TV Ashita

Employees: Mamoru Chiba, Mikan Shiratori
Location: Azabu Juuban, Tokyo, Japan.
Episodes of Appearance: 007, 048

Episode 007: TV Ashita was a television company that appeared first in 007. They are the owner of Channel 9. In episode 007, the building was only seen when Mikan Shiratori did an autograph session outside to promote her new Channel 9 television series, Jan, Ken, Pon.

Episode 048: The company appeared again (for the final time) in episode 048. The company was working on a new series starring Mikan Shiratori, and talent scouts were sent out to find someone to play the role of Mikan's younger sister. They returned to the studio with images of Ami Mizuno, Rei Hino, Makoto Kino, Minako Aino, and Naru Osaka. The villains Ail and An spied on the talent scouts at the meeting and decided to take over the situation and use it to trap victims and steal their energy. They quickly incapacitated the talent scouts and producers. When Ami, Rei, Makoto, Minako, and Naru arrived, Ail and An were waiting for them. They released the cardian Minotauron, causing Ami, Rei, Makoto, and Minako to reawaken as Sailor Senshi. Eventually, the youma was defeated. An, however, did manage to find Mikan Shiratori herself in her dressing room and drain the young star of her energy. Because of her exhaustion after the event, the new series was cancelled. During this episode, we learn that Mamoru worked for the TV station for a brief time.

Throughout episode 048, the TV Ashita building is said to be like a maze: very difficult to navigate. Usagi even gets lost within its hallways for a period of time. This is quite fitting with the Cardian that appears in the episode, Minotauron. Minotauron's name is derived from the mythical creature called the Minotaur: a half-bull, half-human beast which resided at the center of a labyrinth.

Special Note: TV Ashita is a fictional company, but it may be based on a real-life television company located in the same area of Tokyo called TV Asahi. The exterior of the actual TV Asahi building looks somewhat like that of TV Ashita (although TV Ashita is only shown very briefly). TV Asahi is also the company that aired Sailor Moon in Japan!

Appearance

The exterior of TV Ashita appears just like a normal television station in Japan. A large satellite dish can be see atop the building. In episode 007, a large sign on the outside of the building announces the new series Jan, Ken, Pon, but this sign is not seen in episode 048. Only the exterior of the building is shown in episode 007; the interior is not shown until episode 048. The hallways inside the building have white walls and reflective tile floors. There are a few decorations such as posters, plants, and framed pictures, and in some areas the hallway seems to be crowded with boxes.

Only three actual rooms are shown inside the building. The first room seen is simply a viewing room where talent scouts and producers discuss the images collected of the girls. This room has a viewing area with rows of orange chairs, and a large screen for viewing. The next room seen is the studio where scenes will be shot. The studio is a bluish room that with fallen columns and ruins. It looks very much like the ruined Moon Kingdom of the past. The final room seen is Mikan Shiratori's dressing room.