Netflix has picked up rights to Japanese financial drama series “Trillion Game” from leading local broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) and will begin airing it from Saturday.
The show involves two young men – one a computer programming ace, the other a self-centered but charismatic entrepreneurial type – who have their early career moves thwarted by Dragon Bank and instead start their own company with the seemingly impossible ambition of building a trillion dollar company.
They have no business plan and no capital and must come up with innovative ways to raise money and get ahead.
The story was based on a manga originally written by Inagaki Riichiro and illustrated by Ikegami Ryoichi that was serialized in Shogakukan’s Big Comic Superior magazine from 2020.
The TBS series, directed by Murao Yoshiaki, written by Habara Daisuke and produced by Matsumoto Akiko, Matsushita Hiromi and Kato Shoichi, began airing as weekly instalments in primetime evening slots from July 14 to Sept. 15.
Meguro Ren, a member of the J-pop idol group Snowman, plays Haru Tennoji, the charming but tricksy protagonist. Sano Hayato (TBS and Disney+ series “Tokyo MER”) portrays Gaku, his geeky sidekick. Imada Mio (“Tokyo Revengers,” “As Long as We Both Shall Live”) plays Kokuryu Kirika, the beautiful scion of Dragon Bank’s chief who tries to recruit Haru and Gaku after seeing what they are capable of.
Film veteran, Kunimura Jun (“Kill Bill,” “Minamata,” “Audition”) also has a key role as the head of the bank.
TBS first struck a program supply agreement with Netflix two years ago in October 2021. Initial titles supplied under the deal were drama series “Japan Sinks: People of Hope,” reality show “The Future Diary” and another drama series “Let’s Get Divorced.”
“TBS has set a goal to expand into global markets. We are looking forward to delivering our content to people around the world, and strengthening our position in the global content market,” said TBS’s DX Business Division president Yayoi Nakatani, at the time of the initial deal.
Having built a crucial position in the Korean TV production market, Netflix has recently enjoyed growing success with Japanese content, both originals and acquired shows. It recently renewed dystopian thriller series “Alice in Borderland” for a third season, extending the show beyond the manga source material.
