Why is TV drama so entertaining and so exciting to watch? I believe this is because the viewer is able to enter and travel in the world as told in the drama. I believe that, depending on the story, the viewer is not only able to journey over space and time but to reach into the hearts and minds of characters. This can be regarded the cultural or lifestyle aspect of TV drama. It may also be viewed from the light of personal interest or hobby.
The other aspect is that the attractiveness of the drama turns into product value, into goods for distribution. These two aspects can be regarded the two separable sides of the coin that is the TV drama. The theme of “International Exchange in TV Drama Productions” presents to us a prime opportunity to look into one side of the coin — the product value of the TV drama and how drama productions are being exchanged internationally, as goods to be handled in content business, chiefly in East Asia.
Until now, the issue of international distribution of TV dramas had been very often perceived in the light of cultural exchange. The selection of this theme aimed at exploring it from the standpoint of social interest, including that of business, is most timely also for promotion of contents distribution that the Japanese government and private sectors are about to push forward today. Under the excellent moderation by Professor Oto, we have heard the report on the distinctive characteristics of the Japanese TV industry and drama production schemes, as well as the possibility of international exchange, recommendations based on experiences of a regional station in promoting overseas program broadcasting, and the report on the distribution of Korean Wave drama in Asia and the recent developments regarding Korean programs. As comments in response to these reports, we have received a report on the approach taken by the Chinese broadcasting industry. The current state of the US media, information had been presented, and the impact of governmental involvement and advances of the Internet had been discussed. Also, we have heard the opinions and comments from people representing the general public.
I believe that the discussions on the social and economic aspects of international exchange of TV dramas have in fact also presented us the opportunity to re-examine with more depth and scope the other side of the coin, that is, the value of TV drama in the area of cultural exchange while directing our attention to the relative cultural and social conditions of each country.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the participants in the discussions and all of those who are viewing this website. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge our indebtedness to our co-sponsor the Japan Foundation, the Hoso Bunka Foundation for subsidizing this symposium and to the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) and the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan for their support and cooperation in making this event possible.