The Format's First Full Season in Japan Premieres October 21, Airing Every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Japan's Coveted Golden-Time Slot, with Junichi Okada Returning as Host

TOKYO, JAPAN - September 10, 2026 - Nippon TV, Japan's leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse, announced today that it has greenlit The Floor, the hit global quiz battle format from Talpa Studios, the content powerhouse founded by John de Mol, as a weekly series. The first full season of The Floor in Japan premieres on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. on Nippon TV and its network stations throughout Japan.

Nippon TV brought The Floor to Asia for the first time in March 2026, as a three-hour prime-time special hosted by Junichi Okada, featuring an exclusive all-star Japanese celebrity lineup. The broadcast drew a strong response from Japanese viewers, and it is that response that has taken the format from a one-off event to a weekly fixture in one of Nippon TV's most important evening slots: the 7 p.m. golden-time window that leads into the country's core prime-time programming. Okada, the award-winning actor whose international profile continues to rise following the Netflix series Last Samurai Standing, returns as host to preside over the format's uncompromising do-or-die battles every week.

The Floor is a dynamic quiz battle format in which contestants compete for control of a giant LED floor divided into squares, each representing a different category of knowledge. In head-to-head visual quiz duels, contestants challenge one another to claim territory, expand their presence on The Floor, and stay in the game until one player conquers it all. The format has continued its global rise, now spanning over 30 territories across Europe, the US, South America, the Middle East and Australia.

Japan's edition features a fully all-celebrity cast. In the weekly series, 32 celebrity contestants from across the entertainment world, including actors, athletes, musicians and comedians, take on The Floor. Under the format's defining do-or-die rule, where a single loss means instant elimination, the players face off in one-on-one duels fought in their chosen specialty categories, delivering an intense, highly visual, and play-along-friendly experience.

Quote from Shuichi Oi, Managing Director, Programming&Platform Strategy, Content Strategy Headquarters, Nippon TV:
"Nippon TV's edition of The Floor received an overwhelmingly positive response when it first premiered this March; its fast-paced gameplay and strategic psychological battles set it apart from traditional Japanese quiz shows. Following that success, we are delighted to bring the show to Japanese audiences as a regular weekly series. The Floor goes beyond the boundaries of a conventional quiz format to deliver compelling human drama, laying bare the contestants' raw emotions and relentless determination. We believe it will become must-watch weekly viewing for Japanese audiences from October onward."

Quote from Misaki Nanzai, Creative Director, Nippon TV:
"The Japanese version of The Floor brings together top comedians, celebrities, YouTubers, and even Olympic medalists for fierce head-to-head battles to stay in the game. Knowledge alone is not enough—it also takes unwavering mental strength, strategic thinking, and the ability to make split-second decisions under pressure. I am truly delighted to bring audiences the genuine emotion and human drama that only a competition as intense as The Floor can draw out of its contestants."

Quote from Sebastian van Barneveld, Director of Global Distribution at Talpa Studios:
"A second season in Japan is an exceptional achievement and something we're incredibly proud of. Japan is one of the world's most competitive entertainment markets, where recommissions for international formats are far from guaranteed. Seeing The Floor return so quickly is a fantastic endorsement of the format's universal appeal and a testament to the outstanding collaboration with Nippon TV."

About Nippon TV
Nippon TV is Japan's leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse, as well as owner of streaming giant Hulu in Japan. Nearly 90% of its content IP is fully owned by Nippon TV and the company has been active in bringing its content to the international market in the form of anime, ready-made programs, formats, and through co-production partnerships. Launched in 2025, Gyokuro Studio is its in-house production arm and Nippon TV LA Business Office is the co-development and sales headquarters for US/LatAm, both dedicated to unscripted formats.

About Talpa Studios
Talpa Studios is a global content powerhouse founded by John de Mol, known for creating and distributing internationally successful entertainment formats. Its slate includes innovative unscripted programming designed for broad audiences and global adaptation.