Netflix Unveils 2026 Japanese Slate With 13 Series, 8 Anime, 3 Films and Live Baseball
The scale of the slate and the Toho studio deal signal that Netflix is betting its Japanese content strategy on local-language live-action production as much as on anime, treating Japan as both a domestic growth market and an export hub for global audiences.
Reporting from 1 sources: The Hollywood Reporter Anime.
Netflix presented its largest-ever Japanese content lineup at a showcase in Tokyo on Tuesday, announcing 13 live-action series, three films, eight anime titles, and the exclusive live-streaming of all 47 games of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Japan. The streamer also revealed a new production deal with Toho Studios that will allow it to create up to 15 live-action titles per year at the facility. Among the scripted highlights is "Human Vapor," a reboot of Toho's classic sci-fi property written and executive produced by Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho ("Train to Busan") and starring Shun Oguri as a detective hunting an incorporeal killer. Other notable live-action series include "Sins of Kujo," a legal drama starring Yuya Yagira; "Soul Mate," a decade-spanning romance between a Japanese man and a Korean boxer; and "Viral Hit," an adaptation of the Korean webtoon. On the anime side, the slate includes the continuation of "Fire Force" Season 3 Part II, the long-awaited "STEEL BALL RUN: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" adaptation, and "Sparks of Tomorrow," a steampunk original from Kyoto Animation. Netflix also touted its deepening partnership with Studio Mappa.
Netflix's 2026 Japanese content showcase, held at the Tokyo Midtown skyscraper complex, marked the streamer's 11th year in the market. Creative head Kaata Sakamoto said the new Toho Studios deal will double Netflix's leased production space in Japan, addressing what analysts see as a tight supply of studio capacity and top-tier talent. The live-action slate includes several high-concept originals: "Did Someone Happen to Mention Me?" is an original comedy from screenwriter Kankuro Kudo starring Koji Yakusho as a forgotten actor; "Plastic Beauty" pits two female surgeons against each other in Japan's cosmetic surgery industry; and "Quiztopia," based on the manga "Kokumin Quiz," imagines an alternate Japan where a government quiz show grants wishes to winners and punishes losers. The film lineup includes "This Is I," a biopic about transgender idol Ai Haruna, and "One Year to Live, Buy a Man," adapted from Toriko Yoshikawa's award-winning novel. Unscripted series returning include "The Boyfriend" Season 2, now set in snowy Hokkaido, and "Love Village" Season 3 at the foot of Mount Fuji. The anime slate also features "Cosmic Princess Kaguya!," a feature-length debut from director Shingo Yamashita co-produced by Studio Colorido and Studio Chromato, and "The Ramparts of Ice," a gentle coming-of-age drama from Studio KAI.
- Sins of Kujo: Live-action legal drama starring Yuya Yagira, launching April 2, 2026
- 3 Straight to Hell: Biographical drama about fortune-teller Kazuko Hosoki, starring Erika Toda, launching April 27, 2026
- Soul Mate: Romance between a Japanese man and a Korean boxer, starring Hayato Isomura and Ok Taec-yeon, launching May 14, 2026
- Viral Hit: Live-action adaptation of Korean webtoon about a bullied teen who fights for online fame, launching May 28, 2026
- Human Vapor: Sci-fi reboot from Yeon Sang-ho starring Shun Oguri, launching 2026
- S&X: Drama about a sex therapist, based on the manga by Kisei Tada, starring Kento Nakajima, launching 2026
- Plastic Beauty: Series set in cosmetic surgery industry starring Mayu Matsuoka and Riisa Naka, launching 2026
- Did Someone Happen to Mention Me?: Original comedy from Kankuro Kudo starring Koji Yakusho, launching 2026
- Quiztopia: Alternate-Japan quiz show drama based on manga "Kokumin Quiz," starring Takayuki Yamada, launching 2026
- This Is I: Film about transgender idol Ai Haruna, starring Haruki Mochizuki, launching February 10, 2026
- My Crazy Feminist Girlfriend: Romantic comedy film based on Korean novel, starring Mei Nagano, launching 2026
- One Year to Live, Buy a Man: Film about a woman with terminal cancer who buys a host, starring Ko Shibasaki, launching 2026
- The Boyfriend Season 2: Reality romance series with gay men, set in snowy Hokkaido, launched January 13, 2026
- Doors Closed, Bids Open: Secret auction series hosted by Matsuko Deluxe, launching 2026
- Love Village Season 3: Romance reality series for singles aged 35-60, set at Mount Fuji, launching 2026
- Badly in Love Season 2: Raw romance reality series with societal outcasts, set in Okinawa, launching 2026
- 2026 World Baseball Classic: All 47 games live-streamed in Japan, March 5-18, 2026
- Fire Force Season 3 Part II: Final chapter of dark fantasy anime, launched January 10, 2026 (APAC only)
- Love Through a Prism: Original romance from Yoko Kamio, set at an art academy, produced by WIT Studio, launched January 15, 2026
- Cosmic Princess Kaguya!: Anime film about two girls bonding through song, directed by Shingo Yamashita, launched January 22, 2026
- BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai: New Baki chapter adapting the manga arc, produced by TMS Entertainment, launching February 26, 2026
- STEEL BALL RUN: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Adaptation of Hirohiko Araki's 19th-century horse race arc, produced by david production, launching March 19, 2026
- BEASTARS Final Season Part 2: Concluding chapter of CG-animated drama from Studio Orange, launching March 2026
- The Ramparts of Ice: Coming-of-age drama from Studio KAI, based on Kocha Agasawa's manga, launching April 2026
- Sparks of Tomorrow: Steampunk alternate-history original from Kyoto Animation, launching July 2026
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- The Hollywood Reporter Anime Netflix Unveils Japanese Content Slate of 13 Series, 8 Anime Titles, 3 Films, Plus Live Baseball (Full List)