SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, Jan. 6) - A film crew from Hokkaido Broadcasting Corp. is on a five-day visit in the Northern Marianas to film the 2,000th episode of the TV show "Noriyuki No Talk De Hokkaido."
Called the "Marianas Special," the episode will feature the CNMI as a "winter getaway" for the Japanese.
The 2,000th episode will be aired in Japan on Commonwealth Day, Jan. 9, and is expected to draw an estimated 4 million viewers, Gov. Juan N. Babauta said.
"We will expect a big boost in our tourism with the airing (of the show)," he added.
The network is Hokkaido’s leading television company located on Japan’s second largest island. "Marianas Special" will be a 40-minute, 10-day show, the governor said.
The filming will cost the CNMI $140,000. The Office of Insular Affairs provided the CNMI government a $30,000 grant and several private businesses contributed for the rest of the expenses, the governor said.
Television star Noriyuki...