The 16th Nikkansports Grand Prix (Winter 2013)

This is a rather small-scale survey since there are less than 1,000 votes so the results tend to be heavily skewed and quite different from the general opinion or what you see in The Television Awards. Please don't be upset if your favourites or those who you think deserves an award doesn't appear here. ^__^

Numbers in brackets indicate number of votes.

Source: Nikkansports

Best Drama
1) Tonbi / TBS  (97)
2) Aibou season 11 / TV Asahi (96)
3) Yae no Sakura / NHK (93)
4) Jun to Ai / NHK (59)
5) Nobunaga no Chef / TV Asahi (57)

Best Leading Actor
1) Uchino Masaaki / Tonbi / TBS (175)
2) Mizutani Yutaka / Aibou season 11 / TV Asahi (163)
3) Kazama Shunsuke / Jun to Ai / NHK (75)
4) Eguchi Yosuke / dinner / FujiTV (70)
5) Eita / Saikou no Rikon / FujiTV (67)

Best Leading Actress
1) Ayase Haruka / Yae no Sakura / NHK (230)
2) Gouriki Ayame / Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Tecchou / FujiTV (101)
3) Sawaguchi Yasuko / Kasouken no Onna / TV Asahi (96)
4) Natsuna / Jun to Ai / NHK (94)
5) Nakama Yukie / Saki / FujiTV & Suzuki Kyoka / Yakou Kanransha / TBS (80)

Best Supporting Actor
1) Narimiya Hiroki / Aibou season 11 / TV Asahi (98)
2) Nishijima Hidetoshi / Yae no Sakura / NHK (92)
3) Sato Takeru / Tonbi / TBS (85)
4) Oikawa Mitsuhiro / Nobunaga Chef / TV Asahi (74)
5) Oizumi Yo / Sharehouse no Koibito / NTV (55)

Best Supporting Actress
1) Ono Machiko / Saikou no Rikon / FujiTV (89)
2) Iijima Naoko / Itsuka Hi no Ataru Basho de / NHK (77)
3) Shida Mirai / Nobunaga no Chef / TV Asahi (74)
4) Morishita Aiko / Jun to Ai / NHK (64)
5) Aibu Saki / Otome-san / TV Asahi (63)

FujiTV axes its Sunday 9pm drama timeslot from spring onwards

FujiTV announced that it is going to cancel its Sunday 9pm timeslot meant for dramas and replacing it with a new variety programme "Terebi Shakai Jikken Variety Asunaro Labo" hosted by comedian Kato Koji and announcer Takashima Aya. As a result of this move, "dinner" will be its last drama shown in this timeslot. FujiTV had started airing dramas in this timeslot renamed as Dramatic Sunday since autumn 2010 with "Perfect Report"  which was seen as a challenge to TBS which had a longstanding stellar reputation in the same drama for its prime dramas. However, things didn't work out as planned with most of the offerings in this timeslot doing badly except for the spring 2011 drama "Marumo no Okite" which made the child actors Ashida Mana and Suzuki Fuku extremely well-known and popular.

Source: Sanspo

Completion screening of "dinner"

The completion screening of FujiTV Winter 2013 drama "dinner" was held on 11 January which was attended by cast members Eguchi Yosuke, Yusuke Santa Maria, Kurashina Kana, Yashima Norito, Matsushige Yutaka, Shiga Koutarou, Hakamada Yoshihiko, Seki Megumi and Shibamoto Yuki. The drama is scheduled to begin its run from 13 January at 9pm on Sundays. Eguchi plays a genius chef who aims to create the perfect dish and ends up clashing with the chefs and owner of an Italian restaurant when he starts to work there.


Source: Sanspo

Preview of Winter 2013 offerings: dinner (FujiTV)

Title: dinner
Official website: here
Main cast members: Eguchi Yosuke, Kurashina Kana, Matsushige Yutaka, Hakamada Yoshihiko, Seki Megumi, Shiga Kotaro, Shibamoto Yuki, Ikezu Shoko, Kazama Morio, Yashima Norito, Yusuke Santa Maria
Details on storyline: here
Timeslot: Sundays 9pm

Comments: Eguchi Yosuke was severely under-utilised in the summer drama "Iki mo dekinai natsu" which I felt was a great pity but this drama seems like a good chance for him to show what he's capable of. The story itself doesn't seem extremely exciting with a talented chef stepping in to work at a restaurant whose head chef has gone off for some reason and clashing with the existing staff there. Been there, done that. The key reason for wanting to give this at least a couple of episodes to prove itself lies primarily with Eguchi who's been known to be a good cook in real life and he can probably pull off those difficult cooking scenes with ease. Playing characters who are difficult to work with would also be something he could do easily and convincingly. I don't have a deep impression of Kurashina Kana though, can't remember at the moment if I've seen any of her dramas before. It probably looks unlikely for Eguchi and Kurashina to have a romantic link in the drama so things are probably going to be focused on what happens in the kitchen rather than what happens outside.

Sakanaction to sing theme song for Winter 2013 drama "dinner"

Rock band Sakanaction will be singing the theme song for FujiTV Winter 2013 drama " dinner" which is scheduled to begin its run from 13 January at 9pm on Sundays. The new song "Music" will be released as a single on 23 January and is the second theme song sung by the band since "Boku to Hana" for Spring 2012 drama "37-sai de Isha ni Natta Boku".

Source: Sanspo

Nonami Maho & Mikami Kensei get married; Nonami's role in "Dinner" to go to Seki Megumi

Actress Nonami Maho and actor Mikami Kensei announced their marriage through their agencies on 12 December 2012. According to insiders, the couple filed a marriage application on 9 December which happened to be the day when both of them were not working. Nonami is currently 3 months' pregnant and is due to give birth in June or July. There are no plans yet for the wedding and they are still searching for a new house.

The couple got to know each other through a friend 2 years ago and was reported to be dating when an article appeared in a tabloid in October this year. Nonami who appears in this season's "TOKYO Airport" as a air traffic controller, was originally scheduled to act in the upcoming winter 2013 drama "dinner" but had to give up her role due to her condition. As a result, Seki Megumi will be taking over Nonami's role in the new drama.

Source: Sanspo

Eguchi Yosuke to star in Winter 2013 drama "dinner"

Eguchi Yosuke will play the role of a talented chef in the upcoming FujiTV Winter 2013 drama "dinner" which is due to be shown from January in the Sundays 9pm timeslot. The drama is set in a famous Italian restaurant where Eguchi plays a chef who clashes with the people around him in his pursuit for the perfect cuisine. The heroine will be played by Kurashina Kana, the stand-in owner cum manager of the restaurant when her father suddenly falls ill while Yusuke Santa Maria will also be part of the cast.

In preparation for the role, Eguchi who's already well-known for his liking for cooking and collecting kitchen utensils, will start taking cooking lessons from specialists in this field. The drama will also have a tie-up with FujiTV's variety show "Iron Chef" where Eguchi's character will appear after the restaurant's chief accepts the offer to take part in the programme.

Source: Sanspo