Alan Shirahama (“EXILE”/”Generations from Exile Tribe”) is cast for the lead role in TV Asahi drama series “Don’t Cry Doctor-In-Training” (literal title). The drama series is based on 2019 novel “Nakuna Kenshui” by Yujiro Nakayama. In the drama series, Alan Shirahama will play intern Ryuji Ameno. He came from the countryside and now works at a hospital in Tokyo. He struggles as a doctor-in-training.
“Don’t Cry Doctor-In-Training” first airs April, 2021.
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Masaki Suda is cast for the lead role in NTV drama series “Konto ga Hajimaru.” Kasumi Arimura, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Taiga Nakano, and Kotone Furukawa are also cast for the drama. The drama series will revolve around 5 people, with the three actors playing members of an unpopular comedy trio and the two actresses playing sisters. The drama series is scripted by Shigeki Kaneko and directed by Ryuichi Inomata & Ko Kanai.
“Konto ga Hajimaru” will first air April, 2021 in Japan (takes over NTV’s Saturday 10 PM time slot after “Red Eyes“).
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Meru Nukumi is cast for the lead role in NTV drama series “Oshare no Kotae ga Wakaranai.” Also cast in the drama series are Ryuji Sato, Yuuka Suzuki and Kenta Hamano. Meru Nukumi will play university student Akane Kinomiya. She decides to visit a beauty salon after Yuto Tominaga (Ryuji Sato) comments that she looks plain.
“Oshare no Kotae ga Wakaranai” first airs February 28, 2021 in Japan.
Read more »Yutaka Takenouchi and Yuriko Ishida are cast in WOWOW drama series “The Hovering Blade.” The drama series is based on novel “Samayou Yaiba” by Keigo Higashino. That novel was previously adapted into 2009 film “The Hovering Blade” and 2014 South Korean remake film “Broken.” Yutaka Takenouchi will play main character Shigeki Nagamine. His daughter is murdered and he kills her murderer. Yuriko Ishida will play supporting character Wakako Kijima.
“The Hovering Blade” consists of 6 episodes and will first air May, 2021 in Japan.
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Keita Machida is cast for the lead role in live-action MBS drama series “Three Star Bar in Nishi Ogikubo.” The drama series is based on manga series “Nishiogikubo Mitsuboshi Youshudou” by Sai Asai. For the drama series, Keita Machida will play Ryoichiro Amamiya. He works as a bartender at the “Three Star Bar” which is located in Nishi Ogikubo, Tokyo. In addition, the opening theme song for the drama series has been announced as “Entertainer” by rock band I Don’t Like Mondays.
“Three Star Bar in Nishi Ogikubo” will first air February 11, 2021 in Japan.
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Jun Matsumoto is cast for the lead role in NHK drama series “Dou Suru Ieyasu.” The drama series is NHK’s 62nd annual taiga series and will air in 2023. Filming for “Dou Suru Ieyasu” is expected to begin summer, 2022. The drama series will depict the life of Ieyasu Tokugawa (1543-1616) and Jun Matsumoto will play the real life historical figure. Jun Matsumoto stated that he accepted the role after boy band Arashi decided to suspend its activities after January 1, 2021. He looked for a new challenge and found it in this drama series.
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Terunosuke Takezai and Win Morisaki are cast in WOWOW drama series “1 Year of Meeting 70 People Through Online Dating & Recommending Books That Suits Them” (literal title) starring Miori Takimoto. The drama series revolves around a bookstore manager who meets people from an online dating website and recommends books to them. The screenplay is based on essay “Deaikei Site de 70 nin to Jissaini Atte Sono Hito ni Ai Sona Hon wo Susume Makutta 1 nen no Koto” by Nanako Hanada.
For the drama series, Terunosuke Takezai will play Ken. He is married to main character Nanako Hanada (Miori Takimoto), but they are on the verge of getting a divorce. Win Morisaki will play Endo. He works as a videographer and meets Nanako Hanada through the online dating website. They begin to meet regularly.
“1 Year of Meeting 70 People Through Online Dating & Recommending Books That Suits Them” will air from February 26, 2021 in Japan.
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Yuri Tsunematsu is cast in Netflix drama series “The Naked Director 2” starring Takayuki Yamada. Yuri Tsunematsu will play Mariko Nogi. She is a new character and did not appear in season 1. In the drama series, Mariko Nogi will appear in front of Toru Muranishi (Takayuki Yamada) and inspire him for his next AV film.
“The Naked Director 2” will be available to stream on Netflix sometime later this year.
Tomoya Nakamura is cast in TV Tokyo live-action drama series “How About Coffee” (literal title). The drama is based on manga series “Coffee Ikagadesho” by Misato Konari (“Nagi’s Long Vacation“). In the drama series, Tomoya Nakamura will play Hajime Aoyama. He runs a coffee truck.
“How About Coffee” will first air sometime this year in Japan.
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Tsubasa Honda is cast for the lead role in NTV-Hulu drama special “20 Conditions to Date with an App” (literal title of “App de Koi Suru 20 no Joken”). Also cast in the drama series are Yosuke Sugino, Maika Yamamoto , Reina Sumi, Takayuki Hamatsu, and Shuhei Nomura. The drama series is scripted by Noriaki Sugihara and directed by Takehiko Shinjo. The screenplay is a romantic-comedy story, revolving around 6 people and a dating app.
“20 Conditions to Date with an App” will stream on Huly from January 7, 2021 and air on NTV on January 10, 2021.
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