Mio Imada is cast for the lead female role in TBS drama special “Naoki Hanzawa Commemoration Year: Episode Zero” (literal title) co-starring Ryo Yoshizawa. The drama special is a prequel to upcoming TBS sequel drama series “Naoki Hanzawa.” For the drama special, Mio Imada will play Hitomi Hamamura. She is a new employee at the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
“Naoki Hanzawa Commemoration Year: Episode Zero” will air January 3, 2020 in Japan.
Jun (‘U-KISS’) is cast for the lead male role in new drama series “Idol’s Doctor” (literal title). The drama series is setup as a romantic-comedy with Jun playing musician & idol extraordinaire Yoon Tae-In. The plot summary from AsianWiki: Yoon Tae-In (Jun) is a genius musician and a top idol. He has a self-centered personality. Yoon Tae-In suffers from sleepwalking and, to cure his sleep disorder, he lives with a female doctor. The doctor though is a fake. Their relationship develops romantically.
“Idol’s Doctor” will first air sometime next year in South Korea, but broadcasting network has yet to be decided.
Osamu Mukai is cast for the lead role in Fuji TV-KTV drama series “10 Secrets” (literal title of “10 no Himitsu”). Also cast in supporting roles are Yukie Nakama, Riisa Naka, Anna Yamada, Tsuyoshi Takashima, Akane Hotta, Hana Kawamura, Yuya Endo, Mitsuhiro Fujiwara, Umi Yamano, Yuko Natori and Atsuro Watabe. The drama series features a suspense-mystery-crime themed script involving a father who learns his daughter has been kidnapped.
Plot synopsis from AsianWiki: Keita Shirakawa (Osamu Mukai) works as a building inspector. He is a single father, who has raised his 14 year-old-daughter Hitomi (Anna Yamada) alone since his divorce with his ex-wife Yukiko Sendai (Yukie Nakama). Yukiko Sendai works as a corporate lawyer for a large construction company. After his ex-wife left him, Keita Shirakawa has place his daughter as a priority in his life. He is an ideal father to her. One day, Keita Shirakawa receives a phone call. The caller informs him that “I have your daughter. If you want to save her life, go to your ex-wife.” While looking for his daughter, Keita Shirakawa learns a secret about his ex-wife. He also knows that his daughter has a secret.
“10 Secrets” first airs January, 2020 (takes over Fuji TV’s Tuesday 9PM time slot after “He Who Can’t Marry Season 2“).
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.
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.
Takayuki Hamatsu is cast in TV Tokyo drama series “Zetsumeshi Road.” The drama series will feature original screenplays by Hayashi Mori, Hiroki 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“).
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.
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.
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.”).
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.