First Love Story:-
In its second week since its release, the new Netflix series from Japan, titled “First Love,” has surged to the fifth position on the streamer’s rankings for non-English content. Additionally, it claims the top spot as the most-watched show in Japan for the week.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 23 November 2022 |
| Language | Japanese |
| Genre | Drama, Romance |
| Episodes | 9 |
| Cast | Minami, Kaho, Arthur Keng, Gaku Hamada, Kyôko Koizumi, Osamu Mukai, Arata Iura, Akiyoshi Nakao, Towa Araki, Rikako Yagi, Aoi Yamada, Takeru Satoh, Hikari Mitsushima |
| Director | Yuri Kanchiku |
| Writer | Yuri Kanchiku |
| Production | Netflix Studios |
| Certificate | 16+ |
Directed by Kanchiku Yuri and inspired by two songs by Japanese megastar Utada Hikaru, this romantic drama series comprises nine episodes. After its debut on Netflix on Nov. 24, “First Love” initially secured the eighth spot on the streamer’s Global Non-English list. However, in its second week, the series witnessed a remarkable ascent, reaching the fifth position with a total of 12.3 million watch hours.
The series stars Mitsushima Hikari as a taxi driver in Sapporo who reunites with a former heartthrob (Satoh Takumi) from her teenage years after a gap of two decades. Apart from dominating the Netflix charts in Japan, “First Love” has also found a place in the top ten lists of several other territories, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand. This widespread popularity can be attributed to the strong fanbase of Utada’s music in these regions.
In addition to “First Love,” another Japanese show making waves on Netflix is the anime series “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean,” which climbed to the eighth position on the Global Non-English chart following the release of new episodes on Dec. 1.
While Japanese content has historically been overshadowed by shows from neighboring South Korea, such as the global phenomenon “Squid Game,” platforms like Netflix are actively changing this narrative. Japanese content producers, who have traditionally focused on the domestic market, are now recognizing the importance of global audiences. Netflix’s success with “First Love” indicates a shift in this mindset, particularly in Asia, where Japanese music, fashion, anime, and other creative content have gained significant traction.
Building on the momentum generated by “First Love,” Netflix has lined up exciting releases for the future. These include the highly anticipated second season of “Alice in Borderland,” set to premiere on Dec. 22, and a new series by acclaimed filmmaker Kore-eda Hirokazu titled “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House,” scheduled to debut on Jan. 12. These upcoming releases are poised to further cement Netflix’s position as a platform for diverse and compelling Japanese content.
