Hot Stove League to Be Remade in Japan After 5 Years

On August 28th, at the “2024 International Broadcasting and Video Market” held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Studio S, the production company of “Hot Stove League,”and NTT Docomo Studio & Live, a joint venture between NTT Docomo and Yoshimoto Kogyo, entered a partnership agreement for the Japanese adaptation of the drama.

In 2019, the popular drama “Hot Stove League”centered on the struggles of a baseball team called Dreams, who had held the title of worst team in the league for four years in a row. Viewers were captivated by the show, resulting in a peak viewership rating of 20.8%.

Despite fierce competition, the drama emerged victorious, receiving numerous esteemed accolades such as Best Drama at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards, PD of the Month at the 241st PD Award of the Month, Excellence Award in a Terrestrial Content Drama at the 14th Media Awards, Best Art at the 47th Korean Broadcasting Awards, and Outstanding Korean Drama at the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards. Additionally, Namkoong Min, who played the lead role, was honored with his first Grand Prize at the SBS Drama Awards that same year.

“The popular drama “Hot Stove League”was commended for its ability to captivate viewers with its portrayal of baseball, even those who were not previously fans of the sport. Ha Do-kwon, who portrayed Kang Doo-gi in the show, shared his excitement about the upcoming Japanese remake, stating, “It received so much love in Korea and holds a special place in my heart. I am eagerly anticipating the portrayal of Kang Doo-gi in the Japanese version and I have high hopes for its success.”Cha Yup, who played Seo Yeong-joo, also expressed her enthusiasm for the remake, saying, “I couldn’t sleep after hearing the news. I wish the Japanese version of ‘Hot Stove League’

Japan has a strong affinity for baseball, evident by the abundance of official baseball stadiums and the large number of amateur teams registered. The highly anticipated Koshien high school baseball tournament, which showcases 49 teams from 47 regions, is a major event in the country. It is broadcasted live on NHK and consistently attracts viewership ratings of 20~30%.

Despite the immense popularity of baseball in Japan, there is significant industry curiosity surrounding the potential success of the Japanese adaptation of “Hot Stove League.”

The source of the information can be found on the website of Daum at https://v.daum.net/v/20240828181931167.