For the past few months, Santa Barbara's Louise Sorel (Augusta) and Nicolas Coster (Lionel) have been heard speaking Japanese. On Japanese television. A little moonlighting perhaps ? No, they're just doing promos to get viewers ready for the first American soap to be seen in Japan five days a week.

New World Television recently cut a deal with Japan's new satellite station, JSB, to begin airing the Emmy Award-winning soap this month. "For most people overseas, California is the intrigue capitol of the world. Santa Barbara conjures up glitzy Americana," says New World's vice president, Ray Donahue, who concluded the sale.

Japanese viewers will start with the 1990 episodes. This is unusual, as most countries begin by broadcasting Santa Barbara's third year. New World is working on background information on the series to acquaint viewers with characters and the storyline. "Soaps are very popular in Japan, though Japanese soap operas are performed in traditional costumes," adds Donahue.

Initially, the soap will be subtitled and then, most likely, be dubbed.