Oguri Shun, Han Hyo-joo, Nakamura Yuri, and Akanishi Jin to appear in new Netflix romance series

■ “I am truly happy to be able to take part in this joint production between Korea and Japan, a work that transcends national boundaries.” (Jin Akanishi)

Netflix has announced the production of a new romance series from Japan, featuring some of Asia’s best cast and crew.

This romantic comedy begins with a chance encounter between the protagonist, who “can’t touch people,” and the heroine, who “can’t look people in the eye,” both of whom have serious problems with interpersonal relationships, through chocolate.

The original work is the French film “Les Emotifs anonymes” (Japanese title: Anonymous Love Advice Center / The “E” in Emotifs is officially written with an acute accent). Although it has not been released in theaters in Japan, it won the Audience Award at the 2011 French Film Festival and has gained high support from movie fans who are fascinated by the story that mixes romance and humor. This excellent work, which is known only to those in the know, will be reconstructed as a Netflix series.

The film stars Shun Oguri as the lead, Han Hyo-joo as the heroine, and Jin Akanishi as the lead. This is a spectacular collaboration between two of Japan’s and Korea’s most famous actors.

Oguri plays the protagonist, Fujiwara Sosuke, the son of a major confectionery manufacturer who suffers from germaphobia due to past trauma and is the new president of the popular chocolate shop “Le Sober.” Han plays the heroine Hana, a genius chocolatier who has been hiding her true identity as an “anonymous chocolatier” at “Le Sober,” the shop owned by her beloved master, due to her scopophobia.

Yuri Nakamura has also been confirmed to appear in the film. Nakamura will play the role of Irene, a psychiatrist who is both Sosuke’s friend and doctor. She is a famous psychiatrist who later counsels Hana and publishes a book, but she herself suffers from alcoholism and has trouble with romance.

Akanishi will play Takada Hiroshi, a friend of Sosuke’s from his school days and owner of his favorite bar, Brush. Hiroshi was also friends with Hana’s mentor, the former owner of Le Sober, and is the man Hana secretly has feelings for…

The film will be directed by Tsukikawa Sho, who has directed last year’s megahit Netflix series “Yu Yu Hakusho” and has produced many love stories. Additionally, the visual design of the film’s world, including the chocolate shop “Le Sauvaire,” which could be considered another main character, as well as the sets, locations, and costumes, will be done by Lee Ha-jun, who worked on the Academy Award-winning film “Parasite.”

The film will be edited by Yang Jin-mo, who also worked on “Parasite: The Semi-Underground Family,” and the music will be composed by veteran music director Dalpalan, who has won numerous music awards in Korea. The film will be produced by YONG FILM, which has planned and produced Netflix films such as “Drug War,” “Roh Gi-wan,” and “20th Century You.”

YONG FILM is a Korean production company that has an outstanding planning ability regardless of genre and produces highly polished works, and this is their first work in Japan.

Produced by a cast and crew from Japan, Korea, and Asia’s finest globally, filming is progressing smoothly across Japan and the series will be distributed worldwide exclusively on Netflix in 2025.

■Comment from Shun Oguri (role of Sosuke Fujiwara)
When I received the offer, I was given a very solid plot, and at that point the worldview of the work was clearly visible.
From then on, wonderful cast and staff members began to gather, and I remember being very excited and looking forward to the start of the project.
Right now, we are in the process of creating the film, carefully checking and discussing the differences in expression between Japan and Korea, as well as the sense of words, and making efforts until the very end to create a quality production.
I look forward to continuing to create fun projects with this amazing team so that we can deliver excitement and thrills to everyone.

■ Comment from Han Hyo-joo (Lee Ha-na)
I was happy to be able to appear in a Japanese production again after such a long time. I am also delighted to be able to participate as an actor in a collaborative production between Korea and Japan, working with the Korean team including the Korean producer, art director, editor, and music director.
There were some difficulties in filming as a collaborative effort. Still, I had a lot of fun filming with the director, my co-stars, and the staff. As an actor, I have many good memories that I will never forget. I am doing my best as I can, with the mindset of a new actor for the first time in a while, feeling a fresh sense of tension.
We will do our best until the very end to create a work that everyone who watches it can enjoy. We appreciate your interest and support.

■Comment from Yuri Nakamura (role of Irene)
No matter how happy a person seems,
Each person has their own difficulties in life.
In an easy-to-watch and fun romantic comedy
The comical but desperate adults
In this work, I depict.
Cast and staff members who speak different languages
As the discussion progresses
The importance of communication
Nowadays, remote work has become the norm.
I feel it again
We are all working together.
Han Hyo Joo from South Korea
The staff
Although you may be anxious in a foreign land,
I saw them working with a cheerful attitude and putting their all into their work.
I have been touched many times.
Fightin’ to the end!
We all want to deliver a good piece of work.

■ Comment from Jin Akanishi (role of Hiroshi Takada)
I am truly happy to have the opportunity to take part in this joint Korean-Japanese production that transcends national boundaries.
During the filming process, we face various challenges, such as language barriers and cultural differences, but each day is a fun and rewarding experience.
I was impressed that the heroine of this work is able to speak Japanese like a Japanese person in her daily life.
Led by her, the Korean staff are also studying Japanese and improving their language skills day by day, and I am impressed by their supportive attitude.
I believe that many Japanese actors and teams are being inspired by experiencing such an international environment firsthand.
The character Hana is also very cute, and I feel like she adds some glamour to this work.
Please take a good look at me.

■Comment from Director Sho Tsukikawa
The Japanese and Korean staff and cast worked together while respecting each other’s cultures and opinions.
is.
We had many discussions before filming, and even on the set,
We are all pursuing “what is best” until that very moment.
Han Hyo-joo, who plays the heroine, wrote down some words on my iPad.
It’s Korean for “Make a wish come true!”
It apparently means “Let’s do our best until the very end!” in Japanese.
I embrace this phrase as the slogan for this project and work hard every day on my photography.
I don’t know where I’ll land yet. I’m still looking for the best outcome while I’m shooting.
It’s a thrilling process, but we want to pool everyone’s strength and deliver a wonderful work to everyone.
I am thinking.
Please look forward to the completion!

■ Comment from Lim Seung-yeon (Producer/Showrunner/YONG FILM)
I am truly happy to be able to watch the process of this work, which has been in the planning stages for 10 years, being written by a Korean screenwriter, directed by a Japanese director, and performed by top actors from both Japan and Korea. I hope that this work, which was planned and produced by Korean production company YONG FILM and produced and distributed by Netflix in Japan, will be loved and shown interest by many people.

■Comment from Makiko Okano (Executive Producer / Netflix)
When I stepped onto the set of the chocolate shop Le Sauveur, I was thrilled by the sweet, beautiful, dreamlike world that unfolded before me. On this amazing set and surrounded by the gorgeous scenery of Japan, actors representing Japan and Korea perform charming and endearing performances. The best staff and cast from Japan and Korea respect each other’s cultures and weave a beautiful story with pride. Please look forward to it.

Information

“Netflix new romance series (title undecided)”
Distribution: Exclusively distributed worldwide on Netflix in 2025

Starring: Shun Oguri, Han Hyo-joo, Yuri Nakamura, Jin Akanishi
Director: Sho Tsukikawa
Screenwriter: Kim Ji-hyun
Screenplay cooperation: Yoshikazu Okada
Photo by Kosuke Yamada
Production Designer: Lee Ha-jun
Edited by: Yang Jinmo
Music: Dalparan
Executive Producer: Makiko Okano (Netflix)
Produced and Showrunner: Lim Seung-yeon
Planning: Park So-young
Producers: Kim Young-eon, Choi Ki-young, Kim Kunsil, Takuro Nagai, Mao Osaki
Production: YONG FILM, RYU FILM
Production cooperation: RIKI Project
Based on the film “Les Emotifs anonymes” (directed by Jean-Pierre Ameris, written by Jean Pierre Ameris and Philippe Blasband)
Produced by: Netflix

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