Netflix announces ‘Kokumin Quiz’ series starring Takayuki Yamada

Netflix has announced the global release date for its new Japanese live-action series, ‘Kokumin Quiz’ (National Quiz), scheduled for December 17, 2026. The eight-episode production is based on the provocative 1993 manga by Reiichi Sugimoto and Shinkichi Kato.

Set in a parallel-world dystopia, the story depicts a Japan where a national quiz program serves as the country's highest authority. Winners can have any desire granted by the government—ranging from wealth to the erasure of criminal records—while losers face severe penalties such as forced labor. The series stars Takayuki Yamada as K.I. Kichi, a charismatic and influential entertainer who hosts the program.

Produced by THE SEVEN, the production utilized approximately 8,000 extras to capture the scale of a nation obsessed with the broadcast. The newly revealed cast includes Riko Ishida, Kana Kurashina, Koji Seto, Masahiro Takashima, Eiko Koike, and Renji Ishibashi. The series is directed by Teruyuki Yoshida.