Tokyo International News Agency

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 Mo...

Additional cast members and the third trailer for the upcoming Netflix animated movie THE RIBBON HERO (scheduled for exclusive worldwide release on August 8, 2026) have been revealed. Based on Osamu Tezuka's classic masterpiece Princess Knight ( Ribbon no Kishi ), the film will feature popular VTuber Tsukino Mito from the agency Nijisanji as the major character Hecate. In addition, VTubers Runrun and Debidebi Debiru have been cast as the twin characters Chik and Tack. This marks the first time Virtual YouTubers will serve as voice actors in a feature-length anime film, putting them alongside veteran voice actors such as Yoshimasa Hosoya and Koki Uchiyama. Following the announcement, fans flooded social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) with excitement and praise for Mito's performance in the trailer. Comments included "Voice actor Tsukino Mito has finally become reality!", "Her acting is great and her voice quality is amazing," and "She is the...

A new documentary series titled "POTENTIAL Tadayoshi Okura," which follows SUPER EIGHT's Tadayoshi Okura as he produces and mentors "Juniors" (idol trainees), is set to premiere on Netflix and Prime Video on July 16, 2026. Now in his 22nd year since his debut, Okura, who has long been a top-tier idol himself, is driven by a passionate desire to "ensure these juniors debut." The series closely documents his journey as a producer, capturing over 150 juniors undergoing rigorous training and auditions in pursuit of their dreams. The series kicks off with the release of the first two episodes: Episode 1, "for the TEAM: Talk It Out, Support Each Other," and Episode 2, "Light my FIRE: Ignite Your Soul." The episodes offer an exclusive look behind the scenes, showcasing the juniors' roots on stage in Osaka and the selection criteria for the 2025 auditions. It also features honest, raw interviews with the trainees and a heartfelt message...

It has been officially announced that THE ONE PIECE , a new anime adaptation of the hit manga series, will be released exclusively on Netflix worldwide in February 2027. This project aims to re-animate the original story starting from Chapter 1, covering the "East Blue Saga" using the latest cutting-edge animation technology. The production is being handled by WIT STUDIO, the powerhouse behind numerous global hits. According to the announcement, Season 1 will span 7 episodes, covering the first 50 chapters of the manga—from Luffy's childhood to his encounter with Sanji. With a total runtime of approximately 300 minutes, each episode will average a substantial 43 minutes. This format promises a condensed, high-quality storytelling experience that goes beyond the traditional framework of weekly television anime. Alongside the release window, a piece of concept art from the first episode—depicting a young Luffy and Shanks—was also unveiled. Social media has been buzzing with...

The anime series "Akuma-kun," which has been exclusively distributed worldwide on Netflix, has finally been greenlit for terrestrial broadcast, generating significant buzz on social media. The broadcast is scheduled to begin on January 9, 2026 (Friday) on TOKYO MX and other channels. This announcement is particularly welcomed by non-Netflix subscribers, as it means the series, previously only available to Netflix users, will now reach a wider audience. Many expressed their joy with comments like, "I'm not a Netflix subscriber, so this is great!" and "I'm happy because I couldn't finish watching all the episodes." Produced as a commemorative work for Shigeru Mizuki's 100th birth anniversary, the new "Akuma-kun" offers a blend of nostalgia and freshness for fans familiar with the original series. On social media, it has received high praise for the protagonist Akuma-kun's "cooler" appearance, Mephisto's "cute...

The Netflix series "Ikusa-gami," starring actor Junichi Okada, and Hirakata Park (Hirapar), where Okada also serves as "Cho Hirapar Niisan" (Super Hirapar Big Brother), have unveiled a new collaboration poster, stirring significant buzz on social media. This collaboration marks the 15th unique promotion between Hirapar and Junichi Okada, garnering widespread praise for its innovative ideas and humor. The newly released collaboration poster features a visual juxtaposition of "two similar yet different" individuals: Shujiro Saga, the protagonist in "Ikusa-gami" played by Okada, who fights until he's the last one standing, and Director Okada of Hirapar, who "talks by himself from the beginning." Particularly eye-catching is the main tagline, "Akamakigami! Aomakigami! Ikusa-gami!"—a tongue-twister that's hard not to say aloud. This phrase quickly spread across social media, with many comments like "It's catchy!...

Hirohiko Araki's highly popular manga series, 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure,' has captivated fans worldwide for many years. Now, the anime adaptation of its seventh part, 'Steel Ball Run,' has been announced, with key character cast information officially released. Among the announcements, particular attention is being paid to Yohei Azakami, the voice actor cast as Gyro Zeppeli, the protagonist Johnny Joestar's partner. This news quickly spread across social media, drawing a multitude of enthusiastic reactions such as, "We can rest assured with Yohei Azakami..." and "I'm ready to cry over Yohei Azakami's Gyro..." The anime 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run' is set for global distribution on Netflix in 2026. Shogo Sakata has been selected to voice Johnny Joestar. As Azakami and Sakata are both represented by Aoni Production, an agency that fosters a senior-junior relationship, their collaboration is also drawing sig...

Big news has just dropped for fans regarding the live-action 'ONE PIECE' series currently streaming on Netflix. Alongside the release of the first-look footage for the eagerly anticipated Season 2, which is currently in production, it was also officially announced that Season 3 has already been greenlit. This announcement has been met with an enthusiastic welcome from fans worldwide. On social media, a wave of joyful comments has been posted, such as "I thought Season 3 would happen, but I'm so happy it's confirmed," "I can't wait!" and "So glad Season 3 is set." Notably, many comments praise the unprecedented speed and success of the series, with remarks like "So Netflix of them, lol, very grateful" and "It must have been a huge hit" regarding the decision to produce Season 3 even before Season 2's release. There's also significant anticipation for the content to be depicted in Season 3. Fans are expressing ...