Format

TV Asahi’s new unscripted competition format DUAL² is gaining traction both in Japan and abroad, following its May debut and recent showcases at the LA Screenings and Paris Unscripted Showcase. The eight-week series, pronounced Dual Squared, blends physical challenges, psychological strategy and a distinctive hidden life points mechanism. Featuring prominent athletes including Olympic champions Kosuke Hagino, Sena Irie and Naohisa Takato, alongside world medalist Narumi Takahashi, the format has been designed as a visually driven competition aimed at multiplatform audiences.

Since premiering in TV Asahi’s weekly format-focused terrestrial slot, DUAL² has posted growing audience figures across key demographics. Recent episodes ranked first in their timeslot among men aged 20-34, while the latest installment also topped the teen audience segment. The show has also generated significant engagement across digital platforms. A clip featuring Takahashi’s performance in the CUBE MAZE challenge surpassed 1.42 million Instagram views, while total views and impressions across social media channels and streaming services TVer and TELASA have exceeded 10 million.

The format’s combination of physical competition, strategic gameplay and concealed life points has attracted interest from the international market. The competition follows ten athletes as they tackle demanding physical and mental challenges while carrying hidden scores on their backs, creating a format that is both visually distinctive and easily adaptable for local audiences.
Following presentations at key international markets, TV Asahi’s International Business Development Department is exploring opportunities for format licensing, local adaptations and co-production partnerships across the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. “We are thrilled by the initial response to DUAL². Seeing both viewers and international partners respond to the psychological and strategic depth of the format has been extremely encouraging. We believe DUAL² has the potential to travel globally as a universal competition concept that audiences everywhere can immediately understand and enjoy,” said from the department.