In the popular U.S. TV series "Heroes," Japan-born actor Masi Oka played the role of Hiro Nakamura, who could travel through space and time. The series has now finished, of course, but Oka is still breaking down barriers that were once thought insurmountable — this time, however, he's doing it as a producer.
Oka was in Tokyo last week for the shooting of a new program that he hopes will help launch Japanese-style variety TV programs in the U.S. market. "Amerika wo Warawasero" ("Make America Laugh!") is a collaborative project between local broadcaster TBS, talent agency and media company Yoshimoto Kogyo (for whom Oka has become an advisor) and U.S. production house Reveille. The idea is that Japanese comedians take turns presenting proposals for TV programs that they think will "make it" in the U.S.
As host and Yoshimoto comedian Koji Imada explained to members of the press who had gathered to watch the shoot, "There have been many programs in the past that have been about trying to come up with jokes that Americans would find funny." But "Amerika o Warawasero," he continued, is different. "This time, it's real — the program really will be taken to the U.S."