The Australian government is pushing ahead with an ambitious plan to host a Japanese soap opera as a means of reviving tourist numbers from Japan.
Tourism Minister Fran Bailey, who in May first flagged the novel idea of a Japanese soap opera filmed in Australia, said last week the project is ready to move forward.
The government's tourism body, Tourism Australia, is now looking for Australian and Japanese companies to create the TV series for the Japanese market, Bailey said.
Tourism Australia has called for expressions of interest and is looking for producers and concepts for the show, she said.