【THE SEVEN】 A massive project has begun, marking the first
collaboration between the three companies, called the “TBS × U-NEXT × THE SEVEN Global Project”! Image
URL: THE SEVEN Press release: September 27, 2025 A massive project has begun, marking the first collaboration between the three companies, called the “TBS x U-NEXT x THE SEVEN Global Project”! A teaser movie and teaser visual have been released ahead of the title and cast announcement. A team of production staff active at the forefront of Japan’s film industry has come together to produce a “Japanese sword action entertainment” on a scale never before seen in drama history!
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collaboration with TBS Television, Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo;
President/CEO: Masamine Ryuho; hereinafter “TBS”) and U-NEXT, Inc. (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President/CEO: Tenshin Tsutsumi; hereinafter “U-NEXT”) to launch a large-scale project called the “TBS x U-NEXT x THE SEVEN Global Project.” This project delivers “Japanese sword action entertainment” on a scale never before seen in drama history. This collaborative project leverages the strengths of each of the following: THE SEVEN, which has produced global hits featuring period dramas and samurai, two Japanese cultures that are highly sought after worldwide, with its planning and production capabilities, rich visual expression, and advanced VFX technology; TBS, which has delivered numerous television dramas that have become social phenomena in Japan; and U-NEXT, the Japanese video streaming service that has grown to become the second largest in the market through continuous innovation in both technology and content. THE SEVEN, the production studio, is one of the most dynamic global studios right now. The Netflix series “Alice in Borderland Season 3,” which began streaming on September 25th, has already become a huge hit, creating a global frenzy. Furthermore, on the following day, September 26th, THE SEVEN’s first film produced and distributed, “The Fool’s Identity,” achieved the remarkable feat of having all three actors simultaneously win the “Best Actor Award” in the newly established competition section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival. Following the global success of period drama content, and once again attracting attention from around the world, THE SEVEN, which advocates content production for a global audience, has planned and produced this long-awaited work. The production team includes THE SEVEN’s Teru Morii, who led the Netflix “Alice in Borderland” series and “Yu Yu Hakusho” to global success and whose film “The Fool’s Identity” won the “Best Actor Award” at the Busan International Film Festival, as chief producer. Also serving as producers are Mamoru Inoue and Kazuya Shimomura (THE SEVEN). The film will be directed by Watanabe Kazutaka, who has worked on NHK’s historical drama “Onna Joushu Naotora,” morning drama “Mare,” and the “Rohan Kishibe Doesn’t Move” series, and is highly trusted by his actors for his attention to detail and pursuit of realism and tension. The film will also feature screenwriter Sakai Masaaki, who has worked on WOWOW’s W series “Cold Case 2 & 3” and the film “Keiko: Clear Your Eyes,” and whose style blends both hard and soft elements to handle a wide range of dramas, from socially conscious to human dramas; action director Sonomura Kensuke, known for his innovative sword fighting scenes that bring out the individuality of characters to the fullest; and VFX producer Akabane Satoshi (THE STAR WARS 2019), who won the Best Visual Effects Award at the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA) last year for Netflix’s “Yu Yu Hakusho.” The project brings together a team of production staff active at the forefront of Japan’s film industry, including Yuya Maeda, a character designer who has worked on a wide range of projects, from period dramas to science fiction, and who brings his exceptional design and construction skills to create a unique worldview. The all-star cast, which will be announced in the future, also features a diverse cast, raising expectations for further news. The full details of the project will be revealed one after another, but ahead of the cast and title announcement, we have released a teaser movie and visuals along with the production team. We hope you will get a feel for the worldview and passion of this project.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNV2dG4nVG4 This is the first time TBS, U-NEXT, and THE SEVEN have teamed up to bring you a collaborative project that will bring you “Japanese sword action entertainment. We hope you look forward to a moment that will change the history of Japanese drama. ■Comment Finally, a project that really gets our spirits going is about to begin. We are thrilled to be taking on the world with the perfect partners: THE SEVEN, who continue to produce hits in the global market, and U-NEXT, a leader in the Japanese video industry with a deep love for content. Producer Morii and other world-renowned Japanese creators have been brought together in a cast that allows them 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 become a new milestone in Japanese entertainment. Be sure to witness this historic moment. ＜U-NEXT Inc. President and CEO: Tsutsumi Tenshin＞ We are extremely pleased to announce this massive drama project with these three companies. We signed a partnership agreement with TBS Holdings, Inc. in June 2023, and have been in repeated discussions to create more strategic synergies, including production. As an original work originating from a streaming platform, this project will make the most of our partnership with TBS, and will be a new initiative that combines broadcasting and streaming, with the world-class high quality and scale of THE SEVEN. First, we hope to bring this wonderful Japanese drama to the world, where it can be enjoyed by discerning Japanese viewers. We hope you will look forward to it. ＜THE SEVEN Inc. President/CEO: Katsuaki Setoguchi＞ A
large-scale project for the global market, planned and produced by THE SEVEN, which aims 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 of our 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 Japanese drama history, and U-NEXT, the country’s largest streaming platform. We hope to thrill audiences around the world with “Japanese sword action entertainment,” a fusion of Japanese spirit and cutting-edge video technology. Please look forward to it. ■Work summary [Broadcast/Streaming] TBS
Television/U-NEXT [Production] THE SEVEN [Staff] Teru Morii (THE SEVEN) / Netflix’s “Alice in Borderland” series, “Yu Yu Hakusho,” and more Mamoru Inoue / TBS x WOWOW’s “Double Face,” “MOZU” series, and more Kazuya Shimomura (THE SEVEN) / Netflix’s “Yu Yu Hakusho,” the film “The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill,” and more Kazutaka Watanabe / Taiga drama “Onna Joushu Naotora,” morning drama “Maru,” “Rohan Kishibe Doesn’t Move” series, and more Masaaki Sakai / WOWOW drama series “Cold Case 2 & 3,” film “Keiko: Clear Your Eyes” Kensuke Sonomura / “Baby Valkyrie,” “Onmyoji 0,” and more Satoshi Akabane (THE SEVEN) / Netflix’s “Alice in Borderland” Season 3, “Yu Yu Hakusho,” and more Yuya Maeda / Movie “Legend & Butterfly” and others Yoshiaki Dewa / Netflix’s “Zon 100: 100 Things to Do Before You Become a Zombie,” the anime “Hell’s Paradise,” and more Nori Ishida (THE SEVEN) / Netflix’s “Alice in Borderland” series, “Yu Yu Hakusho,” and more 【Company Profile】 Company name: THE SEVEN Co., Ltd. Location: THE Hexagon, 5-4-7 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 3F Established: January 7, 2022 President and CEO: Katsuaki Setoguchi Website:
https://www.the7.co.jp/ 【What is THE SEVEN】 Established in January 2022 with investment from TBS Holdings. Primarily collaborating with global distribution platforms, the company plans, develops, and produces high-end content for the world, advancing its global content business as the core of the TBS Group’s overseas strategy. To date, the company has led Japanese video production, including a strategic partnership with Netflix, the establishment of its own dedicated studio with globally standard specifications, the production of season 3 of “Alice in Borderland,” co-development with partners in the United States and South Korea, and partnerships with VFX studios. The Netflix series “Yu Yu Hakusho,” produced by Morii and with Akabane as VFX producer, won the Grand Prix in the VFX category at the Asian Academy Creative Awards 2024 in recognition of its high-quality audiovisual effects. The film “The Fool’s Identity” also won the “Best Actor Award” at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. Inquiries: THE SEVEN PR Akihiko Watase and Mikako Watanabe Email: info@the7.co.jp