Soul Mate (TV series)
2026 Japanese television series
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Soul Mate (Japanese: ソウルメイト, Hepburn: Sōrumeito) is a 2026 Japanese romance boys' love television series written and directed by Shunki Hashizume. The series follows a ten-year relationship between Ryu Narutaki (Hayato Isomura) and Johan Hwang (Ok Taec-yeon) that traverses the cities of Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo. It was released on Netflix on May 14, 2026.
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| Soul Mate | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster | |
| Katakana | ソウルメイト |
| Genre | |
| Written by | Shunki Hashizume |
| Directed by | Shunki Hashizume |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Dalpalan |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Original languages |
|
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Koichi Murakami[1] |
| Production locations | |
| Running time | 33–47 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | May 14, 2026 |
Synopsis
Ryu Narutaki, a young man who has left Japan, meets Korean boxer Johan Hwang. Their encounter initiates a decade-long relationship that spans Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo. As their lives remain intertwined, they navigate personal trauma and a developing romance.
Cast and characters
Main
- Hayato Isomura as Ryu Narutaki, an ice hockey player who left Japan following an accident
- Ok Taec-yeon as Johan Hwang, a Korean boxer who saved Ryu
Supporting
- Ai Hashimoto as Sumiko Shinonome, Ryu's childhood friend who moves to Germany to pursue a career as a fashion designer[2]
- Koshi Mizukami as Arata Oikawa, Ryu's best friend and ice hockey teammate from his youth[2]
- Yutaro Furutachi as Seiichi Aizawa, a fellow ice hockey teammate[2]
- Lee Jae-yi as Hwang Su-ah, Johan's younger sister and sole family member, who provides him with consistent support[2]
- Cent Chihiro Chittiii as Madoka Kadoya, a senior colleague at the nursing facility where Ryu is employed[2]
- Ken Yasuda as Kenichi Hayakawa, the coach of the ice hockey team[2]
- Kaho Minami as Ryu's mother[2]
- Tomokazu Miura as Ryu's father[2]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Original release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Gravity of Fate" Transliteration: "Unmei no Rikigaku" (Japanese: 運命の力学) | May 14, 2026 |
| 2 | "Can We Save Our Souls?" Transliteration: "Tamashii o Mamoreru ka?" (Japanese: 魂を守れるか?) | May 14, 2026 |
| 3 | "Deep in the Heart's Mirror" Transliteration: "Kokoro no Keshiki ni Utsuru Hito" (Japanese: 心の景色に映る人) | May 14, 2026 |
| 4 | "Our Sandcastle" Transliteration: "Sajō no Futari" (Japanese: 砂上の2人) | May 14, 2026 |
| 5 | "Rebirth of a Soul" Transliteration: "Umarekawaru Tamashii" (Japanese: 生まれ変わる魂) | May 14, 2026 |
| 6 | "The Galactic Railroad" Transliteration: "Ginga Tetsudō" (Japanese: 銀河鉄道) | May 14, 2026 |
| 7 | "Because of Love" Transliteration: "Ai Yue ni" (Japanese: 愛ゆえに) | May 14, 2026 |
| 8 | "Sōrumeito" Transliteration: "Soul Mate" (Japanese: ソウルメイト) | May 14, 2026 |
Production
Development
Soul Mate was first announced by Netflix on June 28, 2024. The project originated from a discussion between director Shunki Hashizume and executive producer Dai Ota regarding the concept of a long-term relationship between individuals from different cultural backgrounds. According to Ota, the narrative was developed to explore the intersection of lives in foreign settings.[3] The series is written and directed by Hashizume with production managed by Robot Communications and GTist.[1][4]
Casting
Hayato Isomura and Ok Taec-yeon were confirmed in the lead roles. Isomura noted that the production's three-country filming schedule was intended to provide a global setting for the ten-year story arc while Ok joined the project to explore the character's internal struggles.[5]
Filming
Principal photography took place across three cities: Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo in 2024.[3] To prepare for the role of a boxer, Ok Taec-yeon underwent a regimen of weight loss and boxing training that continued through the filming period.[5]
