Recently, there’s been a growing trend in Japan to adapt popular Korean dramas. These remakes stay true to the original stories while making adjustments to better connect with Japanese viewers. One of the latest projects to join this trend is the Japanese adaptation of Nevertheless, the hit Korean series starring Song Kang and Han So Hee. The remake, titled The Shapes of Love will be released globally on December 9th via the OTT platform ABEMA and Netflix. With Ryusei Yokohama taking on the lead role, the series is set to bring its own unique spin under the direction of Ryutaro Nakagawa, with Michihito Fujii as the executive producer.
Let’s take a closer look at other Korean dramas that have been reimagined for Japanese audiences as these remakes gain momentum.
Itaewon Class > Roppongi Class
Roppongi Class is a Japanese adaptation of a popular South Korean drama titled Itaewon Class. While the original drama was based on a webtoon, the Japanese version adapted the South Korean drama instead of the webcomic series. Both settings, Itaewon in Seoul and Roppongi in Tokyo, are known for their diverse cultures and foreign populations. The original Itaewon Class tells the story of Park Sae Ro Yi, a young man with a criminal record who establishes a bar in Itaewon and pursues his goals with his sociopathic friend Jo Yi Seo. Roppongi Class follows a very similar plot, simply changing the location to Roppongi.
Ryoma Takeuchi plays the role of Park Sae Ro Yi in the Japanese adaptation. Yurina Hirate plays Jo Yi Seo, Yuko Araki plays Oh Soo Ah, and Teruyuki Kagawa stars as the antagonist, Jang Dae Hee. The casting of Ryoma Takeuchi was deemed quite controversial at the time of the show’s running. Due to a past scandal involving his girlfriend, many questioned if he was suitable for the role who is described as just and righteous. Despite the controversy, the drama successfully aired a full 13 episodes and attracted a significant number of viewers or fans.
SKY Castle > Sky Castle
Sky Castle is the most recent Korean drama to receive a Japanese remake. The original series aired from November 2018 to February 2019, creating a sensation with its portrayal of the cutthroat competition among upper-class mothers and the struggles faced by their children.
The Japanese remake of Sky Castle shifted the focus from high school students preparing for university entrance exams to middle school students competing for admission to prestigious private middle schools. The drama heightened the stakes by introducing a system where admission to an elite middle school guaranteed future entry to a top university. It began airing in Japan in July 2024 and concluded in late September, while the Korean broadcast on JTBC ended on October 10th. With many of the staff from the Itaewon Class remake involved in this project, a dedicated production team for Korean drama remakes seems to be emerging. The remake has received mixed reviews, perhaps due to the compression of the original 20-episode series into just nine episodes. The first episode recorded the highest viewership ratings.
Signal > Signal: Long-Term Unsolved Case Investigation Team
Though some time has passed since its release, the Japanese remake of Signal is still worth mentioning. The original Signal, which aired in 2016 and gained popularity, was remade in Japan in 2018 under the title Signal: Long-Term Unsolved Case Investigation Team.
The remake retained the structure and character relationships of the original while adapting certain elements to fit local contexts. The main cast included Kentaro Sakaguchi, a popular Japanese actor who is also well-liked in Korea, alongside Michiko Kichise and Kazuki Kitamura. The 16-episode original was condensed into 10 episodes, staying close to the original but omitting some cases. While it was not an immediate hit, the remake gradually gained popularity and eventually broadcast a special episode, original to the Japanese series, in 2021. Later, an original screenplay expanded the universe further in Signal: The Movie. However, the movie received mixed reactions, as its tone and style diverged from the original series. The director even introduced it as an action film, which led some viewers to feel it had become a typical crime movie. Since the original Signal was a Korean drama, Signal: The Movie generated additional buzz when BTS performed its theme song. Kazuki Kitamura’s portrayal of the character equivalent to Lee Jae Han received positive reviews in the series, but there were mixed reactions to his performance in the film, with some feeling he didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the cast.
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