FanAsia has compiled a selection of Japanese series that premiered or will premiere in May 2026.

«Netajo»

(ネタジョ)

Premieres 01.05.2026
10 episodes, MBS, TVK

Cast: Tsuji Nagiko, Itao Itsuji, Nose Rin

This is a series about comedy, comedians and stand-up performers. Twenty-five-year-old Kageyama Satiko is a passionate fan of comedy. Her focus is on one thing only – the very soul of comedy, the "neta" (skit). With a red notebook in her hand, she visits theatres day after day, analysing performances. Soon she becomes a "professional comedy observer" or "Netajo". The drama offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the world of comedy.

«Mercator Knight»

(メルカトル・ナイト)

Premieres 01.05.2026
10 episodes, Hulu

Cast: Mizusawa Rintaro, Suga Kenta, Tsunematsu Yuri

This is an adaptation of the popular short story "Mercator Knight" from Maya Masataka's detective novel series about private investigator Ayu Mercator. The protagonist is an egocentric, narcissistic brilliant detective in a top hat and tuxedo, whose unpredictable and dazzling methods keep everyone on edge. At the centre of the plot is a case involving a popular writer who turns to Mercator with a request: she feels someone wants to kill her. Every day she receives mysterious playing cards, as if counting down to an inevitable murder. Together with his assistant and writer Mihaku Sanjo, the eccentric detective sets out to unravel a deadly tangle of secrets.

«The Author I Admired was not Human»

(Akogare no Sakka wa Ningen ja Arimasen deshita, 憧れの作家は人間じゃありませんでした)

Premieres 04.05.2026
8 episodes, Amazon Prime

Cast: Sakurada Hiyori, Kyomoto Taiga

The idol of millions and bestselling author Misaki Zen is actually a vampire. Having lost all meaning in life and inspiration, he has not been able to write a single line for a long time and views everything with deep pessimism. However, fate brings him together with a young, naive editor as well as a detective investigating a series of mysterious crimes. Using his vampire abilities – mind reading, hypnosis and extrasensory perception – Misaki begins to help the police solve hopeless cases, gradually regaining his lost human emotions.

«Draft King: Border Line»

(ドラフトキング －BORDER LINE)

Premieres 15.05.2026
10 episodes of 30 min., WOWOW

Cast: Muro Tsuyoshi, Miyazawa Hio, Denden

This is a sequel to the popular drama about the behind-the-scenes life of professional baseball, focusing not on the players but on scouts who search for talent. The main characters are Gohara Ganriki, a brilliant scout for the Yokohama BayGulls club, and his partner Kanzaki Ryosuke. The title "Border Line" reflects the season's main theme: the fate of players on the verge of being cut, and the scouts who are forced to make tough but necessary decisions. The series tells of the scouts' war over a talented pitcher, the difficult situation of a veteran facing dismissal, and the dream of a rookie trying to break into the major league.

«Dead End: Rasetsu no Kokuin»

(DEAD END ―羅刹の刻印)

Premieres 22.05.2026
3 episodes

Cast: Fukushi Seiji, Oshida Gaku, Namioka Kazuki

This is a drama about revenge. The main character, Aoi, who lost his father – a former head of a crime clan – embarks on the path of "Rasetsu" (a man-eating demon) to destroy the organisation at any cost. To infiltrate the heart of the mafia, he is forced to cooperate with a mysterious and dangerous criminal group, balancing on the edge between a thirst for revenge and a longing for justice. This is a harsh and uncompromising story of how far a person can go after losing everything.

«Maison Prison»

(Mushoran Mitsuboshi, ムショラン三ツ星)

Premieres 23.05.2026
5 episodes, NHK G

Cast: Koike Eiko, Nakamura Aoi, Tomosaka Rie

An eccentric social comedy about a Michelin-starred chef who ends up in the heart of a prison kitchen. The main character, Ginbayashi Yoko, was a brilliant Italian chef whose restaurant thrived until the owner ran off with all the proceeds, leaving her bankrupt with two children. In desperation, she agrees to become a dietitian in a men's prison, where the inmates – who have no idea how to cook – will assist her in the kitchen. A limited budget (just 543 yen per day for three inmates), strict regulations and a complete lack of skills for prison food turn every meal into a culinary disaster. Overcoming obstacles, the heroine and her team try to achieve the impossible – to earn a "prison Michelin star" and bring back the inmates' hope for a normal life after release.