As Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche know all too well, chocolate and love are a perfect match. Now, the Japanese entertainment industry is serving up another sweet dose of romance and cocoa for this week’s menu. And when you add a handsome young heir to the mix… Bon appétit!
In a hypersensitive world, a new Japanese series delves into a premise as sweet as it is paradoxical: How can love blossom between a man who cannot be touched and a woman who cannot meet anyone’s gaze? This is the delicate question posed by ‘Romantics Anonymous,’ a romantic comedy following two lonely souls whose meeting, sparked by a shared passion for chocolate, could be the key to healing their fractured lives.
The narrative centers on Sosuke, a man with mysophobia—a paralyzing fear of germs rooted in past trauma that prevents him from any physical contact. Opposite him is Hana, a woman with scopophobia, an extreme fear of being looked at, which forces her to live away from the public eye. Their unlikely meeting point is “Le Sauveur,” an exquisite and popular chocolate shop whose name, “The Savior,” seems to foreshadow their destiny.
The setting creates a fundamental thematic tension: while the protagonists live in a state of self-imposed sensory deprivation, they find themselves immersed in a place dedicated to indulging the senses. Chocolate, the only pleasure both allow themselves, becomes the bridge that connects their isolated worlds.
The story takes a turn when they discover an astonishing quirk in their dynamic: they seem to be immune to each other’s anxieties. Together, Hana can look him in the eye, and Sosuke doesn’t flinch from her touch. This discovery transforms the story from a simple drama about anxiety into what is described as a “perfectly imperfect love story,” where a fated connection challenges their deepest fears.
The Intertwined Lives of the Romantics
The series weaves a complex drama around their budding romance. Sosuke Fujiwara (Shun Oguri) is not just a customer but the newly appointed president of the chocolate shop and the heir to a major confectionery company, adding a layer of professional pressure to his personal struggles. Meanwhile, Hana (Han Hyo-joo) is a gifted chocolatier, the secret genius behind the shop’s best-selling desserts, but her phobia forces her to work as an “anonymous chocolatier,” her identity hidden from almost everyone.
The plot is complicated by the introduction of a “love square.” Rounding out the quartet are Hiroshi “Hiro” Takada (Jin Akanishi), the charismatic owner of a jazz bar, Sosuke’s best friend, and the man Hana secretly admires; and Airin, or Irene (Yuri Nakamura), a therapist who is an old friend of Sosuke’s and also Hana’s counselor. Her unique position at the crossroads of their secrets makes her a key figure.
The supporting cast enriches the world of “Le Sauveur,” including Ryo Narita as Sosuke’s cousin, Ayumi Ito as the head chocolatier, and veteran actor Eiji Okuda as the shop’s original owner, a man who understands Hana’s condition and cares for her deeply.
The series explores the emotional growth of these “awkward adults” who, despite spending their lives hiding their secrets, find a reason to change for someone else, becoming “romance practice partners” on a journey of brave steps toward connection.
A Constellation of Japanese and Korean Stars
‘Romantics Anonymous’ brings together a formidable A-list cast from Japan and South Korea, highlighting the project’s grand ambition. The role of Sosuke Fujiwara is played by Shun Oguri, a renowned Japanese actor whose career is filled with iconic roles in productions like Godzilla vs. Kong, the Gintama adaptations, and blockbuster dramas such as Boys Over Flowers and Crows Zero. His presence solidifies his status as one of Japan’s biggest stars.
Bringing Hana to life is the acclaimed South Korean actress Han Hyo-joo, often described as a “queen of K-dramas.” She is known for her roles in massively successful series like Dong Yi, W, and the recent global sensation Moving. Her starring role in a Japanese drama underscores the production’s cross-cultural nature.
Completing the main quartet are Jin Akanishi, a popular singer and actor known for 47 Ronin, and Yuri Nakamura, an established actress with roles in films from renowned directors, such as Like Father, Like Son and the recent Netflix series Beyond Goodbye.
The Visionaries Behind the Camera: A World-Class Creative Team
The talent assembled for ‘Romantics Anonymous’ isn’t limited to the screen. The series is directed by Sho Tsukikawa, a filmmaker known for his extensive experience with love stories, including acclaimed titles like Let Me Eat Your Pancreas and the hit Netflix adaptation Yu Yu Hakusho. Tsukikawa offers a nuanced take on his approach, explaining that while the characters are around 40 years old, their inexperience makes their story feel like a “teenage romance,” but with a key difference: “they carry a rather deep sadness” from their life experiences.
The production boasts a stamp of international prestige by bringing on key creative team members from the Oscar-winning South Korean film Parasite. Lee Ha-jun serves as production designer and Yang Jin-mo as editor, bringing a guarantee of world-renowned quality. This pan-Asian collaboration extends to the script, penned by South Korea’s Kim Ji-hyun in cooperation with Japanese veteran Yoshikazu Okada (The 8-Year Engagement), and the music, composed by award-winning South Korean music director Dalpalan.
A Global Collaboration Ten Years in the Making
‘Romantics Anonymous’ is the result of a globalized content strategy, a project that merges intellectual property, talent, and production from multiple regions. The series is an adaptation of the 2010 French film of the same name, ‘Romantics Anonymous,’ whose universal themes had already proven their appeal by winning an Audience Award at a film festival in Japan. It is the first Japanese series developed and produced by YONG FILM, a prestigious South Korean studio responsible for acclaimed projects like The Handmaiden and 20th Century Girl.
The series premieres globally on Netflix on October 16.
