Fuji TV Brings Generative AI to Drama Production by 2027
Fuji Television has opened an "AI Sandbox" at its Wangan Studio and plans to enable AI use across all its dramas by October 2027, citing workload cuts of up to 80%.
SUMO· the number puzzle
Dialo· learn languages by speaking
ediviewer· read EDI files like documents
giftdetect· the right gift in minutesFuji Television announced on November 5 that it has set up "AI Sandbox," an experimental space for AI use at its Wangan Studio in Tokyo's Aomi district, and is now applying generative AI to live-action drama production. The broadcaster says the technology lets it attempt visuals that were hard to achieve under conventional shooting conditions, while easing the burden on crews and improving safety.
The project team has been operating since September. It brings together Studio 1, which handles dramas and films, the company's Tech Art Design Bureau and AI firm ANDENT. Directors, producers and technical staff work alongside external AI producers and AI designers to test methods on real productions. Fuji TV reports that for some video production steps, generative AI cut man-hours by up to 70 to 80 percent compared with traditional methods.
First on-air use in a Monday-night drama
The first showcase is episode one of the sixth series of "Kyumei Byoto 24-ji," which began airing in October 2026 in the Monday 9 p.m. slot. AI Sandbox created the aerial footage of an explosion accident: AI generated the landscape, and smoke was composited on top.
The workflow starts with the director's vision, which is visualized with generative AI and shared with production and technical staff. The team then decides how to shoot with quality as the top priority, choosing between conventional techniques, VFX and generative AI. Fuji TV also uses the technology for fine image processing in medical scenes and for accident-site depictions that are difficult to film for real.
Roadmap
From now on, at least one drama every season will be designated an "AI-enhanced slot" and produced with AI Sandbox. The company aims to have a system in place by around October 2027 that allows AI to be used in appropriate scenes of every drama it produces. By fiscal 2029, it plans to extend the effort to video-related companies in Fuji Media Holdings, targeting AI capabilities on par with top domestic vendors.
Fuji TV is not alone in Japan: TBS has already used Google's Veo 3 for its drama "VIVANT."
Apps worth a look
SUMO: the number puzzleTap the right tiles, add them up, hit the target. Easy to learn, hard to master. Free, for all ages.
Dialo: learn languages by speakingTalk to an AI conversation partner; every sentence comes back corrected and explained in your language. 9 languages, A1 to C2.
ediviewer: read EDI files like documentsOpen EDIFACT and X12 messages, see every segment explained, convert to JSON/XML, export PDF and Excel. Runs locally, no upload.
giftdetect: the right gift in minutesPick who it is for, the occasion and their personality. The search engine reads product descriptions from local shops and ranks what fits. Free, no sign-up.
More from this day
See all →
South Korea to Move Up to 250 Public Systems to Private Cloud
LloydK Gets Free Samsung Patent to Upgrade Its AI Agents
Amazon Kindle Lineup Refreshed in Japan, With Prices Up ¥10,000
