The streamer's deal with Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, marks a notable expansion of its Japanese drama lineup, with six titles launching this week spanning period dramas, "asadora" and Drama 10 formats.
Netflix boosted its slate of Japanese broadcaster content this week, unveiling a deal to stream a rolling library of NHK drama titles and a separate pickup of Nippon TV’s long-running variety hit Monday Late Show for global catch-up viewing.
Beginning June 22, six NHK dramas will land on Netflix in the first wave of an ongoing rollout. The slate spans the three pillars of NHK’s signature drama production: the network’s Taiga series, sweeping historical epics traditionally aired during Japan’s Sunday-night slot; its morning serial dramas (known as asadora), 15-minute weekday installments that have been a fixture of Japanese daily life since 1961; and Drama 10, the late-evening primetime block known for tackling contemporary social issues.
The first batch of shows includes the Taiga series Strategist KANBE; the morning serial Mampuku; three Drama 10 titles — Descending Stories: A Life in Rakugo, The Science Club and Tokyo Salad Bowl; and the premium drama My Family. Subsequent titles will roll out across the remainder of the year and into early 2027.
