Yoshimoto Kogyo Selected Among Top 10 Global Program Format Production Companies by North American Entertainment Industry Magazine "Realscreen"

Yoshimoto Kogyo was selected among the top 10 in the program format division of "Global 100," announced in June by the North American entertainment industry magazine "Realscreen." Besides Yoshimoto Kogyo, other renowned global companies such as MGM Alternative (under Amazon MGM Studios) and Shine TV (under Banijay) were selected, making Yoshimoto Kogyo the only Asian company to be chosen.

"Global 100" is an annual selection by "Realscreen" targeting production companies active worldwide in genres such as documentaries, reality shows, and variety programs.

Yoshimoto Kogyo's formats featured this time include "HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents Documental," which has local versions distributed in 23 countries and regions worldwide, and popular series from "Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!," titled "Absolutely Safe" (translated title) and "Chihara Junior no Zaō," for which a partnership agreement was signed with Banijay Entertainment, one of the world's largest content production and distribution groups. Amidst the growing global demand for comedy program formats, Yoshimoto Kogyo's efforts to deliver Japanese humor to the world are drawing attention.

Yoshimoto Kogyo's Program Formats Distributed Overseas

A program format is a compilation of a program's structure, rules, and production methods, designed to be remade in various countries and cultures around the world. Yoshimoto Kogyo has distributed numerous program formats globally.

The most widely distributed overseas is "Documental," planned and produced by Hitoshi Matsumoto of Downtown, which began streaming on Prime Video in 2016. Since its distribution as "Last One Laughing" in Mexico in 2019, local versions have been produced in various parts of the world, with a total of 83 seasons currently distributed on Prime Video across 23 countries and regions.

Notably, in Italy, Germany, and Mexico, 9 seasons each have been streamed, including spin-offs. The "German version of Documental" ranked 5th globally in the TV series category and 1st in the non-English TV series category in the weekly rankings "Top 10 Prime Original Films and Series" showcasing original works streamed on Prime Video worldwide, for the period of May 25-31, 2026. Furthermore, the "UK version of Documental," which began streaming in March 2025, received the Grand Prize in the Entertainment category at the "BAFTA Television Awards" hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in May 2026. The simple premise of "I want to make the other person laugh, but I must not laugh myself" resonates across national and linguistic barriers.

©FANY Studio©FANY Studio

Similar to "Documental," "HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents FREEZE," also planned and produced by Hitoshi Matsumoto of Downtown and streamed on Prime Video, has received high acclaim overseas.

Season 2 won the Grand Prize in the Digital Entertainment Program category at the "25th Asian Television Awards" held in January 2021. At "MIPCOM CANNES 2024," one of the world's largest content markets held in Cannes, France, in October 2024, it won the Best Comedy Format award at the "International Format Awards 2024."

Local versions of "FREEZE" are also being produced worldwide, with local versions already broadcast in Portugal, Italy, and Dubai.

The Portuguese version, which began airing in 2024, has already garnered such popularity that Season 5 is being broadcast, and a local version is scheduled to air in Spain this summer.

Overseas expansion of other program formats is also progressing. "100 Choices: THE ENDURANCE" (100択 THE ガマン), a segment within "World HOMERUN Factory ~Aiming to be a World Hit Maker~" (World HOMERUN Factory~目指せ世界のヒットメーカー~), which aired on BS Yimot in October 2023, is under development for an American version, and the production of a local version in Thailand has also been decided.

Furthermore, Yoshimoto Kogyo, responsible for format sales for global expansion of the popular series "Absolutely Safe" (制作著作:日本テレビ/英題:YOU LAUGH YOU LOSE) from the program "Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!" (Downtown's Absolutely No Laughing), which has aired for 36 years on the Nippon TV network since 1989, and the program "Chihara Junior no Zaō" (制作著作:カンテレ/英題:The Laughing Throne), planned by Chihara Brothers and Chihara Junior, signed a partnership agreement this year with Banijay Entertainment. Through Banijay's strong production network, comprising approximately 130 production companies in 25 countries and regions worldwide, including France, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the development of local versions of "Absolutely Safe" and "Chihara Junior no Zaō," including production and broadcast/distribution, is planned.