NHK Morning Drama Hands Over to New Series 'Blossom'
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NHK, Japan's public broadcaster, has held a handover ceremony between two of its morning dramas.
The long-running series 'Kaze, Kaoru' has ended, and a new drama called 'Blossom' has begun.
NHK's morning dramas are known as 'asadora'. They are popular shows shown every morning.
Each new asadora usually starts right after the previous one finishes, with a small ceremony marking the change.
Actress Juri Ueda, aged 21, took part in the event for 'Kaze, Kaoru'.
She appeared in a photo together with the actress chosen as the heroine of the next series, 'Blossom'.
The heroine is the main female character who leads the story in an asadora.
The photo, showing the two actresses together, was shared and received attention online.
Fans and viewers left many positive comments about the picture.
Some comments praised the meeting as 'a collaboration of beauty', while others said the long-awaited moment had 'finally arrived'.
The reactions show how much attention Japanese audiences pay to the change between asadora series.
Each new series usually brings a new cast, new setting and a new story, though it follows the same morning time slot.
The handover ceremony is a tradition that connects the old drama with the new one for viewers.
Vocabulary10 words
- handover ceremony
- a special event when one thing is given to another
- broadcaster
- a company that shows TV or radio programs
- asadora
- the Japanese word for NHK's daily morning drama
- heroine
- the main female character in a story
- collaboration
- when two people or things work or appear together
- cast
- the group of actors in a show
- audience
- the people who watch a show
- tradition
- something that is always done in a special way
- reaction
- how people respond to something
- attention
- when people notice and look at something
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Quiz
Answer key
1. NHK's daily morning drama series 2. Juri Ueda, from the previous drama 3. They left many positive comments
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
NHK, Japan's public _____, has held a handover ceremony between two of its morning dramas.
The long-running series 'Kaze, Kaoru' has ended, and a new drama called '_____' has begun.
NHK's morning dramas are known as '_____'. They are popular shows shown every morning.
Actress Juri Ueda, aged _____, took part in the event for 'Kaze, Kaoru'.
She appeared in a photo together with the actress chosen as the _____ of the next series, 'Blossom'.
The photo, showing the two actresses together, was shared and received _____ online.
Fans and viewers left many positive _____ about the picture.
Some comments praised the meeting as 'a _____ of beauty', while others said the long-awaited moment had 'finally arrived'.
The handover ceremony is a _____ that connects the old drama with the new one for viewers.
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