Sesame Street Play Park Starring Elmo and Friends Debuts on NHK Educational’s The Wakey Show
New series invites playful learning through interactive games
(Tokyo, Japan, March 23, 2026) — Get ready for a gamified playdate with Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Julia. Sesame Street Play Park, a new series produced by the global nonprofit Sesame Workshop, invites children at home, and their families, to join their Sesame Street friends in joyful, game-based experiences that spark movement, laughter, and connection.
Sesame Street Play Park premieres April 1 at 7:00am on NHK Educational TV’s The Wakey Show. The series will roll out weekly with 16 two-minute episodes and marks the second Sesame Street series to debut on the program. Last year’s Elmo’s Like It Rap introduced a fun, inclusive space where children expressed who they are and what they’re proud of through original rap lyrics.
Building on that foundation, Sesame Street Play Park deepens playful learning by shifting to a game-centered format. Each episode starts with Elmo looking at a park map and selecting one of four locations where a recurring game is played. There, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Julia alongside local children Beni, Taiki, Leon, and Mei play interactive games designed to support cognitive development through active participation with family and friends.
“Play is one of the most powerful ways children learn, connect, and express themselves,” said Manabu Nagaoka, Vice President and General Manager, Japan, Sesame Workshop. “With Sesame Street Play Park, we’re excited to collaborate once again with The Wakey Show to bring playful, interactive experiences into homes across Japan—encouraging children and families to joyfully learn together and connect.”
The four recurring games that invite children to move, think, and play along are:
- Keep the Rhythm
Call out the sounds of the instruments to match the beat, making music with friends. - Friends Match
Look closely and observe carefully to find each Sesame Street friend’s matching movement cards. - Color Moves
Follow color cues to move your body, pausing to pose when you least expect it. - Robo Go! Go!
Track where the Cookie Monster Robot is with step-by-step instructions even when he goes invisible.
Sesame Street Play Park is designed to encourage active engagement, cooperation, and joyful learning—bringing Sesame Street’s signature playful approach to mornings on The Wakey Show.
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street and so much more. For over 50 years, we have worked at the intersection of education, media, and research, creating joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts, all in service of empowering each generation to build a better world. Our beloved characters, iconic shows, outreach in communities, and more bring playful early learning to families in more than 150 countries and advance our mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Learn more at www.sesame.org and follow Sesame Workshop on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X.
Contacts:
press@sesame.org
Sesame Street Japan G.K.
contact@sesamestreetjapan.org
