Netflix Drops Hot New Japanese Series: ‘Steel Ball Run’, ‘Straight To Hell’, & More!

This month marks the 10th anniversary of Netflix’s launch in Japan, and to celebrate, the streaming giant has announced three new Japanese series that will debut next year.

The comedy series Did Someone Happen to Mention Me? is currently in production with Koji Yakusho in the lead role, following his 2023 Best Actor win at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in Perfect Days.

The plot centers around Gen Takasegawa, portrayed by Yakusho, who is the first Japanese actor to take on a leading role at the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. After being away from Japan for several years, he returns to discover that he has been completely erased from public memory.

The show is penned by Kankuro Kudo and produced by Akira Isoyama, who have previously collaborated on Let’s Get Divorced and Extremely Inappropriate!

Yakusho commented, “Kankuro Kudo’s script is complex, outrageous, humorous, and unexpectedly touching. Despite the scorching summer heat, working with the cast and crew has been a joy. This is my second time portraying an actor, and though the filming extends into next year, I am committed to making this a memorable series for our audience.”

Also coming to Netflix is Steel Ball Run, an adaptation of the renowned manga series “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure,” which debuted in 1987 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump and has sold over 120 million copies.

Steel Ball Run explores the legacy and fate of the Joestar family, beginning with the pivotal meeting between Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando in the 19th century. The narrative follows the first-ever transcontinental horse race across North America, with protagonist Johnny Joestar, a former prodigy jockey turned paraplegic, teaming up with Gyro Zeppeli, a mysterious bandit.

Director Yasuhiro Kimura shared his excitement: “Steel Ball Run portrays a thrilling race where characters battle for their beliefs. I am thrilled to direct this anime adaptation, and our entire team is passionately dedicated to the production daily. We can’t wait to take viewers on this epic journey with us.”

The drama series Straight to Hell, starring Erika Toda from Death Note, focuses on the life of Kazuko Hosoki, one of Japan’s most famous real-life fortune-tellers. It is directed by Tomoyuki Takimoto and Norichika Ohba.

Toda stated, “I was aware of Kazuko Hosoki but never really knew who she was beyond her television persona as a flamboyant fortune-teller. It’s fascinating to portray someone I initially had no connection with. This series delves into her real life, which I believe will captivate and deeply engage the audience.”