Wemad Joins Hands with Fuji TV for 'Tales of the Strange' 35th Anniversary Special, Opening New Chapter in Korea-Japan Content Collaboration

Korean production company Wemad (WEMAD) is opening a new chapter in Korea-Japan content collaboration by co-producing the 35th-anniversary special of Fuji TV's renowned anthology series, 'Tales of the Strange' (世にも奇妙な物語).

The 'Tales of the Strange 35th Anniversary Special – Autumn Edition,' set to air on Fuji TV on Saturday, November 8th at 9 PM, heralds a new turning point for the series as a jointly produced work combining the creative forces of both nations.

The third story in this special, 'The Game You Can't Stop to Live' (止まらないと生きられないゲーム), was planned and developed collaboratively by Korea's Wemad and Japan's Kyodo Television. This suspense thriller plunges a man in despair into a mysterious game with a 3 billion yen prize, drawing him into a bizarre world where reality and illusion intersect. Starring Ryosuke Yamada in his first appearance in 'Tales of the Strange,' the project is already generating buzz.

The overall project was overseen by Fuji TV's Yuta Kano and Matsuki Ebana, and Kyodo Television's Ryota Nakamura and Kosuke Utatani. Wemad's CEO Hyun-wook Lee, CEO Yeon-sung Kim, PD Junyong Lee, and PD Yoorim Kim participated as co-producers. The script was penned by Wemad's Jin Ju, and directed by Masato Hijikata of Kyodo Television, raising expectations for the final product.

Wemad has previously established its reputation for drama production through works like 'Check In Hanyang' (체크인 한양), 'My Heart is Beating' (가슴이 뛴다), and 'The Red Sleeve' (옷소매 붉은 끝동). This collaboration with Japan's leading broadcaster Fuji TV marks an expansion of their partnership.

Notably, this collaboration is significant as it employed a 'creative collaborative production model,' with writers and producers from both countries participating jointly from the planning stage. By blending the Japanese suspense structure with Korean emotional depth and mise-en-scène, the project aims to add new aesthetics and directorial depth to the 'Tales of the Strange' series.

A Wemad representative stated, "This project went beyond simple co-production; it was a new way of collaboration where production teams from both countries explored stories and enhanced the quality together. We hope to deliver new emotions to global audiences through continued cooperation with various Asian countries."

Korean netizens are reacting enthusiastically, with comments like, 'Wemad is amazing! Co-producing with a Japanese broadcaster makes us proud,' 'Looking forward to seeing Ryosuke Yamada,' and 'Korean emotions + Japanese suspense sounds incredibly interesting already.'