Daichi Mao to play the older version of Koshiji Fubuki in new TV Asahi afternoon drama "Koshiji Fubuki Monogatari"

Daichi Mao will be playing the older version of Koshiji Fubuki in the new TV Asahi afternoon drama "Koshiji Fubuki Monogatari: which will begin its run from 8 January 2018 in the weekdays 12.30pm timeslot. The drama describes the journey of how popular star Koshiji Fubuki (1924 to 1980) rose to stardom after WWII with the help of her manager cum lyricist Iwatani Tokiko (1916 to 2013). Takimoto Miori will play the younger version of Koshiji when she used her real name of Kouno Mihoko during her Takarazuka days while Kinami Haruka will play Tokiko. The elder version of Tokiko will be played by Ichige Yoshie. Other co-stars include Suruga Taro as Shouji Yoshio, the scriptwriter who has feelings for Koshiji, Ukaji Takashi as Ootsuka Yaichi who is in charge of school affairs in Takarazuka, Nakamura Shunsuke as Ito Noboru, the voice training teacher who spots Koshiji's talent and Sasai Eisuke, the Japanese dance teacher who thinks that Koshiji should be dropped from the Takarazuka.

Daichi herself also used to be like Koshiji because she entered Takarazuka as No.25 out of 49 new students in her batch before she made a legendary climb up the ranks to become the top star in the Tsukigumi playing male roles and was regarded as the golden combination with Kuroki Hitomi during the 1980s. She commented that she has always seen Koshiji as her respected senior so she is happy but also stressed about playing Koshiji in this drama. Daichi mentioned that when she was a newbie, she used to be treated as a weirdo too so in this sense, she and Koshiji had a lot of similarities between them. During the poster shooting, Daichi remarked that she felt like she could fit into the role easily with the help of the costumes and make-up. As Daichi only worked with Ichige for one scene in a drama before she expressed her anticipation about working with the latter closely this time.

Filming for the drama began in mid December. Daichi and Ichige will appear in the drama from early March.

Sources: Sanspo / Oricon