Upcoming JDramas

xploring wrote:Yoshitaka stars in drama series "Mioka"
Thu, May 13, 2010 (10:26am EDT)
Young actress Yuriko Yoshitaka (21) has landed her first starring role in a network television drama series. She will play the lead in NTV's "Mioka," based on a novel by author Ira Ishida.

Yoshitaka plays a university student named Mioka who has an incurable illness. The show depicts her "final love" with fellow student Taichi (Kento Hayashi) as well as her life at home with her mother (Miki Maya) and other family members.

The show begins shooting in early June, but will premiere sometime in July. NTV has scheduled it for Saturday nights at 9:00pm.
Source: Sports Hochi

More details here: http://www.kawaii-joyuu.com/?p=7013

Sounds like a rather cliched plot... But let's see what kind of acting chops Yuriko has.... :)

Another medical drama, just what we need :shakehead: :

Higashiyama to star in "medical mystery" drama

Shonentai member Noriyuki Higashiyama is starring in a TBS drama series this summer. The currently untitled show will have a mystery touch, with Higashiyama playing the part of an unusual doctor.

Higashiyama plays the brilliant but comical Dr. Goto, who takes on the challenge of analyzing patients with undiagnosed illnesses and determining their conditions. However, he avoids even touching his patients due to his extreme phobia of germs, and he has no interest in women.

His supporting cast includes Mikako Tabe, Kanjani8's Tadayoshi Okura, Eiko Koike, Hisashi Yoshizawa, Norito Yashima, and Shinya Owada. TBS will broadcast the show on Sundays at 9:00pm, starting in July.

gaijinmark wrote:Another medical drama, just what we need :shakehead: :

Higashiyama to star in "medical mystery" drama

Shonentai member Noriyuki Higashiyama is starring in a TBS drama series this summer. The currently untitled show will have a mystery touch, with Higashiyama playing the part of an unusual doctor.

Higashiyama plays the brilliant but comical Dr. Goto, who takes on the challenge of analyzing patients with undiagnosed illnesses and determining their conditions. However, he avoids even touching his patients due to his extreme phobia of germs, and he has no interest in women.

His supporting cast includes Mikako Tabe, Kanjani8's Tadayoshi Okura, Eiko Koike, Hisashi Yoshizawa, Norito Yashima, and Shinya Owada. TBS will broadcast the show on Sundays at 9:00pm, starting in July.

^ If he had an obsessive interest in food, it could be a medical version of Kuitan. :mrgreen:

Or maybe Monk meets House, M.D. ;)

bmwracer wrote:
^Or maybe Monk meets House, M.D. ;)

LOL I so totally thought of that! :hehe: But Higashiyama can be quirky, as displayed in Kuitan. I might just enjoy this. :)

WD wrote:LOL I so totally thought of that! :hehe: But Higashiyama can be quirky, as displayed in Kuitan. I might just enjoy this. :)

Yeah, I think it's worth a look. :victory:

Tomoya Nagase stars in new Kudokan drama

TOKIO's Tomoya Nagase is once again teaming up with screenwriter Kankuro Kudo for a new drama series this summer. This will be their third one together, after "Ikebukuro West Gate Park" (2000) and "Tiger & Dragon" (2005).

Titled "Unubore Deka" ("Conceited Detective"), the show is an original comedy about an unusual detective (Nagase) who has a habit of falling in love with every female suspect, and his conceit leads him to believe that they are also in love with him. When he finds evidence of their crimes, he confronts them with an arrest warrant and a marriage proposal at the same time, giving them a choice between the two. Although his actual name will apparently not be mentioned during the show, he is known to everyone as "Unubore" for his conceit.

TBS says that they are lining up big-name actresses to play the guest role of the suspect for each episode. The network also hinted that there's even a case where the guest will be a male actor.

The regular supporting cast features Toma Ikuta as an actor who is Unubore's friend, Mika Nakashima as Unubore's ex-girlfriend, and Toshiyuki Nishida as Unubore's father. The detective frequents a bar where he and a group of acquaintances are known as the "Unubore 5," consisting of Nagase, Ikuta, Jun Kaname, Ken Yahagi, and Mitsugoro Bando.

"Unubore Deka" will air on Friday nights at 10:00pm, starting in July.

Yuki Amami aims for "GOLD"

Yuki Amami is confirmed to be starring in a new drama series this summer, tentatively titled "GOLD." The show is a home drama penned by screenwriter Shinji Nojima.

Amami plays Yuri Saotome, a charismatic beautician who runs a major sports gym and aesthetic salon. Her older brother died in an accident just before his opportunity to achieve a gold medal at the Olympics, so she chose to marry a wrestling gold medalist. After giving birth to four children, she and her husband broke off their marriage, leaving Yuri to raise the kids by herself. With their excellent genes, three of them have been raised as possible candidates for the next Olympic games.

"GOLD" will be broadcast by Fuji TV on Thursday nights at 10:00pm, starting this July.

gaijinmark wrote:Tomoya Nagase stars in new Kudokan drama

TOKIO's Tomoya Nagase is once again teaming up with screenwriter Kankuro Kudo for a new drama series this summer. This will be their third one together, after "Ikebukuro West Gate Park" (2000) and "Tiger & Dragon" (2005).

Titled "Unubore Deka" ("Conceited Detective"), the show is an original comedy about an unusual detective (Nagase) who has a habit of falling in love with every female suspect, and his conceit leads him to believe that they are also in love with him. When he finds evidence of their crimes, he confronts them with an arrest warrant and a marriage proposal at the same time, giving them a choice between the two. Although his actual name will apparently not be mentioned during the show, he is known to everyone as "Unubore" for his conceit.

TBS says that they are lining up big-name actresses to play the guest role of the suspect for each episode. The network also hinted that there's even a case where the guest will be a male actor.

The regular supporting cast features Toma Ikuta as an actor who is Unubore's friend, Mika Nakashima as Unubore's ex-girlfriend, and Toshiyuki Nishida as Unubore's father. The detective frequents a bar where he and a group of acquaintances are known as the "Unubore 5," consisting of Nagase, Ikuta, Jun Kaname, Ken Yahagi, and Mitsugoro Bando.

"Unubore Deka" will air on Friday nights at 10:00pm, starting in July.

Just 5 minutes before I red this post, I had a look at this drama's synopsis. Sounds somewhat similar to me...

Yu Yamada's first lead role in drama series

Yu Yamada has been given her first starring role in a drama series. She will play the protagonist in TV Asahi's "Gakeppuchi no Eri ~ Kono Yo de Ichiban Daiji na 'Kane' no Hanashi," based on a semi-autobiographical essay by mangaka Rieko Saibara ("Bokunchi," "Mainichi Kaasan").

"Gakeppuchi no Eri" describes the turbulent life of Eriko (Yamada), who has been extremely poor since childhood, due to the debt left by her parents. Despite constant misfortune, she aims to achieve happiness and money by moving to Tokyo to pursue life as a manga artist.

The cast includes Takanori Jinnai, Eri Watanabe, Muga Tsukaji, Kotaro Koizumi, Yoji Tanaka, and Ren Osugi. Saibara herself will make a guest appearance on the show.

The show premieres in July and will air on Friday nights at 9:00pm.

gaijinmark wrote:Tomoya Nagase stars in new Kudokan drama

I feel a little glimmer of hope... :fingerscrossed:

Miki Nakatani plays marriage counselor in drama special
Wed, May 26, 2010 (10:49am EDT)
Miki Nakatani (34) is starring in a drama special on NTV next month, tentatively titled "Fuufu no Risou to Genjitsu -Tsuma ni Imasugu Dete Itte! to Iwaretara-." This is her first starring role in a drama special in about eight years.

The drama is based on a book by real-life marriage counselor Yasue Yoshiike. Nakatani plays a counselor who tries to resolve the problems of three different couples - a husband whose wife of 30 years threatens divorce, a wife who is troubled by domestic violence, and a wife dealing with psychological harassment.

NTV plans to broadcast the two-hour drama on June 30. The show's producer said that if it is received well, there is a possibility of turning it into a series.
Source: Sports Hochi

http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-6138

Miki Nakatani (34) is starring in a drama special on NTV next month, tentatively titled "Fuufu no Risou to Genjitsu -Tsuma ni Imasugu Dete Itte! to Iwaretara-." This is her first starring role in a drama special in about eight years.

The drama is based on a book by real-life marriage counselor Yasue Yoshiike. Nakatani plays a counselor who tries to resolve the problems of three different couples - a husband whose wife of 30 years threatens divorce, a wife who is troubled by domestic violence, and a wife dealing with psychological harassment.

Oooo boy, I can't wait!

But oh boy, don't it sound dull.

Maybe I should post this one in the Japanese Language thread:

Riisa Naka teaches Japanese in first lead drama role

Up-and-coming actress Riisa Naka now has her first starring role in a drama series. She will play a teacher in NTV's "Nihonjin no Shiranai Nihongo," premiering on July 15.

The drama is based on the popular comic essay series of the same name by Hebizou and Nagiko Umino. The original books are a collection of stories about a Japanese teacher, and they deal with aspects of the language that even native speakers get wrong.

Naka plays Haruko, a young woman with a dream of becoming a high school teacher. Her former teacher offers to get her a job if she takes on a 3-month position teaching Japanese to foreigners. Her students, which include an anime otaku from France, challenge her constantly with difficult questions about the Japanese language.

The drama will air on Thursday nights.

gaijinmark wrote:Maybe I should post this one in the Japanese Language thread:

Riisa Naka teaches Japanese in first lead drama role

Up-and-coming actress Riisa Naka now has her first starring role in a drama series. She will play a teacher in NTV's "Nihonjin no Shiranai Nihongo," premiering on July 15.

The drama is based on the popular comic essay series of the same name by Hebizou and Nagiko Umino. The original books are a collection of stories about a Japanese teacher, and they deal with aspects of the language that even native speakers get wrong.

Naka plays Haruko, a young woman with a dream of becoming a high school teacher. Her former teacher offers to get her a job if she takes on a 3-month position teaching Japanese to foreigners. Her students, which include an anime otaku from France, challenge her constantly with difficult questions about the Japanese language.

The drama will air on Thursday nights.

I see anime otaku from France and the first person who pops into my mind is Eiji Wentz :hehe: He's actually German-American though. Kind of want to see this one; sounds like it could be funny or a major insult to all other parts of the world :P
Go Riisa!

gaijinmark wrote:

The drama is based on the popular comic essay series of the same name by Hebizou and Nagiko Umino. The original books are a collection of stories about a Japanese teacher, and they deal with aspects of the language that even native speakers get wrong.

I wonder how we are going to understand it if even native speakers have trouble. :hehe:

Jun Matsumoto, Yuko Takeuchi star in next "Getsu 9" drama
Thu, May 27, 2010 (6:52pm EDT)
It has been confirmed that Arashi's Jun Matsumoto (26) will star in Fuji TV's Monday night drama series next season. He will be the first member of the group to appear in a drama during that time slot, and this will be his first lead role in a full-length Fuji TV series.

The drama, titled "Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku," is an original love story by "Buzzer Beat" screenwriter Mika Omori. The female lead is being played by Yuko Takeuchi (30), who starred in "Lunch Queen" and "Fukigen na Gene," both also written by Omori.

In the show, Matsumoto plays a struggling actor who has developed a complex due to his father, a famous actor. The character is described as being "tsundere," a term referring to people who are normally cold in personality but become overly fawning when they are around their love interest. In this case, that love interest is an older woman being played by Takeuchi, whose character is said to be spirited, but also mysterious due to certain circumstances.

"Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku" will air Monday nights at 9:00pm, starting in July.
Source: Sankei Sports

xploring wrote:
In the show, Matsumoto plays a struggling actor

In real life Matsumoto struggles to act.

gaijinmark wrote:In real life Matsumoto struggles to act.

:lol: :lol:

Touche...! :rofl:

Yui Ichikawa stars in jidaigeki drama

Now in her tenth year since her show business debut, actress Yui Ichikawa will finally take on her first lead role in a drama series. She has been cast as a doctor in the jidaigeki drama "Katsura Chizuru Shinsatsu Nichiroku," being broadcast by NHK this summer.

Set in Edo in 1820, the story is adapted from a novel series by Hisako Fujiwara. Ichikawa plays Chizuru, the daughter of a doctor who practices Dutch medicine (Kenichi Endo). When her father suddenly dies, she continues his work, treating the poor people of her village. Ichikawa is also said to have trained in sword fighting for half a year in order to play the role.

The drama is set to run for 14 episodes. NHK has placed it in the Saturday 7:30pm time slot, starting on August 28.

gaijinmark wrote:Yui Ichikawa stars in jidaigeki drama

Now in her tenth year since her show business debut, actress Yui Ichikawa will finally take on her first lead role in a drama series. She has been cast as a doctor in the jidaigeki drama "Katsura Chizuru Shinsatsu Nichiroku," being broadcast by NHK this summer.

Set in Edo in 1820, the story is adapted from a novel series by Hisako Fujiwara. Ichikawa plays Chizuru, the daughter of a doctor who practices Dutch medicine (Kenichi Endo). When her father suddenly dies, she continues his work, treating the poor people of her village. Ichikawa is also said to have trained in sword fighting for half a year in order to play the role.

The drama is set to run for 14 episodes. NHK has placed it in the Saturday 7:30pm time slot, starting on August 28.

It'd be really cool if her character ends up meeting the lead character from JIN... :mrgreen:

Wonder if there's ever been a case where two different dramas ended up crossing paths, like some of the American dramas... ;)

I think I remember reading something about how KimuTaku and another SMAP member had dramas airing concurrently and one character makes a cameo in the other's drama! :mrgreen: But I don't know what dramas they are...