# One Year to Live, Buy a Man: Release Date, Plot, Cast And Everything to Know About Netflix’s New Japanese Romance

URL: https://technosports.co.in/one-year-to-live-buy-a-man-release-date/  
Published: 2026-09-16  
Updated: 2026-09-16  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

A woman who saves every yen she earns. A host boy who asks to borrow money. A cancer diagnosis that flips everything upside down. That’s the unlikely spark behind **One Year to Live, Buy a Man**, Netflix’s next big Japanese romantic drama, and it’s landing globally on **November 5, 2026**.

Based on Toriko Yoshikawa’s novel of the same name, the film pairs *Battle Royale* star Ko Shibasaki with *Zom 100* actor Eiji Akaso in a story that sounds equal parts heartbreak, humor, and healing.

## One Year to Live, Buy a Man- Overview

| Detail | Information |
| --- | --- |
| **Netflix Release Date** | November 5, 2026 |
| **Based On** | Novel by Toriko Yoshikawa (Kodansha Bunko) |
| **Director** | Hiroki Kazama (*The Beginning of the Sea*) |
| **Writer** | Yoshikazu Okada (*Beyond Goodbye*) |
| **Lead Cast** | Ko Shibasaki, Eiji Akaso |
| **Production Studio** | AOI Pro |
| **Genre** | Romantic Drama |

## What’s the Story About?

Meet Yui Katakura, a 40-year-old single woman who treats saving money like a sport, deliberately skipping romance, marriage, and everything “uneconomical” along the way. Then a routine checkup delivers a gut-punch: she has a year left to live. Strangely, instead of despair, she feels relief — no more reason to save.

![One Year to Live, Buy a Man](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/one-years-live-819x1024.webp)

Enter Sena, a broke, pink-haired nightclub host who casually asks Yui for a loan. Her response? She “buys” him outright for 720,000 yen. What starts as a transactional, almost absurd arrangement slowly warms into something real, as an unexpected love begins to bloom between two people who’ve both given up on conventional happiness.

## Meet the Cast

- **Ko Shibasaki as Yui Katakura** — Making her Netflix debut, Shibasaki brings decades of acclaimed work from films like *Serpent’s Path* and *Silent Parade*, plus her breakout role in the cult classic *Battle Royale*.
- **Eiji Akaso as Sena** — No stranger to Netflix, Akaso previously led *Inheritance Detective* and *Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead*, and now steps into the shoes of a charming, down-on-his-luck host.
- **Supporting cast** includes Michitaka Tsutsui as Yui’s ex-boss, Naomi Nishida as her free-spirited coworker, and Mari Hamada, Yui Narumi, and Yoko Moriguchi rounding out a story rich with family and workplace tension.

Japanese cinema has a long history of blending quiet melancholy with warmth, a tradition well explored on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Japan). For more upcoming Netflix release dates, first looks, and streaming news, keep checking [technosports.co.in](https://technosports.co.in) for regular updates.

## FAQs

### **Q1. When does One Year to Live, Buy a Man release on Netflix?**

The film premieres globally on Netflix on November 5, 2026.

### **Q2. Who stars in One Year to Live, Buy a Man?**

 Ko Shibasaki and Eiji Akaso lead the film as Yui Katakura and Sena respectively.