THE SEVEN, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Katsuaki Setoguchi; hereinafter “THE SEVEN”) today announced that it has entered into a multi-year co-development partnership with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Tamotsu Hiiro; hereinafter “Disney”) to produce high-quality Japanese live-action original content designed to resonate with viewers across the globe.
This marks the first time Disney has established an ongoing content development partnership with a Japanese production company in Japan for global streaming distribution.
Creating New Entertainment That Captivates the World
The objective of this partnership is to co-plan and co-develop rich Japanese stories—primarily as live-action drama series filmed in Japan and in the Japanese language—to be delivered globally via Disney+, the streaming service operated by Disney worldwide.
By fusing THE SEVEN’s proven creative vision and formidable production capabilities with Disney’s century-long expertise in world-class storytelling, the two companies aim to elevate Japanese stories into global IPs, creating deeply moving experiences that leave a lasting impact on audiences everywhere.
A Deepening Partnership: Walking Together from the Seeds of Conception
Under this agreement, both companies will collaborate closely from the earliest stages of planning and development, nurturing the next generation of hits with a medium-to-long-term perspective. In each contract year, THE SEVEN plans to propose multiple compelling projects, including original IPs, adaptations of published works, and unique independent development projects.
For curated projects, creative teams from both companies will work hand-in-hand to build meticulous scripts and expansive series “bibles” and worlds that resonate with international viewers. From the initial spark of an idea through to production, this powerful alliance will maximize the potential of Japanese storytelling.
Akira Morii, Vice President & CCO, THE SEVEN, Inc., commented, “Through my past works, I have witnessed moments where the sheer passion of Japanese creativity has moved the world. In finding a partner who shares our aspirations, I feel both an expansion of possibilities and a profound sense of responsibility. Our mission is to take Japan’s signature delicate human dramas and intricate settings and elevate them into top-tier entertainment that anyone—regardless of border or race—can feel is ‘their own story.’ We will bring the technical mastery and production power THE SEVEN has cultivated, our world-surprising storytelling, and the imagination of Japan’s talented creators to the new field of Disney+. Please stay tuned.”\
Gaku Narita, Executive Director, Content Production, The Walt Disney Company Japan said, “For our local production team, the focus is on developing stories that audiences will want to come back to again and again. This deal allows us to work closely with creators in Japan from the earliest stages of development, shaping projects that reflect local creativity while meeting the high bar of storytelling that Disney+ is committed to telling. We aim to nurture distinctive Japanese stories that can become signature works on Disney+—stories that feel authentic, enduring, and genuinely meaningful to audiences.”
