The “TBS × U-NEXT × THE SEVEN Global Project” has begun! The production of “Japanese sword action entertainment” will be presented on an unprecedented scale in drama history, from Japan to the world!
U-NEXT Co., Ltd. Press release: September 27, 2025 To Members of the Press The “TBS x U-NEXT x THE SEVEN Global Project” has begun! A “Japanese sword action entertainment” will be produced on an unprecedented scale, from Japan to the world!
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(headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Tenshin Tsutsumi), a member of the USEN & U-NEXT GROUP, is pleased to announce that it has teamed up for the first time with TBS Television, Inc. (headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Masamine Ryuho; hereinafter “TBS”) and THE SEVEN Inc. (headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Katsuaki Setoguchi), a TBS subsidiary that has created global hits with its planning and production capabilities, rich visual expression, and advanced VFX technology, to launch the large-scale drama project “TBS x U-NEXT x THE SEVEN Global Project.” This project is “Japanese sword action entertainment” presented on an unprecedented scale in the history of drama. TBS, which has produced numerous television dramas that have sparked social phenomena in Japan, will collaborate on this project to bring to life the globally renowned Japanese culture of period dramas and samurai. The Seven, which has created global hits with its planning and production capabilities, rich visual expression, and advanced VFX technology, and U-NEXT, a Japanese video streaming service that has grown to the second largest market share in Japan* through continuous innovation in both technology and content, will leverage their respective strengths to produce this collaborative production. We aim to bring Japanese content to the world, not just Japan. This “Japanese sword action entertainment” series, with an eye on the global content market, brings together production staff active at the forefront of Japan’s film industry. The director is Kazutaka Watanabe, whose work includes the NHK Taiga drama “Onna Joushu Naotora,” the morning drama “Mare,” and the “Rohan Kishibe Doesn’t Move” series. He is highly trusted by his cast members for his attention to detail and pursuit of realism and tension. The project will be led by Morii Teru, producer of the Netflix series “Alice in Borderland” and “Yu Yu Hakusho.”
Additionally, the project will feature screenwriter Sakai Masaaki, whose style blends both hard and soft elements and is capable of working on a wide range of dramas, from socially conscious to human dramas, such as WOWOW’s drama series “Cold Case 2 & 3” and the film “Keiko: Keep Your Eyes Clear,” action director Sonomura Kensuke, known for his innovative sword fighting techniques while bringing out the best in characters, VFX producer Akabane Satoshi, who won the Best Visual Effects Award at the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA) last year for Netflix’s “Yu Yu Hakusho,” and character designer Maeda Yuya, who has worked on a wide range of projects, from period dramas to science fiction, and who creates worlds with his outstanding design and construction skills. The stellar cast, which will be announced in the future, is also packed with a diverse cast, so anticipation is building for further news. We are pleased to announce that a teaser movie and visuals have been released ahead of the announcement of the cast and title. They will convey the worldview and passion of this project.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNV2dG4nVG4 Regarding this initiative, TBS Television President and CEO Masamine Ryuho, THE SEVEN President and CEO Katsuaki Setoguchi, and U-NEXT President and CEO Tenshin Tsutsumi made the following comments: TBS Television, Inc. President and CEO: Masamine Ryuho The project that really gets our spirits going is finally starting. We are thrilled to be taking on the world with such incredible partners as THE SEVEN, which continues to produce hits in the global market, and U-NEXT, a leader in the Japanese video industry with a deep passion for content. We have created a team that will allow Producer Morii and other world-renowned Japanese creators to fully demonstrate their talents. TBS believes that the “Japanese sword action entertainment” they create will deliver the ultimate excitement and emotion to audiences around the world. This work will be a new milestone in Japanese entertainment. Be sure to witness this historic moment. U-NEXT Inc. President and CEO: Tenshin Tsutsumi We are extremely pleased to announce this mega-drama project with our three companies. We signed a partnership agreement with TBS Holdings, Inc. in June 2023, and have been in repeated discussions to create strategic synergies, including production. As an original production originating from a streaming platform, this project will maximize our partnership with TBS, and will be a new initiative that combines broadcast and streaming, with the world-class high quality and scale of THE SEVEN. We hope that the project will first be enjoyed by discerning Japanese viewers, and then we will bring Japan’s wonderful drama to the world. We hope you will look forward to it. THE SEVEN Co., Ltd. President/CEO: Katsuhiro Setoguchi A large-scale project for the global market, planned and produced by THE SEVEN, whose goal is to “create innovative content that entertains the world,” is finally about to begin. Our team, which has competed globally with Netflix’s “Alice in Borderland,” “Yu Yu Hakusho,” and the film “The Fool’s Identity,” will work with the best creators to pour all their energy into creating new entertainment. I am truly honored to be able to take on this grand challenge with such powerful partners as TBS, which has built the history of Japanese drama, and U-NEXT, Japan’s largest streaming platform. I hope to thrill audiences around the world with “Japanese sword action entertainment,” which combines Japanese spirit with cutting-edge video technology. We hope you’ll look forward to it. Details such as cast and title will be announced at a later date. This large-scale project, the first collaboration between TBS, U-NEXT, and THE SEVEN, presents “Japanese Sword Action Entertainment,” a story that will change the history of Japanese drama. Don’t miss it! ■Program overview [Staff] Broadcast/Streaming: TBS Television/U-NEXT Produced by: THE SEVEN Produced by: Teru Morii (THE SEVEN) / Netflix “Alice in Borderland” series, “Yu Yu Hakusho,” and more Inoue Mamoru / TBS x WOWOW “Double Face,” “MOZU” series, and more Shimomura Kazuya (THE SEVEN) / Netflix “Yu Yu Hakusho,” the movie “The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill,” and more Director: Kazutaka Watanabe / Taiga drama “Onna Joushu Naotora,” morning drama “Maru,” “Johan Rohan: The Unbreakable” series, etc. Screenwriter: Masaaki Sakai / WOWOW drama series “Cold Case 2 & 3,” film “Keiko: Clear Your Eyes” Action Director: Kensuke Sonomura / “Baby Valkyrie,” “Onmyoji 0,” and more VFX Producer: Satoshi Akabane (THE SEVEN) / Netflix’s “Alice in Borderland” Season 3, “Yu Yu Hakusho,” and more Character Design: Yuya Maeda / Film “Legend & Butterfly” and others Music: Yoshiaki Dewa / Netflix “Zombie 100: 100 Things to Do Before You Become a Zombie,” anime “Hell’s Paradise,” and others Post-production Supervisor: Noriko Ishida (THE SEVEN) / Netflix “Alice in Borderland” series, “Yu Yu Hakusho,” and more *From GEM Partners’ “Video Streaming (VOD) Market Five-Year Forecast (2025-2029) Report” What is U-NEXT? U-NEXT is the video streaming service with the largest number of titles available for unlimited viewing*. Enjoy over 400,000 titles, including movies, dramas, and anime, as well as live music and stage shows, and watch the world’s top sports, including soccer, golf, and martial arts, in real time. We also offer over 1.21 million manga and books, providing a genre-bending entertainment experience that seamlessly combines video, books, sports, and live shows in one app. By integrating with Paravi in July 2023, we’ve added a vast lineup of dramas and variety shows from TBS and TV Tokyo, providing an even more compelling service. U-NEXT Inc. is a group company of U-NEXT HOLDINGS Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yasuhide Uno). U-NEXT: https://video.unext.jp U-NEXT SQUARE：https://square.unext.jp *According to GEM Partners / As of August 2025 A survey of foreign films, Japanese films, foreign TV dramas, Korean and Asian dramas, domestic TV dramas, and anime on major Japanese subscription-based video streaming services. Some titles are available for a separate fee.