Netflix is planning to produce more Japanese shows after the success of its original 10 episode production entitled "Hibana." The show has been subtitled into 19 languages after drawing viewers from across the globe.
"Hibana" is about a 20-year-old comedian trying to find his way in the entertainment industry. The show highlights his journey and his struggles to reach his dream of being famous. The lead character is played by a Japan Academy Prize Winner, Kento Hayashi.
The President of Netflix Japan, Greg Peters, said that half of the viewers of the show were from outside of Japan. He expressed surprise that the show reached viewers from all over Germany, Brazil, and the United States.
Netflix entered Asia last year by penetrating its first market, Japan. The company has allotted a figure of $6 billion for purchasing and producing movies and television series globally.
Through Hibana, Peters and his team were able to discover that Japanese shows have the potential to capture an audience larger than what the content distribution has given them in the past. He, however, declined to disclose further information about the figures related to viewers and subscribership in Japan.
Netflix is planning to enter the Chinese market next. Peters said that the company is yet to plan its marketing strategy. Netflix will have to compete with Chinese video streaming providers such as Youku Tudou and iQiyi for a share of the country's market. The company is also going to face censorship issues in China.
Peters said there is no timeline yet for Netflix's foray into the Chinese market.
