'Final Draft' on Netflix —This Japanese Game Show is The Perfect Follow-Up to 'Physical:100'

Published 11/19/2025, 9:23 PM EST

Netflix possesses an uncanny knack for releasing content that resonates with the energy and scale of legendary entertainment, frequently drawing comparisons to groundbreaking cultural phenomena. The platform consistently delivers international reality television that raises the bar for physical drama. Joining this esteemed lineup is a new offering that perfectly captures the intensity and spirit of its predecessors. Fans of fierce, large-scale athletic survival competitions should prepare, as Final Draft serves as the ultimate spiritual successor to the wildly popular Physical: 100.

The show provides an ideal viewing experience for those who enjoyed the Korean phenomenon, Physical: 100.  

Final Draft -The Successor to Physical: 100

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Final Draft is a Japanese reality competition that has quickly been designated the spiritual successor to the highly successful Korean series, Physical: 100. The program features a pool of 25 former professional athletes who engage in a wide variety of punishing physical and demanding psychological tests. The ultimate winner receives a substantial 30-million-yen prize, intended to help launch their second career, which makes this show the perfect subsequent viewing choice for dedicated enthusiasts of the original Physical: 100.

Both Final Draft and Physical: 100 share a familiar, compelling format: a large collection of elite athletes competes in a series of gruelling physical contests designed to identify the absolute best among them. This Japanese take on the format guarantees a thrilling survival competition where contestants are systematically eliminated based on their performance in the physical and mental trials.

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The show delivers the exciting, high-stakes athletic competition viewers love while introducing a unique cast and legendary makers who brought the show to the screen.

Who are the players in Final Draft?

The production of Final Draft was overseen by Kazuaki Hashimoto, credited as the showrunner and General Director. Hashimoto is a notable figure in Japanese television, with previous credits including the creation of the Netflix series Ariyoshi Assists and directing several popular shows in Japan. His role as General Director suggests he was the primary creative and executive force behind the production, guiding the show's structure and overall tone to deliver the intense athletic competition.

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The diverse cast of 25 retired athletes forms the heart of the competition, with the ultimate winner being Yoshio Itoi, a former professional baseball player known for his nickname Superhuman. Other prominent contestants included three-division boxing world champion Hozumi Hasegawa, soccer icon Yoshito Okubo, Olympic wrestler Eri Tosaka, former water polo player Atsushi Arai, and comedian and former American football player Koji Tokuda. This high-calibre lineup of established champions and serious contenders from various sports ensured a fierce and physically demanding contest throughout the season.

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What more similarities you find between Physical: 100 and Final Draft? Let us know in the comments below.

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Soma Mitra

563 articles

Soma is a journalist at Netflix Junkie. With a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication, she brings production experience from documentary films like Chandua: Stories on Fabric. Covering the true crime and docu-drama beat, she turns psychological thrillers into sharp, audience-aware storytelling.

Edited By: Itti Mahajan

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