Samurai Showdown: Netflix's 2025 Japan Lineup

Netflix Japan has a packed schedule for 2025, kicking off with a thrilling samurai drama called "Last Samurai Standing. " Imagine this: 300 samurai warriors, all the toughest and best, gather at the historic Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto. They're promised a whopping 100 billion yen prize, but there's a twist. These warriors, once powerful, are now ordinary people fighting for their lives. It's like a mix of "Shogun" and "Squid Game. " Junichi Okada stars as the lead, and he's also the producer and action choreographer. It's a fresh take on the samurai story, showing a side of history where these warriors aren't as glamorous as we think. "Alice in Borderland" is back for its third season in September. This survival thriller goes beyond the original manga, with Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya leading the cast. Director Shinji Higuchi's "Bullet Train Explosion" hits the screens on April 23. It's a reboot of the 1975 film that inspired "Speed, " giving viewers unprecedented access to real bullet train facilities. Tsuyoshi Kusanagi stars in this high-speed adventure. "Glass Heart, " premiering in July, is a music drama with massive concert scenes. Takeru Satoh and Yu Miyazaki star in this show that's sure to get you singing along. "Romantics Anonymous" is a unique love story based on the French film "Les Émotifs Anonymes. " Shun Oguri and Han Hyo-joo play lovers with unusual challenges—he can't touch people, and she can't make eye contact. It's a fresh take on romance. "Demon City, " premiering on Feb. 27, is a violent revenge tale based on Masamichi Kawabe’s manga. Toma Ikuta stars as a hitman seeking vengeance after losing his family. In December, "10Dance" brings us a story of rival dancers forming an unlikely partnership. Ryoma Takeuchi and Keita Machida star in this dance-off directed by Keishi Otomo. Already streaming is "Asura, " a modern family drama about four sisters dealing with their father’s suspected infidelity. Kore-eda Hirokazu directs this emotional rollercoaster, with Rie Miyazawa, Machiko Ono, Yu Aoi, and Suzu Hirose in the lead roles. "Soul Mate, " premiering in August, is a romantic drama set in Berlin. Hayato Isomura and Ok Taec-yeon of the Korean boy band 2PM star in this story about a Japanese man's fateful encounter with a Korean boxer. In unscripted content, "Final Draft" is Netflix Japan’s first survival reality series. 25 former professional athletes compete for a JPY30 million prize to fund their second careers. "Offline Love" (Feb. 18) sends ten contestants to Nice, France, for a tech-free dating experience. "Badly in Love" explores romance among Japanese "yankees" (delinquents), produced by former yankee Megumi. Comedy fans can look forward to "Welcome, Now Get Lost, " hosted by Koji Higashino, bringing the viral YouTube hit to streaming. This lineup marks Netflix Japan’s 10th anniversary. The content head, Kaata Sakamoto, highlights their commitment to pushing creative boundaries and elevating production standards across genres. They aim to create unique stories by collaborating with top creators and emerging talent with innovative ideas.