Feb 11 2016

First still images of Lee Gi-Kwang & Lee Yeol-Eum in MBC drama series “Monster”

Here’s the first still images of supporting performers Lee Gi-Kwang from idol group “Beast”and Lee Yeol-Eum in upcoming MBC drama series “Monster.” The drama series stars Kang Ji-Hwan, Sung Yu-Ri & Park Ki-Woong.

The still images are from the Lee Gi-Kwang and Lee Yeol-Eum’s first day of filming which took place during the first week of February, 2016 in Paju, South Korea. The first scene filmed involved  Lee Kook-Chul played by Lee Gi-Kwang and Cha Soo-Yeon played Lee Yeol-Eum when they first meet in their young adult days. Lee Kook-Chul has a visual impairment and is a son from a wealthy family, while Cha Soo-Yeon works as a delivery woman for a chicken restaurant. Those two characters are later played by Kang Ji-Hwan and Sung Yu-Ri.

“Monster” first airs April 4, 2016 in South Korea.

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 5 2016

Masahiro Higashide, Sosuke Ikematsu and Masaki Suda cast in live-action film “Death Note 2016”

Masahiro Higashide, Sosuke Ikematsu and Masaki Suda are all cast in live-action film “Death Note 2016.” Movie is based on popular manga series “Death Note” by Tsugumi Ohba and directed by Shinsuke Sato (“Gantz“).

In movie “Death Note 2016,” Masahiro Higashide plays Tsukuru Mishima. His character is an investigator of the Death Note Special Task Force Headquarter Team. He has made a thorough investigation into the Kira case from 10 years ago. He is a Death Note otaku.

Sosuke Ikematsu plays private investigator Ryuzaki. His character is the rightful successor of L. He was born with L’s gene which L left before he died. He chases after the Death Note with Tsukuru Mishima.

Masaki Suda plays Yuki Shion. He is a cyber terrorist. His entire family was murdered by a crazy man and Yuki is the only survivor. Kira killed the crazed man who murdered his family. Since then, Yuki worships Kira as a god. He entices Tsukuru and Ryuzaki with his excellent hacking skills.

“Death Note 2016” will be released sometime this autumn in Japan.