On May 30, it was announced that actress Eikura Nana is going to star as a female teacher in the upcoming TBS drama eYoru no Onna Kyoshie (tentative title).
The drama features an original script about three female women who look and act like ordinary teachers at a senior high school during the day, but at night they become unique gproblem solversh for various students in return for money.
Eikura is going to play a general chemistry teacher and guidance counselor by the name of Yuko who displays her extraordinary leadership skills in front of her students during the day. However, at night shefs far from your average teacher and freely breaks laws in order to help various students with their problems in return for an exorbitant sum of money. Working together with her are Ichikawa Mikako as Sumire, a teacher of Classics, and Kobayashi Satomi as Aya, an art teacher. However, their activities are strongly opposed by the new teacher for modern Japanese, Haruka – played by Kimura Fumino.
TBS is going to air eYoru no Onna Kyoshif every Friday at 10:00 pm, starting in July.
And there's this one. Back in the '70s there was a Faye Dunaway movie called "The Eyes of Laura Mars". This sounds like pretty much the same thing:
Model and actress Yamada Yu is going to star in the upcoming NTV mystery drama eVISION Koroshi ga Mieru Onnae. It will be Yamadafs first drama role since her marriage with actor Oguri Shun on March 14.
In the drama, Yamada portrays an unpopular fashion model who suddenly develops the ability to see murder scenes before the murders occur. Together with a temporarily suspended detective, played by Kaneko Nobuaki, they begin to use her unique precognition – her gVISIONh – in order to solve various difficult crimes. The original script is written by Iida Jouji (eNIGHT HEADf, eGiftf, eSasho Taeko – Saigo no Jikenf).
Katsumura Masanobu is also going to appear in the drama as the manager of the protagonistfs model agency.
NTV will air eVISION Koroshi ga Mieru Onnaf every Thursday at 11:58 pm, starting on July 5.
5 more actors announced for 'Higashino Keigo Mysteries'
On June 14th, Fuji TV announced five more actors who will star on their upcoming omnibus drama experiment eHigashino Keigo Mysteriese.
eHigashino Keigo Mysteriesf will consist of 11 episodes, and feature 11 of Higashino Keigofs best short stories as well as 11 different actors. Higashino is most prominently known for his amazing mystery novels in which he is able to incorporate various tones from dead serious to almost comedic to just eerie. Condensed into short stories that only last for a single episode, Fuji TV is aiming to offer their viewers a fresh viewing experience and a Higashino story at its best.
Five of the stories along with their respective starring actors – including Karasawa Toshiaki, Matsushita Nao, Mizuki Alisa, Sorimachi Takashi, and Nagasawa Masami – were already announced. Moreover, it was revealed that actor Nakai Kiichi is going to serve as a story guide at the beginning of each episode. Today they announced another batch of five stories, making us curious what story they are going to select for the 11th episode.
The five new stories include eSaisei Majutsu no Onnae starring Suzuki Kyoka, eHannin no Inai Satsujin no Yorue starring Sakaguchi Kenji, eShiroi Kyokie starring Toda Erika, eChiisa na Koi no Monogatarie starring Miura Haruma, and eKekkon Hokokue starring Hirosue Ryoko. A total of ten actors have been revealed, and one more actor/actress will be announced at a later time.
Higashino himself commented, gThey are all such wonderful actors. Ifm really looking forward it.h
Fuji TV is going to air eHigashino Keigo Mysteriesf every Thursday at 10:00 pm, and the first episode will be broadcast on July 5th.
Kusakari Tamiyo will star in NHKfs new drama gNemureru Mori no Jukujog, which will begin airing in September. After retiring as a ballerina in 2009, Kusakari started a new career path as an actress. She made her drama debut in NHKfs Taiga drama gRyomadenh (2010), and this will be the first time for her to take a lead role in a drama.
This drama will be a love comedy between the heroine eAizawa Chinamif (Kusakari), 46-year-old housewife, who is under divorce mediation, and fTakaoka Yusukef, a son of the owner of a global hotel chain. The role of Takaoka will be played by Seto Koji.
One day, eChinamif is given divorce papers by her husband (Haba Yuichi) as he wants to re-marry with his old classmate and first love from junior high school (Moriguchi Yoko). In order to keep the parental custody over her son, she starts working at a luxury hotel, and meets eYusukef who is commonly called as eprincef because of his perfect character in public, however, behind closed doors he has a very terrible and mean personality.
gNemureru Mori no Jukujoh will air from September 4th to October 30th with a total 9 episodes.
Popular child actress Ashida Mana and actor Toyokawa Etsushi recently appeared at a press conference for their upcoming drama, eBeautiful Raine.
The drama portrays the love and bond between a father and daughter. Kinoshita Keisuke (played by Toyokawa) is diagnosed with juvenile Alzheimerfs Disease, and he must face the disease together with his daughter Miu (Ashida).
Ashida shared an episode from their filming saying, gThere was a scene where I had to ride on my dadfs shoulders. It was really high up, and I felt I was at the very top of a roller coaster ride. It was really fun.h
Toyokawa commented, gThe time with Mana-chan was like a beautiful jewel. My first impression? Such a pretty girl.h
Here's more on the Miyazaki, Abe, Yamaguchi drama:
On July 10th, it was announced that Miyazaki Aoi, Abe Hiroshi, and Yamaguchi Tomoko will be starring in an upcoming Fuji TV fall drama whose title has yet to be announced.
This drama is certainly going to be on everyonefs minds after todayfs headlines, since it features three huge and amazing stars. While Abe is still familiar among drama viewers, Miyazaki hasnft been appearing in a commercial network drama since eShiawase no Shippoe (TBS) in 2002. Her last starring role on TV in general was in the 2008 taiga drama eAtsuhimee on the public network NHK. Yamaguchifs last serial drama appearance even dates back to eLong Vacatione (Fuji TV) in 1996.
The directing and the script will be handled by world renowned movie director Koreeda Hirokazu (eKisekif, eAir Dollf).
The story of this fall drama will revolve around a 40-year-old company employee (Abe) and his wife (Yamaguchi). Together they face various all too familiar family problems. This home drama atmosphere will be spiced up by a mysterious beauty (Miyazaki) whom the protagonist happens to meet one day. For some reason she begins to probe into matters related to his family, manipulates him without his knowledge and sometimes blurts out some crucial hints that will help solving the puzzle that she is.
Not much else is known about this drama yet, but the producer described Miyazakifs role as follows: gShefs a puzzling, beautiful and strong woman who doesnft seem to be affected by the hustle and bustle of the urban jungle at all. Her beauty is both refined and graceful. When I was talking with director Koreeda about the casting of this role, we only were able to think of Miyazaki.h
Miyazaki herself commented, gThe characters in Koreedafs works are always so full of live. Hefs a fantastic director and Ifm happy to be a part of his new project.h
She continued, gIt makes me nervous to film together with two such big seniors. Ifll treasure the time wefll be able to live together as part of this drama and will make sure to enjoy the months of filming ahead of us.h
Abe is looking forward to it as well. He said, gMiyazakifs acting is very refined and I canft wait to work together with her.h
Fuji TV is planning to air this drama every Tuesday at 10:00 pm. The first episode is scheduled to be broadcast sometime in October. More details such as the dramafs title are most liked going to be revealed within the coming weeks.
SMAP member Katori Shingo and actor/singer Yamashita Tomohisa will be starring in the new TBS drama gMONSTERSg! This drama which revolves around a pair of detectives, and this will be the first time for both Katori and Yamashita to act as detectives.
Katorifs role will be a detective at the First Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Department, named fHiratsuka Heihachif who is cheap, makeshift, though he always puts a smile on his face and is an extremely civil-spoken person. Hiratsuka exposes a personfs hidden face and the true nature of human relations, and solves cases by brazenly getting to the core of the person. On the other hand, Yamashitafs role eSaionji Kosukef is a pure and honest rookie detective who is a son of noble family and filled with strong morals.
gMONSTERSh will start airing in October on TBS (every Sunday at 9:00 pm).
^ There's two I've noticed this summer, "Ghost Mama Sousasen": http://jdorama.com/drama.1754.htm
The synopsis sounds kind of cheesy, but it's got Mirai Shida and Ikki Sawamura as well.
Also it's a Yankumi drama and her dramas are usually either pretty good ("Trick", "Arifureta Kiseki") or very bad ( "Untouchable", "Joshi Deka").
Also there is "Rich Man, Poor Woman": http://jdorama.com/drama.1751.htm
Shun Oguri is the male lead but Satomi Ishihara is the female lead. Looks like it might be interesting.
It also has Saki Aibu in it, and the last time I saw her was in "Kaseifu no Mita". While Nanako Matsushima was huge in that, Saki actually showed some acting skills so I'm curious to see if that was a fluke or not.
gaijinmark wrote:^ There's two I've noticed this summer, "Ghost Mama Sousasen": http://jdorama.com/drama.1754.htm
The synopsis sounds kind of cheesy, but it's got Mirai Shida and Ikki Sawamura as well.
Also it's a Yankumi drama and her dramas are usually either pretty good ("Trick", "Arifureta Kiseki") or very bad ( "Untouchable", "Joshi Deka").
Thanks! I will keep an eye out for this one, especially. I'm a big fan of Nakama Yukie, so I hope it'll get subbed. :)
Motokariya Yuika is going to star star as a hostess turned lawyer in the upcoming NHK BS Premium fall drama, eSoko wo Nantokae. It will be Motokariyafs first NHK drama since eFighte in 2005.
Motokariyafs character eKaise Rakukof is coming from a poor household and always wanted to become a lawyer in order to escape from poverty. In order to pay for her school expenses, she works as a hostess. She studies hard and eventually passes the bar examination, however, open positions for lawyers are rare these days. Fortunately she utilizes a connection from her time as a hostess and finds employment at a tiny law office.
At the law office, she has no choice but to accept small cases that wonft earn her any money. Moreover, she keeps on piling up failures case after case. However, things get better over time and she not only becomes a better lawyer but also a more mature person.
The story is based on a manga of the same name by mangaka Aso Mikoto, which is still being serialized in the shoujo manga magazine, eMELODYe. There are several more key characters who will be played by Ichikawa Ennosuke, MEGUMI, Igarashi Shunji, Maeda Oshiro, Takeda Kohei, Inoue Waka, and Otomo Kohei. The filming is planned to begin on July 22nd.
eSoko wo Nantokaf is scheduled to start airing on NHK BS Premium in October.
On July 26th, it was revealed that young actress Nounen Rena was chosen to play the heroine in the next yearfs morning drama eAmachane, which will start airing right after the next morning drama eJun to Aie in April 2013.
She hardly had one day to fathom the good news before having to attend the press conference at the NHK office in Shibuya, Tokyo that day. She stated as she looked back at the moment she received the news, hYesterday I was suddenly told eyou were chosenf. I was so excited and started breathing so heavily through my nose that it felt like I was going to lift off any moment.h
Famed scriptwriter and director Kudo Kankuro (eMaiko Haaaan!!!e, eTiger & Dragone) will be in charge of the original script of eAmachanf, which seems to be one more reason for Nounen to be that excited. She jokingly explained, gIfve always wanted to appear in one of his works and continuously sent him eradio wavesf across the screen to make it happen.h
eAmachanf will be set in a small rural town in North Sanriku, Tohoku. It revolves around a female high school student named eAmano Akif from Tokyo who struggles to be a female shell diver at her motherfs hometown and eventually becomes a local idol and symbol of the townfs revitalization.
Nounen is an up-and-coming actress who finally landed her first starring role in this drama by beating the rest of the 1,953 girls who applied for the role of eAkif at the large-scale audition organized by NHK. She made her acting debut two years ago in the movie eKokuhakue (eConfessionse) and has already appeared in several movies and dramas since then. In the second half of 2012, shefs also going to appear in two more movies – eKarasu no Oyayubie (November 23rd) and eGood Morning Everyone!e (December).
NHK producer Kurube Kei said about Nounen, gShefs young, shefs fresh and just like Aki, she appears to be a bit clumsy, while hiding an unimaginable energy deep inside herself.h
This energy and excitement could also be felt throughout the press conference. Nounen commented, gMorning drama heroines have a epure and innocentf image. They might lose their way and fall down, but they immediately stand up again and keep on walking. The one who left the biggest impression on me was Ono Machiko in eCarnatione.h
She was also asked about her impression of the filming location in the Iwate prefecture and answered, gI havenft been there yet, but according to its name (Iwate), it seems to be a rocky and rugged scenery. Ifve been loving such places since I was a child. I want to become a heroine who lends the people (in Tohoku) energy and power.h
She continued, gI heard that the filming conditions for a morning drama are really harsh, but Ifm no pushover, and even if I lose consciousness, I want to stand up and do my best. I will become a shining star of (my birthplace) Hyogo.h
eAmachanf will air its first of 156 episodes on April 1, 2013. The filming will begin in Kuji, Iwate this October.
Watanabe Ken to star in new Japanese drama series along with Tanihara Shosuke and Matsuyuki Yasuko
by babamoosh on July 27, 2012 at 1:18 am
Watanabe Ken (52) will be portraying former prime minister of Japan, Yoshida Shigeru, in a NHK drama series titled gMakete, Katsu~Sengo wo Tsukutta Otoko • Yoshida Shigeru~ (Victory after Defeat ~ The man who created post-war Japan, Yoshida Shigeru~)g, which will air at 9 PM every Saturday from September 8th and onwards. American actor David Morse (58) known for his work in films such as gGreen Mileh and gThe Indian Runnerh will play Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during the occupation of Japan.
Tanihara Shosuke (40) will act as Shirasu Jiro, a close associate of former Prime Minister Yoshida and a negotiator for the General Headquarters of the Supreme Commander (GHQ), whofs often called a gdifficult Japaneseh by GHQ. Matsuyuki Yasuko (39) is cast as Yoshidafs second wife, a former geisha, and Tanaka Kei (28) will be playing Yoshidafs eldest son, Yoshida Kenichi whofs an English literature scholar. Suzuki An (25) will portray Aso Kazuko, the third daughter of Yoshida and mother of Aso Taro (71), who was a prime minister of Japan from 2008-2009. Kaneda Akio (57) will play the role of Hatoyama Ichiro, a former prime minister and grandfather of Hatoyama Yukio (65), who succeeded Aso as prime minister from 2009-2010. Nomura Mansai (46) will act as another former prime minister Konoe Fumimaro.
xploring wrote:Watanabe Ken to star in new Japanese drama series along with Tanihara Shosuke and Matsuyuki Yasuko
by babamoosh on July 27, 2012 at 1:18 am
Watanabe Ken (52) will be portraying former prime minister of Japan, Yoshida Shigeru, in a NHK drama series titled gMakete, Katsu~Sengo wo Tsukutta Otoko • Yoshida Shigeru~ (Victory after Defeat ~ The man who created post-war Japan, Yoshida Shigeru~)g, which will air at 9 PM every Saturday from September 8th and onwards. American actor David Morse (58) known for his work in films such as gGreen Mileh and gThe Indian Runnerh will play Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during the occupation of Japan.
Tanihara Shosuke (40) will act as Shirasu Jiro, a close associate of former Prime Minister Yoshida and a negotiator for the General Headquarters of the Supreme Commander (GHQ), whofs often called a gdifficult Japaneseh by GHQ. Matsuyuki Yasuko (39) is cast as Yoshidafs second wife, a former geisha, and Tanaka Kei (28) will be playing Yoshidafs eldest son, Yoshida Kenichi whofs an English literature scholar. Suzuki An (25) will portray Aso Kazuko, the third daughter of Yoshida and mother of Aso Taro (71), who was a prime minister of Japan from 2008-2009. Kaneda Akio (57) will play the role of Hatoyama Ichiro, a former prime minister and grandfather of Hatoyama Yukio (65), who succeeded Aso as prime minister from 2009-2010. Nomura Mansai (46) will act as another former prime minister Konoe Fumimaro.
Source: Sanspo
Looks interesting... Always been a fan of (most) historical dramas. :)