Akihiro Arai
- Producer
- Art Department
- Additional Crew
Akihiro Arai, Executive Director of the Programming and Production
Department, heads the newly-established Worldwide Production and Sales
since July, 2010.
Akihiro Arai entered Fuji Television Network in 1985, and started his career in the Sales Department. After spending three years learning the ropes in network ad sales, he moved on to entertainment program production, where he remained for the next 14 years.
Over the years, Arai's name has become synonymous with Fuji's leading entertainment shows. From 1992 to 2002, Arai nurtured the 5-member team SMAP, from a relative unknown to becoming Japan's #1 talent group, most recently in the high-rated show, "SMAPxSMAP."
Arai is also legendary for resuscitating "Waratte Iitomo!," Fuji's signature weekday live entertainment show, whose host, Tamori, a.k.a. Kazuyoshi Morita, received a Guinness World Record for the longest continued host of a live television show, 5000 shows, in 2002. To date, the show continues to hold the title, having aired over 7000 episodes, and in its 28th season. (as of 2010)
In 2007, Arai became Fuji's head of Programming, and has been credited for contributing to Fuji's reign as the top-rated network for 6 consecutive years running.
Having spent the major part of his career producing hit entertainment shows, Arai brings a wealth of experience and resources to his new post as head of Worldwide Production and Sales. In addition to international program and format sales, the focus will be set on co-developing reality formats based on Fuji's existing and original material and co-production of scripted programming targeted for the global market.
Akihiro Arai entered Fuji Television Network in 1985, and started his career in the Sales Department. After spending three years learning the ropes in network ad sales, he moved on to entertainment program production, where he remained for the next 14 years.
Over the years, Arai's name has become synonymous with Fuji's leading entertainment shows. From 1992 to 2002, Arai nurtured the 5-member team SMAP, from a relative unknown to becoming Japan's #1 talent group, most recently in the high-rated show, "SMAPxSMAP."
Arai is also legendary for resuscitating "Waratte Iitomo!," Fuji's signature weekday live entertainment show, whose host, Tamori, a.k.a. Kazuyoshi Morita, received a Guinness World Record for the longest continued host of a live television show, 5000 shows, in 2002. To date, the show continues to hold the title, having aired over 7000 episodes, and in its 28th season. (as of 2010)
In 2007, Arai became Fuji's head of Programming, and has been credited for contributing to Fuji's reign as the top-rated network for 6 consecutive years running.
Having spent the major part of his career producing hit entertainment shows, Arai brings a wealth of experience and resources to his new post as head of Worldwide Production and Sales. In addition to international program and format sales, the focus will be set on co-developing reality formats based on Fuji's existing and original material and co-production of scripted programming targeted for the global market.