Sunday, April 16, 2017

Ishida Hikari & Imai Tsubasa to star in new FujiTV Spring 2017 drama "Yaneura no Koibito" as ex-lovers

Ishida Hikari will be appearing in a drama for the first time in 14 years when she takes on the leading role in the new FujiTV Spring 2017 drama "Yaneura no Koibito" (The Attic Lover) which will begin its run from 3 June in the Saturdays 11.40pm timeslot. The drama which consists of 8 episodes, is the 8th production in the "Saturday dramas for adults" timeslot since April last year.

Ishida plays the lead character Saijo Kinuka who is a housewife and has a 17-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son with her husband. Due to the death of her father-in-law, she moves to a Western-style house in Kamakura left behind by him together with her family. Kinuka finally realises her longtime dream of opening a flower arrangement school by doing it in the salon of her new house. Just when she thinks that her life is already perfect, she is aghast to find her ex-boyfriend Seno Itsuki (Imai Tsubasa) at her housewarming party even though they had parted ways 18 years ago. Although Kinuka manages to chase Seno away that day, strange things start happening in the Saijo household as food is found to be missing from the fridge and her husband's clothing disappear for no reason. It turns out that Seno has started living in the attic of the house and this gradually causes the revelation of secrets hidden by the people around Kinuka including her husband, children, mother-in-law and best friend and leads to her being forced into a corner mentally. When a murder takes place, this then causes her fate to be affected drastically. This will be the first time that Ishida and Imai are working together in a drama.

Ishida who also has two daughters in their teens, said that she can identify with Kinuka's efforts in raising her children and pledged to do her best in this drama. As for being involved in a forbidden relationship with Imai's character, Ishida said that she felt bad about it as Imai is too young to play her love interest but she is still looking forward to working with him.

On the other hand, Imai who has not appeared in a drama in 14 years since 2003's NTV drama "Saigo no Bengonin", commented that he has never played such a character before but hopes to bring some excitement to the viewers on their Saturday nights by applying what he had learnt from doing stage plays all this while.

Sources: Sanspo / Oricon

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