Demand for Japanese content booms post-Shogun

Fuelled in part by the success of TV hit Shogun (2024), foreign studios are hungry for quality Japanese content and local creators are adapting to meet demand.

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TOKYO - Fuelled in part by the success of TV hit Shogun (2024), foreign studios are hungry for quality Japanese content and local creators are adapting to meet demand.

Fans of Japanese manga and anime cartoons have often criticised foreign adaptations that are unfaithful to the original material.

But Shogun, based on the 1975 novel by Australian-British writer James Clavell, broke the mould when the period drama series - mostly in Japanese and hailed for its authenticity - won 18 Emmy awards in September.

Other recent Japanese works have also become worldwide hits.

Franco-American-Japanese show Drops Of God (2023 to present), based on a manga of the same name, won best drama series at the International Emmy Awards in November.

Netflix's 2023 adaptation of the manga superhit One Piece - starring Mexican actor Inaki Godoy as the lead - was hailed by viewers and critics alike and will return for a second season.

More adaptations of major manga and anime hits are in the works, including the superhero adventures of My Hero Academia and the ninja escapades of Naruto.