Korean prestige drama gets a Japanese glow-up — now with EXTRA academic anxiety.
Season 1 • Episode 9
Latest“Sky Castle,” one of the most iconic Korean TV drama series of recent years, is to be remade by TV Asahi in Japan in July, 2024. The Japanese version will center around the high school admission process. This is to better reflect the reality of the Japanese education system, where high school admissions are considered more difficult and involve more parental participation. The shooting of the Japanese version of SKY Castle will feature Nao Matsushita, Fumino Kimura and Koyuki.
Acting
Matsushita and Koyuki serve restrained panic disguised as perfect smiles.
Writing
High school admissions feel as high-stakes as Korean college did.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The shift from Korean college to Japanese high school admissions reflects how Japan's 'exam hell' begins earlier, with parents hiring shadow education tutors as early as elementary school.
Koyuki's casting echoes her own real-life return to acting after marriage and motherhood — adding meta-layer to her character's negotiation of identity through her child's success.
JP
