Japanese series fans, here’s the 2024 schedule to please you this year!
Last year, Japanese-language content became the third most-viewed non-English content on Netflix, behind only Korean and Spanish. We collaborated with distinguished creators such as Hirokazu Kore-eda (The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House) and Yuji Sakamoto (In Love and Deep Water) and aimed to showcase unique Japanese narratives using world-class production. This synthesis of Japanese storytelling and global resources has allowed us to present stories that are both culturally resonant and globally accessible.
Deeply beloved Japanese IPs such as ONE PIECE, Yu Yu Hakusho, Pokémon Concierge, and PLUTO made waves both locally and worldwide. Japan’s rich trove of manga, novels and anime provides an unparalleled source of longing inspiration, and we’re thrilled to see that we’ve become a window through which the world experiences Japanese creativity.
Now here are live-action titles to ignite your Netflix screen in 2024!
At the “Next on Netflix” event, Netflix unveiled a stellar lineup of the hottest live-action titles that will be released over the next 11 months.
The series House of Ninjas features Kento Kaku as the lead actor and co-executive producer, under the direction of the up-and-coming Dave Boyle. This original story explores what would happen if ninjas were still a part of Japanese society today.
Based on Ko Shinjo’s captivating novel, the Netflix adaptation of Tokyo Swindlers brings to life a high-stakes game of real estate deception. This thrilling crime drama series stars Go Ayano and Etsushi Toyokawa. The story unveils a series of unprecedented crimes committed by a cunning group of land scammers who use real estate sales as bait to steal large sums of money.
The Queen of Villains depicts the untold story of Dump Matsumoto, the charismatic figure behind the boom in women’s professional wrestling during the 1980s. In this series, Yuriyan Retriever portrays Dump Matsumoto, while Ayame Goriki and Erika Karata breathe life into the roles of Lioness Asuka and Chigusa Nagayo from “Crush Gals.”
In Beyond Goodbye, a grief-stricken Saeko meets Naruse, a man who strangely reminds her of Yusuke, her boyfriend who died in a traffic accident on the very day she proposed to him. Little did she know that Naruse received Yusuke’s heart. Featuring Kasumi Arimura and Kentaro Sakaguchi, this original series is written by Yoshikazu Okada (The 8-Year Engagement, 10 Years to Live). Filmed in beautiful and spectacular locations, it’s a love story that depicts the heartbreaking miracle of two people whose lives are tossed about by fate.
Helmed by Michihito Fujii, one of the most talented directors in Japanese cinema, The Parades tells a poignant story that delves into the emotions of the departed toward the loved ones they left behind. The top-tier cast includes Masami Nagasawa, who plays the lead character Minako, alongside Kentaro Sakaguchi, Ryusei Yokohama, Shinobu Terajima, Tetsushi Tanaka, Lily Franky, and Nana Mori. Yojiro Noda (RADWIMPS), renowned for the music behind one of Japan’s most popular anime films, Your Name, composed both the theme song and the entire soundtrack of this film.
City Hunter is a live-action movie adaptation of the legendary manga, which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1985 to 1991, selling more than 50 million copies in all. Ryohei Suzuki takes on the starring role as the iconic “City Hunter.”
*Press Release
