Netflix, NHK Partner on WWII Drama

TOKYO: A World War II miniseries from the Netherlands’ FATT Productions and Canada’s Don Carmody Television (DCTV) for NHK is set to be streamed worldwide on Netflix, day and date with the Japanese launch.

Tokyo Trial is a four-part co-pro between NHK, FATT and DCTV that recreates the tribunals that began in 1946 charging Japanese political and military leaders with war crimes. This marks Netflix’s first collaboration with the Japanese pubcaster. Greg Peters, the president of Netflix Japan, noted, “Tokyo Trial is an incredibly powerful story of historical significance and now through Netflix, this story will reach over 86 million Netflix members across 190 countries.”

“This drama will open a fine new page of NHK’s rich tradition of producing quality contents on modern history,” said Takaaki Sato, the head of NHK Special Programs. “I am especially delighted that we could share with our global partners this passion to freshly create this drama with strong story for the world’s viewers.”

The drama will air on NHK’s flagship channel over four nights. Audiences outside of Japan will be able to stream all four episodes beginning December 12 on Netflix.

“It has been a remarkable journey crafting this wonderful mini-series with our international co-production partners (FATT & NHK),” said Don Carmody, president of DCTV. “To be able to release a project (like Tokyo Trial) of such global significance worldwide day and date for all audiences is truly one of the incredible benefits of modern technology. We have the power to unite and provoke both collective awareness and audiences on the same day with our strong distribution partners, NHK and Netflix.”

FATT Productions producer Hans de Weers added, “Only within the unique collaboration of producers from three countries and cultures [was] this project able to come to life. Each partner contributed essential elements to this production as required by the scripts and the production. Stories like this should be told more often and in such an intense way as in Tokyo Trial.”