Amazon Music’s first music entertainment show for kids and families to be released in Japan is here! Hee! Hee Hoo! premiered on Prime Video on January 26. The four-member vocal and dance group Atarashii Gakko! is also participating in the project.

Hee! Hee Hoo! is a body-themed four-episode series featuring surreal and psychedelic visuals along with Amazon Music Original music for young kids and their parents. This project was made to entertain and educate babies and children by using original images and music to address the physical changes they’ll experience from birth to death and to explain the sensations they feel.

The members of Atarashii Gakko! appear in the first episode, performing the song BABY which was written exclusively for the show.

<Comment from Atarashii Gakko!>
“The theme for this show is so great–the four of us had so much fun coming up with ideas, writing lyrics, and making choreography! I hope even fetuses can enjoy it!!”

Awesome City Club’s new song Setting Sail ~Modern Love Tokyo~ will be used as the theme song for the Amazon Original drama series Modern Love Tokyo. The series will begin airing worldwide on October 21, 2022. In addition, a special video containing a part of the song and a comment from Awesome City Club has been released.

The original Modern Love series was produced in the United States in 2019 and became popular around the world. Modern Love Tokyo is a series of seven stories set in Tokyo, each depicting love in a different way. Six of the episodes will be live-action while one will be animated. The series will depict the unique forms of love found in 2022, such as dating through matching apps, sexless relationships, senior love, and love that transcends borders. 

Setting Sail ~Modern Love Tokyo~ is an arrangement of the theme song Setting Sail, originally sung by Gary Clark for the first series. While the gentle melody remains, atagi wrote the Japanese lyrics. 

Special Video

▼Comment from Awesome City Club’s atagi

“Awesome City Club will be performing the theme song for the Japanese localization of this globally popular series, which was made possible by some of Japan’s leading directors and actors. I think that this song is warm and welcoming, perfect for accompanying all of these wonderful love stories. We would be honored if you’d enjoy it along with the show. 

I watched the drama first and wrote the lyrics in a way that would touch the audience while also interpreting them in Awesome City Club’s own way.”

▼Comment from Showrunner and Director Atsuko Hirayanagi

“The song was incredibly original, and I was amazed when I first heard it. I also thought that its Japanese sound was very cool. It’s full of joy, longing, and affection, but the way it is expressed is still gentle, warm, and a little nostalgic. The lyrics that atagi created are very tasteful given the theme of the series. There’s no doubt in my mind that this song will resonate with people around the world. Thank you for the wonderful theme song!”

Takeshi’s Castle, a popular Japanese game show originally aired in the late 1980s, will return in 2023 when a new series will start on Amazon Prime Video. 

The original show, aired between 1986 and 1989, proved a massive hit as the prizewinning film director and comedian, also known by his stage name Beat Takeshi, played the lord of a castle where he and his henchmen engaged in a water-gun battle with contestants eliminated after a series of physical challenges. The series became a huge success in the United States, Australia, and England. Over the years, it has ended up airing in more than 150 countries, spawning dozens of local versions.  

Participants were challenged to over 100 unique tests of strength, from crossing stepping stones and unstable scaffolding to jumping over massive pits filled with mud. The series has inspired many game shows to follow in markets around the world and transcended language and cultural barriers with its physical comedy.

The new series is tentatively titled Revival! Turbulence! Takeshi’s Castle, and is scheduled to air globally sometime in 2023. Participants will take on all kinds of new challenges, and we’re excited to see what the new age of Takeshi’s Castle will look like.

Comment from Takayuki Hayakawa, Head of Original Content for Amazon Prime Japan

“I’m happy to announce that Takashi’s Castle is being reimagined for a new age. This iconic Japanese series has continued to fascinate people all around the world, transcending languages and cultural barriers, and we hope customers of all ages will enjoy this program, with many new tricks on a grander scale. Look forward to it in 2023!”

The first Japanese Amazon Original movie ‘HOMESTAY,’ a live-action adaptation of Eto Mori’s classic novel ‘Colorful,’ will be released worldwide to Prime members on February 11, 2022.


The film is a moving mystery following a dejected soul reaching the train station to death. He is told that he is ‘lucky’ and will have another chance at life, and is then placed in the body of a 14-year-old boy named Makoto Kobayashi who has just committed suicide. Watched over by a neutral spirit, the soul must figure out what his greatest sin and mistake was in his former life before his 100-day time limit in Makoto’s body runs out. He also wants to find out why Makoto decided to end his life in the first place.

In the new trailer, Shiro (Kento Nagao) is told to take over Makoto’s body to find out the reason for his death, and we see him happily going about his high school life despite his overwhelming confusion. Shiro becomes close with Makoto’s childhood friend Akira (Anna Yamada) and Mizuki (Rikako Yagi), but the atmosphere of the story drastically changes when Shiro finds a diary and photos in Makoto’s room. While spending time as Makoto, Shiro learns more about his family’s secrets and his past. Why did Makoto choose to die? 

Official Trailer

If you look closely at the key visual, you can see a sad expression on Makoto’s face in Shiro’s reflection. The image shows two people in stark contrast: the cheerful and energetic Shiro and the delicate and shy Makoto.

Be sure to watch the film when it debuts worldwide on February 11!

©︎ 2022 Amazon Content Services, LLC OR ITS AFFILIATES.All Rights Reserved.

Amazon Prime Video is now streaming the second season of ‘The Benza,’ a Japanese comedy-drama series produced by independent film team Tokyo Cowboys. The new season will feature seven episodes, with the first four currently available. Episodes 5 to 7 will be released in March 2022.

‘The Benza’ was originally a 14-minute short film released in 2018. It inspired the first season of the television series in 2019 and found large popularity overseas. The show has won 32 awards from numerous film festivals in Japan and abroad, including Best Comedy, Best Actor, and Best Series. The series follows Kyle and Chris as they try to figure out how their toilet seat broke to prevent the end of the world.

Official Trailer

‘The Benza Season 2’ is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and PLEX in over 190 countries in eight languages.

Amazon Prime Video will release the Japanese adaptation of the Australian comedy series No Activity as an Amazon Original series on December 17, 2021. Ahead of the release, a new visual along with staff and cast details have been released!

The dramedy tells the story of two detectives on a stakeout, along with two officers at the station and a pair of dastardly criminals who discuss their personal lives. The catch? All of them are just waiting for a crime to take place! 

Special Video

In this adaptation, Shingo Tokita (played by Etsushi Toyokawa) plays a detective who has completely given up on his career. Despite appearing to be highly skilled, he’s a lousy worker who has never been promoted. Asobu Shiina (played by Tomoya Nakamura) is a good-natured newbie to the force, who previously worked as an instructor at a driving school. A good listener, he eventually coaxes Tokita to open up and reveal more about himself as a person and a cop. 

The series is directed by Tsutomu Hanabusa, known for his work as director of the recent Tokyo Revengers live-action film. The script was written by the winner of the King of Comedy 2014, Jirou from the comedy duo SISSONNE. 

Comment from Etsushi Toyokawa

“Jirou’s script was hilarious, and each line manages to be very convincing. The project sounded like a lot of fun and hearing that I’d be working with Mr. Nakamura again, I really wanted to participate. I hope you enjoy the funny dialogue between our characters.” 

Comment from Tomoya Nakamura

“I think this is a rare type of show in Japan. It’s a detective drama, but it revolves around one single situation, and the story only proceeds through unique conversations. It was something I could have a lot of fun with, and I hope that everyone enjoys it!” 

Comment from Tsutomu Hanabusa

“The script that Jirou wrote was something he spent an incredible amount of time on, and it’s incredible. The actors also gave this project their all, and I think this really is a detective drama like no other. Please look forward to it!” 

Comment from Jirou

“When I found out who would be starring in the series, I was in awe. I thought, “Jeez, what have I gotten myself into?” I’m excited to see how the director has managed to create this conversational drama, given that all of these characters have such strong personalities.” 

A special interview between Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno and popular Japanese comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto is coming to Amazon Prime Video on August 20. A trailer and teaser visual were also released with the exciting announcement.

The release of sci-fi mecha series Neon Genesis Evangelion in 1995 cemented Anno’s legacy in the anime industry. As a director, he also worked on series like Gunbuster, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Kare Kano, and 2004’s Cutie Honey.

Evangelion 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon a Time was released in theaters on March 8 and quickly became a phenomenon, making $92.7 million at the Japanese box office. Currently, all Evangelion films are available on Amazon Prime Video.

Hitoshi Matsumoto has been at the forefront of the Japanese entertainment industry for decades, working as a comedian, film director, writer, and producer. He makes up one half of comedy duo Downtown, along with fellow comedian Masatoshi Hamada.

Matsumoto currently hosts and produces the show Documental, available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Currently on its ninth season, the show is the longest-running Amazon Original Series in Japan. It revolves around ten comedians trapped in a room with each other, with the last to laugh dubbed the winner. Each comedian is hand-picked by Matsumoto, and the show has become popular in the US, Mexico, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, India, and other countries around the world.

Matsumoto’s other Amazon Prime series, FREEZE, features numerous celebrities, models, athletes, and comedians forced to remain perfectly still as a number of crazy things happen around them. The second season won the top prize at the Asia Television Awards for Original Digital Entertainment Program.

The trailer shows the moment in which Anno and Matsumoto meet for the first time, and viewers can sense the nervous energy in the air.

Hideaki Anno + Matsumoto Hitoshi Interview Special Trailer

What kind of conversation will these two have, considering how different they are? Watch and find out!

On August 13, 2021, the fourth and final installment of the Rebuild of Evangelion film series, Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time, was made available on Amazon Prime Video exclusively for Prime members. The service has also released Evangelion: 1.0 You are (Not) Alone, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, and Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo.  

To commemorate the newest film’s worldwide streaming release, a new YouTube video is highlighting some of the most popular scenes from the Rebuild of Evangelion film series. Check out how the characters sound in 11 different languages! Be warned, it contains spoilers for the final film!

(The languages featured are: English, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, Latin-American Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, and the original Japanese.) 

From hearing Shinji’s famed line ‘I mustn’t run away, I mustn’t run away’ in Japanese to hearing Kaworu utter “I’m looking forward to seeing you, Shinji Ikari,” in German, the trailer is full of memorable moments in its brief two minute and 35 second runtime, with classic lines delivered in ways audiences may have not heard them before. Fans of the series may be able to quickly discern which line is which, even hearing them spoken in a foreign language!

The final line is spoken by Shinji’s original English voice actor, Spike Spencer, bidding farewell to ‘all Evangelions.” 

Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time has made over ¥10.22 billion ($92.7 million) at the Japanese box office since it was released on March 8, 2021, making it the highest-grossing film in the series. 

©khara

*Translations and video availability may vary by country.

Amazon is set to release the anime film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time worldwide on August 13, offering it dubbed in 10 languages and subtitled in 28.

Originally released in Japan on March 8, 2021, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time is the fourth and final instalment of the Rebuild of Evangelion film series. The film’s theatrical run ended on July 21 where it was revealed that it had received 10.22 billion yen in total, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise and the first film distributed by Toei to reach this mark.

An online panel titled Comic-Con@Home was streamed on July 23 which was attended by the film’s director and writer Hideki Anno. The full video can be seen below.

“It’s been 16 years since this movie was remade,” explains Anno. “I was planning to finish it in about 8 years, but it took twice as long. So I’m relieved that it is finished.”

Asked about what he thinks attracts fans to the franchise, he says: “The story of the work, the drama, and the technical quality are kept as high as possible. We work hard to maintain high quality. And this is not possible without the efforts of our staff and cast. Aside from that, maybe there was something in Evangelion that people around the world emphasized with. It might be the emotions, or the structure that could be taken as their own stories. This is something that people all over the world feel for themselves, so it is hard to say what attracts them.”

Anno also discusses his enthusiasm towards seeking new goals. “Now that I’ve turned 61 this year, from now on, I plan on making some new live-action movies instead of Eva. For animation, it’d be great if I have a chance to do it again after I take some live-action shots.” He continues: “Making a live-action video is totally different from animation. Because I can do a lot of things that I can’t do with animation, that’s why I’m really looking forward to it.”

At the end of his talk, he comments: “Not only Evangelion, but my work basically deal with themes unique to Japan, aimed at people who grew up in Japan. I am really grateful and honoured that such works are seen and loved by people all over the world. Thank you so much for supporting Evangelion, and I hope you enjoy the film.”

Amazon Prime Video is currently streaming the first three films in the film series: Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, and Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo. The final film, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, will be released on the service worldwide on August 13, 2021.

©khara