Upcoming JDramas

Matsuura Aya stars in Kansai-region drama special gSakura to Satsukih
Posted on March 18, 2011 by tokyograph

Matsuura Aya (24) is starring in a drama special called gSakura to Satsuki,h scheduled to air late at night on April 1 on the local Kansai station ABC TV.

The drama was shot in the Kansai area and features an all-Kansai cast. Matsuura – who is originally from Himeji, Hyogo – will play a truck driver and former yankee named Sakura, speaking in Banshu-ben (a regional dialect of Kansai-ben). Trouble arises when she finds out that her good friend and former co-worker Satsuki (Hamaguchi Junko) is engaged to her ex-boyfriend Yuji (Hashimoto Jun).

The cast is rounded out by comedian Kobayashi Kotaro (of Choplin), Ina Kenji, Tokuda Naomi, and Oura Ai.

Matsuura will also sing in Banshu-ben for the theme song, titled gFutari Osaka,h which she wrote specifically for the show.

The official website has a trailer and will be updated with 5 gspin-off dramah episodes. Viewers can put together the Japanese characters shown at the end of each episode to form a keyword, qualifying them to enter in a lottery to win one of five 10,000 yen gift certificates. Those episodes are planned to start on the morning of March 25.

Sources:
Sports Hochi
Official Website

For any of you that have ever watched a drama and said to yourself, "I can do better than him!", Now's your chance:

gOre no Sorah drama seriesf lead role to be chosen in open audition

March 30, 2011

Motomiya Hiroshifs manga gOre no Sora: Keiji-henh is being turned into a drama series on TV Asahi. A special website created for the project has announced that the lead actor will be decided through a public audition.

The original gOre no Sorah manga revolves around the growth of a young man named Yasuda Ippei, whose father is the leader of Japanfs greatest business conglomerate. In the gKeiji-henh sequel, Yasuda becomes a passionate rookie police detective.

In 1998, Takeuchi Riki starred as Yasuda in a V-cinema adaptation of the manga.

For TV Asahifs television drama version, producers are looking for an unsigned actor who will be between the ages of 18 and 30 as of May 31, 2011. The audition winner will get not only the starring role, but also 1 million yen in prize money.

TV Asahi has not yet announced when the drama will be broadcast.

Sources:
Comic Natalie
Mantan Web

gArakawa Under the Bridgeh live-action drama, film in the works
April 1, 2011

Nakamura Hikarufs comedy manga gArakawa Under the Bridgeh is being turned into a live-action television drama and film, it has been announced. The news was revealed in the latest issue of Square Enixfs Young Gangan magazine.

Serialized since 2004, the manga tells the story of a young man who begins living under a bridge in Tokyofs Arakawa ward with a strange girl named Nino, in order to repay her for saving his life. There, he begins a life surrounded by weird people and absurd happenings.

Last year, an anime adaptation aired on TV Tokyo for two seasons.

MBS and TBS will broadcast the live-action drama series in a late-night time slot this summer. It will be followed by a movie in spring 2012 with the same cast members, who will be revealed later this month.

Sources:
Comic Natalie
Anime News Network

Asuko March!

Takei Emi plays Nao Yoshino, a girl who fails the entrance exams of her target high school. She winds up enrolling in a technical high school called Kenritsu Asuka Kougyou Koukou, also known by the nickname gAsukou.h Out of the 148 entering freshmen, only three are girls, and Nao is the only one in her class.

Broadcast network: TV Asahi
Air Time: Sunday 23:00
Broadcast period: 2011-Apr-24 to ?

Lead Cast

* Takei Emi as Yoshino Nao
* Matsuzaka Tori as Yokoyama Yujin (Aruto)

More info: http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Asuko_March!
Official Site w/Trailers: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/asuko/
Trailer: http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/CDUScnJytJg/

gaijinmark wrote:gArakawa Under the Bridgeh live-action drama, film in the works

MBS and TBS will broadcast the live-action drama series in a late-night time slot this summer. It will be followed by a movie in spring 2012 with the same cast members, who will be revealed later this month.

And they are:

Hayashi Kento, Kiritani Mirei to lead gArakawa Under the Bridgeh cast
April 13, 2011

It is being reported that Hayashi Kento and Kiritani Mirei have been cast as the stars of the live-action gArakawa Under the Bridgeh movie, which was announced at the start of this month. The news is being revealed in this weekfs issue of Young Gangan (Square Enix).

gArakawa Under the Bridgeh is an offbeat comedy manga by Nakamura Hikaru about a young man named Riku (played by Hayashi), whose life is saved by a strange girl named Nino (played by Kiritani). In order to repay his debt to her, he accepts her request to fall in love with her, and he begins living with her under a bridge in Tokyofs Arakawa ward.

As previously announced, the live-action project consists of a drama series this summer and a theatrical film in spring 2012.

Source:
Anime News Network

Irie Jingi stars in drama series gKingyo Clubh
Posted on April 21, 2011 by tokyograph

Image from: Mantan Web

Teen actor Irie Jingi (17) has captured his first lead role in a drama series. He will star in NHKfs gKingyo Clubh this summer, with young fashion model Kariya Yuiko (14) as the heroine of the story. This is also Kariyafs first time as the female lead of a drama.

gKingyo Clubh was originally a mobile phone novel by author Tachibana Hana, distributed through the site Mahou no iRando. The story received the NHK Award in the iRando Taisho, a set of awards given to works with a lot of support from readers. As a result, NHK decided to adapt it to television, and it held an audition to select the main cast.

Irie plays Hiiragi Haru, a third-year high school student with no real interest in women or higher education, instead choosing to live his life idly. When he notices a first-year student named Harukawa Koto being bullied, he lends her a hand, and the two form a ggoldfish clubh just for themselves. While love begins to bloom between them, the bullying against Koto continues to escalate.

NHK will begin airing gKingyo Clubh in July, every Saturday night from 11:30pm to 11:59pm. Each of the 10 episodes is expected to last only 20 minutes, followed by a 9-minute live segment presenting messages sent in by viewers.

Source:
Mantan Web

Sato Koichi faces seven suspects in mystery drama gSaigo no Bansanh
April 21, 2011

Sato Koichi will star as a police detective in a TV Asahi drama special called gSaigo no Bansanh next month. Described as the gultimate mystery/suspense story,h the cast features seven other well-known names playing the suspects in a difficult case: Narimiya Hiroki, Nishida Toshiyuki, Kuroki Hitomi, Adachi Yumi, Hongo Kanata, Ishiguro Ken, and Nakao Akira.

gSaigo no Bansanh (which means gThe Last Supperh) is an original work by prolific screenwriter Inoue Yumiko. Most of the story takes place in a restaurant, where 11 invited guests end up involved in an incident. The plot goes beyond just determining the culprit; as each suspectfs motive and past is explored, the story touches on matters such as human relationships and the darkness of the human heart.

Sato plays the keen and earnest, though unconventional, detective Toono who investigates the case. The suspects he pursues, who are also full of character, are the owner and chef of the restaurant (Narimiya), a nurse working in an obstetrics and gynecology department (Adachi), a shut-in college student (Hongo), a television news director (Ishiguro), a politician with a dark past (Nakao), a criminal currently on parole (Nishida), and the president of a mass discount retailer who has an unknown past (Kuroki).

gSaigo no Bansanh is scheduled for broadcast on May 14 at 9:00pm.

Source:
Oricon

Kuroki Hitomi to star in drama adaptation of gKaryu no Utageh
May 1, 2011

Hayashi Marikofs novel gKaryu no Utageh is being adapted as a television drama series, starring actress Kuroki Hitomi. The series will run for eight episodes on NHK, in a Tuesday 10:00pm time slot.

gKaryu no Utageh tells the story of a housewife (Kuroki) from a middle-class household who has tried to raise her son with the belief that putting in great effort will result in even greater results, but his laziness leads to conflict between them. On top of that, he meets a woman over the Internet who is a part-timer like he is, and he later declares that theyfre going to marry. As the mother faces a widening gap between her ideal and her reality, the story explores the same gap that exists in modern society.

The cast also features Nogiwa Yoko, Yo Kimiko, Kato Natsuki, Minami, Watanabe Ikkei, and Endo Kenichi. The actor playing the son has not yet been announced.

The series premiere is schedule for May 31. Up-and-coming singer Takahashi Yu has written the showfs theme song, titled gDare ga Tame ni Kane wa Naru.h It will be released as his next CD single in June.

Sources:
Natalie
Kuroki Hitomi Official Website

Kojima Fujiko gets first starring role in gAsu no Hikari wo Tsukameh sequel
Posted on May 1, 2011 by tokyograph



Fashion model Kojima Fujiko (17) has captured her first lead role in a television drama series. She will star in Fuji TVfs daytime drama gAsu no Hikari wo Tsukame 2,h the sequel to the series gAsu no Hikari wo Tsukameh that aired last summer.

The first series starred Hirose Alice (16), but this one will focus on a different story with the same setting. Watanabe Ikkei (48) is reprising his role as the head of the gDandelion Farmh that serves as a place of rehabilitation for youths who have been emotionally hurt. While the new series will again explore the relationships among the troubled youths, there will also be a story of romance between Kojimafs character and a high school soccer captain played by Matsushita Yuya (20).

Other cast members include Morita Naoyuki, Shinkawa Yua, Nishino Mami, Takahashi Kento, Miki Honoka, Fujita Yumiko, and Ogawa Natsuna.

The series begins on July 4, 2011.

Sources:
Sankei Sports
Fuji TV

Tezuka Osamufs gNingen Konchukih goes live-action
Posted on May 5, 2011 by tokyograph



Tezuka Osamufs manga gNingen Konchukih is getting a live-action television series on satellite station WOWOW. Originally published in 1970-1971, the manga has never before been adapted to the screen, either in live-action or animated form.

Also known as gThe Book of Human Insectsh or gHuman Metamorphoses,h the manga tells the story of a naive girl in high school named Tomura Toshiko, who instinctively steals the talents of the people around her. Her resulting transformation – into an actress, a screenwriter, a designer, and an author – parallels an insectfs metamorphosis from egg to adult.

Toshiko is being played by model and actress Minami (24). Minami commented that she is a Tezuka fan, so she was overjoyed to be able to bring one of his works to life.

Minamifs supporting cast features Kitamura Yukiya (37), Tsurumi Shingo (46), and actress Matsunaga Kyoko (29). Minami and Matsunaga will share a love scene together.

The broadcast dates for the drama have not been announced.

Sources:
Anime News Network
Sponichi Annex

Koike Eiko stars in romantic comedy on BeeTV
May 8, 2011

Koike Eiko will finally achieve her dream of starring in a romantic comedy. She will play the main character of a BeeTV mobile drama called gEse Nikushoku Joshi no Renai Jijou,h scheduled to begin this month.

Koike plays the 33-year-old Madoka, a single working woman whose stylish appearance causes everyone to assume that she is a gnikushoku-joshih (gcarnivorous womanh). However, when it comes to matters of romance, she is actually the opposite – a passive gsoushokuh type (gherbivoroush). As a result, she is constantly getting her heart broken.

Her supporting cast will be played by Kaname Jun, Nonami Maho, Hiraiwa Kami, Suzuki Ami, Aijima Kazuyuki, and Masu Takeshi. The screenplay is by Nakazono Miho, the writer of shows like gYamato Nadeshikoh and gHaken no Hinkaku.h

BeeTV will begin releasing the drama on May 20, with updates every Monday. A total of 12 episodes are planned, each approximately 10 minutes in length.

Sources:
Oricon
BeeTV

^ Didn't realize until I saw the credits yesterday, but she's in GM Odore Doctor. :)

Eita, Mitsushima Hikari co-star in gSoredemo, Ikite Yukuh
Posted on May 9, 2011 by tokyograph

Eita and Mitsushima Hikari (Sankei Sports)

Eita (28) will be starring in a new Fuji TV drama series this summer, with Mitsushima Hikari (25) playing the heroine of the story. The two just played a married couple in Miike Takashifs upcoming movie gIchimeih – a remake of the classic film gSeppukuh which will be competing at the Cannes Film Festival this month.

The drama series, titled gSoredemo, Ikite Yuku,h revolves around a man (Eita) whose younger sister was killed by a friend, who meets the friendfs sister (Mitsushima) 15 years after the incident. Both of their families have been burdened with grief, but through their meeting they struggle to find a brighter tomorrow.

This is Eitafs first drama series since his father passed away in February. However, he indicated his desire with this role to express his own struggle of starting from sadness and despair and working to find hope.

gSoredemo, Ikite Yukuh will air on Thursdays at 10:00pm, starting in July. Oda Kazumasa (63) will provide the theme song, gTokyo no Sora,h while pianist Tsujii Nobuyuki (22) will be handling the showfs background music.

Sources:
Sankei Sports

xploring wrote:NHK announces 2012 taiga drama: "Taira no Kiyomori"
Wed, August 4, 2010 (8:53am EDT)
NHK has decided on the subject of its 2012 taiga drama. The broadcaster announced on Wednesday that the series will be titled "Taira no Kiyomori," based on the historical figure of the same name.

And they're starting to announce the cast:

Matsuda Shota, Fujiki Naohito, and others join Matsuyama Kenichi, Tamaki Hiroshi in gTaira no Kiyomorih
May 11, 2011

At a press conference on Wednesday, the primary male cast of next yearfs NHK taiga drama gTaira no Kiyomorih was revealed. It was already known since November that the series stars Matsuyama Kenichi as the 12th century general Taira no Kiyomori, while Tamaki Hiroshi plays his rival Minamoto no Yoshimoto. The newly announced members include other popular actors, including Matsuda Shota and Fujiki Naohito.

A total of 15 actors are now officially confirmed to be part of the cast. Besides Matsuyama and Tamaki, the casting is as follows:

¡Matsuda Shota (Go-Shirakawa-tennou)
¡Fujiki Naohito (Saigyo / Sato Norikiyo)
¡Nakai Kiichi (Taira no Tadamori)
¡Kohinata Fumiyo (Minamoto no Tameyoshi)
¡Mikami Hiroshi (Toba Joko)
¡ARATA (Sutoku-tennou)
¡Kunimura Jun (Fujiwara no Tadazane)
¡Yamamoto Koji (Fujiwara no Yorinaga)
¡Abe Sadao (Shinzei / Fujiwara no Michinori)
¡Nakamura Baijaku (Taira no Iesada)
¡Kamikawa Takaya (Taira no Morikuni)
¡Fujimoto Takahiro (Fujiwara no Tadakiyo)
¡Daito Shunsuke (Taira no Iemori)
Filming is planned to start this August. The series will run for 50 episodes, starting in January 2012.

Sources:
Eiga.com
Mantan Web

Sato Koichi, Miura Haruma team up in gSaigo no Bansanh sequel
from Tokyograph by tokyograph

The TV Asahi drama special gSaigo no Bansan,h which aired on May 14, is getting a sequel in the form of a whole series this summer. Sato Koichi (50) will reprise his starring role. Miura Haruma (21), who only appeared on screen for 45 seconds in the drama special, will be playing a major role in the series.

gSaigo no Bansanh was previously described as the gultimate mystery/suspense story,h featuring a star-studded cast, led by Sato as a police detective trying to solve a particular case. The series will take place after the events of gSaigo no Bansan,h as the case has not yet been completely closed. Satofs character has received orders from above and has become a newly appointed instructor at a police school, while Miura plays one of the young trainees.

Like the special, Inoue Yumiko is writing the screenplay for the series.

The show has not yet been given an official title. TV Asahi will broadcast it on Thursdays at 9:00pm, starting in July.

Sources:
Oricon
Mantan Web

Takimoto Miori, Tamamori Yuta, Fujigaya Taisuke, Yaotome Hikaru star in gYoufre Beautifulh remake
Posted on May 17, 2011 by tokyograph

Image from: Oricon

The popular Korean drama series gYou're Beautifulh is getting a remake in Japan, titled gIkemen Desu ne.h The show will star actress Takimoto Miori (19), along with Kis-My-Ft2 members Tamamori Yuta (21) and Fujigaya Taisuke (23) and Hey! Say! JUMP member Yaotome Hikaru (20).

The original Korean version aired in 2009 and starred Park Shin Hye, Jang Keun Suk, Lee Hong Ki, and Jung Yong Hwa. The story revolved around a fictional boy band named A.N.JELL. Park Shin Hye played a nun-in-training who has to pose as her twin brother and take his place in the group, leading to a complicated relationship between the groupfs members.

The series has also been huge in Japan, where it has aired multiple times on television and led Tsutayafs rental charts for Korean dramas last year.

The Japanese remake has been in the works since last spring. Takimoto, who starred in NHKfs morning drama gTeppanh this past year, will fill the shoes of Park Shin Hye. Tamamori will play Jang Keun Sukfs part.

Other cast members include Katase Nana, Imori Miyuki, Yanagisawa Shingo, Takashima Masanobu, and Manda Hisako.

Kis-My-Ft2 originally intended to make their CD debut with Avex this month, but their plans were changed due to the Tohoku earthquake. It appears that they will now make their debut with a song that will be used in gIkemen Desu ne.h

TBS will broadcast the drama on Fridays at 10:00pm, beginning in July.

Sources:
Sankei Sports
Oricon

Damn these remakes! That's 2 cross-dressing dramas already next season. :grumble:

Yamamoto Yusuke, Kawaguchi Haruna lead cast of live-action gOuran High School Host Clubh
from Tokyograph by tokyograph

According to Anime News Network, the long-rumored live-action adaptation of gOuran High School Host Clubh (gOuran Koukou Host Clubh) is finally becoming a reality. Yamamoto Yusuke (23) is being billed as the showfs star, with teen model/actress Kawaguchi Haruna (16) playing the female lead.

gOuran High School Host Clubh is a popular comedy/romance manga by Hatori Bisco that started in 2003, which also had a successful anime adaptation in 2006. For years, there has been talk of a possible drama adaptation, but the rumors have always been false until now.

The story revolves around a high school girl named Fujioka Haruhi (Kawaguchi) at the prestigious Ouran Academy, who stumbles upon a group of male students who have formed their own club as hosts. Accidentally breaking an antique vase, Haruhi ends up owing the club a vast amount of money, and she ends up posing as a host in order to repay her debt.

Yamamoto will play the part of Tamaki, the president of the club. The rest of the actors playing the club members have not yet been officially announced, though more details will likely be revealed in next weekfs issue of LaLa (Hakusensha).

TBS will broadcast the series, starting in July.

Source:
Anime News Network



3 early Higashino Keigo novels get drama specials
from Tokyograph by tokyograph

Popular mystery author Higashino Keigo (53) is having three of his early works adapted to the small screen – g11 Moji no Satsujin,h gBrutus no Shinzo,h and gKairoutei Satsujin Jiken.h Fuji TV will broadcast all three as 2-hour drama specials in its Friday night time slot over three consecutive weeks.

Plenty of Higashinofs works have already been turned into television dramas or theatrical films, such as gGalileo,h gByakuyakou,h and gRyusei no Kizuna.h However, the adapted works have mostly been books that he published in the late f90s and afterward. The three adaptations this time are based on books between the late f80s and early f90s.

g11 Moji no Satsujinh will air first on June 10, starring Nagasaku Hiromi (40) as a mystery author chasing after the truth about her murdered lover. The next week will be gBrutus no Shinzo,h with Fujiwara Tatsuya (29) as an elite researcher plotting the perfect crime. Last but not least will be gKairoutei Satsujin Jiken,h in which Tokiwa Takako (39) stars as a woman risking her life to take revenge against the criminal who killed her lover in a fake double suicide.

None of the three stars have ever appeared in a work based on one of Higashinofs novels before.

Source:
Sankei Sports



Esumi Makiko, Ishihara Satomi, Inagaki Goro in drama series gBull Doctorh
from Tokyograph by tokyograph

Esumi Makiko (44) is starring in her first drama series in four years. Titled gBull Doctor,h the show has her playing a forensic doctor, while Ishihara Satomi (24) plays a police detective. The series also features SMAP member Inagaki Goro (37) as another forensic doctor who is dating Ishiharafs character.

Esumifs character Tamami is the gbull doctorh of the showfs title, which comes from the word gbulldozer.h Ignoring any opposition from the people around her, she uses any means necessary to determine the truth behind the deaths of the bodies she examines. Because of her personality, she is constantly at odds with both Ishihara and Inagakifs characters.

The screenplay is being written by Hashibe Atsuko, who also worked on hit dramas like gFreeter, Ie wo Kau,h gBoku no Ikiru Michi,h and gKyumei Byoto 24 Ji.h

NTV will broadcast gBull Doctorh on Wednesday nights at 10:00pm this summer, beginning in July.

Sources:
Mantan Web
Sports Hoch

Matsuda Shota to star in golden time drama series
from Tokyograph by tokyograph

Popular young actor Matsuda Shota (25) is confirmed to be starring in a drama series this summer. He will be in a currently unnamed series in NTVfs Saturday 9:00pm time slot, making this his first lead television role during golden time (7:00pm-10:00pm).

In this unusual story, Matsuda plays a child welfare official working at a child consultation center, while Takahashi Katsumi (50) plays a charitable yakuza boss. These two lead completely different lives, but one day, their souls are suddenly switched. As a result, Matsuda begins dispensing odd advice about the grules of societyh and other things. While his colleagues naturally see this as a problem, the children gradually come to rely on him.

Narumi Riko (18) will also have a main role as one of the youths at the center. Kobayashi Satomi (45) and Uchida Yuki (35) have also been cast. Oishi Tetsuya (gBECK,h gDeath Noteh) is in charge of the script, and Nakajima Satoru (gDeka Wankoh) is directing.

The series is scheduled to premiere in July.

Sources:
Mantan Web
Oricon

Soul-switching? Oh I'm interested! I'm so not a Matsuda Shota fan though, but I might try to watch the pilot episode for Riko and Yuki. :)