To celebrate its 10th anniversary in Japan, Netflix has announced a slate of three new original series, including the highly anticipated anime adaptation of Steel Ball Run. The lineup also features a new comedy starring Cannes-winning actor Yakusho Koji and a biographical drama centered on one of Japan’s most controversial fortune-tellers.
Based on the seventh part of Hirohiko Araki’s acclaimed manga series JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Steel Ball Run is set in 19th-century America and follows former jockey Johnny Joestar and the enigmatic Gyro Zeppeli as they compete in a grueling cross-continental horse race. Since its debut in 1986, the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise has sold over 120 million copies globally and has been adapted across numerous media formats. “My heart is pounding with excitement to be entrusted with directing this anime adaptation,” said director Yasuhiro Kimura. “The entire staff shares this feeling and is pouring their passion into daily production.”
The second series, Did Someone Happen to Mention Me?, is a comedy exploring the entertainment industry’s obsession with fame, headlined by Yakusho Koji, who recently won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in Perfect Days. The project reunites the creative team of screenwriter Kankuro Kudo and producer Akira Isoyama, known for their previous Netflix hits Let’s Get Divorced and Extremely Inappropriate! In the series, Yakusho portrays Takasegawa Gen, an actor who earns the rare honor of headlining a production at London’s Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, only to return to Japan and discover he has been completely forgotten. Yakusho noted that the meta-theatrical role is “the second time in my life that I’ve been given the role of an actor.”
Screenwriter Kudo explained that the script delves into universal themes of validation in the social media age. “Whether you’re an actor, a screenwriter, or just someone with a social media account, everyone has a surplus of desire for recognition,” he stated.
Rounding out the anniversary slate is Straight to Hell, a biographical drama about Hosoki Kazuko, one of Japan’s most notorious fortune-tellers. A dominant media figure for decades, Hosoki was known for her ominous predictions and was dubbed a “dark hero,” achieving immense fame before a mysterious past came to light.
Erika Toda stars as Hosoki, portraying the character from age 17 to 66. The series is directed by Tomoyuki Takimoto, known for his socially conscious dramas, and Norichika Ohba. Regarding the role, Toda commented, “Some of you may think it’s amusing that I’m playing her, but this story portrays the real life of Hosoki Kazuko from not so long ago—one you don’t know.”
Director Takimoto admitted his initial prejudice influenced his approach to the material. “I disliked Hosoki Kazuko. Whenever she appeared on TV, I changed the channel,” he said. However, Takimoto found himself drawn to the story of her compelling rise from post-war poverty and her unapologetic ambition.
