News Headline
Song vs Dance: Japan’s TV Asahi to debut new talent show format on 28 March
MUMBAI: Get ready for the ultimate showdown as TV Asahi drops its high-octane new talent battle, Song vs Dance. Premiering on Friday, 28 March at 11:15pm on TV Asahi, Channel 5, this turbo-charged one-hour variety special pits top-tier singers against elite dancers in an electrifying head-to-head clash.
The mission?
Settle the age-old debate once and for all – which rules the stage, song or dance?
Co-produced by TV Asahi and US-based Smart Dog Media, Song vs Dance rewrites the rulebook on competition TV. A video game-inspired battle arena, top-class performers, and high-stakes rivalries set the scene for an unmissable showdown.
Fronting the spectacle is comedy maestro Takashi Yoshimura, ensuring laughs between the lung-busting notes and gravity-defying moves. Keeping score are an all-star panel: Exile frontman Takahiro, breakdancing Olympian Shigekix, and comedian-turned-Instagram-sensation Naomi Watanabe, who boasts over 10 million followers.
Backing the talent are powerhouse coaches: world-class pianist Shinya Kiyozuka leading Team Song, while ace choreographer Takahiro (yes, same name, different gig) steers Team Dance.
Eight performers are ready to throw down their best during the faceoff. Team Song brings vocal firepower, led by acclaimed tenor John Ken Nuzzo, beatbox wizards Sarukani (Grand Beatbox Battle world champs), singer-songwriter Emoh Les (X-Factor Okinawa Japan 2013 winner) and gospel queen TiA, fresh off a victory at McDonald’s Gospelfest.
Team Dance is stacked with champions. America’s Got Talent golden buzzer act Chibi Unity, four-time Vibe Dance Competition winners, is in the mix alongside Issei, the world’s youngest Red Bull BC One champ. Joining them are Utamaru, 2023 Udo Street Dance World Championship winner, and tap-dancing sisters Rino and Noa Shirakawa, who repped Japan at Ido 2024.
The brains behind the show? Craig and Clara Plestis of Smart Dog Media, whose TV smashes include The Masked Singer and The Masked Dancer. Teaming up with TV Asahi’s Takaaki Kitano, Song vs Dance marks the Japanese broadcaster’s first hook-up with the US production powerhouse.
With its explosive performances, top-tier talent and an innovative format, Song vs Dance has all the moves to become an international variety sensation. Get ready – this one’s set to hit all the right notes.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
