Uchida Rio to star in new FujiTV Summer 2017 drama "Shougi Meshi"

Uchida Rio will be starring in the upcoming FujiTV Summer 2017 drama "Shougi Meshi" (Shougi Food) which will begin its run from 2 August in the Wednesdays 2.40am timeslot. The 8-episode drama is based on the same-titled manga by Matsumoto Nagisa which is being serialised in "Gekkan Comic Flapper". This will be streamed via the FujiTV On Demand (FOD) portal first from 31 July before its TV broadcast.

Uchida plays the role of Touge Nayuta who is the first female professional player in history and the story talks about how she picks and eats delicious food which gives her the energy to win her shougi matches against the male players while aiming to earn the rank of Meijin.

Uchida who has experience playing shougi with her grandfather since she was in primary school, caught the eye of the staff for her eating scenes in the 2016 TV Tokyo drama "Otokomeshi". The staff felt that she looked like she was enjoying everything she was eating in the drama so decided to offer the role to her. Amid the shougi boom these days, Uchida expressed her joy at being able to act in such a drama which combines food and shougi especially since she's someone who derives great pleasure in eating delicious food that will give her added power and motivation especially when she's working.

Sources: Sanspo / Oricon