Japan TV show Terrace House halts production over coronavirus

Fans of Japanese reality TV show Terrace House will have to find new ways to pass the time in self-isolation after staff said on its Twitter account that production of the latest season on Netflix was being halted due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“We are suspending the current production of Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020, giving the safety and health of cast and staff top priority,” they said.

The unscripted reality show featuring three men and three women living under the same roof has gained an international following since being streamed on Netflix from 2015.

The series originated on Japan’s Fuji TV in 2012 and is now co-produced by Fuji and Netflix.

The latest series is shot in a luxury house in Tokyo, which has become the focus of Japan’s coronavirus outbreak. Japan has declared a state of emergency for some regions including Tokyo, and the public are being encouraged to stay away from shared spaces.

TERRACE HOUSE TOKYO 2019-2020 は、CASTやSTAFFの安全と健康を最優先に考え、現在撮影を停止しております。楽しみにしてくださっている皆さまへは申しわけございませんが、第40話をもって、配信を一時休止とさせていただきます。 pic.twitter.com/KchO7gh9yu

— TERRACE HOUSE (@TH6TV) April 13, 2020

The halt came as a blow to viewers who look to the cast for light relief from the real world.

“Oh, it was the only joy of my stay at home,” one fan said in reply to the show’s tweet about the suspension.

Others lamented but supported the decision.

“Nooo, But understandable,” one replied in English.