Co-produced by WOWOW and Tokai TV, Yokohama Neighbors is an ensemble mystery drama based on the popular novel series, often described as the “Reiwa-era Ikebukuro West Gate Park.” The story follows Koyanagi Ryuichi, a young man haunted by the loss of his father in an accident, and Iwashimizu Kinta, an older childhood friend who has watched over him for years and now works as a detective. Together, they confront the pressing social issues of modern Japan head-on.
Onishi plays Ryuichi (nicknamed “Ron”), a young man raised in Yokohama’s Chinatown who is a high school graduate with no job and almost no savings. Intelligent but lazy, he sports messy hair and a worn-out look. Hara, taking on his first leading role in a TV drama series, portrays Kinta, Ron’s older brother figure who watches over him with both warmth and composure as Ron constantly gets involved in various incidents and troubles.
The drama is divided into two seasons, with Season 1 consisting of eight episodes. Focusing on stories centered around women, Season 1 features self-contained episodes that tackle timely social issues such as “black market part-time jobs,” “resale scammers,” and “real estate fraud.” Season 2 is set to air on WOWOW in March.
