TLC Airs Three-Part Special 19 KIDS AND COUNTING: DUGGARS DO ASIA Tonight

Konnichiwa. Ni hao. TLC's Duggar family says "hello" to Japan and China in 19 KIDS AND COUNTING: DUGGARS DO ASIA, a new three part special following the large brood from the Deep South to the Far East that captures all the adventure in-between and a few unexpected surprises along the way. Airing Tuesdays at 9 PM (ET/PT) beginning tonight, March 12, the three one hour episodes are a rare look at the TLC veterans and fan favorites outside of their small town in Springdale, Arkansas, experiencing foreign cultures very different from their own. From experimenting with native food and riding Rickshaws to donning traditional Geisha dress and fighting as Samurai, the Duggars are up for it all. And while things may get lost in translation, and they often feel like fish out of water, they're making memories of a Lifetime and having a blast doing it.

19 KIDS AND COUNTING: DUGGARS DO ASIA: Tokyo, Japan

Premieres Tuesday, March 12 at 9PM ET/PT

The Duggars are heading out on the trip of a lifetime...their first visit to Asia! Their first stop is Tokyo, but before they can board the plane,they must successfully wrangle their 40 suitcases from the Duggar home to the airport. They spend their first morning abroad indulging in a traditional Japanese breakfast of soup, seaweed, and seafood. Can they master chopsticks and stomach these delicacies or will they need to rely on snacksfrom home? Then it's out to navigate the crowded streets of Tokyo, do a little shopping, and ride a traditional Japanese rickshaw. To really embrace the Japanese culture and push past the language barrier, the family splits up into two teams for a marketplace race to purchase ingredients for making sushi, a first for this family! It's a race to the finish line because whoever loses the competition has to eat the sushi roll Josie prepares!

19 KIDS AND COUNTING: DUGGARS DO ASIA: Kyoto, Japan

Premieres Tuesday, March 19 at 9PM ET/PT

The Duggars are making memories on their Asian adventure. For their last day inTokyo, the family appears as guests on a Japanese morning news program. Will they be able to communicate with their Japanese-speaking hosts or will it all get lost in translation? Later, they are invited to a Japanese carnival where the 25 Duggars compete against the "Master Goldfish Catcher" in Japan. The Duggars then make their way by train to Kyoto, where the Girls try on kimonos and traditional makeup, while the boys pick up swords for a Samurai lesson. The trip to Kyoto is not complete without a nap at a capsule hotel! And at the end of the day, the family enjoys one of their favorite foods at a buffet where everything is pickled.

19 KIDS AND COUNTING: DUGGARS DO ASIA: Beijing, China

Premieres Tuesday, March 26 at 9PM ET/PT

The Duggars are off to Beijing, China. The family of 25 struggles to navigate the city's subway system and make it to Tiananmen Square, where they become a tourist attraction themselves. A trip to the Great Wall of China and a local village give the Duggars a traditional Chinese experience and a chance for Jim Bob to show off his haggling skills as the family collects souvenirs. And no trip to China is complete without experiencing some traditional foods including Peking duck and the more exotic, scorpion! At the end of the trip, Jana and Jill put their midwifery training to work when a member of the television crew suddenly goes into labor. And the family has one final stop - a visit to an orphanage, which is sure to be remembered.

19 KIDS AND COUNTING is produced by Figure 8 Films on behalf of TLC.

About TLC

TLC is a global brand that celebrates extraordinary people and relatable life moments through innovative nonfiction programming. A top 10 cable network in key female demos, TLC has Built successful consumer brands around series including Cake Boss, and has transformed Fridays into "BrideDay" with a lineup of wedding-themed programming anchored by the Say Yes To The Dress franchise. In 2012, TLC had 28 series averaging 1 million P2+ viewers or more, including four series that averaged 2 million P2+ viewers or more: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Breaking Amish, Long Island Medium, and Sister Wives.

TLC is available in more than 99 million homes in the US and more than 227 million households in nearly 150 markets internationally. A destination online, TLC.com offers in-depth fan sites, exclusive video content, and original editorial covering style, home, food, and more. Fans can also interact with TLC via On Demand services, on mobile platforms, and through social media such as Facebook or @TLC on Twitter. TLC is part of Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA,DISCB, DISCK), the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative