24 Japan
24 Japan is a Japanese action thriller television series airing on TV Asahi, based on the American series 24. It began airing from 9 October 2020 and continued through March 2021. It was created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, written by Shūkei Nagasaka and produced by Total Media Communication and 20th Century Fox Television, also commemorates the 60th anniversary of TV Asahi.
The series focuses on Genba Shidō, who works for the Tokyo–based Counter Terrorist Unit, his family, and a plot to assassinate Urara Asakura, who is set to become the first female prime minister of Japan. Some viewers found that in general, the plot of 24 Japan moves more slowly than the fast-paced original series.
The Japanese version of 24 is the second adaptation of the show; following the Hindi-language adaptation of the show. 24 Japan follows a story line similar to the first season of the American series, but with up-to-date technology.
Cast
- Toshiaki Karasawa as Genba Shidō, a character based on Jack Bauer, an agent from CTU Japan and serves as Chief of A Group, 1st Section, CTU. He is assigned to protect Urara Asakura, a veteran politician set to become Japan's first female prime minister.
- Tae Kimura as Rikka Shidō, Genba's wife, based on Teri Bauer
- Chiaki Kuriyama as Itsuki Mizuishi, a government agent at CTU based on the character Nina Myers.
- Hiyori Sakurada as Miyu Shidō, Genba and Rikka's teenage daughter, the character of Kim Bauer in the original series.
- Hiroyuki Ikeuchi as Takumi Nanjō, a government agent at CTU based on the character Tony Almeida.
- Yukie Nakama as Urara Asakura, the future first female prime minister of Japan, based on the character President David Palmer of the original show.
- Seiji Rokkaku as Banba Eiiji
Production
According to TV Asahi producer Emii Kanda, 20th Century Fox, who owns the original rights, allowed the production of the show after four to five years of negotiations for its rights. The production of the show was allowed on the basis that 24 episodes would be presented in two seasons, a deviation from the typical release patterns of Japanese television dramas.The series was produced by Total Media Communication for TV Asahi and was written by Shūkei Nagasaka. During the show's production, localization issues, such as the use of guns by non-police agencies in Japan and the change in family dynamics presented by the family of Urara Asakura were focused heavily on by TV Asahi and 20th Century. The producers were aware that, although the original series was enjoyed widely in Japan, adapting the story to a Japanese setting would be critiqued.