Groundbreaking two-hour documentary “Hiroshima and Nagasaki: 75 Years Later,” co-produced by A+E Networks® International, HISTORY® U.S. and Hulu Japan, will premiere on Hulu Japan and on HISTORY in the United States on Sunday, August 2; and on HISTORY Japan on August 30 , it was announced jointly today by Steve MacDonald, President, Global Content Sales and International, A+E Networks; and Kazufumi Nagasawa, Managing Director and Chief Content Officer, Hulu Japan.
Directed by award-winning documentarian James Erskine (“Billie,” “This is Football,” “Sachin: A Billion Dreams”), the premiere in Japan, the only country in the world that has been subject to bombing by nuclear weapons, will be followed by a U.S. premiere titled “Hiroshima: 75 Years Later” on HISTORY on Sunday, August 2 at 9pm ET/PT.
Marking the 75th anniversary of the first detonation of a nuclear weapon in wartime and the end of World War II, the documentary will utilize never-before-seen archival footage, long-suppressed color film from the immediate aftermath of the bomb and audio testimony from victims, to provide a highly personal understanding of the most devastating experiment in human history.
“A+E Networks International and HISTORY, are pleased to partner with Hulu Japan on this historic, poignant documentary, 75 years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” said MacDonald. “The feature documentary was produced under the auspices of an immensely creative team, resulting in a globally relevant film we hope will serve as an important reminder, while informing a whole new generation.”
“A+E Networks and HISTORY’s established pedigree as engaging storytellers together with A+E’s firm footing in the global distribution marketplace make them essential partners in bringing ’Hiroshima and Nagasaki: 75 Years Later’ to a worldwide audience, which is a sincere hope for all of us Japanese,” said Nagasawa.
“The collaboration between Hulu Japan, A+E International and A+E Networks Japan on this documentary is a testament to the power of relevant storytelling. We hope this documentary will provide a salutary lesson as well as a timely reminder of the true effects of the bomb,” said Saugato Banerjee, Managing Director, Asia, A+E Networks.
“Hiroshima and Nagasaki: 75 Years Later” aims to infuse humanity into one of the planet’s darkest moments, allowing the figures who designed, built and detonated the bomb, as well as those who were caught in its wake, to narrate their own journeys through an astonishing story of scientific endeavor, unprecedented ambition and unyielding horror. Told entirely from the first-person perspective of leaders, physicists, soldiers and survivors, the documentary presents the moral, scientific and military conundrums of the atomic bomb as felt by those closest to it.
“Hiroshima and Nagasaki: 75 Years Later” is produced for HISTORY by October Films and is co-produced by A+E Networks® International, HISTORY® U.S. and Hulu Japan. James Erskine serves as director. Matt Robins and Jos Cushing serve as executive producers for October Films. Executive producers for HISTORY are Mike Stiller and Eli Lehrer. Tango Para Hiroshima by Anna Saeki, an internationally acclaimed Japanese tango singer, will be the closing song.
A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights for “Hiroshima and Nagasaki: 75 Years Later.”
ABOUT A+E NETWORKS JAPAN, G.K
A+E Networks Japan, G.K is a subsidiary the global content company, A+E Networks®. It operates the HISTORY® and Crime + Investigation™ (C+I ) brands in Japan. With leading brand HISTORY®, A+E Networks’ channels reach more than 335 million households in over 200 territories globally in 41 languages. In Japan, the HISTORY® reaches 6.7 million pay TV households and is available on 10 different video on demand digital platforms. HISTORY® Japan’s informative, immersive and entertaining content engages audiences with inspiring stories of human achievement. C+I explores gritty crime stories of criminals and their victims available in more than 125 territories. In Japan, C+I is streaming on 5 video on demand digital platforms. In addition to its media business line, A+E Networks Japan produces unique and engaging programming and marketing services for advertisers under its A+E CREATIVE PARTNERS division. Follow A+E Networks Japan here: https://jp.aenetworks.com/. Follow HISTORY® on its website, https://jp.history.com/, and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/HISTORYjp, and YouTube, https://youtube.com/HISTORYjp.
ABOUT HULU JAPAN
Hulu Japan is one of the leading SVOD platforms in Japan with over 2million paying subscribers and is regarded as one of the most used services there. The service was originally launched in Sept 2011 by Hulu LLC and got acquired by Nippon TV in April 2014. Subscribers of Hulu Japan’s SVOD service have instant access to 60,000 videos, and its content line-up covers global-hit scripted series and feature films, local shows including popular dramas, animations, variety shows, documentaries, and Hulu Japan original series besides exclusive catch up and library from Nippon TV, which is the leading terrestrial network. In the past few years, Hulu Japan has been actively seeking co-production with international parties, and the line-up included “THE HEAD” with Mediapro Studios and HBO Asia and “Miss Sherlock” with HBO Asia. Besides Nippon TV, the shareholders include Hulu LLC, Yahoo Japan, TOHO, Yomiuri TV, and CHUKYO TV.
ABOUT A+E NETWORKS
A+E Networks® is a global content company comprised of some of the most popular and culturally-relevant brands in media including A&E®, Lifetime®, HISTORY®, LMN®, FYI®, VICELAND®, Blaze® and Crime+Investigation®. A+E Networks’ portfolio extends across platforms and genres, with a scripted production division, A+E Studios™; unscripted production through Six West™; independent film unit A&E IndieFilms®; watch apps, games, FAST channels, AVOD, and SVOD initiatives including Lifetime Movie Club and HISTORY Vault; and podcasts such as History This Week, through A+E Digital®; Experiential/branded live events and Ecommerce through A+E Consumer Enterprises®; and branded channels, content distribution and scripted/unscripted co-productions around the world through A+E International®. A+E Networks’ channels and branded programming reach more than 335 million households in over 200 territories in 41 languages. A+E Networks is a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/aenetworks and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AENetworks.
ABOUT HISTORY®
HISTORY, a division of A+E Networks, is the premier destination for historical storytelling. From best-in-class documentary events, to a signature slate of industry leading nonfiction series and premium fact-based scripted programming, HISTORY serves as the most trustworthy source of informational entertainment in media. HISTORY has been named the #1 U.S. TV network in buzz for seven consecutive years by YouGov BrandIndex, and a top favorite TV network by Beta Research Corporation. For a deeper dive, visit history.com or follow @history on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Editor-in-Chief | Seat42F, a leading source of entertainment news, information, television and movie resources.