The 96th Drama Academy Awards (Winter 2018) - Best Leading Actor

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Matsumoto Jun - 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi Season II
2) Yamada Ryosuke - Momikeshite Fuyu ~ Wagaya no mondai nakatta koto ni ~
3) Kimura Takuya - BG ~ Shinpen Keigonin ~

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Matsumoto Jun - 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi Season II
2) Yamada Ryosuke - Momikeshite Fuyu ~ Wagaya no mondai nakatta koto ni ~
3) Oosugi Ren - Byplayers 2
4) Yamazaki Kento - Todome no Kiss
5) Kimura Takuya - BG ~ Shinpen Keigonin ~

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Matsumoto Jun - 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi Season II
2) Saito Takumi - MASKMEN
3) Yamada Ryosuke - Momikeshite Fuyu ~ Wagaya no mondai nakatta koto ni ~
4) Kimura Takuya - BG ~ Shinpen Keigonin ~
5) Oosugi Ren - Byplayers 2

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Matsumoto Jun - 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi Season II
2) Kimura Takuya - BG ~ Shinpen Keigonin ~
3) Yamada Ryosuke - Momikeshite Fuyu ~ Wagaya no mondai nakatta koto ni ~ / Oosugi Ren - Byplayers 2
5) Yamazaki Kento - Todome no Kiss / Mizutani Yutaka - Aibou season 16

Source: The Televison

Update on Oosugi Ren's sudden demise and the aftermath

Following Oosugi Ren's sudden demise due to acute heart failure on 21 February, there are more details about the final moments of his life as well as announcements about the projects which involved him. Here is a summary of the information known so far:

Oosugi Ren passes away due to acute heart failure

Oosugi Ren passed away due to acute heart failure on 21 February. He was 66 years old. According to his agency ZACCO's official website, Oosugi died at 3.53am and his funeral will be attended by his immediate family i.e. his wife and two children and relatives only according to the wishes of Oosugi himself and his family. As for his farewell ceremony, details will be released once the arrangements have been made.

According to TV Tokyo, Oosugi was filming TV Tokyo Winter 2018 drama "Byplayers 2" on 20 February and had returned to the hotel where they were staying at after the filming wrapped up for the day. While having his dinner, Oosugi suddenly complained of stomach pains and was then sent to the hospital via an ambulance while accompanied by Matsushige Yutaka and other staff members. The cast and staff members were by Oosugi's bedside along with his family members when he breathed his last.

Production press conference of TV Tokyo Winter 2018 drama "Byplayers 2 ~ Moshimo meiwakiyaku ga Teleto asadora de mujintou seikatsu shitara ~"

The production press conference of TV Tokyo Winter 2018 drama "Byplayers 2 ~ Moshimo meiwakiyaku ga Teleto asadora de mujintou seikatsu shitara ~" was held on 5 February which was attended by cast members Endo Kenichi, Oosugi Ren, Matsushige Yutaka and Mitsuishi Ken. Taguchi Tomorowo was absent from the event due to scheduling conflicts. The drama which consists of 5 episodes, will begin its run from 7 February at 9.54pm on Wednesdays and describes how the five actors are supposed to act in a fictitious TV Tokyo morning drama titled "Shimakko-san" but ends up going to the wrong filming location thus leading to them drifting to an uninhabited island. The five of them have to survive on a southern island together while their disappearances cause a huge panic in the industry due to a shortage of supporting actors. Kita Kana who plays their manager Jasmine will also appear in the sequel.

Cast line-up for fictitious asadora "Shimakko-san" in TV Tokyo Winter 2018 drama "Byplayers 2" announced

The cast line-up for the fictitious asadora (morning drama) "Shimakko-san" featured in the upcoming TV Tokyo Winter 2018 drama "Byplayers 2" had been announced. The new series titled "Byplayers Moshimo meiwakiyaku ga Teleto asadora de mujintou seikatsu shitara" (Byplayers What if the famous supporting actors film a TV Tokyo morning drama and live on an uninhabited island) will be shown in the Wednesdays 9.54pm timeslot from 7 February and describes how the five actors i.e. Endo Kenichi, Oosugi Ren, Taguchi Tomorowo, Matsushige Yutaka and Mitsuishi Ken are supposed to act in a fictitious TV Tokyo morning drama titled "Shimakko-san" but ends up going to the wrong filming location thus leading to them drifting to an uninhabited island. The five of them have to survive on a southern island together while their disappearances cause a huge panic in the industry due to a shortage of supporting actors. Kita Kana who plays their manager Jasmine will also appear in the sequel. In order to make "Shimakko-san" appear as a "real" asadora, an official website for it was also created.

Takehara Pistol to sing the ending theme song for TV Tokyo Winter 2018 drama "Byplayers ~ Moshimo meiwakiyaku ga Teleto asadora de mujintou seikatsu shitara ~"

Takehara Pistol will be singing the ending theme song for the upcoming TV Tokyo Winter 2018 drama "Byplayers ~ Moshimo meiwakiyaku ga Teleto asadora de mujintou seikatsu shitara ~" starring Endo Kenichi, Oosugi Ren, Taguchi Tomorowo, Matsushige Yutaka and Mitsuishi Ken which will begin its run from 7 February. This is the second time that Takehara is singing the ending theme for the drama series as his song "Forever Young" was also used in the first series. This time, his new song titled "Gomibako kara, Blues" will be performed in front of the main cast members during the ending credits. Takehara expressed his gratitude to be given the chance twice to sing the ending theme song for this drama series and said that the ending credits clip is meant to project the idea of singing this song about not giving up in front of a group of men who have never given up. The song will be released via online streaming portals from the same day the drama is broadcast.

Source: Natalie

Preview of "Byplayers Moshimo meiwakiyaku ga Teleto asadora de mujintou seikatsu shitara" - Winter 2018

Title: Byplayers Moshimo meiwakiyaku ga Teleto asadora de mujintou seikatsu shitara バイプレイヤーズもしも名脇役がテレ東朝ドラで無人島したら (Byplayers What if the famous supporting actors film a TV Tokyo morning drama and live on an uninhabited island)
Official website: here
Official Twitter: here
O.A. Start Date: 7 February 2018
Timeslot: Wednesdays 9.54pm
Broadcast by: TV Tokyo
Opening theme song: "Fin" by 10-FEET
Cast: Endo Kenichi, Oosugi Ren, Taguchi Tomorowo, Matsushige Yutaka, Mitsuishi Ken, Kita Kana

10-FEET to sing the opening theme song for TV Tokyo Winter 2018 drama "Byplayers Moshimo meiwakiyaku ga Teleto asadora de mujintou seikatsu shitara"

10-FEET will be singing the theme song for new TV Tokyo Winter 2018 drama "Byplayers Moshimo meiwakiyaku ga Teleto asadora de mujintou seikatsu shitara" which will begin its run from 7 February. This will be the second time where the rock band is singing the opening theme for "Byplayers". The new opening song titled "Fin" was released in November 2017 within 10-FEET's latest album. 10-FEET expressed their gratitude and joy to be able to sing the opening theme for the drama again and joked that they are waiting to be invited to be appearing as supporting actors in this drama.

"Byplayers" to be back as a primetime drama this winter but with Terajima Susumu missing from the lineup

TV Tokyo drama series "Byplayers" will be back as a primetime drama from its midnight slot this winter from 7 February but Terajima Susumu will be missing from the lineup due to scheduling conflicts. As such, the remaining five famous supporting actors including Endo Kenichi, Oosugi Ren, Taguchi Tomorowo, Matsushige Yutaka and Mitsuishi Ken will be playing themselves as usual in this sequel. The length of each episode will also be extended to a full hour.