Two ABEMA original dramas nominated for the “Best Original Drama Series (OTT)” category at the 30th Asian TELEVISION AWARDS, one of Asia’s largest television awards.
ABEMA Press release: October 22, 2025 Two ABEMA original dramas have been nominated for the “Best Original Drama Series (OTT)” category at the 30th Asian Television Awards, one of Asia’s largest television awards. ~ Suzuki Osamu: “If I’m going to win an award, I want to win one.” Director Matsumoto Yusaku: “I created this film with the desire to share it with the world.” Director Shima: “I never dreamed I’d be up for an award, but I’m celebrating the journey of this film.” ~
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ABEMA, the new TV of the future, will be broadcasting the ABEMA original drama “Transparent Us” from 11:00 PM on Monday, September 16, 2024, and the ABEMA original drama “Metropolitan Police Department Narcotics Control Division” from 11:00 PM on Thursday, January 9, 2025. We are pleased to announce that two of our dramas, “MOGURA” and “MOGURA,” have been nominated in the “Best Original Drama Series (OTT)” category at the 30th Asian Television Awards, Asia’s most prestigious television awards. The Asian Television Awards, now in its 30th year, are Asia’s most prestigious television awards, founded in 1996. Awards are given in 52 categories, including high-quality programs produced by broadcasters in Asian countries and outstanding television-related achievements, and the judging is done by a panel of judges from around the world. ABEMA original drama “Transparent Us,” which has been nominated in the “Best Original Drama Series (OTT)” category, is a socially conscious ensemble suspense drama in which the protagonist, Aoi, a weekly magazine gossip writer played by Fukuhara Haruka, realizes that a high school classmate may be the culprit behind a brutal crime committed by an unidentified young man in Shibuya in 2024. Reminiscing about her high school days, she pursues the truth. The series, which stars a supporting cast of young actors including Karin Ono, Kentaro Ito, Yuki Kura, Rena Takeda, and Yuta Hayashi, has received sympathetic praise from viewers, with comments such as, “The content is like a mirror reflecting the current era,” and “It carefully portrays the reality of young people living today who feel they have nowhere to belong.” The other nominated work, the Abema original drama “Metropolitan Police Department Narcotics Control Division MOGURA,” was planned and produced by broadcast writer and screenwriter Osamu Suzuki. It is based on a shocking true story he heard from rapper Han a.k.a. GAMI three years ago. This is an original hip-hop entertainment drama from Abema. Based on a true story, the drama follows a police officer with rapping skills, played by Hannya, one of Japan’s leading rappers, who makes his drama debut as a lead. He goes undercover among a group of rappers to crack down on illegal drugs, including stimulants and narcotics. The drama also features a star-studded cast, including Narumi Riko, Fukikoshi Mitsuru, Yoshimura Kaito, Maki Kurando, and Kazama Shunsuke, as well as an exclusive microphone relay between rappers, which has generated a lot of buzz. In response to this nomination, Yusaku Matsumoto, known for films such as “Winny” and “It’s All My Fault,” who directed and wrote “Invisible Us,” commented, “The wonderful cast and staff joined forces to create this film, with the desire to share it with the world. I am truly delighted that this film has been nominated for such a prestigious international award. I hope that this opportunity will help the film reach as many people as possible. And above all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the cast, staff, and everyone involved in the production.” Furthermore, Osamu Suzuki, who planned and produced “MOGURA: The Metropolitan Police Department’s Narcotics Control Division,” expressed his excitement, saying, “ABEMA directly embraced my desire to turn a shocking true story I heard from rapper Han-san at a drinking party into a drama, and we were able to create such a cool, entertaining, and unique drama. And now that it has received such recognition, I’m truly happy. I would love to win an award!” Director Kentaro Shima also commented, “My only goal was to create a hip-hop drama like no other. I was blessed with a cast and staff who found it entertaining, and we were able to create something truly incredible, never before seen. I never dreamed we’d reach an awards award, but I congratulate the production on its journey and express my sincere gratitude to everyone who was involved and who watched it.” (Note: Some comments are excerpted and the full text is posted at the end of this article.) The Grand Prize winner of the 30th Asian Television Awards will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held in Jakarta on Saturday, November 29, 2025. The ABEMA original dramas “Transparent Us” and “Metropolitan Police Department Narcotics Control Division MOGURA,” which have received international acclaim, are currently available for catch-up streaming on ABEMA. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy them. ■ Full comment from Yusaku Matsumoto, director and screenwriter of “Invisible Us” This film is an original script that explores the theme of “a lack of imagination for others.” Our wonderful cast and staff came together to create this film with the desire to share it with the world. We are truly delighted that this film has been nominated for such a prestigious international award. We hope that this opportunity will help our work reach as many people as possible. And above all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the cast, staff, and everyone involved in the production. Thank you so much. ■ Full comment from Osamu Suzuki, planner and producer of “Metropolitan Police Department Narcotics Control Division MOGURA” ABEMA directly embraced my desire to turn a shocking true story I heard from rapper Han-san at a drinking party into a drama, and I’m truly happy that we were able to create such a cool, entertaining, and unique drama. And that it received such positive reviews. If I’m going to win an award, I’d love to win one!! ■ Full comment from Shima Kentaro, director of “MOGURA” I am truly honored to be nominated for this wonderful award. My sole purpose was to “create a hip-hop drama unlike anything that had come before.” And thanks to the blessing of a cast and staff who found it entertaining, we were able to create something truly incredible, the likes of which had never been seen before. I never dreamed that we’d go on to win an award, but I congratulate the film on its journey, and I’m truly grateful to everyone who was involved in and watched it. ■ABEMA Original Drama “Transparent Us” Program Overview
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https://abema.tv/video/title/90-2002 “What if the perpetrator of this heinous crime was a classmate from high school?” Shibuya, 2024. An unidentified young man commits a heinous crime. The protagonist, Aoi, a weekly magazine writer, realizes that the perpetrator of the crime may be a high school classmate. She reunites with her estranged former friends. Who committed the crime, and why? While reminiscing about his high school days, he pursues the truth. Among these, one incident that occurred on the day of the school festival comes back to him as a vivid memory. A group suspense drama in which incidents from the past and present connect to unravel the “truth.” Cast: Haruka Fukuhara, Karin Ono, Kentaro Ito, Yuki Kura, Rena Takeda, Yuta Hayashi Staff: BABEL LABEL Yusaku Matsumoto Michihito Fujii Yashiro Sa and Yase Nene (BABEL LABEL Writer’s Room) Program URL:
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https://www.youtube.com/@drama_ABEMA ■ABEMA Original Drama “Metropolitan Police Department Narcotics Control Division MOGURA” Program Overview
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https://abema.tv/video/title/90-2004 “Should I obey the law or myself?” In a certain city in Japan, the spread of marijuana has become a social problem. With the aim of cracking down on a hip-hop group suspected of marijuana cultivation, The
protagonist, Izanagi, an active detective, is suddenly ordered to infiltrate a group of rappers. This hip-hop entertainment drama is based on the true story of a police officer who went undercover as a rapper. Hannya, Riko Narumi, Kaito Yoshimura, Jin Dogg, G-k.i.d, Red Eye, CYBER RUI, Jinmenusagi, ELIONE, Ashley, Kokoro Katsushika Shunya Itabashi, Mummy-D, Kurando Maki, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Shunsuke Kazama Planning and Production: Osamu Suzuki Original idea: Han a.k.a. GAMI Director: Kentaro Shima, Toga Minami Screenplay: Naramiharu
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