Nippon TV, Japan’s leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse, announced that Medyapim, a leading production group in Turkey, has finalized production of the Arabic language version of Nippon TV’s award-winning drama series “Woman -My Life for My Children-.” Following the immediate success of the Arabic version of Nippon TV’s “Mother,” titled “Oumi,” the new Arabic series is titled “Salma,” meaning “peace,” derived from the root word “salam,” and will premiere on MBC, the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa, on August 17th, 2025, and stream on its streaming platform Shahid. The announcement was made today by Keisuke Miyata, Scripted Format Licensing at Nippon TV, and Fatih Aksoy, Chairman of Medyapim.
Keisuke Miyata, Scripted Format Licensing at Nippon TV, said: “The heartfelt story penned by Yuji Sakamoto and produced by Nippon TV has already reached the hearts of audiences in an astonishing 60+ countries through the superb adaptation by Turkey’s Medyapim. This time, we look forward that our story will reach deep into the souls of the Arabic audience through ‘Salma.’ Salma's struggle to survive and to forge a path for herself as a woman amidst all odds and many tribulations will surely pull viewers deep into her life story that ultimately leads her to happiness because she followed the voice of her heart.”
Fatih Aksoy, Chairman of Medyapim, added: “When I first adapted Nippon TV’s drama called ‘Woman’ in Turkey, it was my mother who inspired me at every step. In her strength, I saw the quiet resilience shared by millions of women like the one at the heart of this story. My mother was a Turkish woman of Arab descent. And now, to have brought this series to life once more in my mother’s native language is profoundly exciting for me.”
Tareq Al-Ibrahim, Director of MBC1, MBC DRAMA and SVOD content at Shahid, said: “This collaboration depicts the true power of storytelling that transcends borders and cultures. ‘Salma’ is a meaningful example of how diverse voices can come together to create stories that resonate universally. Through Nippon TV and Medyapim, the series has honoured its Japanese roots and Turkish evolution, and now with MBC GROUP on board, we are excited to be bringing a local and authentic essence to Arab audiences. This production is proof of what can be achieved when creative forces from different parts of the world unite around a shared human experience.”
Nippon TV’s “Woman -My Life for My Children-” is produced by the creators of Asia’s most exported scripted format “Mother,” with Cannes Film Festival award winner Yuji Sakamoto as the script writer and Hisashi Tsugiya from Nippon TV as the producer, and tells a heart-gripping story of a single mother’s unconditional love for her children and her economic plight in a harsh reality. The series aired on the network in 2013, two years after “Mother” stole the hearts of audiences, and caused another sensation throughout Japan.
Medyapim adapted “Woman -My Life for My Children-,” titled “Kadin” for the Turkish audience in 2017, after the enormous success of their adaptation of Nippon TV’s “Mother,” “Anne.” Adding local essence and side stories to the format and creating three full successful seasons lasting a total of 81 episodes, “Kadin” is still currently distributed as a readymade in over 60 countries. “Salma,” the Arabic version, will follow the story of Nippon TV’s original series as well, and 90 episodes will be produced.
Medyapim has previously produced three drama series for MBC, including the Arabic adaptations of BBC Studios’ “Doctor Foster,” Turkish drama “War of the Roses,” and Nippon TV’s “Mother.”
Headquartered in Saudi Arabia, MBC GROUP is the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa, dedicated towards enriching lives through information, interaction, and entertainment. With a commitment to serving audiences worldwide and featuring in key markets, MBC GROUP is home to a plethora of iconic brands, departments, and entities that include TV and radio offerings, a streaming platform, production and talent houses, and more. MBC GROUP operates over 13 free-to-air TV channels and 3 radio stations. The Group also operates “Shahid,” the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform.
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