Netflix has officially announced that its upcoming Japanese series “Kujo no Taizai” will premiere on April 2. The live-action drama stars Yagira Yuya in the lead role, with Matsumura Hokuto of SixTONES playing a pivotal character. Alongside the release date, the production has also unveiled a 32-member supporting cast and a newly released trailer.
“Kujo no Taizai” is adapted from the manga by Manabe Shohei, the creator of “Yamikin Ushijima-kun,” known for his unflinching portrayals of society’s darker corners. Staying true to the tone of the original work, the series explores morally ambiguous territory, examining the uneasy boundary between law, justice, and human ethics. Ikeda Elaiza, Machida Keita, Otoo Takuma, and Muro Tsuyoshi take on other major roles, further strengthening the ensemble.
The story centers on Kujo Taiza, a lawyer who specializes in representing clients deemed “problematic” by society—gang members, yakuza affiliates, and individuals with criminal records. Branded by the public as a “money-grubbing lawyer,” Kujo firmly believes that lawyers should have neither ideals nor principles beyond one mission: protecting their clients. Guided by this belief, he defends them relentlessly, even when they are perpetrators of unforgivable crimes.
Joining him is Karasuma Shinji, a brilliant young lawyer and graduate of the University of Tokyo, portrayed by Matsumura Hokuto. Karasuma enters Kujo’s firm as a freelance attorney, bringing with him a very different sense of justice. As the two men confront cases together, their conflicting views force them to navigate the thin line between what the law permits and what morality demands.
The newly announced supporting cast includes Goto Takenori, Yoshimura Kaito, Mizusawa Rintaro, Tanaka Shunsuke, Iwamatsu Ryo, Watanabe Makiko, Kikuchi Akiko, Hasegawa Shinobu (Sissone), Kashii Yu, Mitsuishi Ken, Sendo Nobuko, Ikuta Toma, Kurosaki Kodai, Harada Taiga, Ishikawa Ruka, Yoshida Hyuga, Kawasaki Koki, Sakumoto Takara, Wada Misa, Mizusawa Shingo, Fukui Shoichi, Ujiie Megumi, Rokkaku Shinji, Suwa Shuri, Okuno So, Uraji Nuno, Maehara Mizuki, Yui Ryoko, Nagao Takuma, Tanabe Momoko, Morita Kokoro, and Mokudai Kazuto. The expansive lineup promises a richly textured portrayal of the world surrounding Kujo’s controversial practice.
With its trailer now public, “Kujo no Taizai” is shaping up to be a hard-hitting legal drama that challenges conventional notions of justice. As the premiere approaches, viewers are eager to see how the series balances gripping storytelling with its provocative moral questions, and how the dynamic between Yagira Yuya and Matsumura Hokuto will drive the narrative forward.
