Akiko Higashimura, the manga creator behind Princess Jellyfish and Tokyo Tarareba Girls, is making her live-action directing debut with a new ABEMA series called Vacance no Hōsoku (The Vacation Rules).

Highashimura developed the original concept, handled all directorial duties, and wrote the scripts herself—marking her first time working in live-action television production. The series follows Midori Hoshino, who escapes the chaos of daily life for a vacation at a secluded estate, only to fall in love with Nishigami, the estate's enigmatic caretaker.

The cast includes Kanna Hashimoto (live-action Kingdom, Gintama) as Midori and South Korean actor Chae Jong Hyeop (Nevertheless, Castaway Diva) as Nishigami. The series consists of 18 episodes, each running 15 minutes, and will premiere on July 27 on ABEMA's Special channel. New episodes air free on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Highashimura's work has consistently translated well to live-action adaptations. Her Princess Jellyfish manga spawned multiple adaptations including a 2010 anime series, 2014 live-action film, and 2018 live-action series. Her other manga have also found success in live-action, including Tokyo Tarareba Girls, Bishoku Tantei Akechi Gorō, Do You Remember Me?, and A Fake Affair. Most recently, her Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey manga inspired a live-action film that opened in May 2025—the same manga that won the grand prize at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs' 19th Japan Media Arts Festival Awards and the eighth Manga Taisho award in 2015.

Several of Higashimura's works have received English releases through publishers like Kodansha USA and Seven Seas Entertainment, introducing her stories to Western audiences. With Vacance no Hōsoku, fans will get to experience her creative vision firsthand as she makes her transition into live-action direction.