A First from the Creator of Princess Jellyfish: Akiko Higashimura Directs Her Own Live-Action Series
One of the most prolific and beloved names in the manga world, Akiko Higashimura, is reaching an exciting milestone in her career. The genius behind modern classics like Princess Jellyfish (Kuragehime) and Tokyo Tarareba Girls is both writing and directing a live-action series for the first time. The series, titled Vacance no Hōsoku (Rules of Vacation), will be broadcast on the ABEMA platform and is set to meet audiences on July 27, 2026.
The series features two giants of the Asian entertainment world in the lead roles. One of Japan's most popular actresses, Kanna Hashimoto, brings to life the character Midori Hoshino, a woman exhausted by life who finds herself unemployed after the clinic where she worked goes bankrupt. Opposite Midori is South Korean actor Chae Jong Hyeop, who became a major phenomenon in Japan with the 2024 series Eye Love You. Chae will play Nishigami, the mysterious caretaker of the beach villa inherited from Midori's grandmother. Their first encounter in the rain and the romantic tension between them have already sparked great curiosity among fans.
Akiko Higashimura is a name known in the manga industry not only for her storytelling but also for the depth of her characters and her humorous language. Having won the prestigious Manga Taisho award for her autobiographical work Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey (Kakukaku Shikajika), the artist typically explores the challenges, passions, and absurdities of daily life for modern women in her works. With many of her previous works already adapted for film and television, the fact that Higashimura will be projecting her vision directly from the director's chair this time is seen as the greatest guarantee that the project will remain faithful to its original spirit.
Consisting of 18 episodes in total, Vacance no Hōsoku will be released in 15-minute short episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The series follows a woman who escapes her busy work schedule to find peace in a beach town, only to meet a mysterious man hiding sad secrets in his past. While it is rare in the industry for a mangaka to direct directly, Higashimura's power of visual storytelling makes this production one of the most ambitious dramas of the summer season.
