TBS Holdings-owned The Seven and The Walt Disney Company in Japan have clinched a multi-year co-development alliance for live-action original content that can be rolled out globally on Disney+.
This is Disney’s first ongoing content-development pact in Japan for content that will travel internationally. The focus will be on live-action drama series filmed in Japan. The Seven intends to pitch original IPs, adaptations, and independently developed projects. Creative teams at The Seven and Disney Japan will collaborate closely from the outset, beginning at the script and series bible stages through production.
The Seven recently revealed that its Song of the Samurai, a live-action manga adaptation for TBS Television and U-NEXT, would stream on HBO Max in 100-plus markets.
Katsuaki Setoguchi, president and CEO at The Seven, noted, “This collaboration is a vital step in reinforcing our unwavering commitment to ‘continuously creating innovative content from Japan that captivates the world.’ It is an honor to enter into this historic deal with Disney, a company that brings diverse stories to every corner of the globe. I am confident that by unleashing the refined creativity of The Seven through Disney’s extensive network and expertise, we can evolve Japanese stories into the ‘next craze’ that people truly fall in love with. We will continue to transcend borders and language barriers in pursuit of authentic and innovative works that remain etched in the hearts of viewers forever.”
Akira Morii, VP and CCO at The Seven, added, “Through my past works, I have witnessed moments where the sheer passion of Japanese creativity has moved the world. In finding a partner who shares our aspirations, I feel both an expansion of possibilities and a profound sense of responsibility. Our mission is to take Japan’s signature delicate human dramas and intricate settings and elevate them into top-tier entertainment that anyone—regardless of border or race—can feel is ‘their own story.’ We will bring the technical mastery and production power The Seven has cultivated, our world-surprising storytelling, and the imagination of Japan’s talented creators to the new field of Disney+.”
Carol Choi, EVP of original content strategy at The Walt Disney Company AsiaPac, noted, “What excites us the most is the opportunity to work even more closely with Japan’s vibrant creative community, to develop stories that capture the country’s unique voice and imagination. Since the launch of Disney+ in Japan, general entertainment and local originals have become an increasingly important part of our content offering, making this collaboration a natural evolution in accelerating our content investment. It builds on the strong relationships we’ve developed over time and represents a meaningful step forward in deepening our storytelling roots in Japan, where local content, alongside our global franchise, continues to resonate with audiences.”
“For our local production team, the focus is on developing stories that audiences will want to come back to again and again,” added Gaku Narita, executive director of content production at The Walt Disney Company Japan. “This deal allows us to work closely with creators in Japan from the earliest stages of development, shaping projects that reflect local creativity while meeting the high bar of storytelling that Disney+ is committed to telling. We aim to nurture distinctive Japanese stories that can become signature works on Disney+—stories that feel authentic, enduring, and genuinely meaningful to audiences.”
