Posts Categorized: Japanese Dramas

Feb 15 2016

Hikari Mitsushima to make guest appearance in Fuji TV drama series “Love That Makes You Cry”

Actress Hikari Mitsushima is set to make a guest appearance in ep.6 of currently airing Fuji TV drama series “Love That Makes You Cry” (English title) starring Kasumi Arimura & Kengo Kora. Hikari Mitsushima already appeared in ep.1, but voice only as Oto Sugihara’s (Kasumi Arimura) late mother. She voiced Oto Sugihara’s mother when Oto Sugihara read her mother’s letter. In ep.6, Hikari Mitsushima will appear in flashback scenes with a child playing the character of Oto Sugihara.

Ep.6 of drama series “Love That Makes You Cry” airs February 22, 2016.

Feb 12 2016

Shota Matsuda cast in live-action TBS drama series “Dias Police” and live-action film “Dias Police”

Actor Shota Matsuda is cast in upcoming live-action TBS drama series “Dias Police: Ihou Keisatsu” and live-action film “Dias Police: Ihou Keisatsu” (working title). Both titles are based on manga series “Dias Police Ihou Keisatsu” written by Takashi Nagasaki. The TBS drama series will be directed by Masanori Tominaga (“The Pavillion Salamandre“), Tetsuya Mariko (“Distraction Babies“), Katsuhito Mogi (assistant director for “Litchi Hikari Club“) and Kazuyoshi Kumakiri (“My Man“). The live-action film will be directed by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri.

Premise for the drama series and film is set in Tokyo among the 150,000 illegals staying in the city. The illegals develop their own bank, hospital and 1 man police force. Shota Matsuda plays Saki Kubozuka. His character is the police officer for the illegals. He tries to take care of the weak and main public order among the illegals. His own nationality and ethnicity is unknown.

TBS drama series “Dias Police: Ihou Keisatsu” will air beginning this April and the live-action film will be released sometime this summer in Japan.

Feb 10 2016

Masaki Okada, Tori Matsuzaka, Yuya Yagira cast in NTV drama series “Yutori Desu ga Nani ka”

Masaki Okada, Tori Matsuzaka & Yuya Yagira are cast in new NTV drama series “Yutori Desu ga Nani ka.” The drama series is scripted by Kankuro Kudo and directed by Nobuo Mizuta. The duo previously collaborated in 2007 film “Maiko haaaan!!!” and 2009 film “No More Cry!!!”

Drama series “Yutori Desu ga Nani ka” will follow the lives of three men in their late 20’s and who are a product of the Yutori generation. In the late 1970’s, the Japanese government began implementing a reform of primary school education referred to as Yutori education. The purpose of the reform was to have a stress-free education environment, but critics of the reform point to less competitive and ambitious students.

“Yutori Desu ga Nani ka” first airs this April in Japan.

Feb 9 2016

Mana Ashida and Charlotte Kate Fox cast in Fuji TV drama series “Our House”

Mana Ashida and Charlotte Kate Fox are cast in new Fuji TV drama series “Our House” (working title). In drama series “Our House,” Mana Ashida plays a 12-year-old girl who is second child among 4 siblings. After her mother passed away 6 months ago, the 12-year-old girl is responsible for taking care of the house. Her father then meets an American woman played by Charlotte Kate Fox while working in the U.S. The couple decide to marry almost instantly and he brings her back to Japan. The 12-year-old girl is unhappy to have a new mother and tries to kick her out.

“Our House” will air beginning this April in Japan.

Feb 5 2016

Hiroaki Murakami, Ayame Gouriki & Takanori Jinnai cast in TV Tokyo drama SP “Soshitsu no Girei”

Hiroaki Murakami, Ayame Gouriki & Takanori Jinnai are cast as leads in new TV Tokyo drama SP “Soshitsu no Girei.” In the drama special, all three performers will play detectives. Story for the drama special revolves around two murders that take place in Shizuoka Prefecture and Tokyo. Both victims attended a medical seminar in Shizuoka Prefecture. Detective Kyosuke Otsuka (Hiroaki Murakami) and his rookie detective partner Hiroaki Murakami (Ayame Gouriki) join forces with Detective Kouhei Suda (Takanori Jinnai) in Tokyo to find the murderer.

“Soshitsu no Girei” will air sometime this spring in Japan.

Feb 3 2016

Haru Kuroki, Joe Odagiri, Kentaro Sakaguchi cast in TBS drama series “Juhan Shuttai!”

Haru Kuroki, Joe Odagiri and Kentaro Sakaguchi are cast in upcoming TBS live-action drama series “Juhan Shuttai!” The drama series about working in the manga publishing industry is based on manga “Juhan Shuttai!” by Yana Toboso and directed by Nobuhiro Doi (“Tears for You“). In the drama series, Haru Kuroki plays main character Kokoro Kurosawa. Her character was a judo athlete, but begin a new career in the manga publishing industry. The company experiences turbulent times as they must deal with new technologies like ebooks. Also cast in supporting roles are YosiYosi Arakawa, Yutaka Matsushige & Ken Yasuda.

“Juhan Shuttai!” first airs sometime this April in Japan.

Feb 1 2016

Masaharu Fukuyama cast in Fuji TV drama series “Love Song”

Masaharu Fukuyama is cast in upcoming Fuji TV drama series “Love Song.” It’s his first drama series starring role since 2013 Fuji TV drama series “Galileo 2.” In the drama series “Love Song,” Masaharu Fukuyama plays Kohei Kamishiro. His character was a musician, but after having only 1 hit song was dropped by his recording label. He then gave up on music. Twenty years later, he meets a woman with a beautiful voice who inspires him to make music once again.

“Love Song” first airs April, 2016 in Japan.

Jan 27 2016

Yutaka Takenouchi cast in drama special “Sutekina Sen Taxi Special”

Yutaka Takenouchi cast in Fuji TV-KTV drama special “Sutekina Sen Taxi Special.” The 1 episode drama special follows 2014 drama series “Sutekina Sen Taxi.” Also cast for the drama special are Bakarhythm, Takeshi Masu, Nao Minamisawa and Nana Seino, who all appeared in the “”Sutekina Sen Taxi” drama series. Premise for the drama series involves taxi cab driver Edawakare (Yutaka Takenouchi) who takes passenger into the past and to a time they specify.

“Sutekina Sen Taxi Special” will air sometime this spring in Japan.

Jan 18 2016

Hayato Ichihara cast in WOWOW drama special “Futabasou no Yujin”

Actor Hayato Ichihara is cast in upcoming WOWOW drama special “Futabasou no Yujin.” Also cast in the drama special are Asami Usuda, Tomoya Nakamura, Hana Hizuki, Takeo Nakahara & Kazuko Yoshiyuki. Premise for the drama series has Masaharu Kawamura (Hayato Ichihara) & Mie Kawamura (Asami Usuda) moving to a terrace house. Masaharu Kawamura begins a new career as a writer. He then sees a ghost in his house and becomes friendly with the ghost. Masaharu Kawamura then learns of a past incident that place in the home.

“Futabasou no Yujin” airs March 19, 2016 in Japan.

Jan 6 2016

Ebizo Ichikawa cast in TV Tokyo drama series “Ishikawa Goemon”

Actor Ebizo Ichikawa is cast in new TV Tokyo drama series “Ishikawa Goemon.” The drama series is based on the life of well known outlaw figure Ishikawa Goemon. Ebizo Ichikawa will play the title character. In the drama series, Ishikawa Goemon goes about stealing from the rich and redistributing the stolen items to the poor. Meanwhile, the all powerful Hideyoshi Toyotomi becomes obsessed with taking out Ishikawa Goemon.

“Ishikawa Goemon” will air sometime this year in Japan.