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Now Available on Prime Video: Amazon Japanese Original Drama Series Baby Steps

Adapted from the epic comic book series of the same name, Baby Steps is a live-action dramatization

Powerful, cutting-edge 4K visuals recreate precise depictions of the sport

In addition to streaming or downloading thousands of titles on Prime Video, Amazon Prime members enjoy fast, free shipping, unlimited access to more than a million songs with Prime Music, unlimited secure photo storage with Prime Photos, and more—customers can enjoy a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime today


TOKYO—July 22, 2016-Amazon today announced its latest Japanese Amazon Original drama series Baby Steps is now available to stream and download exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in Japan. The series is a live-action adaptation of the epic tennis comic "Baby Steps" that was acclaimed by a wide range of fans–not only tennis fans--and sold 7.2 million copies in book form. The series will be released one episode per week and available for Prime members via the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, Fire tablets, mobile devices and online at www.amazon.co.jp/PrimeVideo.

“Based on the popularity of the comic book, we anticipate customers will enjoy the incredible 4K live-action adaptation of Baby Steps exclusively on Prime Video,” said James Farrell, Head of Content, Asia Pacific, Prime Video. “The 10-episode series follows the story of a high school boy who discoveries the appeal of tennis and follows him through his journey to decide to become a professional tennis player.”

This is another example of how Amazon is investing heavily in original content development for Prime Video, including Japanese dramas, comedies, documentaries, kids and variety shows. Amazon's recent release Hapimari has more than 200 5-star customer reviews on amazon.co.jp. Other Japanese Amazon Originals now available for Prime members include: Kamen Rider Amazons, PRIME JAPAN, RAKUEN, Hapimari (Happy Marriage), Uchimura Summers Second and more. To learn more, visit: www.amazon.co.jp/PrimeVideo.

More about Baby Steps
The epic comic-book series Baby Steps realistically conveys the appeal of tennis and has received praise even from players. It gained a wide range of fans outside tennis when it was serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine, and when published in 39 volumes in book form, it became a best seller with over 7.2 million copies sold. Finally, in the Japanese Amazon Original production, the comic's accurate depiction of tennis is rendered in cutting-edge 4K visuals in this impressive live-action dramatization.

The series is adapted from the comic Baby Steps by Hikaru Katsuki serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine. The director is Kazuyuki Iwata (TV series Utsukushi Wana, Family Game, School!). The visual supervisor is Masaya Kahehi (TV series Suteki na Sentaxi and Life in Additional Time). The series is produced by Dentsu, Amuse and Kodansha, and the production company is Kyodo TV. The theme song "Only Wonder" is performed by popular rock band Frederic.
The three main roles are: Kodai Matsuoka, who starred as Naruto Uzumaki in the stage play Live Spectacle: Naruto and is now attracting attention in the Shiseido commercial for Sea Breeze; popular model Kiwa making her acting debut in this series; and Shota Matsushima, who shot to fame in the role of Brain in Kamen Rider Drive.

About Amazon Video
Amazon Video is a premium on-demand entertainment service that offers customers the greatest choice in what to watch, and how to watch it. Amazon Video is the only service that provides all of the following:
Prime Video: Thousands of movies and TV episodes, including popular licensed content plus critically-acclaimed and award-winning Amazon Original Series and Movies from Amazon Studios like Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle, Bosch and kids series Tumble Leaf, Japan Original Series such as Kamen Rider Amazons, Hapimari Happy Marriage and Uchimura Summers Second, available for unlimited streaming as part of an Amazon Prime membership
Rent or Own: Hundreds of thousands of titles, including new-release movies and current TV shows available for on-demand rental or purchase for all Amazon customers
Instant Access: Instantly watch anytime, anywhere through the Amazon Video app on TVs, PlayStation, iOS and Android mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, and Fire tablets, or online. For a list of all compatible devices visit https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/video/getstarted/
Premium Features: Top features like 4K Ultra HD, High Dynamic Range (HDR) and mobile downloads for offline viewing

In addition to Prime Video, the annual Prime membership (3,900 yen including tax) offers unlimited use of expedited shipping and designated time/date delivery at no extra charge, more than one million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, unlimited photo storage in Amazon Cloud Drive with Prime Photos, one free book every month with the Kindle Owners' Lending Library, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more visit: www.amazon.co.jp/prime.

About Amazon
Amazon.com is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.

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