The 90th Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2016) - Best Theme Song

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Hanataba wo kimi ni - Utada Hikaru (Toto Nee-chan)
2) Koi wo shiranai kimi e - NEWS (Toki wo kakeru shoujo)
3) Comet - Spitz (HOPE ~ Kitai zero no shinnyu shain)


Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Koi wo shiranai kimi e - NEWS (Toki wo kakeru shoujo)
2) Comet - Spitz (HOPE ~ Kitai zero no shinnyu shain)
3) Kin no Ai, Gin no Ai - SKE48 (Shihei)
4) Hanataba wo kimi ni - Utada Hikaru (Toto Nee-chan)
5) Oni - CreepHyp (Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta)

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Hanataba wo kimi ni - Utada Hikaru (Toto Nee-chan)
2) Oni - CreepHyp (Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta)
3) Koi wo shiranai kimi e - NEWS (Toki wo kakeru shoujo) / Aria - BUMP OF CHICKEN (Aogeba Totoshi)
5) Sekai ni wa ai shika nai - Keyakizaka46 (Tokuyama Daigorou wo dare ga koroshita ka?

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Hanataba wo kimi ni - Utada Hikaru (Toto Nee-chan)
2) Onna wa dakarete ayu ni naru - Sakamoto Fuyumi (Kami no shita wo motsu otoko)
3) Bara no you ni saite sakura no you ni chitte - Matsuda Seiko (Seiseisuru hodo, Aishiteru) / Riyuu - Makihara Noriyuki (Hajimemashite, Aishiteimasu)
5) Comet - Spitz (HOPE ~ Kitai zero no shinnyu shain) / Aria - BUMP OF CHICKEN (Aogeba Totoshi) / Hidarimune - Sakura Shimeji (Koe Koi)

Source: The Televison

The 90th Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2016) - Best Supporting Actress

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Imoto Ayako - Ie uru onna
2) Yamamoto Mizuki - HOPE ~ Kitai zero no shinnyu shain ~
3) Kimura Tae - Toto Nee-chan

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Yamamoto Mizuki - HOPE ~ Kitai zero no shinnyu shain ~
2) Nikaidou Fumi - Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta
3) Imoto Ayako - Ie uru onna
4) Nanao - Suki na hito ga iru koto
5) Kimura Tae - Toto Nee-chan

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Sagara Itsuki - Toto Nee-chan
2) Imoto Ayako - Ie uru onna
3) Kinami Haruka - Seiseisuru hodo, Aishiteru
4) Ishii Anna - Aogeba Totoshi
5) Sugisaki Hana - Toto Nee-chan

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Imoto Ayako - Ie uru onna
2) Mitsumune Kaoru - Yamikin Ushijima-kun Season 3
3) Kimura Tae - Toto Nee-chan
4) Kimura Fumino - Kami no shita wo motsu otoko
5) Tomita Yasuko - Hajimemashite, Aishiteimasu

Source: The Televison

The 90th Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2016) - Best Leading Actor

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Fujiwara Tatsuya - Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta
2) Nakajima Yuto - HOPE ~ Kitai zero no shinnyu shain
3) Terao Akira - Aogeba Totoshi

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Nakajima Yuto - HOPE ~ Kitai zero no shinnyu shain
2) Fujiwara Tatsuya - Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta
3) Yamada Takayuki - Yamikin Ushijima-kun Season 3
4) Terao Akira - Aogeba Totoshi
5) Higashiyama Noriyuki - Keiji Shichinin 2

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Fujiwara Tatsuya - Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta
2) Yamada Takayuki - Yamikin Ushijima-kun Season 3
3) Nakajima Yuto - HOPE ~ Kitai zero no shinnyu shain / Terao Akira - Aogeba Totoshi
5) Mukai Osamu - Kami no shita wo motsu otoko

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Terao Akira - Aogeba Totoshi
2) Fujiwara Tatsuya - Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta
3) Nakajima Yuto - HOPE ~ Kitai zero no shinnyu shain
4) Yamada Takayuki - Yamikin Ushijima-kun Season 3 / Higashiyama Noriyuki - Keiji Shichinin 2

Source: The Televison

The 90th Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2016) - Best Drama

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Ie uru onna (NTV)
2) Toto Nee-chan (NHK)
3) Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta (NTV)

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) HOPE ~ Kitai zero no shinnyu shain ~ (FujiTV)
2) Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta (NTV)
3) Shihei (TBS)
4) ON Ijou Hansai Sousakan Toudou Hinako (FujiTV)
5) Toki wo kakeru shoujo (NTV)

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Toto Nee-chan (NHK)
2) Ie uru onna (NTV)
3) ON Ijou Hansai Sousakan Toudou Hinako (FujiTV)
4) Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta (NTV) / Aogeba Totoshi (TBS)

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Ie uru onna (NTV)
2) Toto Nee-chan (NHK)
3) Hajimemashite, Aishiteimasu (TV Asahi)
4) Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta (NTV)
5) Otokomeshi (TV Tokyo)

Source: The Television

Terao Akira to take over Hira Mikijirou's role in FujiTV Autumn 2016 drama "Cain to Abel"

Terao Akira will be taking over the late Hira Mikijirou's role in the FujiTV Autumn 2016 drama "Cain to Abel" which is currently being shown at 9pm on Mondays. Hira had passed away suddenly on 22nd October in his house and had only completed the filming up to episode 2 which was shown on 24th October. His next appearance as the grandfather of Yamada Ryosuke and Kiritani Kenta's characters was due to be in episode 4 to be shown on 7 November. As this character is to appear in the drama right till the last episode and that he has a huge influence on his grandsons, there was no way he could be written off from the story.

Due to the sudden development, the chief producer Hattori Kenichi approached Terao who he had worked with in the FujiTV Spring 2015 drama "Youkoso, Wagaya e". Although Terao was on vacation after completing the TBS Summer 2016 drama "Aogeba Totoshi" and had hardly worked with nor interacted with Hira, he accepted the last-minute offer due to Hattori and Minami Kaho who played his wife in "Youkoso, Wagaya e" and is acting as his daughter this time in "Cain to Abel". Terao is expected to participate in the filming from the later half of this week and due to appear from episode 4 onwards.

Sources: Nikkansports / Sanspo

Winners of the 5th Confidence Award Drama Prize (Summer 2016)

Best Drama: Ie uru onna (NTV)

Best Leading Actor: Mikami Hiroshi (Isan Sozoku Bengoshi Kakizaki Shinichi)

Best Leading Actress: Haru (ON Ijou Hanzai Sousakan Toudou Hinako)

Best Supporting Actor: Yamauchi Takaya (HOPE ~ Kitai Zero no Shinnyu Shain ~)

Best Supporting Actress: Kinami Haruka (Seiseisuru hodo, Aishiteru)

Best Script: Yukawa Kazuhiko (Hajimemashite, Aishiteimasu)

Best Newcomer: Ishii Anna (Aogeba Totoshi)

Source: Confidence Award Drama Prize

Winners of the 20th Nikkansports Dorama Grand Prix (Summer 2016)

The numbers in brackets indicate the number of votes received:

Best Drama
1) Sanadamaru - NHK (232)
2) Toto Nee-chan - NHK (165)
3) Ie uru Onna - NTV (156)
4) Aogeba Totoshi - TBS (94)
5) Shihei - DEATH CASH - TBS (89)

Best Leading Actor
1) Sakai Masato - Sanadamaru (389)
2) Terao Akira - Aogeba Totoshi (249)
3) Fujiwara Tatsuya - Soshite, dare mo inakunatta (163)
4) Higashiyama Noriyuki - Keiji Shichinin 2 (100)
5) Nakajima Yuto - HOPE ~ Kitai Zero no Shinnyuu Shain ~ (97)

Best Leading Actress
1) Kitagawa Keiko - Ie uru Onna (277)
2) Takahata Mitsuki - Toto Nee-chan (243)
3) Haru - ON Ijou Hanzai Sousakan Toudou Hinako (106)
4) Matsui Jurina - Shihei - DEATH CASH - (97)
5) Kiritani Mirei - Suki na hito ga iru koto (70)

Best Supporting Actor
1) Ooizumi Yo - Sanadamaru (199)
2) Karasawa Toshiaki - Toto Nee-chan (133)
3) Kohinata Fumio - Sanadamaru (83)
4) Totsugi Shigeyuki - Shihei - DEATH CASH - (78)
5) Nakamura Tooru - Ie uru Onna (72)

Best Supporting Actress
1) Nagasawa Masami - Sanadamaru (145)
2) Kimura Tae - Toto Nee-chan (122)
3) Tabe Mikako - Aogeba Totoshi (86)
4) Imoto Ayako - Ie uru Onna (84)
5) Takeuchi Yuko - Sanadamaru (70)

Source: Nikkansports

Takahata Atsuko's son Takahata Yuta arrested for rape and assault

Takahata Atsuko's son Takahata Yuta was arrested at 1.40pm on 23 August by Maebashi Police Station on suspicion of rape and assault. Takahata Yuta was staying at a business hotel in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, in the early hours of 23 August when he called the hotel's staff to bring him amenities such as a toothbrush. When a female staff in her 40s brought the item to his room, Takahata allegedly grabbed her into his room and raped her. During the sexual assault, Takahata was said to have used force against the victim and caused her to sustain injuries such as bruises to her body and right thumb. According to Maebashi Police Station, Takahata was brought in for questioning on a voluntary basis and testified that he could not control his sexual urge upon seeing the female hotel staff but stressed that it was not a premeditated attack. Takahata was in Maebashi for the filming of a movie and said to have been drinking with the staff on the night before the incident.

Takahata Yuta began to enjoy attention as an actor when he appeared in last year's NHK morning drama "Mare" and is due to appear in NTV's 24 Jikan Terebi 39 this weekend as the programme's personalities along with comedy duo Oriental Radio. He also has a role in the drama SP "Moumoku no Yoshinori-sensei ~ Hikari wo ushinatte kokoro ga miete" where he plays a support at the rehabilitation centre which Yoshinori-sensei (Kato Shigeaki) goes to after losing his sight but his name and photo have been removed from the cast chart on the drama SP's official website. In response to news about Takahata's arrest, NTV announced that they will be looking into the possibility of getting another actor to re-film Takahata's part in the drama SP. Takahata was also scheduled to appear in the late night programme "Konya kurabete mimashita" on 23 August but the content of the show will be changed. In addition, Takahata who is supposed to appear in NHK's ongoing Taiga "Sanadamaru" from October onwards, will be replaced. FujiTV's mini drama "Tonari no Shinsengumi" will make adjustments to its next episode to be shown on 25 August. TV Tokyo is currently in discussions on how to handle Takahata's parts in their Summer 2016 drama "Otokomeshi". TBS has removed Takahata's name from the official website of their Summer 2016 drama "Aogeba Totoshi" but won't need to make adjustments to the drama since his appearance was limited to the first three episodes only.

Following news of Takahata's arrest, his Twitter has been switched to private mode and his blog has been deleted. At present, only his Instagram account (up to 4.23pm Japan time) can still be accessed. In the comments section of his Instagram account, many users left comments criticising his actions and scolded him for causing grief and a great inconvenience to his mother.

Takahata's agency released a statement in the same evening about his arrest and acknowledged that they were informed about what happened. The agency expressed deep regret and apologised to the victim and everyone who was inconvenienced and worried by what happened. At the moment, as he is still in police custody, the agency has been unable to contact him so they will try to find out more about the situation and will deal with this issue with utmost sincerity.

In Japan, rape is punishable with a prison sentence of between three years and below 20 years. If the charge is rape leading to assault or death, the prison sentence can range from more than 5 years to life imprisonment. When a prison sentence is longer than 3 years, there will be no suspended sentence. Assuming that the case goes to court, it will be decided by a jury. For a rape case, the indictment is dependent on the victim filing a complaint but for a rape leading to assault or death case, the investigation and trial continues even if the victim decides to drop the case.

Due to intense media attention and public concern over Takahata's case, his name was the No.1 trend topic on Twitter and keywords related to his case hogged the real-time search ranking on Yahoo! JAPAN.

As a result of her son's arrest, Takahata Atsuko has resigned from her hosting job for NHK's afternoon programme "Studio Park kara Konnichiwa" on 23 August where Sakakibara Ikue will take over the position. NHK accepted her resignation but did not go into details on what reason Takahata Atsuko had given. There is also concern over whether her career will be affected as she is seen in many dramas such as "Sanadamaru", variety shows, CMs and will take on a leading role in the stage play "Yukimaroge" to be performed between September and October

Sources: Nikkansports 1 / Nikkansports  2 / Sanspo 1 / Sanspo 2 / Yomiuri Hochi 1 / Yomiuri Hochi 2 / Sponichi 1 / Sponichi 2 / Sponichi 3

First episode satisfaction ranking for Summer 2016 dramas (TV Watcher)

This is the ranking compiled by TV Watcher where respondents were asked to give scores to the first episodes of the Summer 2016 dramas. The full score is 5 while anything above 3.7 is considered high satisfaction. Numbers in brackets indicate the score for the drama concerned:

1) Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta - NTV (3.88)

2) Keiji Shichinin 2 - TV Asahi (3.71)

3) Aogeba Totoshi - TBS / HOPE ~ Kitai Zero no Shinnyuu Shain - FujiTV (3.61)

5) Eigyou Buchou Kira Natsuko - FujiTV (3.59)

6) ON Ijou Hanzai Sousakan Toudou Hinako - FujiTV (3.53)

7) Ie uru onna - NTV (3.52)

8) Suki na hito ga iru koto - FujiTV (3.42)

9) Toki wo kakeru shoujo - NTV (3.35)

10) Yassan ~ Tsukiji Hatsu! Oishii Jikenbo ~ - TV Tokyo (3.33)

11) Onnatachi no tokusou zensen - TV Asahi (3.32)

12) Seiseisuru hodo, Aishiteru - TBS (3.20)

13) Hajimemashite, Aishiteimasu - TV Asahi (3.18)

14) Kami no shita wo motsu otoko - TBS (2.81)

Source: TV Watcher

Most anticipated Summer 2016 dramas ranking (Yahoo! Japan)

This is a survey done by Yahoo! Japan between 5 July and 16 July where respondents were respondents were asked to choose which drama they looked forward most before the season started. Note that 70% of the respondents were male so dramas of certain genres tend to be more favoured as compared to those targeted at female audiences. It might also be worth noting that the difference between the Top 4 is actually quite small and they collectively account for about 40% of the votes.

Numbers in brackets indicate the number of votes received while the percentage represents the vote share:

1) Yamikin Ushijima-kun Season 3 - TBS (1,363 / 10.2%)

2) ON Ijou Hanzai Sousakan Toudou Hinako - FujiTV (1,306 / 9.7%)

3) Soshite, Dare mo inakunatta - NTV (1,302 / 9.6%)

4) Ie uru onna - NTV (1,255 / 9.3%)

5) Keiji Shichinin 2 - TV Asahi (906 / 6.7%)

6) Aogeba Totoshi - TBS (847 / 6.3%)

7) Suki na hito ga iru koto - FujiTV (846 / 6.3%)

8) Seiseisuru hodo, Aishiteru - TBS (711 / 5.3%)

9) Toki wo kakeru shoujo - NTV (694 / 5.2%)

10) Kami no shita wo motsu otoko - TBS (564 / 4.2%)

11) Denshichi Torimonochou - NHK (519 / 3.9%)

12) Onnatachi no Tokusou Saizensen - TV Asahi (451 / 3.4%)

13) Eigyou Buchou Kira Natsuko - FujiTV (419 / 3.1%)

14) Hajimemashite, Aishiteimasu - TV Asahi (394 / 2.9%)

15) HOPE ~ Kitai Zero no Shinnyuu Shain ~ - FujiTV (339 / 2.5%)

16) Otokomeshi - TV Tokyo (293 / 2.2%)

17) Isan Sozoku Bengoshi Kakizaki Shinichi - NTV (291 / 2.2%)

18) Juken no Cinderella - NHK (262 / 2.0%)

19) Shihei - TBS (184 / 1.4%)

20) Gurame! ~ Souri no Ryoriban ~ - TV Asahi (141 / 1.1%)

21) Yassan ~ Tsukiji Hatsu! Oishii Jikenbo ~ - TV Tokyo (125 / 0.9%)

22) Tokuyama Daigoro wo dare ga koroshita ka? - TV Tokyo (103 / 0.8%)

23) Koekoi - TV Tokyo (70 / 0.5%)

24) Love Love Alien - FujiTV (42 / 0.3%)

Source: Yahoo! Japan

BUMP OF CHICKEN to sing the theme song for TBS Summer 2016 drama "Aogeba Totoshi"

Rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN will be singing the theme song for TBS Summer 2016 drama "Aogeba Totoshi" which will begin its run from 17 July in the Sundays 9pm timeslot. The song titled "Aria"  is the first drama theme song from the band since "firefly" which was released in September 2012 for the FujiTV drama "Iki mo dekinai natsu".

The band commented that they are very honoured to have received this offer and have put in their best to produce this theme song. As they were also supported by the people around them during their schooling days while pursuing their music dream, they could identify with the drama's story and is eagerly looking forward to its broadcast. The producer of the drama Sato Yoshihiro commented that when he heard the completed song, he was impressed by the delicate vocals and powerful melody so he was very glad to be able to engage the band to produce this song and is confident that the song will be able to reflect the bittersweet days of youth as depicted in the drama.

Source: Oricon

Production press conference of TBS Summer 2016 drama "Aogeba Totoshi"

The production press conference of TBS Summer 2016 drama "Aogeba Totoshi" was held on 13 July which was attended by cast members Terao Akira, Tabe Mikako, Mackenyu, Murakami Nijiro, Kitamura Takumi, Ishii Anna, Sano Gaku and Taiga. The drama which begins its run from 17 July in the Sundays 9pm timeslot, is adapted from the true story of a small brass band in Kanagawa Prefectural Noba Senior High School back in 1980 and features Terao as a former saxophone player and his journey of bringing together a group of delinquent students to form a brass band and aim for a national music competition.

There are a number of actors in the cast who are children of well-known celebrities i.e. Murakami is the son of Murakami Jun and UA, Mackenyu is the son of Chiba Shinichi and Taiga is the son of Nakano Hideo. In addition, the cast also includes uprising newbies such as Kitamura and Sano, Terao commented that the next superstar could be among these actors who play his students and hope that viewers will enjoy watching their performance in this drama. The young actors cited Taiga as the moodmaker in their group while Taiga commented that Mackenyu and Murakami are the ones who lead the group.

Source: Oricon

Preview of "Aogeba Totoshi" - Summer 2016

Title: Aogeba Totoshi 仰げば尊し
Official website: here
Official Twitter: here
O.A. Date: 17 July 2016
Timeslot: Sundays 9pm
Broadcast by: TBS
Cast: Terao Akira, Tabe Mikako, Mackenyu, Murakami Nijiro, Ishii Anna (E-girls), Kitamura Takumi (DISH//), Taiga, Sano Gaku, Yamoto Yuma, Kentaro, Fujiwara Kaoru, Minakami Kyoka, Okazaki Sae, Omi Toshinori, Masu Takeshi, Ishizaka Koji

Terao Akira to star in TBS Summer 2016 drama "Aogeba Totoshi"

Terao Akira will be the lead in the upcoming TBS Summer 2016 drama "Aogeba Totoshi" which will be shown from July in the Sundays 9pm timeslot. This is his first appearance in a Sunday 9pm drama in 28 years and he is the eldest lead in this timeslot since its inception in 1993. The drama will be written by Izumi Yoshihiro and Hirakawa Yuichiro who worked together on "ROOKIES".

The drama which is based on a true story in 1980 at Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Nanryo Senior High School and its brass band and their advisor Nakazawa Tadao, features Terao as a former saxophone player Higuma Koichi who suffers from side effects due to an accident thus stopped having anything to do with music. He is then hired to manage a small brass band in a senior high school which is to be closed down and has to deal with a group of problematic students who behave violently at times and their parents also giving him a hard time because they do not want to let their children become musicians. Nonetheless, he refuses to give up on his dream of leading the band to take part in the national championship. Co-stars include Tabe Mikako who plays Higuma's daughter Natsuki, Ishizaka Koji, the principal of the senior high school who hires Higuma to be the advisor of the brass band while Mackenyu, Murakami Nijiro, Kitamura Takumi, Taiga and Sano Gaku will play students in the school.

Terao commented that he will be working with many young actors this time who are about 50 years younger than him but he is looking forward to the filming and the chemistry that will evolve between them. It was reported that Terao was selected for the role not just for his acting but also for the fact that he had won the Nippon Record Taisho before with his hit song "Ruby no Yubiwa" since he needs to play musical instruments in the drama.

Sources: Yomiuri Hochi / TBS / Sponichi / Oricon