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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Popular Japanese show
will help promote OahuA Japanese show that is likened to Saturday Night Live is taping in Honolulu and sending live satellite feeds back to Japan for a series of summer episodes.
"One Night R & R" airs on Japan's Fuji TV Wednesday nights and a segment taping for the show was done at Dixie Grill at 404 Ward Ave. yesterday morning.
Eight University of Hawaii dancers performed a routine for the show's opening, taped inside the restaurant because of its atmosphere, according to production coordinator Heidi Taam.
"It's colorful and American. They (the producers) like the natural light, it's indoor and outdoor... it's hard to have that atmosphere in Japan," she said.
Dixie Grill General Manager Brian Smith was up at the crack of dawn to be in the restaurant at 6 a.m., a difficult hour for a restaurateur, but he was stoked to have the crew in the house, he said.
The production is being handled by Brisk Hawaii Inc., the local office of Brisk Japan.
Taam is a freelancer working with Brisk Hawaii President Daikichi Saito, who was on location setting up one of many daily, live satellite feeds that are to beam across the Pacific from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. A famous Hawaii landmark, such as Waikiki Beach, will be the backdrop for the hijinks of "One Night's" comedic crew. At each spot, the crew will be embroiled in a mini-drama, all while show-hostess Gorie-chan promotes Oahu, Taam said.
The half-hour show will debut with a one-hour special and will air in July and August in Japan.
Gorie-chan has hit pop-icon status, primarily among Japanese adults, particularly women, ages 20 to 34 and the Oahu Visitors Bureau couldn't be happier.
"If Gorie wears a skirt, it's popular. If she wears a bow in her hair, it's popular and being purchased," said Noelani Wheeler, director of sales and marketing.
The thinking is, "Gorie is here on Oahu, come visit Oahu."
The so-called "office ladies" of Japan have always been comfortable traveling to Hawaii and while Japan's love for Hawaii remains strong, increasing numbers of the younger generation have been traveling to other destinations. "We don't want to lose that market share," Wheeler said.
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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com