Nov 20 2019

Ryunosuke Kamiki cast in WOWOW drama series “Bones of Steel”

Ryunosuke Kamiki is cast in WOWOW drama series “Bones of Steel” (literal title). The drama series is based on 2009 novel “Tetsu no Hone” by Jun Ikeido and directed by Kosuke Suzuki. The screenplay adaptation is handled by Youichi Maekawa. Director Kosuke Suzuki and screenwriter Youichi Maekawa previously worked together on 2009 WOWOW drama series “The Flying Tire,” that is adapted from a Jun Ikeido novel. Director Kosuke Suzuki also directed 2014 WOWOW drama series “Stock Price Collapse,” that is adapted from a Jun Ikeido novel. Meanwhile, “Bones of Steel” was first adapted into 2010 NHK drama series “Bones of Steel” starring Teppei Koike and then adapted into 2015 MBC Drama drama series “City of the Sun” starring Kim Jun. For this version of “Bones of Steel,” Ryunosuke Kamiki will play Heita Tomishima. He is a sincere person, who begins to work in the sales department for a construction company and must deal with corruption for public projects.

“Bones of Steel” first airs April, 2020 in Japan.

Nov 20 2019

Minami Hamabe & Ken Yasuda cast in TV Asahi drama series “Providing Alibi Cracking”

Minami Hamabe and Ken Yasuda are cast in TV Asahi drama series “Providing Alibi Cracking” (literal title). The drama series is based on 2018 novel “Alibi Kuzushi Uketamawarimasu” by Seiichiro Oyama. Minami Hamabe will play main character Tokino Mitani. She runs a watch shop, but she also provides an alibi cracking service. Ken Yasuda will play police officer Yoshiyuki Saji. He turns to Tokino Mitani for help on solving cases.

“Providing Alibi Cracking” first airs January, 2020.

Nov 19 2019

Takayuki Hamatsu cast in TV Tokyo drama series “Zetsumeshi Road”

Takayuki Hamatsu is cast in TV Tokyo drama series “Zetsumeshi Road.” The drama series will feature original screenplays by Hayashi MoriHiroki Murakami, and Manbo Yashiro. The theme for the drama series revolves around food, specifically dishes that are endangered. Main character Tamio Suda (Takayuki Hamatsu) is an ordinary salaryman, but he has the unusual hobby of seeking out zetsumeshi (endangered meals). The meals are endangered when restaurant owners get older and they don’t have a succession plan or when their is a lack of restaurants serving a particular dish. Also cast in the drama series are Wakana Sakai, Koji Yamamoto, Ruka Nishimura, Koki Osamura, and Toru Nomaguchi.

“Zetsumeshi Road” will first air January 24, 2020 (takes over TV Tokyo’s Friday 1:52 AM time slot after “Eat And Sleep at Camp Alone“).

Nov 13 2019

Mone Kamishiraishi & Takeru Satoh cast in TBS live-action drama series “Love Lasts Forever”

Mone Kamishiraishi and Takeru Satoh are cast in TBS live-action drama series “Love Lasts Forever” (literal title). The drama series is based on manga “Koi wa Tsuzuku yo Dokomademo” by Maki Enjoji and directed by Kenta Tanaka (“Naoki Hanzawa“). Story for the drama series will follow the romance between rookie nurse Nanase Sakura (Mone Kamishiraishi) and Dr. Kairi Tendo (Takeru Satoh). Nanase Sakura became a nurse after falling in love with Kairi Tendo.

“Love Lasts Forever” will first air January, 2020 in Japan.

Nov 9 2019

Haru cast in NHK drama series “Ru: Taiwan Express”

Haru is cast in 3 episode NHK drama series “Ru: Taiwan Express.” The drama series is based on 2012 novel “Ru” by Shuichi Yoshida (“Villain“). Production is shared between Japan and Taiwan. For the drama series, Haru will play Haruka Tada. She is assigned to work in Taiwan after last visiting the country 6 years earlier. Back then she met a Taiwanese man Eric, but lost contact wit him.

“Ru: Taiwan Express” will air May, 2020 in Japan.

Nov 6 2019

Nana Seino & Ryusei Yokohama cast in NTV drama series “In The World Which Is Neither White Nor Black, Panda Laughs”

Nana Seino and Ryusei Yokohama are cast in NTV drama series “In The World Which Is Neither White Nor Black, Panda Laughs” (“Shiro demo Kuro demo Nai Sekai de, Panda wa Warau”). The drama series features a unique original screenplay and will be directed by Mitsutaka Endo (“The Cliff: A Man’s Judgement“). The unique story, recalling something that Satoshi Miki might have thought of, has Nana Seino playing Miss Panda and Ryusei Yokohama playing her male keeper. They attempt to uncover a mystery involving a secret.

“In The World Which Is Neither White Nor Black, Panda Laughs” will first air January, 2020 in Japan (takes over NTV’s Sunday 10:30 PM time slot after “Nippon Noir.”).

Nov 5 2019

Yuki Amami cast in NTV medical drama series “Top Knife”

Yuki Amami is cast for the main character role in NTV medical drama series “Top Knife.” The drama series is scripted & based on novel “Top Knife” by Koji Hayashi (“Iryu: Team Medical Dragon“) and directed by Kyoji Otsuka (“Queen of the Classroom“). The drama series will follow a group of doctors, with brain surgeon Yoko Miyama (Yuki Amami) central to all of the characters. This is Yuki Amami’s first starring role in an NTV drama series since 2015 drama series “Fake Marriage.” She also previouslyu worked with director Kyoji Otsuka in 2005 NTV drama series “Queen of the Classroom.”

“Top Knife” will first air January, 2020 in Japan.

Nov 4 2019

Shohei Miura, Yuma Yamoto, Tsubasa Sakiyama & Kenta Suga cast in WOWOW drama series “Wake Atte Kasei ni Sumimashita: Erabareshi 4nin”

Shohei Miura, Yuma Yamoto, Tsubasa Sakiyama & Kenta Suga are cast in WOWOW drama series “Wake Atte Kasei ni Sumimashita: Erabareshi 4nin.” The drama series is scripted by Osamu Suzuki (“Love x Doc“) and a stage play version will also take place in May, 2020. Shohei Miura, Yuma Yamoto, Tsubasa Sakiyama & Kenta Suga will all also star in the stage play version as well. The drama series version will unfold in an omnibus format with new actors appearing in each of the 6 episodes. The drama series revolves around a space project in the year 2030, where scientists will send 4 people to colonize Mars.

“Wake Atte Kasei ni Sumimashita: Erabareshi 4nin” first airs  January, 2020 in Japan.

Oct 31 2019

Yuji Oda, Nanako Matsushima, Shunsuke Kazama, & Yukiyoshi Ozawa cast in WOWOW live-action drama series “Nozaki Shuhei President of Bank”

Yuji Oda, Nanako Matsushima, Shunsuke Kazama, and Yukiyoshi Ozawa  are cast in WOWOW drama series “Nozaki Shuhei President of Bank” (literal title). The drama series is based on manga series “Todori Nozaki Shuhei” by Ryouka Shuu and is a sequel to 2018 WOWOW drama series “Nozaki Shuhei Auditor of Bank.” Yuji Oda and Nanako Matsushima will reprise their respective roles of Shuhei Nozaki & Sachiko Tachikawa in the sequel drama series, while Shunsuke Kazama and Yukiyoshi Ozawa will play new characters. Also cast in the drama series are Goro Kishitani, Miori Takimoto, Taro Suruga, Rika Izumi, Katsuya Kobayashi, Shota Watanabe (‘Snow Man’), Masaki Miura, Mantaro Koichi, Toru Nomaguchi, Naomi Nishida, Kazuyuki Aijima, Ichirota Miyakawa, Takashi Ukaji and Ikko Furuya.

“Nozaki Shuhei President of Bank” first airs January 19, 2019 in Japan (takes over WOWOW’s Sunday Drama-W slot after “Butterfly’s Mechanics: Murder Analysis Squad.”).

Oct 30 2019

Hana Sugisaki cast in NHK drama series “Ochoyan”

Hana Sugisaki is cast in NHK drama series “Ochoyan.” The drama series is NHK’s 103rd asadora or morning drama. The screenplay will be scripted by Hiroyuki Yatsu (“Naoki Hanzawa“) and directed by Yoshiro Nagikawa (“Hitomi“) & Makoto Bonkobara (“Carnation“). For “Ochoyan,” Hana Sugisaki will play actress Chieko Naniwa. The drama series is based on the life of actress Chieko Naniwa (November 19, 1907 – December 22, 1973). Filming for the drama series will begin April, 2020.

“Ochoyan” will first air (tentatively) September 27, 2020 in Japan (follows NHK’s asadora “Eru“).