NHK to release official photobook for new morning drama "Hanbun, Aoi"

In conjunction with the impending launch of its new morning drama "Hanbun, Aoi" from 2 April, NHK will be releasing the drama's official photobook titled "Nagano Mei in Hanbun, Aoi" which features the lead actress on the same day. The content will focus on photos of Nagano taken on set since filming began in November last year at places such as eastern Gifu Prefecture and Tokyo. In addition, there will be interviews of staff members, a guide to the storyline and characters, highlights of the art and costumes used in the drama. As a bonus, there will be a Nagano Mei calendar and special postcard set included with the photobook.

Source: Oricon

Top 10 bestselling paperback books in Japan for the year 2017 (Oricon)

This ranking lists the top 10 bestselling paperback books in Japan for the year 2017 as tabulated from 5 December 2016 to 27 November 2017. Sales figures for this period are reflected in brackets while those names in bold indicate that the book had been made into a drama or movie:

1) Kimi no suizou wo tabetai - Sumino Yoru (1,066,632)

2) Reverse - Minato Kanae (574,514)

3) Mame no ue de neru - Minato Kanae (471,526)

4) Hibana - Matayoshi Naoki (449,487)

5) Yukikemuri Chase - Higashino Keigo (351,494)

6) Namiya Zakkaten no Kiseki - Higashino Keigo (344,506)

7) Akira to Akira - Ikeido Jun (324,133)

8) Biblia Koshoudou no Jiken Techou 7 ~ Shioriko-san to Hatenai Butai  - Mikami En (316,861)

9) Shousetsu Kimi no na wa - Shinkai Makoto (316,193)

10) Sword Art Online 19 Moon Cradle - Kawahara Reki & abec (315,396)

Source: Oricon

TBS Autumn 2017 drama "Rikuou" & Mizuno in collaboration to develop the Rikuou running shoes

TBS Autumn 2017 drama "Rikuou" & sports wear maker Mizuno have worked together to develop the Rikuou running shoes featured in the drama which begins its run from 15 October. In the story based on Ikeido Jun's novel, Yakusho Koji plays the lead character Miyazawa Koichi who is the 4th generation president of Japanese socks manufacturer Kobaseya based in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture, which has been in business for more than 100 years. With the decline in demand for its products, the small company which has only 20 employees, strives to rejuvenate its business by entering the field of producing running shoes which feel as if you are barefooted. However, as the industry is very competitive and the company does not have sufficient funds, Kobaseya is faced with various challenges along its journey but Miyazawa strives on with the help of the people around him as they take on the bigwigs.

TBS Winter 2017 drama "Quartet" to release official memorial book + calendar in March 2017

TBS Winter 2017 drama "Quartet" will be releasing its official memorial book which comes with a hanging calendar (March 2017 to February 2018; 16 pages; full-colour) on 7 March. Below are the details of the book:

Publisher: KADOKAWA
ISBN: 9784048959735
Size: B5
Number of pages: 52

Contents
Introduction
Character relationship map
Story from episodes 1 to 10
"Quartet" Making process column 1
Chat session involving the music players and behind-the-scenes photos
Long interview of the director Doi Nobuhiro
Map of the shooting locations in Karuizawa
"Quartet" Making process column 2
Cast and Staff List

For those who are interested in pre-ordering or buying this, you can go to TBS ishop if you are residing in Japan as they do not ship overseas. Otherwise, you can visit Amazon Japan, HMV Japan, Rakuten Japan or Kinokuniya Japan or visit your local Japanese bookstore such as Kinokuniya to see if you can place an order and bring it in from Japan. 

2016's Top 20 bestselling Japanese drama DVDs on Amazon Japan

This ranking is based on sales data from Amazon Japan between 16 November 2015 and 13 November 2016 and includes full drama series and drama SPs:

1) Kurosaki-kun no iinari ni nante naranai Drama SP (DVD)

2) Aka Medaka (Blu-ray)

3) Bocchan (Blu-ray)

4) Kurosaki-kun no iinari ni nante naranai Drama SP (Blu-ray)

5) Toshokan Sensou BOOK OF MEMORIES (Blu-ray)

6) Toshokan Sensou BOOK OF MEMORIES (DVD)

7) Hatsumori Bemars (Blu-ray)

8) Tamiou (DVD)

9) HiGH & LOW SEASON 1 (DVD)

10) Kodoku no Gurume Season 5 (DVD)

11) Motto Abunai Deka (DVD)

12) Abunai Deka Vol.1 (DVD)

13) 24 Jikan Terebi drama SP 2015 Okasan, Ore wa Daijoubu (DVD)

14) Abunai Deka Vol. 2 (DVD)

15) Rinshou Hanzai Gakusha Himura Hideo no Suiri (Blu-ray)

16) Kodoku no Gurume Season 5 (Blu-ray)

17) Rinshou Hanzai Gakusha Himura Hideo no Suiri (DVD)

18) 5-ji kara 9-ji made Watashi ni koishita obosan (DVD)

19) Kounodori (DVD)

20) Aka Medaka (DVD)

Source: Amazon Japan

"Otokomeshi" to be released on Blu-ray & DVD with scenes of Takahata Yuta cut

The Blu-ray & DVD box sets of TV Tokyo Summer 2016 drama "Otokomeshi" starring Namase Katsuhisa will be released on 14 December which consists of 5 discs and 2-hours worth of special footage. In addition, the drama will be re-edited to cut out the footage where Takahata Yuta appeared after he was caught last month for rape and assault. For the special footage, it will contain an unreleased episode which features new dishes such as whole squid grilled in foil, roasted maguro with yuzu and pepper and finely chopped horse mackerel in chazuke. The behind-the-scenes footage was taken during a 44-day filming period. Last but not least, cast members such as Emoto Tokio will introduce their signature Otokomeshi dishes and there will be interviews of the cast and director. Recipes of all the dishes featured will also be put into a booklet included in the Blu-ray and DVD boxes.

Source: Oricon

NHK to release book on the history of its morning dramas

NHK will be releasing a book titled "Asadora no 55nen" (The 55 years of morning dramas" on 17 Oct (JPY 2,484) which is a compilation of the TV station's 93 morning dramas produced from 1961 to present. From the first drama "Musume to Watashi" to the current offering of "Asa ga kita", the book talks about the famous scenes from each of the dramas and the storylines as well as unknown behind-the-scenes trivia. In addition, there are interviews of the actresses who had taken on the heroine roles including Kashiyama Fumie who starred in the 6th asadora "Ohanahan" which holds the record of highest viewership rating at 56.4% and Nounen Rena who starred in the 88th asadora "Ama-chan".

Source: Sanspo

FujiTV to release 3 classic dramas of the 90s in Blu-ray format next year

FujiTV announced on 19 Nov that it will be releasing three of its classic dramas in the 90s in Blu-ray format for the first time. The three dramas are 1995's "Ousama no Resutoran", 1991's "Tokyo Love Story" and "Hitotsu Yane no Shita" shown in 1993 and 1997. "Ousama no Resutoran" stars kabuki actor Matsumoto Koshiro as a legendary garcon who tries to resurrect an ailing restaurant and will be released on 21 January in a three-disc box set for JPY 21,384. "Tokyo Love Story" which features Oda Yuji and Suzuki Honami will be released on 18 February for the same price. Last but not least, "Hitotsu Yane no Shita" starring Eguchi Yosuke, Sakai Noriko and Fukuyama Masaharu will be sold from 18 March in a 7-disc box set for JPY 32,832.

Source: Sanspo

"Furuhata Ninzaburo" to be released in Blu-ray format to mark its 20th anniversary

The hit TV drama series "Furuhata Ninzaburo" will be released as a Blu-ray DVD box set on 30 May to mark its 20th anniversary since its first broadcast in 1994. The box set titled "Furuhata Ninzaburo COMPLETE Blu-ray BOX will be sold at 53,200 yen each and contains the three drama series shown in 1994, 1996 and 1999 as well as 8 drama SPs shown after the series ended.

Source: Sanspo

Top 10 bestselling novels of 2013 (Oricon)

Out of the top 10 bestselling novels of 2013, 8 have been adapted into dramas and movies. Due to this trend, I decided to share this ranking with you here. If you are interested in looking at the full ranking, please go here. So how many of the following books in this list have you read?

Numbers in brackets indicate the number of copies sold between 19 Nov 2012 and 17 Nov 2013.

1) Eien no Zero by Hyakuta Naoki (1,880,401) - movie starring Okada Junichi and Inoue Mao

2) Oretachi wa Bubble Nyuukougumi by Ikeido Jun (1,091,110) - drama "Hanzawa Naoki" starring Sakai Masato and Kagawa Teruyuki

3) Oretachi wa Hana no Bubblegumi by Ikeido Jun (970,092) - drama "Hanzawa Naoki" starring Sakai Masato and Kagawa Teruyuki

4) Manatsu no Houteishiki by Higashino Keigo (957,694) - movie "Manatsu no Houteishiki" starring Fukuyama Masaharu and Yoshitaka Yuriko

5) Yakou Kanransha by Minato Kanae (792,387) - drama "Yakou Kanransha" starring Suzuki Kyoka

6) Platina Data by Higashino Keigo (700,247) - movie "Platina Data" starring Ninomiya Kazunari and Toyokawa Etsushi

7) Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou 4 ~ Shioriko-san to Futatsu no Kao ~ by Mikami En (676,405) - drama "Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou" starring Gouriki Ayame

8) Hidamari no Kanojo by Koshigaya Osamu (647,075) - movie starring Matsumoto Jun and Ueno Juri

9) Monster by Hyakuta Naoki (644,500)

10) Kakkou no Tamago wa dare no mono by Higashino Keigo (513,999)

Limited edition confectionery launched in conjunction with "Ando Lloyd ~ A.I. knows LOVE? ~"

TBS and Yamazaki Bread are working to release two limited edition confectionery items in conjunction with the launch of the autumn 2013 drama "Ando Lloyd ~ A.I. knows LOVE? ~" which stars Kimura Takuya and Shibasaki Kou. The drama is due to begin its run from 13 October at 9pm on Sundays. On the first O.A. day, the items Kinako Agepan (Roasted soy bean flour fried bread) and Kinako Cream & Tsubuan will be available for sale at all supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.

In the drama, the Kinako Agepan is featured as a favourite food of Matsushima Reiji (Kimura) and is an item which links him to his fiancee Asahi (Shibasaki). As for the Kinako Cream & Tsuban, it is featured as a staple lunch pack item for Reiji's research centre.

In the past, TBS had also released a Curry Bread (Karee Pan) in 2007 when Kimura starred in the drama "Karei Naru Ichizoku" and it sold 1.05 million pieces on the launch day alone. Total sales broke the 30 million units mark.

Source: Yomiuri Hochi

"Hanzawa Naoki" Baigaeshi Manju to be sold as usual for the time being; Part 3 of "Hanzawa Naoki" novel selling well

TBS announced that the official Hanzawa Naoki "Baigaeshi Manju" will still be on sale at the TBS Store Akasaka even after the drama has ended. The manju which contains 9 pieces per box and is selling at 840 yen, went on sale from mid August and has sold 60,000 boxes to date.

On the other hand, the 3rd novel in the "Hanzawa Naoki" series titled "Lost Gene no Gyakushuu" which describes what happens to Hanzawa after his transfer to a securities company, has just issued its 19th reprint on 24th Sep and broke the 500,000 copies mark.

Source: Sponichi

Hanzawa Naoki's Baigaeshi manju selling like hot cakes

The baigaeshi manju produced in conjunction with the ongoing TBS hit drama "Hanzawa Naoki" are literally selling like hot cakes since they went on sale from 9 August via TBS' internet site "TBSishop". The manju which comes in 9 pieces per box at JPY 840, had also been available at TBS Store (Akasaka), Tokyo Station and Tokyo Soramachi's Tree Village but the 400 boxes were sold out on the same day of its release. TBS announced on its blog that the new stocks will be sent to the stores this weekend.

The manju's skin is made of brown sugar and contains red bean paste with the words "Baigaeshi" printed outside. Hanzawa Naoki's namecard is also provided in the form of a sticker as a freebie with the box of manju.

TBS will be showing the 6th episode of the drama on 25 August which will be extended by 25 minutes and the setting will be moved from Osaka to Tokyo as Hanzawa Naoki (Sakai Masato) gets transferred to the Tokyo HQ.

Source: Oricon

Kairoutei Satsujin Jiken's novel by Higashino Keigo

Title: Kairoutei Satsujin Jiken
Author: Higashino Keigo
Price: 540 yen
Total number of pages: 308
ISBN: 978-4334719685
First published in: November 1994
For more details on this novel, please visit this site.

Brutus no Shinzou's novel by Higashino Keigo

Title: Brutus no Shinzou (Brutus' Heart)
Author: Higashino Keigo
Price: 600 yen
Number of pages: 362
ISBN: 9784334717391
Date published: August 1993
For more details on this novel, please visit this site.

11-moji no Satsujin's novel by Higashino Keigo

Title: 11-moji no Satsujin
Author: Higashino Keigo
Price: 580 yen
Total no. of pages: 332
First published in: December 1990
ISBN: 9784334712549
For more information, please visit here.

Bunshin's novel by Higashino Keigo

Title: Bunshin
Author: Higashino Keigo
Price: 730 yen
First published on: 20 Sep 1996
ISBN: 9784087485196
For more information, please visit this site.

Shokuzai's novel by Minato Kanae

Title: Shokuzai
Author: Minato Kanae
First published on: 15 Jun 2009
Total number of pages: 254
ISBN: 9784488017569
For more details on the novel and to sample the first few pages, please go here.

Mitsu no Aji DVD Box Set

Title: Mitsu no Aji DVD Box Set
Price: 23,940 yen (inclusive of tax)
Number of discs: 7
Total playing time: 8 hrs 37 mins
Date of release: 28 Mar 2012
Distributed by: TC Entertainment
Catalog number: TCED-1415
For more details, please visit here.

Mitsu no Aji's script in novelised format

Title: Mitsu no Aji ~ A Taste of Honey ~
Price: 750 yen (inclusive of tax)
Published in: Dec 2011
Published by: Fusosha
ISBN: 9784594065430
For more details, please visit here.