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Netflix has revealed its 2025 slate of Japanese films and television series, with the streamer offering a rich mix of period series, action films and intriguing unscripted offerings.

The standout highlight from the lineup, and a potential breakout global hit, is the period series Last Samurai Standing. The series hails from filmmakers Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi and Toru Yamamoto and could appeal to fans of both FX’s Shogun and Netflix’s Squid Game with its survivalist premise and period setting. Junichi Okada leads the cast in this story that takes place at the tail end of the samurai era in Japan and is about 292 warriors who are invited to compete to the death for a cash prize. Last Samurai Standing is an adaptation of Shogo Imamura’s novel Ikusagami, which has already been adapted into a popular manga series.

‘Last Man Standing’

Hirokazu Koreeda’s Asura is among the streamer...

Netflix has revealed fresh details of its upcoming slate from Japan, including a three features and an epic samurai period drama.

At an event in Tokyo today (February 12), the streaming giant said it would release manga adaptation Demon City this month, action remake Bullet Train Explosion in April and “boys love” (Bl) drama 10Dance in December. All have previously been announced.

Demon City, based on the manga Oni Goroshi and written and directed by Seiji Tanaka (Melancholic), is about a hitman played by Toma Ikuta who awakens from a long coma and embarks on a bloody, revenge-inspired killing spree. The...

Netflix has unveiled its Japanese content slate for 2025, headlined by “Last Samurai Standing,” a period drama featuring 300 samurai warriors gathered at Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto, lured by the promise of a 100 billion yen prize. The series stars Junichi Okada, who serves as lead actor, producer and action choreographer.

“When most people think about samurai, they think about this very glamorous period in Japanese history,” says Netflix Japan content head Kaata Sakamoto. “But what a lot of people don’t realize is that, towards the end of the Edo period, the samurai lost a lot of their glamour and their power. ‘Last Samurai Standing’ is about what would happen if these warriors — the toughest and best in Japan — all of a sudden became common people and had to fight for their lives. Think ‘Shōgun’ meets ‘Squid Game.'”

The streaming giant’s lineup includes “Alice in Borderland” returning for its third season in September,...

Two of most renowned characteristics of the Japanese people are their love for manga/anime and their inherent persistence and methodic way of doing things that lets them go to “places” others would not even dream of going. In case you have not heard, these two aspects are now coming together in the construction of a real life Gundam robot, but this is not the only example. The Maeda Corporation Fantasy Marketing Department is a team of five engineers from the aforementioned civil engineering company, whose members, back in 2004, released an essay online outlining what it would take to build Mazinger Z’s iconic hangar—which includes an elevator rising up through a swimming pool that splits in half. Now, more than 15 years later, their effort has been turned into a movie, that also features the creator of the original manga, Go Nagai, in a cameo.

Project Dreams: How to...

The stats for Netflix's top 10 non-English TV shows list from the final week of December (Dec. 30 - Jan. 5) are in, and you won't believe what older yet beloved Japanese show made the cut. It's none other than Alice in Borderland, often referred to by some as the Japanese Squid Game.

In a new Netflix press release, the streamer shared all 10 non-English shows that earned a spot. The series that made the list were the most popular non-English shows during the period of Dec. 30 to Jan. 5. As expected, at the No. 1 spot sat Squid Game season 2 with 58. 2 million views for that week. Since the brand-new second season had just recently come out, many people were also going back to rewatch the first season. This is why Squid Game season 1 ended up ranking at the No. 2 spot with 13.6 million views.

Next, the drama miniseries La Palma took the No. 3 spot, followed...

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Squid Game is a South Korean survival horror thriller series created by Hwang Dong-hyuk. The Netflix series follows Seong Gi-hun, a single father in a huge amount of debt, who is invited to compete in a series of children’s games to win huge sums of money. The only caveat is that if anyone loses the game, they are killed then and there. Squid Game stars Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon, and Lee Byung-hun. So, if you loved the social commentary, thrilling story, and compelling characters in Squid Game, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The 8 Show (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

The 8 Show is a South Korean dark comedy torture thriller series created by Han Jae-rim. Based on the Naver webtoons Money Game and Pie Game by Bae Jin-soo, the Netflix series revolves around...

The sophomore season of the hit Korean dystopian survival series returned Thursday with seven new episodes.

Netflix’s “Squid Game” is back with a vengeance. The record-setting, culture-changing Korean survival series returned for its long-awaited Season 2 on Dec. 26 after three years with new games alliances, and old foes. Led by creator/director/writer Hwang Dong-hyuk, series star Lee Jung-jae, new cast members including Park Sung-hoon, Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, and Kang Ae-shim, the new batch of episodes sees Gi-hun, a.k.a. Player 456, return to the deadly competition with a plan to end its trail of carnage from the inside— if he can best the shadowy Front Man at his own game.

Netflix released the full second season early on Thursday morning… unfortunately, the full second season is only seven episodes (down from Season 1’s nine), and you, like me and many, maybe in that end-of-the-year sweet spot where you...

Alice in Borderland season 3 has the chance to give us the Chishiya and Arisu moment that the show has been teasing since the first season. While Alice in Borderland is about Arisu – he is the “Alice” trapped in a different reality after all – Chishiya stole the show and became one of the Netflix live-action series' most popular characters. Netflix’s version of Chishiya was slightly different from the one in Haro Aso’s manga, but all the changes worked and made for a very interesting character that ranged from a potential villain to a beloved antihero.

Apart from Kuina, there was no one in Alice in Borderland Chishiya would trust. The other characters soon learned now to trust Chishiya either, including Arisu. That said, toward the end of season 2, Chishiya went through a life-changing experience during the King of Diamonds game. After beating the “Beauty Contest,” Chishiya reevaluated how he...

Image via Kodansha's Comic Days website The official X (formerly Twitter) for Netflix Japan announced today that a live-action film adaptation of Inouesatoh's 10 Dance will stream in 2025. Ryoma Takeuchi (Shinnosuke Tomari in Kamen Rider Drive ) is cast as Shinya Suzuki, while Keita Machida (Koenma in the Yu Yu Hakusho live-action series) plays Shinya Sugiki. Keishi Otomo , known for his directorial works for the Rurouni Kenshin live-action film series, serves as the director. "It is a work that strongly questions creators about the vessel of love, and its capacity," said director Otomo. "The moment they lay their bodies on top of each other and exchange glances, it is as if something new is born that transcends various borders and is yet to be seen, along with the hidden emotions and passion that lurk behind the gracefulness. I am tackling this challenge with my heart trembling every day. With plenty of Ryoma Takeuchi and Keita Machida's charm.

10Dance, a popular Japanese manga series set in the world of competitive dancing, is set to be adapted as a feature film by Netflix and will launch on the streaming platform in 2025.

It will star Ryoma Takeuchi, seen recently in Prime Video series Like A Dragon Yakuza, and Keita Machida of Netflix series Alice in Borderland and YuYu Hakusho. Takeuchi is also known for the Kamen Rider Drive series and won newcomer of the year at the Japan Academy Awards in 2017 for his role in Teiichi: Battle Of Supreme High.

The manga, written and illustrated by Inouesatoh, falls into the...

There have been so many engrossing dark TV series that took viewers on mind-bending journeys and truly played with their heads. While modern television has embraced much darker and more sinister stories in recent decades, it takes a truly great show to bury underneath the surface of a series narrative and deliver philosophically rich stories that strike a chord for their deep, probing themes that leave a mark on viewers consciousness well after the credits have rolled. A thought-provoking series that can play with viewers' expectations often marks the difference between a simply good show and a truly great one.

Many of the best TV shows of all time were dark in nature and did not underestimate viewers' intelligence with deeply complex and intricate narratives. Highly influential series like Twin Peaks laid the groundwork for television to embrace more challenging and experimental stories. At the same time, creators worldwide, such...

Some of the most effective and engaging TV shows in recent years were also so gore-filled that audiences often had to look away in pure terror and disgust. From thrilling sci-fi dystopias to intense psychological horrors, just because a series was packed with gore, murder, and violence did not stop it from being truly great. In many cases, the excessively gruesome nature of these shows added to their appeal as they pushed the limits of what could be depicted and accepted in mainstream television.

Plenty of the most gruesomely violent TV shows were filled with gory sequences and sinister characters who committed heinous acts. From intense games that saw characters' lives on the line to sinister antiheroes who killed for the sheer thrill of it, in recent years, television has caught up with horror movies to make series that were equal to or even exceeded the most gore-filled cinematic spectacles.

There's no room for Chota & Karube in Alice in Borderland season 3 given how season 2 ended. Arisu's growth in Alice in Borderland must be preserved; he decided to continue leaving and honor his friends. Arisus journey had a perfect conclusion in season 2.

Alice in Borderlands most underrated characters made the show better despite their relatively short screen time, but they cannot return in season 3 without ruining Arisus character development. Following an intense finale in which the true nature of the Borderland was revealed, Alice in Borderland was renewed for season 3. While the series has been successful for Netflix since its debut in 2020, the season 3 renewal was surprising given how Alice in Borderland season 2 ended. Haro Asos manga ends with Arisu waking up in the real world just like season 2 did.

Therefore, Alice in Borderland wont have the source material to pull from and is expected to be an original story.

The power scale in Netflix's Yu Yu Hakusho differs from the anime, resulting in differences in strength and skill among the main characters. For example, Younger Toguro goes "100%" earlier compared to the anime. Kurama's true form is much stronger than his human one, while Hiei is portrayed as weaker in the live-action adaptation compared to the anime.

The power scale in Netflix’s Yu Yu Hakusho is similar to that of the anime, but some important differences must be considered when ranking the main characters from weakest to strongest. The Netflix live-action anime adaptation brings the Spirit Detective saga to life but also includes fights from the Demon World tournament. Not every fight from the anime happens in the adaptation, and not every Yu Yu Hakusho character matches the source material in terms of strength or skill.

Whereas Yusuke has a couple of important fights throughout the live-action show,...

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for Netflix's Yu Yu Hakusho.

Koenma's appearance in Netflix's Yu Yu Hakusho is accurate to the adult version of the character, but the live-action series never shows his toddler form. The decision to skip Koenma's toddler form in the live-action series makes sense for a slightly more realistic story considering the challenges of portraying a baby-like character. Keita Machida delivers a great portrayal of Koenma in the live-action series, matching the adult version of the character well.

Koenma (King Enma Jr.) does not look like a toddler in Netflix’s Yu Yu Hakusho, which mostly covers the Spirit Detective saga, but there is a reason for it. Whereas previous anime adaptations would try to reinvent everything about the story and the characters for a sense of realism, recent shows like One Piece have embraced the fantastical elements of the source material. The same...

Yu Yu Hakusho Season 1 Review Out(Photo Credit –IMDb)

Yu Yu Hakusho Season 1 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Takumi Kitamura, Shuhei Uesugi, Jun Shison, Kanata Hongo, Kotone Furukawa, Keita Machida, and Go Ayano.

Creator: Akira Morii, and Kazutaka Sakamoto

Director: Sho Tsukikawa

Streaming On: Netflix

Language: Japanese (with subtitles)

Runtime: 5 Episodes, Around 1 hour each.

Yu Yu Hakusho Season 1 Review Out(Photo Credit –YouTube) Yu Yu Hakusho Season 1 Review: What’s It About:

Yu Yu Hakusho is the newest attempt from Netflix to adapt anime and manga into a live-action series, but this time the adaption is being done in Japanese soil, bringing with it all the characteristics that make a show just like this one unique. The series tells the story of a young criminal who finds himself in death and traveling to the spiritual world, there he will meet countless obstacles as he fights in the name of friendship, justice...

Netflix's live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho brings the beloved characters from the anime to life. The cast includes Takumi Kitamura as the 17-year-old Yusuke, Shuhei Uesugi as his rival Kazuma Kuwabara, Kanata Hong as the villain-turned-hero Hiei, and Jun Shison as the mysterious Kurama. Other notable cast members include Kotone Furukawa as Botan, Keita Machida as Koenma, Sei Shiraishi as Yusuke's best friend Keiko, Meiko Kaji as Genkai, and Go Ayano as the primary antagonist, Younger Toguro.

The cast of Yu Yu Hakusho brings Yusuke and his friends to live-action in Netflix’s latest anime adaptation. One of the best and most influential anime of its generation, Yu Yu Hakusho was based on a manga by Yoshihiro Togashi. While Yu Yu Hakusho’s fights are a highlight of the series, the characters are what made the manga and the anime so special.

The list of Netflix live-action anime adaptations,...

Yu Yu Hakusho, a beloved manga and anime, is coming to Netflix as a live-action series with high-end visual effects and a talented cast, promising to reignite fan excitement. The new series features a mix of rising stars and seasoned veterans, including Takumi Kitamura as Yusuke Urameshi, and the inclusion of iconic actors adds a layer of classic appeal. The adaptation aims to go beyond a simple live-action translation, offering a fresh portrayal of the story with a blend of innovative visual effects and a storyline that balances nostalgia with fresh elements.

Yu Yu Hakusho, a manga and anime cherished for 30 years, is being transformed into a live-action series by Netflix, promising to reignite fan excitement. Directed by the talented Shô Tsukikawa and featuring high-end visual effects from Scanline, the team behind hits like Shadow and Bone and Stranger Things, this series promises to be a visual spectacle.

Leading the show is Takumi Kitamura,...

The first official teaser trailer for the live-action Netflix adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho, the popular Shonen Jump series by Yoshihiro Togashi, is now available online.

On its official YouTube account, Netflix uploaded an extensive look at its live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho in preparation for its Dec. 14 release. The nearly two-minute trailer covers the original story beats from the manga -- such as Yusuke Urameshi realizing he's been killed in a freak traffic accident and is now a ghost -- while also teasing the new material made for the TV series. Perhaps the greatest alteration to the original manga storyline is the early inclusion of the Toguro brothers, reminiscent of Arlong's early introduction in the live-action One Piece series for Netflix.

Yu Yu Hakusho Manga Is Now Available To Read Online

Brace yourself for a yokai showdown like no other! Sneak a peek at the live-action adaptation of the iconic manga,...

Netflix‘s “Geeked Week” isn’t done yet dropping exciting news and teasers: the streaming service debuted a first look at the upcoming “Yu Yu Hakusho” live-action series, promising supernatural action fun based on the popular manga series.

The live-action adaptation will debut exclusively on Netflix on December 14.

The series “revolves around Yusuke Urameshi, who spends his days getting into fights and dies in an accident while trying to protect a young child. As he grapples with the fact that he is looking down on his dead body, a woman named Botan who calls herself a guide to the spirit world relays to him the shocking truth: no one expected a delinquent like Yusuke to die performing an act of goodness, and there was no place for him in either heaven or hell. Thus, Yusuke is given a chance to be revived, and after passing his trial, he becomes an Underworld Detective.

The twisted competition at the center of "Alice in Borderland" is back, and it looks like the games aren't done just yet. A "super teaser trailer" for season 2 of the popular show, which is based on the manga series of the same name by Haro Aso, was revealed during Netflix's Tudum fan event, and it looks like we're in for another wild ride.

The teaser shows the return of protagonists Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) and Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya) after that massive cliffhanger at the end of the last season. After completing a number of increasingly deadly challenges, they learned to their dismay that there are even more coming as the games enter a second phase. We also get our first look at some of the other contestants roped into the games, as well as shots of the sadistic gamemaster Mira (Riisa Naka), who looks to be a more menacing presence this season.

Two of most renowned characteristics of the Japanese people are their love for manga/anime and their inherent persistence and methodic way of doing things that lets them go to “places” others would not even dream of going. In case you have not heard, these two aspects are now coming together in the construction of a real life Gundam robot, but this is not the only example. The Maeda Corporation Fantasy Marketing Department is a team of five engineers from the aforementioned civil engineering company, whose members, back in 2004, released an essay online outlining what it would take to build Mazinger Z’s iconic hangar—which includes an elevator rising up through a swimming pool that splits in half. Now, more than 15 years later, their effort has been turned into a movie, that also features the creator of the original manga, Go Nagai, in a cameo.

“Project Dreams: How to...

Hiroyuki Tanaka, or Sabu, was born in 1964 and originally studied to become a musician before he eventually changed into the acting and later on into the directing profession. Ever since his debut feature “Dangan Runner” Sabu has gained attention of critics and audiences alike. As director he has made feature such as “Monday”, “Blessing Bell” and “Happiness“. Currently his 2018 feature film “Jam” is screened at many international festivals, for example, New York Asian Film Festival.

We sat down with the director to talk about the inspiration for his film

“Jam” is screening at New York Asian Film Festival

Photography by Mary Francis Gomez

What was your inspiration for “Jam”?

The three leads were determined right at the start. So, I met with each of them and created an image based on those meetings.

I worked with Sho Aoyagi, who plays the character of Hiroshi in “Jam”, for “Mr Long” and...

In the world of enka singer Hiroshi (Sho Aoyagi) most of his life revolves around the various performances he has to give in front of crowds largely consisting of middle-aged women. Bored and visibly appalled by these events, he tries to leave them as soon as possible, but this time Masako (Mariko Tsutsui) stops him on his way out of the last venue he sang in. Eventually Hiroshi finds he has been drugged by Masako and drops unconscious, only to find himself back at her apartment when he wakes up.

Interwoven with Hiroshi’s story are the stories of Tetsuo (Nobuyuki Suzuki) and Takeru (Keita Machida). The first is an ex-con who returns to his home town, after having spent many years in jail, to take revenge on those on some men who betrayed him, which eventually led to his arrest. Takeru’s girlfriend is in a coma and as...

Exclusive: Japan’s Nikkatsu has sold J-horror master Hideo Nakata’s new film Ghost Theater to Red Pictures Pte. Ltd. for Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.

The Ring director is currently in post-production on the film which takes place in a haunted playhouse.

A young actress, Sara, who lands a leading role in a major play, soon encounters bitter rivalry amongst her fellow cast members which escalates into out-and-out hatred.

Strange things start happening at rehearsals and Sara begins to investigate a very real and menacing threat.

Starring Haruka Shimazaki, Rika Adachi, Riho Takada and Keita Machida, the film is due for release in Japan in the third quarter of 2015.