Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Justin McCurry in Osaka

‘A difficult time’: why popular TV series Pachinko was met with silence in Japan

(From left) Inji Jeong, Yeji Yeon and Bomin Kim in Pachinko
(From left) Inji Jeong, Yeji Yeon and Bomin Kim in Pachinko, an eight-part series on South Korean migrants that has won critical acclaim but encountered a quiet reception in Japan. Photograph: Juhan Noh/Apple TV+

It has charmed critics and attracted big audiences in the UK and the US, but the TV adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s bestselling novel Pachinko has barely merited a mention in one of the countries that inspired it.

The eight-part drama, currently streaming on Apple TV+, evokes the universal migrant experience, but it is also an uncomfortable reminder of the bitter historical legacy of Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.