The upcoming Japanese drama Reborn is bringing a fresh take on the time travel and reincarnation genre. The show features Issei Takahashi playing two very different characters. The story follows a powerful tech CEO who gets murdered and wakes up 14 years in the past inside the body of a struggling dry cleaner. TV Asahi will start airing the series on April 14, 2026, with Netflix streaming the episodes globally shortly after.
This fantasy mystery drama has generated buzz because of its unique social commentary. A rich, cold-hearted businessman suddenly finds himself living as a poor ordinary person. He must figure out who killed him while navigating a world that is the complete opposite of his previous life.
What Is Reborn About
The drama centers on Neo Kosei, the founder and CEO of IT company NEOXIS. He enjoys massive wealth and a strong reputation as a smart leader. But behind closed doors, he is known for his rude public statements and the way he pushes his team too hard. He fires workers without any second thought when they fail to meet his impossible demands.
One day, someone pushes Kosei down a flight of stairs. He dies from the fall. But instead of staying dead, he wakes up in the year 2012 inside the body of Nomoto Eito, a man who looks exactly like him. Eito runs a small dry cleaning shop in a run-down shopping district and carries a lot of debt.
Kosei keeps all his memories from his future life. Now living as Eito, he starts searching for the person who killed him in 2026. He also finds himself fighting against the rich upper class, a group he used to belong to, but this time from the viewpoint of a regular working person.
Reborn Release Date and Streaming Details
Reborn will make its first appearance on TV Asahi on April 14, 2026, airing every Tuesday at 9:00 PM Japan Time. The show will run for a total of 10 episodes.
For viewers outside Japan, Netflix will carry the series. But there is a one-week delay. The streaming platform has listed April 21, 2026 as the release date for episode one. New episodes will drop every Tuesday after that.
The Netflix basic plan starts at $8.99 per month with ads. Viewers who want no ads can choose the ad-free plan for $19.99 per month.
Main Cast of Reborn
The drama features a strong lineup of Japanese actors. Here is the main cast:
- Issei Takahashi as Neo Kosei / Nomoto Eito
- Nakamura Anne as Iketani Sarasa
- Suzuka Ouji as Tomono Tatsuki
- Yokota Mayuu as Eri
- Ichimura Masachika as Togo Yoshitaka
- Kohinata Fumiyo as Nomoto Eiji
The supporting cast includes Imai Takafumi, Kokubo Toshihito, Yamano Umi, Kishimoto Kayoko, Murai Ryota, Seki Koji, Abe Ryohei, Tsubokura Yoshiyuki, and Yanagizawa Shingo.
Issei Takahashi Takes on Dual Roles
Issei Takahashi faces the challenge of playing two very different characters in the same show. He portrays the rich and cold Neo Kosei and the kind but struggling Nomoto Eito.
I often wonder if the obvious statement everyone has a different personality is really true. A persons individuality may be shaped by their circumstances, their surroundings, the people around them, and the situations they find themselves in. I think it would be interesting to express those aspects. – Issei Takahashi
The actor shared these thoughts with TV Asahi about playing two versions of the same person. The show uses this idea to ask whether people change because of who they really are or because of their situation in life.
Behind the Scenes and Set Atmosphere
The filming for Reborn took place in Tokyo. The atmosphere on set was friendly and full of laughter, especially because of veteran actor Yanagisawa Shingo. During one shoot, Yanagisawa suddenly said, “There was a fire safety inspection today,” which made everyone laugh right before they started filming.
Nakamura Anne, who plays the female lead, spoke about working with Takahashi.
Issei is playing two roles, but I think he is enjoying the filming of the shopping street scenes, which have a different atmosphere from NEOXIS. Shingo is really amazing. He creates the atmosphere on set and leads the way. It is hard to create this kind of atmosphere with just the younger people, so he is very considerate and creates a comfortable space for everyone. – Nakamura Anne
Production Team
The drama comes from TV Asahi, one of Japan’s major broadcast networks. Fujita Meiji, Aso Manabu, and Ninomiya Takashi serve as the directors. The screenplay comes from Hashimoto Hiroshi.
The official Japanese title includes the tagline “The Last Hero.” This hints that Kosei, now living as Eito, might become an unlikely hero for the struggling shopping district people.
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Where to Watch Reborn
Japanese viewers can watch Reborn on TV Asahi every Tuesday at 9:00 PM starting April 14, 2026. International audiences need a Netflix subscription to watch the show. The first episode arrives on Netflix on April 21, 2026.
The Netflix page describes the show simply. After being pushed down the stairs, tech CEO Kosei wakes up 14 years in the past as Eito, a struggling dry cleaner, and sets out to find who killed him.
This marks another Japanese drama acquisition for Netflix, which has been growing its library of J-dramas for global viewers. The one-week delay between TV broadcast and streaming is common for Japanese shows on the platform.
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