The acclaimed Japanese actor Kōji Yakusho, known most recently for his stellar performance in Wim Wenders' "Perfect Days", returns to the screen in a comedy-drama series for Netflix.
Titled "Did Someone Happen to Mention Me?" (Japanese title: Ore no koto, nanka itteta?), the show will premiere globally on Netflix on October 22, 2026. Blending humour, drama and magical realism, the series explores fame, identity and the importance of being remembered.
The story follows Gen Takasegawa, a legendary stage actor who was once a household name across Japan. After spending two years building a successful career in London following the pandemic, he returns home following a celebrated performance as King Lear at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
At the height of his confidence, Gen expects to receive the recognition he believes he deserves. He repeatedly asks the people around him, "Did someone happen to mention me?" However, he soon discovers something unbelievable: nobody remembers him. Ordinary people, former colleagues and even his own family have no idea who he is.
Suddenly stripped of his fame, wealth and personal relationships, Gen must rebuild his life from scratch. His desperate and often comic attempts to reclaim his place in the public eye form the heart of the series.
Beneath the humour lies a deeper question: who are we when the world no longer recognises us?
The series is written by Kankuro Kudo, the acclaimed screenwriter behind popular productions such as "Let's Get Divorced" and "Extremely Inappropriate!". Tokyo-based company THE SEVEN is backing the series in association with Robot.
The cast is led by Kōji Yakusho, who plays Gen Takasegawa. Other cast members include Kento Kaku, Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Noriko Eguchi, Yumi Kawai and Masatoshi Hamada.
Yakusho's casting brings considerable weight to the project. With more than four decades in the industry and over 100 acting credits, he is widely regarded as one of Japan's finest actors. His career includes memorable performances across comedy, drama, suspense and psychological horror.
International audiences may know him best for "Perfect Days" (2023), in which he plays Hirayama, a quiet Tokyo public toilet cleaner who finds happiness in everyday routines. His subtle performance earned him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival.
His other celebrated roles include Shohei Sugiyama in "Shall We Dance?" (1996), a salaryman who discovers a passion for ballroom dancing, and Detective Kenichi Takabe in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's psychological thriller "Cure" (1997). He also starred in "The Eel" (1997), directed by Shohei Imamura, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes.
