Today at 6.00pm NHK screens the World Premiere TV Screening at MIPDoc of Japan From Above, an aerial journey into the heart of modern Japan. The series has been has been pre-bought by a number of international broadcasters, including RTVS, TVP, Ceska TV, RDI and LTV.

Directed by Xavier Lefebvre, Japan, From Above is a blue-chip international coproduction from Gedeon Programmes, NHK, ZDF/ARTE, Voyage and Japan Foundation. The series is available as three one-hour episodes, five one-hour episodes with aerial and ground shots, or as a 90-minute stand-alone.

From breathtaking landscapes to innovative urban ways of life, this series takes the viewer on an unprecedented aerial journey into the Japan of the 21st Century. This timely series revisits the sophistication of Japanese culture, at a time when all eyes are on the host country of the 2020 Olympic Games. Shot over four seasons with spectacular 4K aerial footage, it captures all the magic of the island nation, from the beauty of the short span of the cherry blossoms in spring to snowflakes falling on Mount Fuji.

Shin Yasuda, Executive Producer, says: “With Japan From Above, NHK and Gedeon embarked on a new challenge: using 4K cinematography to capture the breathtaking beauty of Japanese archipelago from the sky while, at the same time, providing the viewers with an up-close and personal experience with people that inhabit the islands. The result is a rare and intimate portrait of Japan that weaves the tale of geological dynamism together with personal stories of its inhabitants.”

Nicolas Deschamps, Executive Producer, Gedeon adds: “Japan From Above is truly a breathtaking experience for the eyes and the soul. Our Director and the NHK team managed to record through 4 seasons and all around the archipelago, 4K material I’ve never seen before in my life. A delicate balance between storytelling and high level shooting not only to show; but to feel the uniqueness of this country.”

“Japan From Above is an event production based on Gedeon’s know-how in coproduction with NHK, recognized around the world for being at the forefront of shooting and broadcast technologies. This collaboration is once again a trusted partnership reflecting common editorial requirements,” said Marita Hübinger, Commissioning Editor, Head of Knowledge department at ZDF/Arte and Petra Boden, Commissioning Editor for ZDF/Arte. Marika Puiseux, Programming Director, Fox Networks Group France, Voyage, concluded: “Japan From Above is the result of a strong collaboration between Voyage, the prestigious NHK and Gedeon.”