TV Salaries

My love for Yukie Nakama is pure, going back to her days as the star of the most excellent TRICK series, and I’m shocked to learn how little the star of a top-rated show gets paid — although I just have the American TV industry to compare with.

Nippon TV’s Saturday night drama “Gokusen” is proving to be a big hit for the network and a big money earner for popular actress Yukie Nakama who is earning 2 million yen an episode.

Audience rating for the drama, which first aired in 2002, reached a record high of 27.3% on Feb 19. Network executives say Nakama’s popularity is keeping the show above the 25% mark. (Japan Today)

The full article examines pay scales in the Japanese TV industry, which is quite surprising — to my eyes at least.