# Merry Berry Love (メリーベリーラブ)
**Merry Berry Love** (メリーベリーラブ; Korean: 메리 베리 러브) is a 2026 romantic comedy television series co-produced by Japan's Nippon TV and South Korea's CJ ENM, starring [Ji Chang-wook](https://www.edgepedia.org/ji-chang-wook) and Mio Imada as a Korean designer and a Japanese strawberry farmer who meet on a small Japanese island. It premiered on October 7, 2026, airing Wednesdays at 10 pm on Nippon TV and streaming worldwide on Disney+.[1](https://www.soompi.com/article/1858629wpp/ji-chang-wook-imada-mio-and-more-embark-on-island-romance-in-new-rom-com-merry-berry-love) • [2](https://www.ntv.co.jp/merryberrylove/articles/5615uil1yahpgj2p1kpe.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Native titles | メリーベリーラブ (Japan); 메리 베리 러브 (Korea)[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38937897/releaseinfo/) |
| Production | First series jointly produced by Nippon TV and CJ ENM, the studio behind *Crash Landing on You*[1](https://www.soompi.com/article/1858629wpp/ji-chang-wook-imada-mio-and-more-embark-on-island-romance-in-new-rom-com-merry-berry-love) • [4](https://www.disneyplus.com/en-sg/explore/articles/merry-berry-love) |
| Premiere | October 7, 2026; Nippon TV Wednesdays 10:00–10:54 pm; Disney+ exclusive streaming worldwide[2](https://www.ntv.co.jp/merryberrylove/articles/5615uil1yahpgj2p1kpe.html) • [5](https://www.dream.jp/douga/tips_d/article40351.html) |
| Format | 10 episodes of about 47 minutes each[6](https://www.justwatch.com/jp/%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E7%95%AA%E7%B5%84/meriberirabu) |
| Leads | Ji Chang-wook as Lee Yu-bin; Mio Imada as Karin Shirahama[1](https://www.soompi.com/article/1858629wpp/ji-chang-wook-imada-mio-and-more-embark-on-island-romance-in-new-rom-com-merry-berry-love) |
| Setting | Charo Island (茶呂島), a small, scenic Japanese island[4](https://www.disneyplus.com/en-sg/explore/articles/merry-berry-love) |
| Theme song | "Supermarket" by SEKAI NO OWARI[4](https://www.disneyplus.com/en-sg/explore/articles/merry-berry-love) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
Lee Yu-bin (Ji Chang-wook) is a perfectionist Korean spatial designer who built a successful career in Seoul, then loses his status and wealth overnight after an incident: his friend and business partner scams him, and he is forced to sell his firm to settle debts.[1](https://www.soompi.com/article/1858629wpp/ji-chang-wook-imada-mio-and-more-embark-on-island-romance-in-new-rom-com-merry-berry-love) • [7](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/merry-berry-love) Penniless, he travels to Charo Island in Japan, where his late father left him a plot of land, hoping to sell it and start over.[8](https://www.ntv.co.jp/merryberrylove/story/01.html) • [9](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3370330/disney-k-drama-merry-berry-love-ji-chang-wook-goes-japan-hollow-romantic-comedy?module=latest&pgtype=homepage)
On the island he meets Karin Shirahama (Mio Imada), a young farmer who inherited her late grandfather's strawberry field and is devoted to developing new strawberry varieties, guided by the belief that "strawberries reflect the seasons."[4](https://www.disneyplus.com/en-sg/explore/articles/merry-berry-love) Karin is working toward official certification of her strawberry variety for the third consecutive year; failing again could cost her the relief aid she needs to keep the farm running.[7](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/merry-berry-love) She also lives with a mysterious illness that flares up when her heart rate increases.[9](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3370330/disney-k-drama-merry-berry-love-ji-chang-wook-goes-japan-hollow-romantic-comedy?module=latest&pgtype=homepage)
After a disastrous first meeting in Karin's strawberry field, Yu-bin schemes to become her desperately needed farmhand so he can win her trust and persuade her to sell the neighboring land his own plot is worthless without.[7](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/merry-berry-love) As the two work together, the plan is complicated by unexpected feelings, and the series follows the pair as they bridge gaps of nationality and language.[4](https://www.disneyplus.com/en-sg/explore/articles/merry-berry-love)
### Cast and characters
- **Ji Chang-wook** as Lee Yu-bin, a Korean spatial designer who loses everything and comes to Charo Island[1](https://www.soompi.com/article/1858629wpp/ji-chang-wook-imada-mio-and-more-embark-on-island-romance-in-new-rom-com-merry-berry-love)
- **Mio Imada** as Karin Shirahama, a strawberry farmer carrying on her grandfather's farm[1](https://www.soompi.com/article/1858629wpp/ji-chang-wook-imada-mio-and-more-embark-on-island-romance-in-new-rom-com-merry-berry-love)
- **Nam Yoon-su** as Park Kunam, a Korean young man on a working holiday at the island's Asahi Shokai supermarket who falls for Mari[1](https://www.soompi.com/article/1858629wpp/ji-chang-wook-imada-mio-and-more-embark-on-island-romance-in-new-rom-com-merry-berry-love) • [4](https://www.disneyplus.com/en-sg/explore/articles/merry-berry-love)
- **Rinka Kumada** as Mari Mizuno, Karin's best friend, who runs the cafe and bar [Serendipity](https://www.edgepedia.org/serendipity) and works as a tarot reader specializing in love[1](https://www.soompi.com/article/1858629wpp/ji-chang-wook-imada-mio-and-more-embark-on-island-romance-in-new-rom-com-merry-berry-love) • [4](https://www.disneyplus.com/en-sg/explore/articles/merry-berry-love)
- **Kenta Satoi** as Kenichi Shirahama and **Yasunori Danta** as Masaro Kurokawa[6](https://www.justwatch.com/jp/%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E7%95%AA%E7%B5%84/meriberirabu)
A secondary romance runs between Kunam and Mari, adding a second youthful love story to the drama.[1](https://www.soompi.com/article/1858629wpp/ji-chang-wook-imada-mio-and-more-embark-on-island-romance-in-new-rom-com-merry-berry-love)
## Production
The series is the first project jointly produced by Japan's terrestrial broadcaster Nippon TV and the Korean studio CJ ENM, whose hits include *Crash Landing on You* and *Queen of Tears*.[1](https://www.soompi.com/article/1858629wpp/ji-chang-wook-imada-mio-and-more-embark-on-island-romance-in-new-rom-com-merry-berry-love) • [10](https://tokyo.mport.info/ex/works/drama/mblove2610.html) It was announced in 2025 as part of a strategic collaboration between Nippon Television Holdings and Walt Disney Japan, combining Japanese terrestrial broadcast with worldwide Disney+ distribution.[10](https://tokyo.mport.info/ex/works/drama/mblove2610.html)
The creative team is largely Korean: the screenplay is by [Lee Jae-yoon](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-jae-yoon), and the series is directed by Kim Soo-jung and Noh Young-sub, with [Lee Sang-hwa](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-sang-hwa) as executive producer.[4](https://www.disneyplus.com/en-sg/explore/articles/merry-berry-love) • [11](https://www.tvguide.or.jp/dramaguide/00003344/) Although written and directed by South Koreans, the story unfolds largely in rural Japan.[9](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3370330/disney-k-drama-merry-berry-love-ji-chang-wook-goes-japan-hollow-romantic-comedy?module=latest&pgtype=homepage) Filming took place in Kyushu, with cooperation from Karatsu City, Kurume City, Fukuoka City, and Noko Island, among other locations.[12](https://loca.ash.jp/info/2026/d202610_merryberry.htm) The main theme, "Supermarket" by SEKAI NO OWARI, was announced in September 2026.[13](https://www.ntv.co.jp/merryberrylove/)
The title is an original coinage of the English words "merry," "berry," and "love," and the series is not a remake of an earlier [Korean drama](https://www.edgepedia.org/korean-drama) or based on any existing manga or novel.[14](https://dorama-netabare.com/archives/157969)
## Release and reception
The first episode aired on October 7, 2026, at 10 pm on the Nippon TV network (28 stations plus TOS), with Disney+ streaming beginning the same day at 11 pm; TVer carries real-time and catch-up streaming in [Japan](https://www.edgepedia.org/japan-epzdpsev89).[2](https://www.ntv.co.jp/merryberrylove/articles/5615uil1yahpgj2p1kpe.html) • [15](https://www.bbc-tv.co.jp/vod-column/merry-berry-love-vod-comparison/) • [13](https://www.ntv.co.jp/merryberrylove/) Disney+ holds exclusive full-series streaming rights, and the show is not available on other Japanese subscription services such as Hulu, U-NEXT, Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video.[5](https://www.dream.jp/douga/tips_d/article40351.html)
**Critical response.** In a review for the *South China Morning Post*, journalist Pierce Conran, a Seoul-based film critic and former Korea Executive for XYZ Films, described the series as a glossy co-production that "aims squarely for low-hanging fruit," offering "a procession of cliché-riddled set pieces between its main characters without any real depth."[9](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3370330/disney-k-drama-merry-berry-love-ji-chang-wook-goes-japan-hollow-romantic-comedy?module=latest&pgtype=homepage) Audience aggregation on [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) gave the series a rating of 8.1 out of 10 based on 139 user ratings as of mid-October 2026.[6](https://www.justwatch.com/jp/%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E7%95%AA%E7%B5%84/meriberirabu)
## References
1. [Ji Chang Wook, Imada Mio, And More Embark On Island Romance In New Rom-Com "Merry Berry Love", Soompi](https://www.soompi.com/article/1858629wpp/ji-chang-wook-imada-mio-and-more-embark-on-island-romance-in-new-rom-com-merry-berry-love)
2. [チ・チャンウク×今田美桜W主演『メリーベリーラブ』初回放送は10/7(水)よる10時に決定！, 日本テレビ](https://www.ntv.co.jp/merryberrylove/articles/5615uil1yahpgj2p1kpe.html)
3. [Merry Berry Love (TV Series 2026– ) – Release info, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38937897/releaseinfo/)
4. [Check out the synopsis and cast of Merry Berry Love, Disney+ Singapore](https://www.disneyplus.com/en-sg/explore/articles/merry-berry-love)
5. [〖配信情報〗ドラマ『メリーベリーラブ』いつから？どこで見れる？, DTI](https://www.dream.jp/douga/tips_d/article40351.html)
6. [メリーベリーラブ TV ドラマ 動画配信 オンライン 視聴, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/jp/%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E7%95%AA%E7%B5%84/meriberirabu)
7. [Merry Berry Love – Parents' Guide & TV Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/merry-berry-love)
8. [第1話あらすじ（2026年10月7日放送）, 日本テレビ](https://www.ntv.co.jp/merryberrylove/story/01.html)
9. [Disney+ K-drama Merry Berry Love: Ji Chang-wook goes to Japan in hollow romantic comedy, South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3370330/disney-k-drama-merry-berry-love-ji-chang-wook-goes-japan-hollow-romantic-comedy?module=latest&pgtype=homepage)
10. [東京エキストラNOTES協力作品： NTV10月期水曜/Disney+配信ドラマ「メリーベリーラブ」](https://tokyo.mport.info/ex/works/drama/mblove2610.html)
11. [メリーベリーラブ, TVガイドWeb](https://www.tvguide.or.jp/dramaguide/00003344/)
12. [メリーベリーラブ ロケ地情報・マップ](https://loca.ash.jp/info/2026/d202610_merryberry.htm)
13. [メリーベリーラブ｜日本テレビ](https://www.ntv.co.jp/merryberrylove/)
14. [メリーベリーラブの原作は韓国ドラマ？意味やタイトル由来も, ドラマネタバレ](https://dorama-netabare.com/archives/157969)
15. [ドラマ『メリーベリーラブ』は配信中！Disney+で視聴する方法と料金を解説, びわ湖放送VODコラム](https://www.bbc-tv.co.jp/vod-column/merry-berry-love-vod-comparison/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › East Asian web and streaming serials › Titles Iv to My*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license