SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed her liking for Korean food, beauty products, and dramas to brush aside concerns that her hawkish and nationalist posture might sour bilateral ties.
Her comment reflects a broader trend in Japan, where audiences increasingly separate politics from cultural consumption as Korean pop culture gains deeper traction through social media and global streaming platforms.
Not only have the two neighbors — long distanced by historical grievances — grown more receptive to each other's culture, they are now actively blending talent and IP to create stories that resonate not just with Korean and Japanese viewers but with global audiences.
The latest standout collaboration is "Romantic Anonymous," starring Japan's Oguri Shun and Korea's Han Hyo-joo, which ranked No. 6 globally in Netflix's non-English TV category and No. 1 in Japan just a week after release, according to Netflix ranking site Tudum on Tuesday.
The series — directed by Japanese filmmaker Sho Tsukikawa, known for "I Want to Eat Your Pancreas," and written by Korean screenwriter Kim Ji-hyun — follows a mysophobic man and a socially anxious genius chocolatier. It was produced by Korea's Yong Film, known for "The Handmaiden," under the supervision of Netflix Japan.
Japan has become increasingly eager to recruit Korean talent and storytelling know-how after Korean works like "Parasite" and "Squid Game" demonstrated global impact, creative originality, and strong commercial returns.
A generational shift is also powering the trend, with younger viewers in both countries far less constrained by historical sensitivities in admiring each other's culture.
One of the clearest examples is Coupang Play's "What Comes After Love," released last September and based on a joint novel by Korea's Gong Ji-young and Japan's Hitonari Tsuji. The series was praised for opening a new chapter in Korean romance storytelling.
It held the No. 1 spot on Coupang Play for weeks, with viewership jumping 783 percent in its final week compared with its debut. After launching on Amazon Prime Japan, it immediately took No. 1 in the drama category (No. 3 overall), and within two weeks rose to the top position in 103 countries.
Disney+ also contributed early to the cross-border wave with "Connect" (2022), a Korea–Japan collaboration starring Jung Hae-in, produced by Studio Dragon and directed by Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike. The success of such projects marks a shift from simple casting or IP exchanges to full-scale joint productions involving writers, directors, studios, and creative staff from both countries.
"Korea and Japan share emotional narratives that both cultures easily relate to," said one OTT insider. "When the two countries merge their creative strengths — from acting talent to production expertise — the result can appeal far beyond Asia."
Another industry official noted the strategic value of the partnership: "Japan offers long-lived IPs and strong domestic loyalty, while Korea has proven global appeal. Together, they can capture both local and international audiences."
Streaming platforms show no intention of slowing the momentum.
Netflix is developing "Soulmate," starring 2PM's Taecyeon and Japanese actor Hayato Isomura.
Another highly anticipated project, "Road," based on the Japanese manga Ao no Michi, began production last month as a full Korea–Japan co-production, starring Son Suk-ku and Eita Nagayama as detectives investigating parallel murders in Seoul and Tokyo.
As streaming giants widen their global slates, Korea–Japan creative pairings are emerging as one of the most effective formulas for delivering emotionally rich stories with universal appeal.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
