Fuji and Primeworks join for human interest doc

Japanese broadcaster Fuji, Malaysian producer Primeworks Studios and its Japanese counterpart Man Union have agreed a first of its kind copro deal for Bread, Sweat and Tears, a new one-off documentary.

The one-hour doc will follow entrepreneur Akihisa Haraguchi and his childhood friend Iku Nakayama in running their Japanese-style bakery in Malaysia. The copro marks the first time free-to-air broadcaster Fuji has collaborated with international partners on a documentary. It will transmit Bread, Sweat and Tears in June.

Primeworks is part of Malaysian Media Prima and the programme will go out on the media giant’s TV3 channel as part of the Majalah 3 doc strand.

Ooi Beng Cheang, the Malaysian coproducer of Bread, Sweat and Tears said: “Malaysia has seen the rise of Japanese culture in Malaysia and [Malaysians] often wonder about the secret to Japan’s economic success. Through this story, viewers will be able to find the answers to this question as the main Japanese and Malaysian characters interact with each other to make their bakery successful.”

The partners said they are already planning a follow-up to the documentary, with production slated to start in October.

Ahmad Izham Omar, CEO of TV Networks, Media Prima Berhad and Primeworks Studios said: “There are a few more international collaborations coming up for us this year, and we believe that each of these unique stories possess a universal appeal that will relate to a global audience.”