The Japanese remake of the hit Korean drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo has officially premiered, drawing attention for keeping several familiar elements from the original series while introducing changes designed for Japanese audiences.
The remake, titled Minamida Minami: The Genius Lawyer, aired its first episode on Kansai Television on October 19. Based on the popular 2022 ENA drama starring Park Eun Bin, the Japanese adaptation follows a similar story but adjusts certain character details, food choices, and memorable scenes.
One of the most noticeable similarities is the main character's appearance.
Japanese actress Mina Ashida takes on the role originally played by Park Eun Bin, keeping the short bob haircut that became one of Woo Young Woo's signature features.
Fumiya Takahashi plays the male lead, taking on the role originally portrayed by Kang Tae Oh.
The Japanese version also preserves the main character's love of whales, an important part of her personality in the Korean series.
In one scene, Minami's father reminds her not to talk about whales before leaving for work.
“Don't talk about whales,” he tells her.
Minami responds, “What if I really need to talk about whales?”
Her father questions why such a situation would happen at her workplace, but Minami continues asking until he eventually agrees that she can discuss whales if necessary.
The conversation closely follows a memorable exchange from the Korean original, showing how the remake has maintained certain character traits and interactions.
However, other familiar details have been changed to better reflect Japanese culture.
One of the biggest differences involves the main character's favorite food.
In the Korean drama, Woo Young Woo frequently eats gimbap, a Korean dish made with rice and various fillings wrapped in seaweed.
In the Japanese remake, gimbap has been replaced with onigiri, a traditional Japanese rice ball often shaped into a triangle.
Another change involves the famous greeting shared by Woo Young Woo and her best friend Dong Geu Rami.
In the original series, the two characters exchange their playful greeting:
"Woo to the Young to the Woo!"
"Dong to the Geu to the Rami!"
The Japanese adaptation introduces a new version of the greeting, using "Minami to ja Minami" to match the lead character's name.
The remake also changes one of the most recognizable scenes involving the main couple.
In the original Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Woo Young Woo and Lee Jun Ho share a memorable moment involving a revolving door.
Instead of recreating that scene exactly, the Japanese version replaces it with a moment in which the male lead helps Minami use an escalator.
The adjustment keeps the idea of the male character offering assistance while presenting the interaction differently.
These changes show how the production has attempted to balance familiar moments from the Korean drama with elements that may feel more natural to Japanese viewers.
Following the premiere, online reactions to the adaptation have been mixed.
Some viewers praised the casting and expressed support for the remake.
One commenter said, “Fumiya Takahashi is a perfect fit for the male lead.”
Another wrote, “The acting is difficult, so considering that, I think they did well.”
Others were less convinced, with some comparing the performances to those of the original cast.
“It feels like the acting references Park Eun Bin a lot,” one viewer commented.
Another said, “Park Eun Bin really did an amazing job.”
These reactions reflect individual opinions rather than a general consensus on the remake's quality.
The original Extraordinary Attorney Woo, which aired from June to August 2022, became one of South Korea's most successful television dramas that year.
The series began with ratings of around 0.9% before reaching a peak nationwide rating of 17.5%, setting a record for ENA at the time.
Its success also earned recognition at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards, where Park Eun Bin won the television Grand Prize and director Yoo In Shik received the Best Director award.
Given the original drama's popularity, comparisons between the Korean and Japanese versions were expected.
While the remake preserves Woo Young Woo's recognizable hairstyle, love of whales, and important relationships, it introduces Japanese cultural details and reimagines several well-known moments.
With its first episode now aired, Minamida Minami: The Genius Lawyer is drawing attention to whether these changes can help the Japanese adaptation establish its own identity while maintaining the charm that made Extraordinary Attorney Woo popular with international audiences.
