The popular television drama "Oshin" will be broadcast in Iraq beginning later this month, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
The move forms part of Japan's efforts to encourage the Iraqi people during the rebuilding of their war-torn country.
The show will be supplied to the Iraq Media Network through the Japan Foundation and will be aired with Arabic subtitles, the ministry said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told reporters that the patience, enthusiasm and forward-looking attitude of Oshin, the story's heroine, will send out a positive message to the Iraqi people.
The program was first broadcast in Japan in 1983 by NHK and to date has aired in 59 countries and areas across the globe. It achieved record ratings in Japan.