HCM CITY—  A TV show about the love between a Japanese reporter and Vietnamese student will air in Japan early next month.

The program, Dưới Bầu Trời Xa Cách (Under the Distant Sky), was co-produced by Việt Nam Television (VTV) and Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting (QAB), a Japanese broadcast network.

It features lively scenes in Hà Nội, HCM City, Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka by directors Vũ Trường Khoa and Đào Duy Phúc of the Việt Nam Film Studio. Both have worked with several TV stations and film companies.

The film stars young talents Quang Sự and Miyagi Karin.

The story is about the life of Vietnamese and Japanese youth and the conflicts they face in careers and in love.

It also features the thoughts and hopes of older Vietnamese and Japanese who now live in peace, but whose souls were left behind in wartime.

The screenplay was written by Mieko Shimojima, who worked with young Vietnamese author Nguyễn Thu Thủy on the production.

"Young audiences can learn more about both countries, their history, culture and people. In our film, characters come from different nationalities and backgrounds but still share love and hope for life and peace,” said fashion model and actor Sự, who play one of the leading roles.    

Sự and his colleague Mieko travelled to famous destinations in Việt Nam and Japan to talk with local people and take part in traditional festivals, spending more than six weeks on the shoot.

“I have some Japanese friends working in fashion, music, film and fine arts who want to discover traditional Vietnamese culture. I shared their work,” said Sự in an interview with local media.  

Dước Bầu Trời Xa Cách was aired on VTV1 last week. It will begin to air on QAB and other channels in Japan from March 3.—VNS