New Japanese Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix in 2026

2026 is shaping up to be one of the best years yet for new Japanese originals on Netflix. From drama, comedy, romance, to thrillers, there is a little something for everyone from Japan to enjoy on Netflix this year. Here are the Japanese movies and TV shows fans can look forward to watching on Netflix in 2026.

Thanks to the release of Netflix’s Japan 2026 slate, we have an extensive preview for the year.

Please Note: This is not the full list of Japanese originals coming to Netflix in 2026. More titles will be announced throughout the remainder of 2026.

New Japanese Shows Coming to Netflix in 2026

Sins of Kujo (Season 1)

Netflix Release Date: April 2, 2026

Based on Shohei Manabe’s manga of the same name, Sins of Kujo is one of the most exciting Japanese titles coming to Netflix in 2026. With a fantastic cast including Hokuta Matsumura, Elaiza Ikeda, and Keita Machida, we can’t wait to see how this thriller unfolds. 

“Taiza Kujo, is a lawyer notorious for taking on the most dangerous, morally ambiguous cases. Kujo’s philosophy is as provocative as his clientele: “A lawyer isn’t guided by ideology; my duty is simply to defend my client.” With the law as his weapon, Kujo defends even the most reprehensible villains, forcing viewers to confront the razor-thin line between justice and corruption.”

Straight to Hell (Season 1)

Netflix Release Date: April 27, 2026

Netflix will dive into the life and career of the controversial Japanese medium Kazuko Hosoki. Erika Toda will play the controversial Japanese medium, who once dominated Japanese television and publications. 

Kazuko Hosoki was once a fortune teller who made a name for herself with her grave and ominous divinations. After WW2, she escaped poverty by becoming a central figure of Tokyo’s nightlife, purchasing multiple nightclubs and given the nickname “Queen of Ginza.” Her celebrity status would later be established through her publishing as a fortune teller and her dominance on television. However, her rise to stardom has been plagued by accusations that her business practices are fraudulent and her connections to Tokyo’s criminal underworld. Spanning 60 years, the drama takes an in-depth look at the life of one of Japan’s most controversial celebrities. 

Soul Mate (Season 1)

Picture: Soul Mate

Netflix Release Date: May 14, 2026

Soul Mate is a romantic drama directed and written by Hashizume Shunki, starring Vincenzo antagonist Ok Taec Yeon and Alice in Borderland’s Isomura Hayato.

After Ryu Narutaki inadvertently destroyed his best friend’s life, he left Japan and nearly died in a foreign church before being saved by a Korean boxer, Johan Hwang. Both men are deeply scarred by their pasts but are drawn to each other as soulmates. Their journey spans 10 years and takes them to Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo, where they experience suffering, joy, pain, and ultimately love. 

Viral Hit (Season 1)

Netflix Release Date: May 28, 2026

Adapted from Taejun Park’s and Kim Junghyun’s webtoon series of the same name, Hideki Takeuchi directs the series, while Yuichi Tokunaga has written the adaptation.

The series stars Ouki Suzuka as Kota Shimura, a high school student who is constantly bullied and struggling with the weight of his mother’s medical bills. Shimura seizes on an opportunity after his fight with a bully is streamed and goes viral. Realising that fighting can be a profitable venture, he starts a streaming channel and begins his journey to climb out of the pits of despair.

Human Vapor (Season 1)

Picture: Human Vapor – TOHO Studios

Netflix Release Date: 2026

It’s been over 60 years since The Human Vapor was first shown in Japanese theatres, and it remains a cult classic among cinephiles to this day. With brand-new, cutting-edge visuals and a fresh storyline, the modern adaptation of The Human Vapor is sure to draw a lot of attention, especially from Japanese subscribers. The 8-episode series will be led by Oguri Shun, a detective hunting for the mysterious Human Vapor. 

A librarian is subject to a scientific experiment that goes wrong and transforms him into ‘The Human Vapour’. He uses his new ability to rob banks to fund his girlfriend’s career as a beautiful dancer. The Human Vapour is ruthless in his quest for money and kills anyone who stands in his way, especially police. He soon becomes Tokyo’s most wanted criminal. Can he be stopped before he kills again?

S&X (Season 1)

Picture: Kento Nakajima as Ichito Shimotori in S&X – Netflix

Netflix Release Date: 2026

Based on the manga of the same name by Kisei Tada, S&X is directed by Shogo Kusano, who co-wrote the adaptation alongside Ruriko Matushima and Takumi Baba. Kento Nakajima is the series lead and so far the only confirmed cast member.

Ichito Shimotori is a sex therapist at Shimotori Clinic, and every day, he sees patients facing intimate issues they can’t talk about with anyone else. Ignoring the ridicule and prejudice he receives for his chosen profession, he treats each patient with utmost sincerity and respect. But little do the people around him know that he hides an anxiety of his own.

Plastic Beauty (Season 1)

Picture: Plastic Beauty – Netflix

The series is directed by Yuki Saito (Ossan’s Love Returns) and written by Junya Ikegami (The Queen of Villains), with K2 Pictures producing. 

Mayu Matsuoka (The Greatest Teacher) will lead the series as Fumi Numata, a talented surgeon passionate about saving lives through medicine, finds herself at odds with a celebrity surgeon, Rin Tohyama, played by Riisa Naka (Alice in Borderland), who believes that beauty is salvation.  

Did Someone Happen to Mention Me?

Netflix Release Date: 2026

A new Japanese comedy that will be led by Koji Yakusho, who will bring his charm to the forefront in his role as Gen Takasegawa. The series’ directing duties are split among Fuminori Kaneko, Takuya Sakaue, and Atsushi Watabe, and the series is written by Kankuro Kudo.

The story follows Gen Takasegawa, the first Japanese actor to play the lead role at London’s Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, who has been unable to return to Japan for some time. After two years, he finally returns home, only to face the greatest tragedy for someone driven by a need for recognition: he is suddenly and completely forgotten by the entire world!

Quiztopia (Season 1)

Picture: Quiztopia – Netflix

Netflix Release Date: 2026

Based on the 1993 manga Kokumin Quiz, written by Reiichi Sugimoto and illustrated by Shinkichi Kato, Quiztopia could be one of the biggest Japanese releases on Netflix in 2026.

The series is set in an alternate Japan, where citizens take part in a government-sanctioned quiz, and the winner has any wish granted by the Japanese government… but the losers face devastating consequences, such as conscription and forced labour. Hosted by KK, the charismatic quizmaster enthrals audiences and goads contestants into pursuing their deepest desires. However, when a rebellious group attempts to overthrow the system and confront him, chaos unfolds.

New Japanese Movies Coming to Netflix in 2026

This Is I (2026)

Netflix Release Date: February 10, 2026

Rising star Haruki Mochizuki (Black Postman) will co-lead the series alongside Saito Takumi (Bullet Train Explosion). Japan is now a leading producer of top LGBT content, especially on Netflix.

Haruna Ai, who took the world by storm in 2008 with her lip-synching impersonation of Air Ayaya, struggled from a young age with her true self. Despite suffering from the cold stares of society, she never gave up on her dream of becoming an idol. Ai’s fate changed when she met a doctor, Wada, who also had a traumatic past. Amidst social backlash and adversity, the two built an irreplaceable bond of trust and friendship.

My Crazy Feminist Girlfriend (2026)

Picture: Mei Nagano – Netflix

Netflix Release Date: 2026

Based on the novel My Crazy Feminist Girlfriend by Min Ji Hyoung, the series will star Mei Nagano, who previously starred in Netflix’s 2023 series Burn the House Down. Nagano will play the role of the “unapologetically feminist ex-girlfriend” who will clash with the man who once thought he knew her best over her unwavering beliefs.

One Year to Live, Buy a Man (2026)

Picture: Ko Shibasaki (left) and Yui Katakura (right)

Netflix Release Date: 2026

Yoshikazu Okada is adapting Toriko Yoshikawa’s best-selling novel, which will be directed by Hiroki Kazama and produced by AOI Pro.

The film stars Kasumi Yao as Yui Katakura, a 40-year-old single woman who has dedicated her life to saving money by steering clear of romance, marriage, and children. However, after receiving a cancer diagnosis that gives her only one year to live, she feels a sense of relief as she no longer feels the need to save money. When she encounters a pink-haired nightclub host, an unusual arrangement is formed as she “purchases” him for ¥720,000. This transaction leads to the development of an unconventional bond between them.

What Japanese Netflix Originals are you looking forward to watching on Netflix in 2026? Let us know in the comments below!