Prime Video announced a significant expansion of its Japanese content strategy, committing to double its investment in original programming over the next two years. The initiative is being spearheaded by executives including the Asia Pacific VP and Japan country manager, who outlined the company’s vision for the region during an interview with media.
The centerpiece of the new slate is a documentary project from acclaimed director Kore-eda Hirokazu centered on boy band Arashi. The documentary, titled “5 – Our Time as Arashi -,” will provide behind-the-scenes access to the band’s five-dome farewell tour, which occurred approximately six years following the group’s initial hiatus. The film is scheduled to premiere worldwide on Dec. 15, with a concert film capturing the tour’s Tokyo Dome finale set to arrive on Dec. 21. Nine archival Arashi concert recordings will begin rolling out sequentially from Sept. 15.
The expanded investment reflects Prime Video’s position as the leading streaming service in Japan by both user ratio and subscription base. Company leadership emphasized that Japanese subscribers now expect the platform to function as a comprehensive entertainment destination rather than a service focused on a single genre or title. The slate spans anime, scripted and unscripted content, films, and sports programming to address diverse viewer preferences.
Original live-action series have been identified as a key priority within the growth strategy. Upcoming adaptations include “Bless,” based on a manga serialized in Monthly Shonen Sirius; “Rock, Paper, Landmine,” adapted from a prize-winning mystery novel; “Please Save My Earth,” based on a sci-fi manga; and “The Apothecary Diaries,” a co-production with Toho studio. The service is also pursuing growth through an “entertainment hub” model combining channel partnerships, transactional video-on-demand offerings, and deep genre-focused programming through third-party partnerships.
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