Did someone happen to mention me?

 At my age, I sometimes meet people who don't remember me from a few dozen years.  Upsetting.  "Did Someone Happen To Mention Me" (2026) brings a once insecure actor to this dilemma.  Only it is for only about a two year gap.  

General Tashegawa, the son of a truly famous Japanese actor he felt he had to always prove himself.  Trying to escape this status he left for England and after a lot of trials became a lead Shakespearian actor at the Globe Theatre.  Going back to Japan he just assumed everyone would have heard of his British success and remembered his past Japanese success.

There had been a pandemic during his absence and consequently his return was delayed six months.  The government had developed an effective vaccine for the disease.  99% took the first dose and 80% had taken the second dose.  They learned that a side effect was memory loss.

His assistant didn't take the vaccine, but he remembered how arrogant and rude the General was to him.  Later he told the General's wife of his infidelities.  

Maslow's Hierarchy of needs is referred to in a few episodes.  After realizing most people could not recall him at all he is at bottom.  The top has been self-actualization, but an advisor says the next stage is to want to help others.  The General is very humbled, no money, no recognition and with a lot of effort he becomes an assistant at a sauna where he performs as a sort of cheerleader, keeping this position, even as he does move up the ladder.

He became a movie extra and noticed there was no script.  He kept trying to figure out the motivation for the role but was at first criticized and told to act normal.  He practices on his own time going through a turnstile.  He eventually works his way up and gains respect (he really is very good).  There are surprises along the way as he tries to renew relations with his wife and children.  

The staff and crew are essential to the impact.  Here are a few.

Fuminari Kaneko was the director.  He has 40 directing credits and 1 for producing including "Quartet" (2017).

Kankuro Kudo was the writer.  He has been a guitarist with a band, Tamashil.  He has 59 writing credits, 46 for acting and 7 for directing.

Aki Isoyama was the creative producer who partnering with Kankuro Kudo was able to land a 5 year contract with Netflix including for this series.  She has 16 producing credits.

Shin Kono was the composer.  He started as a music engineer.  He wrote music for commercials and music videos.  He 27 composing credits and 8 for soundtrack. 

Shu Kawashima was the cinematographer.  Shu has 5 cinematography credits and 3 for the camera & electrical department.

Shigeki Matsuo was the editor.  He has 10 editor credits including "Quartet" (2017).

Koji Yakusho played General Takasegawa.  He has 125 acting credits, 1 directing credit and 1 for writing including "Shall We Dance" (1996), "The Eel" (1997) and "Perfect Days" (2023).  See   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/10/perfect-days.html  He is the biggest reason for seeing this film as he personifies the art of acting.

Ken'ichi Matsuyama played Kazoki Kawashima.  He has 101 acting credits including "Norwegian Wood" (2010), "Japan Sinks:  People of Hope" (2021) and "Who Saw the Peacock Dance in the Jungle" (2025).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/12/japan-sinks-people-of-hope-emigration.html  and http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/03/who-saw-peacock-dance-in-jungle.html

Yumi Kawai played Emma the General's daughter who he had to re-acquaint himself with. She was a model.  Yumi has 49 acting credits including "First Love" (2022).  See   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/12/first-love.html 

Yoh Yoshida played Yoko, the General's second wife.  She has 153 acting credits, 2 for additional  crew and 1 for soundtrack including "Like Father, Like Son" (2013).  See   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/03/japanese-movies-are-more-than-godzilla.html  which has clips about this film, but starts off with "Shall We Dance?"

Sean Holme played Charles Rotton, a director of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, in London, England a role he played in real life.  By the way scenes are filmed at that theatre.

It is a fantastic series available subtitled or dubbed on Netflix.

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  Not necessarily a recommendation, but I loved them all.  The links will give more details.