Program Highlisht March

【Drama】 

◆ “Ooku (The Inner Palace) -Episode One-” (Fuji Television) 

The second installment of the popular series. Centered on Kasuga no Tsubone, the most powerful “female ruler” in the history of the Ōoku, the drama portrays the women who survived the turbulent Warring States period and engaged in fierce battles for survival within the inner chambers. 

Cast: Yuki Matsushita, Reiko Takashima, Asaka Seto, Hidetoshi Nishijima, and others Airs from Tuesday, March 17 – 11 episodes total 

◆ “Ooku -War of the Belles-” (Fuji Television) 

The third installment of the series. Set in the Genroku era, when Edo culture flourished and Japan enjoyed one of its most prosperous periods. It was also the height of prosperity for the Ōoku within Edo Castle. This drama depicts the tangled love and hatred surrounding Tsunayoshi, the fifth Tokugawa shogun—often referred to as the most notorious shogun in the Tokugawa line—and the women around him. 

Cast: Rina Uchiyama, Shosuke Tanihara, Eiko Koike, Norika Fujiwara, and others Airs from Tuesday, March 31 – 10 episodes total 

☞ “Ooku　-The Inner Palace- (Season 1)” and “Ooku Special -Women at the End of Edo Period-” are also now streaming with English subtitles! 

◆ “The Files of Young Kindaichi Neo” (Nippon Television) 

Hajime Kindaichi, the grandson of renowned detective Kosuke Kindaichi, is a carefree high school sophomore who reveals extraordinary deductive skills whenever a case arises. Together with his childhood friend and classmate Miyuki Nanase, his junior Ryūji Saki, and Inspector Isamu Kenmochi of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, he brilliantly solves a series of difficult cases. 

Cast: Ryosuke Yamada, Haruna Kawaguchi, Daiki Arioka, Tomomitsu Yamaguchi, and others Airs from Tuesday, March 24 – 9 episodes total 

☞ Also available on demand: “Reboot,” “Then You Try Making It!”, “BUZZER BEAT,” “PUNCH-DRUNK WOMAN,” “Professional: Insurance Investigator Ren Amane,” “PRICELESS -Is there such a thing?-” and more! 

【Film】 

Arashi, the nationally beloved idol group that has announced the end of its activities as a group, features member Kazunari Ninomiya in two standout starring roles—now available for streaming! 

◆ “Fragments of the Last Will” 

Set in 1945, after World War II, in the brutal Siberian winter of minus 40 degrees. With meager rations and relentless forced labor, prisoners perish one after another in the internment camp. Among them is Hatao Yamamoto, imprisoned on suspicion of espionage. He continues to encourage his fellow detainees not to lose hope: “Never give up on living. The day we return home will surely come.” A miraculous true story depicting people who continued to believe in love and hope despite being at the mercy of fate. 

Cast: Kazunari Ninomiya, Keiko Kitagawa, Tori Matsuzaka, Kento Nakajima, and others Streaming from Tuesday, March 10 

◆ “THE BLUE LIGHT” 

Shuichi is a 17-year-old high school student in Shonan, living with his mother Tomoko—who supports the family on her own—and his younger sister Haruka. Their peaceful life is shattered when Sone, the man Tomoko divorced ten years earlier, suddenly reappears. Arrogant and abusive, drinking all day and even laying hands on Tomoko, Sone’s behavior grows increasingly dangerous. When his sister is finally threatened, Shuichi’s anger reaches its breaking point. Based on the novel by Yusuke Kishi and directed by internationally acclaimed stage director Yukio Ninagawa, this ultimate youth suspense drama shakes the soul. 

Cast: Kazunari Ninomiya, Aya Matsuura, Anne Suzuki, Kumiko Akiyoshi, and others Streaming from Tuesday, March 24 

【Sports】 

◆ “Grand Sumo Tournament – Spring Basho” 

After claiming consecutive championships in the previous tournament, Aonishiki now aims for promotion to yokozuna. Awaiting him are yokozuna Hoshoryu and Onosato, both determined not to allow Aonishiki a third straight title. With Atamifuji—who faced him in the championship playoff last tournament—and Kirishima, who led the rankings through Day 9, joining the fray, a fiercely competitive tournament is all but guaranteed. 

Airs from Sunday, March 8 to Sunday, March 22  Programs are subject to change without notice.