Top 10 drama ratings for 2012 (single episode basis) - Oricon

Note that this takes into consideration the highest rating for a single episode of a drama series or the rating for an once-off drama SP so it will be different from the usual ratings ranking we see which is based on averages. Dates in brackets indicate the date when the episode or SP was shown:

1) Carnation (28 Jan 2012) - 25.0%

2) Ume-chan Sensei (11 Aug 2012) - 24.9%

3) Doctor X (13 Dec 2012 - Last episode) - 24.4%

4) 24 Jikan Terebi Drama SP Kuruma Isu de Boku wa Sora wo Tobu (25 Aug 2012) - 23.8%

5) Odoru Daisousasen THE LAST TV Salaryman Keiji to Saigo no Nanjiken (1 Sep 2012) - 21.3%

6) Aibou (21 Mar 2012 - Last episode) - 20.5%

7) PRICELESS (10 Dec 2012) - 20.1%

8) ATARU (15 Apr 2012) - 19.9%

9) Jun to Ai (1 Oct 2012) - 19.8%

10) Atsui Kuuki (22 Dec 2012) - 18.6%

Source: Oricon

Production press conference for "Juumanbun no ichi no guuzen" and "Atsui Kuuki"

The production press conferences for TV Asahi's Matsumoto Seicho 20th death anniversary drama SPs "Juumanbun no ichi no guuzen" and "Atsui Kuuki" was held on 13 December which was attended by the lead actors Tamura Masakazu and Yonekura Ryoko. Tamura's drama SP "Juumanbun no ichi no guuzen" is due to be shown on 15 December while Yonekura's "Atsui Kuuki" will be shown the following week on 22 December as the original broadcast date of 16 December coincides with the general elections. When asked about his return to the drama world after a break of 1 year and 9 months, Tamura jokingly said that he has been living such a relaxing life at home that filming was tough for him. When reporters asked about what he thought Yonekura's charm is, he said that she's talented and hopes to see her challenge more varied roles in future. As for Yonekura, she remarked that since she plays a housekeeper in the SP, she would like to peek into Tamura's closet to see what kind of nice clothes he may have.

Source: Sanspo

Tamura Masakazu & Yonekura Ryoko to star in 2-part Matsumoto Seicho drama SPs

Tamura Masakazu and Yonekura Ryoko will be the leads of a 2-part Matsumoto Seicho 20th death anniversary drama SP series which will be shown via TV Asahi on 15th and 16th December at 9pm.

Tamura who last appeared in a Matsumoto Seicho drama 2 years ago, stars in the first story titled "Juumanbun no ichi no guuzen" (The one in a hundred thousand coincidence) as a reporter who has been so absorbed in his work and raised his child alone after his wife's demise. However, the ironic thing is that he only realises his daughter's death one month after she died from a tragic traffic accident. When he sees a photo in the media of the accident which is said to be a one-in-a-hundred-thousand coincidence, he seeks out the truth for his daughter's sake. This story was first released as a novel in 1980 and made into a drama back in 1981 starring Takahashi Keiko. Co-stars in this SP include Nakatani Miki, Takashima Masanobu and Uchiyama Rina.

As for Yonekura, she plays a housekeeper who has no confidence in her looks despite being very pretty. As a result, she tries to conceal her beauty through various disguises and works as a housekeeper. She relishes in seeing the families who she works for suffer as a result of unfortunate happenings and is a curious onlooker about what happens in these families.

Source: Sanspo

Yonekura Ryoko as an eccentric housekeeper in Matsumoto Seicho drama SP

Yonekura Ryoko will be starring in TV Asahi's drama SP "Matsumoto Seicho - Atsui Kuuki" (Hot Air) due to be shown within this year. The novel had been made into a drama series named "Kaseifu wa Mita!" (The Housekeeper saw it) back from 1983 all the way to 2008 which starred Ichihara Etsuko. This is the 4th time Yonekura will be acting in a drama based on Matsumoto Seicho's works following her 2004 drama "Kurokawa no Teccho", 2006's "Kemonomichi" and 2007's "Warui Yatsura".

In this drama SP, Yonekura plays a beautiful housekeeper Koono Nobuko who is divorced and deliberately changes her appearance to an ugly woman with messy hair and black thick-rimmed spectacles to hide her beauty. She derives pleasure by delving into the dark side of the rich family she works for. Even when treated badly by her employer, Koono continues to put on a faint smile on her face while plotting the downfall of the family which she has a grudge against.

Source: Sanspo