On April 28, 2026, it was announced that the iconic 1996 drama 「ロングバケーション」 (Rongu Bakēshon, Long Vacation) will receive its first-ever overseas リメイク (rimeiku, remake) — in Hong Kong. Exactly 30 years after its original broadcast, this legendary love story is reaching a new generation in a new city.
A 30-Year Milestone for a Classic Drama
The original 「ロングバケーション」 starred Kimura Takuya and Yamaguchi Tomoko and aired in 1996 as a “Getsu-9” drama on Fuji TV. “Getsu-9” (Monday 9 p.m.) was one of the most competitive and influential time slots in Japanese television, often producing major hits.
This year marks a 節目 (fushime, milestone) — the 30th anniversary of the drama’s first broadcast. To commemorate this turning point, a Hong Kong version titled 「悠長假期」 will be produced.
The role equivalent to Sena Hidetoshi, originally played by Kimura, will be portrayed by Edan Lui (呂爵安), a member of the boy group MIRROR and known for the film The Moon Thieves. The heroine role, based on Hayama Minami (originally played by Yamaguchi), will be played by model and TV personality Ali Lee (李佳芯).
A Love Story That Began with an Unexpected Event
The story of 「ロングバケーション」 is a romantic drama that 〜ことから始まる (koto kara hajimaru, begins with…) a dramatic twist: on her wedding day, Hayama Minami is left at the altar by her fiancé. With nowhere to go, she ends up moving into the apartment of Sena Hidetoshi — a young pianist who was her runaway fiancé’s roommate.
This structure is often described in Japanese as:
結婚式当日に婚約者に逃げられたことから始まるラブストーリー。 Kekkonshiki tōjitsu ni konyakusha ni nigerareta koto kara hajimaru rabusutōrī. “A love story that begins when she is abandoned by her fiancé on her wedding day.”
In 1996, the drama became a true 社会現象 (shakai genshou, social phenomenon). It was even said that “office ladies disappear from the streets on Monday nights” because everyone rushed home to watch it.
The final episode recorded a peak household rating of 36.7%, with a 瞬間最高視聴率 (shunkan saikō shichōritsu, highest instant TV rating) of 43.8% — astonishing numbers in Japanese TV history.
Why Now? Why Hong Kong?
Interest in remaking the drama had reportedly been high, especially in Asia. However, until now, discussions 〜には至らなかった (ni wa itaranakatta, did not reach the point of…) 契約締結 (keiyaku teiketsu, contract conclusion).
In other words, negotiations happened, but they did not lead to a finalized agreement — until this year.
The Hong Kong remake will be produced by MakerVille, under major Hong Kong media company PCCW Media. The companies found common ground in how to utilize this hit intellectual property (IP) born nearly 30 years ago, which finally made the contract possible. The drama is scheduled to air and stream on platforms including ViuTV.
At ViuTV’s 10th anniversary event on April 23, organizers recreated one of the original drama’s famous scenes — Sena and Minami bouncing a Super Ball — as a tribute. The company commented that the relationship between these two characters is 思い出深い (omoide bukai, deeply memorable) for many viewers, and they are happy to present this beloved romance again after 30 years.
The Original Screenwriter’s Emotional Message
Kitagawa Eriko, the original screenwriter, shared a heartfelt comment.
She said she feels deeply honored that her 30-year-old Japanese work is being remade in Hong Kong. She reflected on how much the times have changed: when the drama first aired, smartphones and the internet were not yet widespread. The setting is now shifting from Japan to Hong Kong.
She described how she wrote the script 昼夜忘れて (chūya wasurete, forgetting day and night; tirelessly), how the actors performed passionately, and how staff worked hard behind the scenes — and how Japanese viewers supported the show.
Her message ended with gratitude and excitement:
“Thank you for finding this work. I’m looking forward to seeing how it will be reborn. Do your best!”
Currently, the original 「ロングバケーション」 is available for unlimited streaming on FOD in Japan.
Cultural Context: Why “Long Vacation” Matters
To understand this announcement, you need to know how influential 1990s “Getsu-9” dramas were.
Before streaming platforms, live TV ratings were a major shared experience in Japan. A hit drama could influence fashion, speech, and even lifestyle trends. Calling something a 社会現象 wasn’t exaggeration — it meant the whole country was talking about it.
The fact that this remake is happening exactly at a 節目 (30-year milestone) shows how carefully anniversaries are treated in Japanese media culture. Milestones are moments for reflection, revival, and renewal.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Key Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| リメイク | rimeiku | remake |
| 節目 | fushime | milestone; turning point |
| 社会現象 | shakai genshou | social phenomenon |
| 瞬間最高視聴率 | shunkan saikou shichouritsu | highest instant TV rating |
| 契約締結 | keiyaku teiketsu | conclusion of a contract |
| 昼夜忘れて | chuya wasurete | forgetting day and night; tirelessly |
| 思い出深い | omoide bukai | deeply memorable |
Notice how many of these are made of kanji compounds. Words like 社会 (shakai, society) and 契約 (keiyaku, contract) are essential for reading news confidently.
Grammar Spotlight
1. 〜ことから始まる (koto kara hajimaru)
“To begin from (a certain event or situation)”
Structure: [Event in dictionary or past form] + ことから始まる
Example from the drama:
- 結婚式当日に婚約者に逃げられたことから始まる。 Kekkonshiki tōjitsu ni konyakusha ni nigerareta koto kara hajimaru. “It begins with being abandoned by her fiancé on her wedding day.”
You’ll often see this in summaries of dramas and novels.
2. 〜には至らなかった (ni wa itaranakatta)
“Did not reach the point of…”
Structure: [Noun / verb dictionary form] + には至らなかった
Example:
- 契約締結には至らなかった。 Keiyaku teiketsu ni wa itaranakatta. “It did not lead to a contract.”
This is common in business and political news, where negotiations happen but don’t succeed.
Useful Expression
- 光栄に思います。 Kōei ni omoimasu. “I feel honored.”
A polite and formal way to express gratitude or pride — very common in public comments and interviews.
Continue Learning
Working on your reading skills? Our Katakana Essentials: Adapting Global Words to Japanese lesson is a great next step.
Ready to dive deeper? Our lesson on Basic Vocabulary Building: Embracing Words Without Latin Ties will help you master these concepts.
For stronger kanji foundations, check out Introduction to Kanji: Pictorial Foundations of Japanese Script.
A 1996 romance that once emptied the streets on Monday nights is about to be reborn in Hong Kong. Watching how stories travel across languages and cultures is exciting — and following that journey in Japanese makes it even more rewarding.
これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.