Time Travel and Cross-Cultural Stories: Trends in 2024 Japanese Scripted Content
By Chris Weatherspoon
What do Japanese viewers want to see in 2024? Breakthrough Now Media asked experts from major Japanese broadcasters TV Asahi, TBS, and Kansai TV to share their insight on where scripted content is headed in 2024. Here are what industry insiders think will captivate Japanese audiences in the year to come:
We contacted Japanese broadcasters Kansai TV, TV Asahi and TBS
Time Warps Are Hot
According to Miyuki NAKASONE of TV Asahi, a popular theme for scripted series will be stories where the protagonist travels through time between the past and the present. NAKASONE also highlights the current popularity of highlighting differences between generations. “Dramas in which the protagonist…tries to change his or her own destiny or that of others while being perplexed by the gap between the two [generations] are popular genres that have been featured in various forms.” NAKASONE mentions TBS's <Extremely Inappropriate>, which shows characters changing their destinies while grappling with the culture shock of different eras.
TBS’s <Extremely Inappropriate>
Kansai TV's Chloe KIM expands on NAKASONE’s insight about time travel dramas. “I think Japanese dramas are suffering,” says KIM, “and…TV stations are trying to do something different from others.” She notes the popularity of time travel shows and how this genre offers viewers a touch of nostalgia. “There are a few time travel dramas which are doing quite well,” she says. "Main characters go back to the past and change the situation by making different choices, and sometimes the viewers enjoy seeing props used in the dramas, which they used to use in the past." KIM also mentions Extremely Inappropriate (TBS) in addition to other recent popular time travel series <Don’t Use Time Travel for Love> (Kansai TV) and <Rebooting> (Nippon TV).
Nippon TV’s <Rebooting> Kansai TV’s <Don’t Use Time Travel for Love>
Beyond Traditional Drama
TV Asahi’s NAKASONE also notes that feel-good dramas are becoming more popular. This suggests a desire for lighter content alongside staples like crime and romance. “Criminal procedurals, suspense, and love stories are still very common genres,” says NAKASONE, “but I think that many feel-good dramas are also increasing in Japan.” Additionally, NAKASONE highlights a surge in popularity for the BL (Boys' Love) genre, noting that one of the most popular BL dramas in Japan is TV Asahi’s <Ossan’s Love>. Not sure what BL drama is? Here’s our article explaining the popularity of this genre.
TV Asahi’s <Ossan’s Love>
Korean Connection
TBS's Shuji MAEDA has a positive outlook for the state of Japanese dramas in 2024 and celebrates the success of their groundbreaking series "Eye Love You". The first ever prime drama to feature a Korean actor in a lead role, <Eye Love You> has been a ratings success for both broadcast and streaming platforms. “The series has been in NETFLIX’s Weekly Top 10 in Japan for 5 weeks in a row,” MAEDA explains, “And also in the Weekly Top 10 in Korea for 4 weeks in a row. We're very happy that the series has been well received by Korean viewers." Maeda attributes this success in part to TBS’s strategy of providing different versions for broadcast and digital platforms, adding Japanese subtitles to the Korean character's "inner voice" online as a method to "attract viewers, both to TV broadcasting and online platforms."
TBS’s <Eye Love You>
A Bright Year Ahead
Japanese scripted content is embracing bold themes and collaborations in 2024. If you're a fan of time travel dramas, cross-cultural shows, or nostalgic storylines, then definitely take a look at the series listed in this entry. Also, check back with us in our next newsletter where we will look at what experts say will be the trends for unscripted Japanese content in 2024.