Supporting cast announcement for TBS Spring 2018 drama "Hana nochi hare ~ Hanadan Next Season ~"

The supporting cast line-up for TBS Spring 2018 drama "Hana nochi hare ~ Hanadan Next Season ~" starring Sugisaki Hana had been announced. The drama which is based on the same-titled manga by Kamio Youko, is the sequel to the hit series "Hana Yori Dango" and will begin its run from 17 April in the Tuesdays 10pm timeslot. The story is set 10 years after the F4 and Makino Tsukushi featured in "Hana Yori Dango" had graduated from Eitoku Gakuen which is facing difficulties due to declining enrollment as a result of the recession. Sugisaki plays the lead character Edogawa Oto who attends Eitoku despite being from a poor family. Hirano Sho plays Kakuragi Haruto who is the heir of Kakuragi Group and regarded as the 2nd Doumyouji in Eitoku because of his leader position in C5 (Correct 5) even though he is actually weak mentally and incompetent. Nakagawa Taishi will play Oto's fiance Hase Tenma who is the student council chairman at Momonozono Gakuin, the rival school of Eitoku.

Hamada Tatsuomi will play the brains of C5 named Taira Kaito who is Haruto's childhood friend and boasts of the top IQ among Eitoku students so far while Imada Mio wil play the only female in C5 i.e. Maya Airi who has been in love with Haruto since she was a child. Suzuki Jin will play the No.1 ikemen of C5 i.e. Narumiya Issa who is a womaniser. Nakata Keisuke will play Eibi Sugimaru who is the macho guy of C5 and good at sports while Iitoyo Marie will be Nishidome Megumi, the heir of a rich conglomerate and a popular model, who transfers to Eitoku in order to get close to Haruto. Last but not least, Makiuchi Ria and Kita Noa will play Oto's friends Kanda Asami and Hattori Kyoko who know about Oto's secret of being poor.

Hamada who is the youngest in the cast, commented that he will try to look like he is of the same age as the others and put up a performance which the original manga fans will like. As for Iitoyo, she said that when the first "Hana Yori Dango" drama was shown, that was before she entered showbiz so she never dreamed that she would be part of the sequel and felt like she had struck lottery. Imada expressed her joy and anticipation about the filming while Suzuki hoped that he would become even better in his acting through this drama. Nakata revealed that he was nervous and apprehensive about being a regular cast member in a drama for the first time but hoped to contribute to making this a success.

Sources: Natalie / Eiga.com / Oricon