Tsuchiya Tao to star in TBS Summer 2018 drama "Chia Dan"

Tsuchiya Tao will be starring in the TBS Summer 2018 drama "Chia Dan" which will begin its run from July in the Fridays 10pm timeslot and is the drama version of the same-titled movie starring Hirose Suzu. This will be Tsuchiya's first leading role in a primetime drama series. The movie describes the true story of how Fukui Commerical High School's cheerleading dance team "JETS" won the NDA National Championship in March 2009 in just three years since it was set up but the drama version will feature an original story with the same theme of chasing after a seemingly-impossible dream.

Tsuchiya plays a senior high school student who was impressed and touched by the performance of JETS when she was younger and aspired to join the same cheerleading dance team. However, she gradually came to think that it was impossible for her to do so and entered a different senior high school. As she has yet to give up on cheerleading deep down in her down, she starts to support the weak cheerleading club in her school. Just then, a transfer student from Tokyo suddenly declares that she will turn around the cheerleading team and defeat JETS which leads Tsuchiya's character to join in the journey of making this dream come true.

Tsuchiya commented that she is nervous and stressed about being in a primetime drama but would like to enjoy the filming process as much as possible. As for the story, Tsuchiya said that this drama tries to convey the importance of how everyone comes together to put in their best effort and find something precious to them in the process. She pledged to do her best in training and practising for the cheerleading dances and called upon everyone to look forward to this drama.

Sources: Eiga.com / Natalie / Oricon