Posts Categorized: Japanese Dramas

Feb 18 2020

Masahiro Matsuoka, Kei Inoo, & Marie Iitoyo cast in TV Asahi drama series “Mr. Housekeeper, Mitazono Season 4”

Masahiro Matsuoka (‘Tokio’), Kei Inoo (‘Hey! Say! JUMP’), and Marie Iitoyo are cast in TV Asahi drama series “Mr. Housekeeper, Mitazono Season 4.” Masahiro Matsuoka will reprise his main character role of Kaoru Mitazono. He works as a housekeeper and dresses up as a woman. Kei Inoo will reprise his role of Hikaru Murata from “Mr. Housekeeper, Mitazono Season 3” and Marie Iitoyo will play new character Mai Kirishima.

Plot synopsis by AsianWiki: Kaoru Mitazono (Masahiro Matsuoka) is a housekeeper. He is perfect with his job, but he is also full of mystery. He dresses up as a woman. He accompanies housekeeper Hikaru Murata (Kei Inoo) and rookie housekeeper Mai Kirishima (Marie Iitoyo).

“Mr. Housekeeper, Mitazono Season 4” first airs April, 2020 in Japan (takes over TV Asahi’s Friday 23:15 time slot after “Wasteful Days of High School Girls.”).

Feb 16 2020

Kento Nakajima & Sho Hirano cast in NTV drama series “Miman Keisatsu: Midnight Runner.”

Kento Nakajima (‘Sexy Zone’) and Sho Hirano (‘King & Prince’) are cast for in NTV drama series “Miman Keisatsu: Midnight Runner.” The drama series is a remake of 2017 South Korean film “Midnight Runners” starring Park Seo-Joon and Kang Ha-Neul. For the NTV drama series version, Kento Nakajima will play Kai Honma. He is the more cerebral of the two main characters, who are cadets at the police academy. Sho Hirano will play Jiro Ichinose, who is more physically fit (Park Seo-Joon’s character in the original movie).

“Miman Keisatsu: Midnight Runner” first airs April, 2020 in Japan.

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Feb 13 2020

Yumi Adachi cast in TV Tokyo drama series “Throw It Away, Adachi”

Yumi Adachi is cast in TV Tokyo drama series “Throw It Away, Adachi” (literal title of “Suteteyo, Adachi-san”). The drama series will slot in TV Tokyo’s Friday 24:52 time slot after “Zetsumeshi Road.” For the drama series, Yumi Adachi will play herself. She will go through a Marie Kondo like reorganization of her belongings. Drama series is scripted by Yuko Shimoda (“Coffee & Vanilla“) & Akiko Ohku and directed by Akiko Ohku as well.

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki: The chief editor of a woman’s magazine talks to Yumi Adachi (Yumi Adachi) about a new idea for the magazine. Their plan revolves around a person who disposes of stuff and lives more comfortably. According to their plan, Yumi Adachi decides to throw away various items one by one. On that night, Yumi Adachi falls asleep as usual, but she has an unusual dream.

“Throw It Away, Adachi” first airs April 17, 2020 in Japan.

Feb 13 2020

Gou Ayano & Gen Hoshino cast in TBS drama series “MIU 404”

Gou Ayano and Gen Hoshino are cast in TBS drama series “MIU 404.” The drama series features an original screenplay by Akiko Nogi and directed by Ayuko Tsukahara & Kentaro Takemura. The drama series centers around MIU, which stands for Mobile Investigative Unit, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

Plot synopsis by AsianWiki: The Mobile Investigative Unit (known as “MIU”) of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department attempts to solve cases within 24 hours.

Detective Kazumi Shima (Gen Hoshino) is selected as a new member of MIU. He is intelligent, with excellent observation and communication skills. Yet, he does not trust other people. He is unable to find a partner in MIU and is ordered to partner with Police Officer Ai Ibuki (Gou Ayano), who works at a police substation. Ai Ibuki applied for MIU, but he failed. He is in excellent physical condition, but he lacks knowledge and experience as a detective. Kazumi Shima learns about Ai Ibuki’s background and he becomes more nervous. Finally, Kazumi Shima has his first meeting with Ai Ibuki.

“MIU 404” first airs April, 2020 in Japan (takes over TBS’ Friday 10PM time slot after “Prayers in the Emergency Room.”).


Feb 12 2020

Kei Tanaka & Ken Yasuda cast in TV Tokyo live-action drama series “Helical Labyrinth”

Kei Tanaka and Ken Yasuda are cast in TV Tokyo live-action drama series “Helical Labyrinth” (literal title). The drama series is based on manga series “Rasen no Meikyu: Idenshi Sosa” by Midori Natsu. For the drama series, Kei Tanaka will play main character Jin Jinbo. He is a DNA expert. Ken Yasuda will play major supporting character Genji Ando. He is a detective.

Plot synopsis by AsianWiki: Jin Jinbo (Kei Tanaka) is a DNA expert. He works as an associate professor of genome analysis laboratory at a medical school. A murder case takes place in Tokyo. The murderer left an ‘X’ mark on the dead body. Detective Genji Ando (Ken Yasuda) is excluded from the murder investigation, because of a high probability that his wife was murdered by the same person. The investigation headquarters secretly reaches out to Jin Jinbo for help.

“Helical Labyrinth” will first air April, 2020 in Japan.

Feb 11 2020

Mikako Tabe, Nao Omori, & Koji Seto cast in TBS live-action drama series “My Housekeeper Mr. Nagisa”

Mikako Tabe, Nao Omori, and Koji Seto are cast in TBS live-action drama series “My Housekeeper Mr. Nagisa” (literal title). The drama series is based on manga series “Kaseifu no Nagisa-san” by Furiko Yotsuhara. The drama series features Nao Omori as housekeeper Nagisa Shigino.

Plot synopsis by AsianWiki: Mei Aihara (Mikako Tabe) is a single woman. She works hard as a medical representative at a pharmaceutical company. Unlike her performance at work, she is not proficient at all doing housework. On the night of her 28th birthday, a strange man appears at her messy home. The strange man is Nagisa Shigino (Nao Omori), who is an excellent housekeeper. Mei Aihara doesn’t want to hire him, but she ends up hiring him as her housekeeper. Meanwhile, Yuta Tadokoro (Koji Seto) appears in front of Mei Aihara. Yuta Tadokoro works as a medical representative for a rival pharmaceutical company.

“My Housekeeper Mr. Nagisa” first airs April, 2020 in Japan.

Feb 5 2020

Satomi Ishihara cast in Fuji TV live-action drama series “Unsung Cinderella”

Satomi Ishihara is cast for the lead role in Fuji TV live-action drama series “Unsung Cinderella.” The drama series is based on manga series “Unsung Cinderella” by Mamare Arai and directed by Ryo Tanaka (“The Confidence Man JP“). For the drama series, Satomi Ishihara will play earnest pharmacist Midori Aoi.

Plot synopsis by AsianWiki: Midori Aoi (Satomi Ishihara) has worked as a pharmacist at a hospital for the past 8 years. She holds the belief as a pharmacist that medicine is related to a patients’ daily life and, because of this, pharmacists needs to know about their patients. Consequently, Midori Aoi spends more time with her patients than other pharmacists. She receives criticism that she should work more efficiently, but she never wavers from her belief.

“Unsung Cinderella” will first air April, 2020 in Japan (takes over Fuji TV’s Thursday 10 PM time slot after “Alive: Dr. Kokoro, The Medical Oncologist“).

Jan 31 2020

Yuya Yagira cast in NTV live-action drama series “Nigatsu no Shosha: Zettai Gokaku no Kyoshitsu”

Yuya Yagira is cast in NTV live-action drama series “Nigatsu no Shosha: Zettai Gokaku no Kyoshitsu.” The drama series is based on manga series “Nigatsu no Shosha: Zettai Gokaku no Kyoshitsu” by Shiho Takase. Shiho Takase previously had another manga series “Otoriyose Oji Iida Yoshimi” adapted into 2013 Nagoya TV drama series “Otoriyose Oji Iida Yoshimi.” In this drama series, Yuya Yagira will play Kurodo Kuroki. He becomes the director of a poor performing children’s cram school.

Plot synopsis by AsianWiki: Kurodo Kuroki (Yuya Yagira) was an extremely competent teacher at a prestigious cram school for the middle school entrance exam. He begins to work as the director of a cram school with poor performance. He declares that the students here will pass their middle school examinations. Kurodo Kuroki states a cram school is a service business and the school is a place to sell children’s future to parents.

“Nigatsu no Shosha: Zettai Gokaku no Kyoshitsu” will air July, 2020 in Japan.

Jan 30 2020

Sota Fukushi & Rio Uchida cast in NHK drama series “Meiji Kaika: Shinjuro Tanteicho”

Sota Fukushi & Rio Uchida are cast for lead roles in NHK drama series “Meiji Kaika: Shinjuro Tanteicho.” The drama series is based on 1950’s novel “Meiji Kaika Ango Torimonocho” by Ango Sakaguchi (“A Woman and War“). Also cast in supporting roles are Yuma Yamoto, Yasuhi Nakamura, Masanobu Katsumura, Shingo Tsurumi, Izumi Inamori, and Katsunori Takahashi.

Plot synopsis by AsianWiki: Set during the early Meiji era, Private Detective Shinjuro Yuki (Sota Fukushi) returns to Japan from abroad. He is trusted by Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Strange cases take place. Private Detective Shinjuro Yuki attempts to solve the cases. Meanwhile, Rie (Rio Uchida) is the daughter of a powerful business man. She becomes attracted to Shinjuro Yuki.

“Meiji Kaika: Shinjuro Tanteicho” will consist of 8 episodes and first air May 15, 2020 in Japan.

Jan 30 2020

Yuji Oda & Yuto Nakajima cast in Fuji TV drama series “Suits Season 2”

Yuji Oda and Yuto Nakajima (‘Hey! Say! JUMP’) are cast in Fuji TV drama series “Suits Season 2.” The drama series is a remake of U.S. cable TV series “Suits Season 2,” which aired on USA Network from June 14, 2012 to February 21, 2013. Yuji Oda and Yuto Nakajima will reprise their respective characters of Shogo Kai and Daiki Suzuki from season 1 of “Suits.”

Plot synopsis by AsianWiki: Shogo Kai (Yuji Oda) is a partner at a law firm in Marunouchi, Tokyo. He brings back Daiki Suzuki (Yuto Nakajima) to his law firm from Boston. Shogo Kai then assigns Daiki Suzuki to a case. The case involves a large publishing company as they are sued by a former contract worker. The former contract worker insists her idea for a novel was stolen by the publishing company.

Filming for “Suits Season 2” will begin early February, 2020 and the drama series will air from April, 2020 in Japan.