Ko Shibasaki and Eiji Akaso Star in Netflix Film 'Buying a Man with One Year to Live', Set for Global Premiere

Streaming service Netflix has announced that its upcoming original film, Buying a Man with One Year to Live (Yomei Ichinen, Otoko o Kau), co-starring Ko Shibasaki and Eiji Akaso, will be released exclusively worldwide on November 5. Alongside the announcement, the main trailer was officially unveiled. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Toriko Yoshikawa, the project immediately generated an enthusiastic buzz across social media.

The human drama follows Yui Katakura (played by Ko Shibasaki), a frugal, single woman who suddenly receives a terminal diagnosis giving her just one year to live following a cancer screening. Her life intersects with Sena (played by Eiji Akaso), a pink-haired nightclub host harboring his own complex past. Centered around the provocative premise of a terminally ill woman striking a 720,000-yen contract with him, the film also features a strong supporting cast including Ryubi Miyase, Michitaka Tsutsui, Naomi Nishida, Mari Hamada, Yui Narumi, and Yoko Moriguchi.

Following the release of the trailer, fans flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter) with eager anticipation, sharing comments such as “I can't wait for November 5!” and “Now I want to reread the original novel.” At the same time, the poignant and weighty theme of a terminal prognosis prompted reflective reactions: “My heart aches; I'll need to mentally prepare myself,” and “It looks so heartbreaking that I can't simply say I'm excited.” The bold title and premise have sparked wide-ranging discussions, drawing attention from multiple perspectives.

How will she choose to spend her remaining time, and what kind of bond will form between these two people from vastly different walks of life? The film is poised to capture strong interest both in Japan and internationally ahead of its global premiere.

The Context

In Japan, the nightlife industry known as “host clubs”—where male entertainers, called hosts, serve drinks and provide attentive conversation and emotional companionship to female patrons—is a recognizable cultural phenomenon. In recent years, public awareness regarding the financial and emotional complexities of host club culture has grown significantly in Japanese media. By pairing this distinct, often misunderstood subculture with universal themes of terminal illness, financial frugality, and loneliness, the original novel by Toriko Yoshikawa struck a chord with readers. Both lead actors are major stars in Japan: Ko Shibasaki is an acclaimed veteran actress known internationally for films such as Battle Royale and 47 Ronin, while Eiji Akaso has quickly gained global popularity through his breakout role in the hit series Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virgins Can Make You a Wizard?! and Netflix's Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead.

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