment. “Japan is one of Asia’s most unique markets, with a strong tradition of original entertainment, and the launch of The Floor here is a real milestone. The format’s simple, visual, play-it-together, do-or-die gameplay transcends cultures effortlessly, and the celebrity-filled Japanese version once again underlines that flexibility.” “We are proud to partner with Nippon Television and look forward to seeing how Japanese viewers embrace this program.”
Nippon Television, which also owns the Japanese division of streaming service Hulu, holds the rights to most of its content and is actively pursuing international sales across anime, finished shows, formats and co-productions. The company recently established Gyokuro Studio, an in-house specialty unscripted label, and opened the Nippon TV LA Business Office, which will serve as a global hub for co-development and sales.
