Nippon TV teams up with CJ ENM for cross-cultural rom-com "Merry Berry Love," set for 2026 on Nippon TV and streaming globally on Disney+
A strawberry farmer. A down-on-his-luck spatial designer. And a quiet Japanese island where two people from different worlds actually stop long enough to listen. That's the heartbeat of "Merry Berry Love" (working title) - and the bigger story is who's making it happen.
Nippon TV announced its first-ever partnership with Korea's CJ ENM for the new romantic comedy, with a 2026 launch on Nippon TV and global streaming on Disney+. For folks tracking cross-border TV, this is one to circle - it blends Japanese setting, Korean and Japanese talent, and a platform that can actually take it everywhere at once.
The project
"Merry Berry Love" follows a struggling spatial designer and a strawberry farmer who find each other on a remote island in Japan. It's a clean, high-concept setup with space for character and scenery - think salt air, morning markets, and the small moments where people figure themselves out.
- Lead cast: Ji Chang Wook ("The Manipulated," "The Worst of Evil") as Lee Yubin; Mio Imada (movies and tv series) ("Tokyo Revengers") as Karin Shirahama
- Director: Kim Soojung ("Semantic Error")
- Writer: Lee Jaeyoon ("Divorce Insurance")
- Developed and produced by CJ ENM ("Parasite," "Queen of Tears"); co-produced by Nippon TV ("Mother," "Woman")
- Distribution: Nippon TV in Japan; Disney+ worldwide in 2026
Why this matters if you work in TV
It's a rare Japan-Korea scripted co-production backed by two companies that know how to travel stories. That mix alone makes it interesting for buyers and schedulers looking for titles that speak to multiple markets without feeling generic.
- Global reach baked in: Disney+ gives it instant visibility outside Japan.
- Built-in fandoms: Ji Chang Wook and Mio Imada bring sizable, active audiences.
- Genre momentum: Rom-coms with real locations and sincere stakes are having a moment again.
- IP muscle: Nippon TV typically retains strong IP control; CJ ENM has a seasoned drama pipeline via Studio Dragon and more.
Here's what this could mean: if "Merry Berry Love" lands, it nudges more Japan-Korea co-productions into the mainstream, especially ones that lean warm and character-first rather than high-concept thriller. It also signals Disney+'s ongoing appetite for Asian originals with cross-market casting.
What we don't know yet
- Exact premiere window in 2026
- Episode count and release pattern (weekly vs. all-at-once)
- Primary filming locations and language mix
- Additional cast and first teaser timing
Quick background: the players
Nippon TV is one of Japan's biggest entertainment companies and operates Hulu in Japan. The group has a long track record of exporting formats and finished shows. "Dragons' Den/Shark Tank" grew into more than 50 versions worldwide, and "Mother" became Asia's most exported scripted format with adaptations from South Korea to Greece. You've probably also seen "Old Enough!" popping up on Netflix feeds in dozens of countries.
On the content side, Nippon TV launched Gyokuro Studio in 2025 to push unscripted formats, and made Studio Ghibli a subsidiary in 2023 - a big marker for its long-term animation footprint.
CJ ENM, celebrating 30 years in 2025, spans film, TV, music, and live events. The company backed the Oscar-winning "Parasite," drama hits like "Queen of Tears," and global formats such as "I Can See Your Voice." Its group includes Studio Dragon, U.S.-based Fifth Season, and K-OTT studio CJ ENM STUDIOS, and it operates Korea's streaming platform TVING. If you've ever been to KCON or followed the MAMA AWARDS, that's them too.
The bottom line
Two seasoned studios. A simple, human story. A global runway via Disney+. Maybe it's timing, but this feels like the kind of warm, scenic rom-com that travels because it breathes - and because it lets its leads do what fans show up for.
Put it on your 2026 radar. We'll update when casting fills out and the first footage lands.
