Netflix unveiled its lineup of Japanese movies and TV shows set for release by 2025, featuring an enticing variety that includes historical series, action-packed films, and engaging unscripted content.
The exceptional gem in the collection, poised to become a worldwide sensation, is the period drama titled “Last Samurai Standing.” Created by filmmakers Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi, and Toru Yamamoto, this series may captivate fans of historical epics such as FX’s Shogun and Netflix’s Squid Game, with its survivalist theme and period setting. The lead role in this tale set towards the end of Japan’s samurai era is played by Junichi Okada, who portrays 292 warriors competing for a substantial reward in a deadly contest. “Last Samurai Standing” is an adaptation of Shogo Imamura’s novel “Ikusagami,” which has previously been transformed into a well-received manga series.
Hirokazu Koreeda’s series titled “Asura” is scheduled for release on the streamer in 2025, but it was actually premiered earlier in February. The story unfolds in 1979 and revolves around four sisters: Tsunako, Makiko, Takiko, and Sakiko. Their peaceful lives are disrupted when they learn that their elderly father is involved in an affair, causing chaos and tension among them.
2025 will see the highly anticipated return of a major Japanese series on Netflix – the third season of “Alice in Borderland.” This captivating sci-fi thriller, adapted from the manga of the same name by Haro Aso, has garnered international acclaim. Fans have been enthralled by the action-packed scenes crafted by writer-director Shinsuke Sato, who is renowned for his intense violence.
2025’s most captivating Japanese movie is the action-packed thriller titled “Bullet Train Explosion“, a remake of the 1975 classic film “The Bullet Train” by Junya Sato. This film served as a partial inspiration for the 1994 Keanu Reeves movie, “Speed“. Shinji Higuchi, director of both “Attack on Titan” and “Shin Godzilla“, is helming this project. Notably, it was made in collaboration with the East Japan Railway Company, allowing for actual bullet trains to be used during filming.
Below is Netflix’s full 2025 Japan slate.
SERIES
Asura
A Winter Gathering Unveils Family Secrets”: On a wintry day, the Takezawa sisters – Tsunako (Rie Miyazawa), a ikebana instructor, Makiko (Machiko Ono), a housewife, Takiko (Yu Aoi), a librarian, and Sakiko (Suzu Hirose), a waitress – reunite after some time apart. Takiko harbors doubts about their father Kotaro having a mistress and an illegitimate child, which the other sisters initially dismiss as implausible. Despite this, they conspire to shield their mother Fuji from this information. However, this disclosure unearths hidden conflicts and skeletons in each sister’s life that were previously unseen.
Currently available for viewing: Film titled “Now Streaming” directed and written by the talented Hirokazu Kore-eda. The production is overseen by a team of producers including Yasuo Yagi, Miyuki Fukuma, Eiji Kitahara, and Hijiri Taguchi. Kuniko Mukoda contributed to the script writing. This captivating movie hails from production company Bunbuku. Starring in it are Rie Miyazawa, Machiko Ono, Yu Aoi, and Suzu Hirose.
Glass Heart
Glass Heart”
Brief Description: In this captivating tale, Akane Saijo (Yu Miyazaki), an ambitious college student and drumming enthusiast, faces a sudden ejection from her band. However, fate takes a surprising twist when the gifted musician Naoki Fujitani (Takeru Satoh) discovers her hidden talent and extends an invitation to join his budding ensemble. This Japanese drama pushes boundaries with its grand filming scope, showcasing large-scale music performances involving thousands of extras.
On July 2025, the movie will be directed by Kensaku Kakimoto and Kotaro Goto. The producers are Takeru Satoh and Gô Abe. The script is written by Mari Okada, Tomoko Akutsu, Shiho Kosaka, and Anna Kawahara. This production belongs to Robot company. The cast includes Takeru Satoh, Yu Miyazaki, Keita Machida, Jun Shison, and Masaki Suda.
Soul Mate
Title Concept: “Ryu Narutaki’s Journey: A Fateful Encounter Across Continents”: After an unintentional mistake that ruins his friend’s life, Ryu Narutaki abandons everything in Japan and flees to Berlin. During a church visit, he gets trapped in a fire and is miraculously rescued by a Korean boxer named Johan Hwang. These two wounded souls meet in an extraordinary coincidence and find they share an enigmatic and unexplainable connection. However, as they yearn for each other, their relationship faces harrowing tests.
Movie “August 2025”
Director/Writer: Shunki Hashizume
Producers: Koichi Murakami and Shinji Nomura
Production Company: Robot Studios
Main Cast: Hayato Isomura, Ok Taec-yeon (also known as T.O.P)
Alice in Borderland Season 3
Title Synopsis: “Alice in Borderland, inspired by Haro Aso’s comic series, unfolds the tale of Arisu who is mysteriously transported to an alternate reality. In this world, he must compete and conquer games to survive. The games are categorized into four distinct types, symbolized by the suits in a standard deck of cards. The reemergence of the Joker card signifies the grand return of Alice in Borderland.
September 2025 marks the production of a film directed by Shinsuke Sato. The producers for this project are Akira Morii and Tomoki Takase, working under the banners of Robot and The Seven. The lead actors in this movie will be Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya.
Romantics Anonymous
Chocolate Affair – A Multicultural Rom-Com”
Synopsis: “In this delightful romantic comedy, we meet Sosuke, an Asian man who shuns physical touch, portrayed by Shun Oguri. On the other hand, Hana, a woman who avoids eye contact at all costs, is played by Han Hyo-joo. Their shared love for chocolate unexpectedly connects them. The story unfolds in a bar owned by Hiro, a love interest played by Jin Akanishi, and involves Irene, a therapist character skillfully played by Yuri Nakamura.
October 2025 – I’ve just wrapped up an incredible gaming adventure developed by the brilliant Park So-yeon. The game was masterfully directed by Sho Tsukikawa, with a captivating story penned by Kim Ji-hyun. The production team, led by Lim Seung-young, Kim Yong-eun, Choi Gi-young, and Kim Keum-sil, along with Takuro Nagai and Mao Osaki from Japan, did an outstanding job. This game was produced under the banner of Yong Film, and the cast, featuring Shun Oguri, Han Hyo-joo, Yuri Nakamura, and Jin Akanishi, really brought the characters to life. I can’t wait for more gamers to dive into this immersive world!
Last Samurai Standing
The Last Samurai Showdown at Tenryuji Temple”
In the late 19th century, during the Meiji period when the age of the samurai was fading, our story unfolds within Kyoto’s serene Tenryuji Temple. By nightfall, 292 samurai warriors convene, drawn by the tantalizing prospect of a 100 billion yen grand prize. Among them stands our hero, Shujiro Saga (Junichi Okada), determined to participate in this perilous game for one reason: to rescue his ailing wife and child. This gripping series is inspired by the acclaimed “Ikusagami” novels written by Shogo Imamura, winner of the 2021 Naoki Prize, promising an exhilarating new chapter for Japanese dramas as it delves into the high-stakes games of life and death among samurai.
In November 2025, the film “Date: November 2025” will be directed by Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi, and Toru Yamamoto. The script for this movie was written by Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi, and Risa Yashiro. Kosuke Oshida and Junichi Okada are the producers of this film under the production company Office Shirous. The cast includes Junichi Okada, Yumia Fujisaki, Kaya Kiyohara, Masahiro Higashide, Shota Sometani, Taichi Saotome, Yuya Endo, Yasushi Fuchikami, Jyo Kairi, Takayuki Yamada, Wataru Ichinose, Riho Yoshioka, Kazunari Ninomiya, Hiroshi Tamaki, and Hideaki Ito.
FILM
Demon City
As a fervent admirer, I’m thrilled to share that the screen adaptation of the gripping comic “Oni Goroshi,” which concluded in 2024, is underway. This riveting tale of retribution unfurls in the rustic city of Shinjo, where hitman Shuhei Sakata embarks on a vengeful journey after losing his beloved wife and daughter. Known for its raw and brutal portrayal of violence, this comic gripped readers worldwide and is now set to captivate us further on the silver screen.
Just as Shuhei was about to leave his violent past behind for his family’s sake, the enigmatic organization Kimen-gumi brutally murdered his wife and daughter, framing him and tarnishing his reputation. Left for dead with a gunshot wound to the head, he miraculously clings to life, slipping into a coma. Fast forward twelve years, and the Kimen-gumi strikes again, but this time, their attack unwittingly rekindles Shuhei’s dormant killer instinct. Now, he finds himself embarking on an epic quest for revenge, though what lies ahead is a truth that has the potential to reshape his very destiny.
February 27, 2025 – I’ve been eagerly anticipating this project of mine, titled “Untitled Seiji Tanaka Project.” As the director and writer, it’s a thrill to see my vision come alive. This production is a joint effort between Amuse and Digital Frontier, with esteemed producers Yasuhiro Masaoka and Takeshi Sawa at the helm. I feel incredibly lucky to have two talented actors, Toma Ikuta and Matsuya Onoe, on board for this journey. Can’t wait to share it with you all!
Bullet Train Explosion
In this new adaptation, we revisit the classic film ‘The Bullet Train’, a cinematic gem that served as the foundation for the blockbuster hit ‘Speed’. Renowned director Shinji Higuchi, who masterfully combines captivating visuals with deep human emotion in films such as ‘Shin Godzilla’, delivers another nail-biting suspense-thriller. The story follows a group of individuals battling against time and adversity to save lives amidst extreme circumstances.
On April 23, 2025, the film is directed by Shinji Higuchi. The script was written by Kazuhiro Nakagawa and Norichika Oba. Kota Ishizuka serves as the producer for this production, which comes from Episcope. In the cast, we see Tsuyoshi Kusanagi.
10Dance
Two-Step Rivals: A Dance Love Story”
Brief: This movie chronicles the journey of two dancers named Shinya. One is Shinya Suzuki, a Japanese Latin dance champion who excels enough to compete internationally but is fixated on domestic competitions. The other is Shinya Sugiki, Japan’s second-ranked dancer in the Standard Ballroom category globally, who invites Suzuki to explore the world of the 10Dance Competition. Hailing from contrasting worlds with stark personalities, these two Shinyas form an unconventional partnership, aiming to win the 10Dance Competition. As they dance together, they unexpectedly find themselves falling for each other.
In December 2025, the movie will be directed by Keishi Otomo. The script is written by both Tomoko Yoshida and Keishi Otomo. The producers are Takako Miyauchi and Kota Ishizuka, working under Episcope production company. The main cast includes Ryoma Takeuchi and Keita Machida.
UNSCRIPTED
Offline Love
Offline Love: A Modern Twist on Dating Reality Shows”
Synopsis: In the vein of hit reality romance series such as ‘The Boyfriend’ and ‘Love Village’, ‘Offline Love’ offers a unique spin on dating reality shows. This time, ten individuals embark on a quest for love in the beautiful city of Nice, disconnecting from digital devices altogether. However, there’s an intriguing twist: they only have ten days to find and connect with each other. With no certainty of meeting, spontaneous encounters hint at potential romantic destinies. Will these participants manage to find their soulmates and experience authentic love? The series includes insightful commentary from Kyoko Koizumi and the comedic duo Reiwa Roman, who are making their debut as hosts for a dating reality show.
Date: Feb. 18, 2025
Commentators: Kyoko Koizumi, Reiwa Roman
Production Company: East Inc.
Badly In Love
Megumi’s Reality Romance Show – A Fiery Journey of Pure Love by Ex-Delinquents”
Synopsis: In this heartwarming reality series, Megumi, a transformed former delinquent, brings together genuine individuals who have been ostracized by society. Passionate about their friendships and hometowns, they are ready to take risks for the people they cherish. Join us for an emotional rollercoaster ride as we explore the raw, honest relationships of these open-hearted ex-delinquents.
Date: TBC, 2025
Producer: Megumi
Final Draft
Title Concept: “Japanese Reality Survival Series on Netflix: A Second Chance for Former Athletes”
Summary: In this groundbreaking Japanese reality show, twenty-five retired professional athletes compete to be the last one standing, fighting each other and their own physical limits, in a battle royale for a 30-million-yen grand prize. This money can be utilized to fund and pursue a second career. The contestants are put through grueling challenges that test their endurance, pushing them to the edge. Alongside their opponents, they must confront not just the harsh terrains, but also their inner demons. This survival game offers an exciting blend of strategy, rivalry, and psychological warfare as these athletes strive to regain the spotlight in a new endeavor.
As-yet-unspecified Date: 2025
Lead Director: Kazuaki Hashimoto
Broadcasting Corporation: The Far Eastern Television Entertainment, Inc.
Welcome, Now Get Lost
Title Concept: “Comedians clash with fury and joy in an unforgiving village! Originally developed by Nobuyuki Sakuma, known for Last One Standing and Lighthouse, this series garnered 15 million views on NOBROCK TV. Now, it’s making its way to Netflix with a fresh host, Koji Higashino.
Date: TBC, 2025
Commentator: Koji Higashino
Producer and director: Nobuyuki Sakuma
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2025-02-13 12:02