Japan picks up First Day

The second season of ABC ME drama First Day will premiere in Japan, with NHK acquiring the rights to the series -the first time the second series will be broadcast in Asia.

Season 2 premiered on ABC ME and in the USA on Hulu earlier this year.

It has also been acquired by Canal Futura (Brazil), YLE (Finland), NRK (Norway), RTE (Ireland) and SVT (Sweden) through the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.

First Day tells the story of Hannah, a transgender girl starting high school. Hannah experiences all the excitement and fear associated with this transition, but her first day is even more significant: it’s the first time she will wear a girl’s uniform to school and go by her chosen name, rather than the boy’s name she was given at birth.

In Series 2, Hannah finds herself in the race for Class Captain in her second year at Hillview High School. When her run for the leadership exposes an underlying level of transphobia among her classmates, she starts a group for LGBTQIA+ students, but risks alienating her closest friends in the process.

Takako Hayashi, Senior Producer at Content Value Development Center at NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) said: “The Japanese audience has been waiting a long time to meet Hannah, Olivia, Natalie and Jasmine again. We are very privileged to bring the second season of First Day to our channel. Hannah’s story has been shown in many primary and junior schools across Japan and we hope that this new season will again inspire not only children but parents and teachers alike.”

ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland said: “The first series of First Day was truly ground-breaking, and the continuation of Hannah’s journey is a special, important story about inclusion, diversity, resilience and friendship. We are thrilled that NHK has acquired Season 2 and that the Japanese audience will be able to go along for the ride as Hannah navigates her second year at high school.”

First Day Series 2 is an Epic Films production in association with KOJO Studios. Production Funding from Screen Australia. Financed with the assistance of the South Australian Film Corporation. Development and Production Support from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Developed with the assistance of and distributed by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. Written and Directed by Julie Kalceff. Produced by Kirsty Stark and Kate Butler. Co-Producer Julie Kalceff. Starring Evie Macdonald as Hannah.