Streaming giant Netflix Inc. is preparing to open its first shop, directly managed by the company, in Tokyo in the first half of 2022, a senior official of the U.S. firm's Japanese arm said Friday.

The shop, where scenes from shows and films will be recreated and related goods will be sold, will be the first of its kind in the world for Netflix, which has been seeing increased subscribers as many people stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The company is aiming to accelerate efforts to "merge the virtual world of the internet with the real world" at a rare physical store setting, the official said.