The 87th Drama Academy Awards (Autumn 2015) - Best Leading Actress

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Ishihara Satomi - 5-ji kara 9-ji made Watashi ni koishita obosan
2) Aragaki Yui - Okitegami Kyoko no Biboroku
3) Amami Yuki - Gisou no Fuufu

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Ishihara Satomi - 5-ji kara 9-ji made Watashi ni koishita obosan
2) Aragaki Yui - Okitegami Kyoko no Biboroku
3) Amami Yuki - Gisou no Fuufu
4) Inoue Mao - Hana Moyu
5) Shinohara Ryoko - Otona Joshi

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Ishihara Satomi - 5-ji kara 9-ji made Watashi ni koishita obosan
2) Aragaki Yui - Okitegami Kyoko no Biboroku
3) Amami Yuki - Gisou no Fuufu
4) Inoue Mao - Hana Moyu
5) Shinohara Ryoko - Otona Joshi

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Amami Yuki - Gisou no Fuufu
2) Aragaki Yui - Okitegami Kyoko no Biboroku
3) Ishihara Satomi - 5-ji kara 9-ji made Watashi ni koishita obosan
4) Inoue Mao - Hana Moyu
5) Karina - Kekkon shiki no zenjitsu ni / Sakuma Yui - Transit Girls

Source: The Television

The 19th Nikkansports Drama Grand Prix (Autumn 2015)

Numbers indicate the number of votes received by the drama/actor/actress:

Best Drama
1) 5-ji kara 9-ji made (FujiTV) - 640
2) Shitamachi Rocket (TBS) - 307
3) Asa ga kita (NHK) - 201
4) Siren (FujiTV) - 95
5) Aibou (TV Asahi) - 91

Best Leading Actor
1) Abe Hiroshi - Shitamachi Rocket (TBS) - 467
2) Ayano Go - Kounodori (TBS) - 255
3) Tamaki Hiroshi - Asa ga kita (NHK) - 251
4) Kamikawa Takaya - Angel Heart (NTV) & Matsuzaka Toori - Siren (FujiTV) - 138

Best Leading Actress
1) Ishihara Satomi - 5-ji kara 9-ji made (FujiTV) - 721
2) Haru - Asa ga kita (NHK) - 366
3) Aragaki Yui - Okitegami Kyoko no Biboroku (NTV) - 275
4) Inoue Mao - Hana Moyu (NHK) - 172
5) Sawaguchi Yasuko - Kasouken no Onna (TV Asahi) - 134

Best Supporting Actor
1) Yamashita Tomohisa - 5-ji kara 9-ji made (FujiTV) - 649
2) Kikkawa Koji - Shitamachi Rocket (TBS) - 106
3) Sorimachi Takashi - Aibou (TV Asahi) - 99
4) Osawa Takao - Hana Moyu (NHK) - 97
5) Kamiki Ryunosuke - Samurai Sensei (TV Asahi) - 82

Best Supporting Actress
1) Takanashi Rin - 5-ji kara 9-ji made (FujiTV) - 232
2) Nanao - Siren (FujiTV) - 201
3) Tomochika - Asa ga kita (NHK) - 159
4) Toda Keiko - 5-ji kara 9-ji made (FujiTV) 106
5) Kaga Mariko - 5-ji kara 9-ji made (FujiTV) 89

Source: Nikkansports

Top 30 highest-rated dramas based on single-episode ratings in 2015

Note that this ranking includes full drama series and once-off drama SPs shown between 29 December 2014 and 27 December 2015. The figures in brackets indicate the ratings for that particular episode or once-off SP broadcast:

1) Asa ga Kita - NHK - 4 December 2015 (27.2%)
2) Massan - NHK - 30 March 2015 (25.0%)
3) Mare - NHK - 7 April 2015 (22.7%)
4) Shitamachi Rocket (last episode) - TBS - 20 December 2015 (22.3%)
5) Aibou season 13 (last episode) - TV Asahi - 18 March 2015 (20.3%)
6) 24 Jikan Terebi SP Okasan Ore wa Daijoubu - NTV - 22 August 2015 (20.2%)
7) I'm Home (last episode) - TV Asahi - 18 June 2015 (19.0%)
8) Aibou season 14 (first episode) - TV Asahi - 14 October 2015 (18.4%)
9) Tenno no Ryoriban (last episode) - TBS - 12 July 2015 (17.7%)
10) DOCTORS 3 (Ep 5) - TV Asahi - 5 February 2015 / Death Note (first episode) - NTV - 5 July 2015 (16.9%)

12) Hana Moyu (first episode) - NHK - 4 January 2015 (16.7%)
13) Oriental Kyuukou Satsujin Jiken Part 1 - FujiTV - 11 January 2015 (16.1%)
14) Oriental Kyuukou Satsujin Jiken Part 2 - FujiTV - 12 January 2015 (15.9%)
15) Hanasaki Mai ga damattenai (Ep 7) - NTV - 19 August 2015 (15.6%)
16) Zeni no Sensou (last episode) - FujiTV - 17 March 2015 (15.4%)
17) Marumaru Tsuma (Ep 2 & Ep 4) - NTV - 21 January 2015 (15.2%)
18) Youkoso, Wagaya e (last episode) - FujiTV - 15 June 2015 (15.0%)
19) Date ~ Koi to wa donna mono kashira ~ (first episode) - FujiTV - 19 January 2015 / Specialist 3 - TV Asahi - 28 February 2015 (14.8%)

21) Gisou no Fuufu (first episode) - NTV - 7 October 2015 (14.7%)
22) Kinkyuu Torishirabeshitsu - TV Asahi - 27 September 2015 (14.6%)
23) Isan Sozoku - TV Asahi - 22 October 2015 (14.2%)
24) Keishicho Sousa Ikka 5 Hira kara nariagatta Saikyo no Keiji! - TV Asahi - 17 October 2015 (14.1%)
25) Dr.Rintaro (first episode) - NTV - 15 April 2015 / Keishicho Sousa Ikka 9 Kakari season 10 (episode 3) - TV Asahi - 6 May 2015 (13.9%)
27) Shin Naniwa Kinyuudo - FujiTV - 24 January 2015 (13.8%)
28) Houigaku Kyoshitsu no Jiken File 40-kai Kinen - TV Asahi - 14 February 2015 / Morimura Seiichi Sakka 50nen Kinen Shuchakueki Series Zeni no Kasa - TV Asahi - 26 September 2015 (13.6%)
30) Kasoken no Onna (first episode) - TV Asahi - 15 October 2015 / Shikaku Tantei Higure Tabibito - NTV - 20 November 2015 (13.5%)

Source: Sponichi

Taiga drama handover ceremony for "Hana Moyu" and "Sanadamaru"

The Taiga drama handover ceremony from "Hana Moyu" to "Sanadamaru" was held on 25 November where the leads of both dramas i.e. Inoue Mao and Sakai Masato gathered at NHK's HQ at Shibuya. Inoue reflected on the 14 months she spent on the filming of "Hana Moyu" and commented that she felt satisfied by the time the filming was wrapped up as it felt like she had accomplished the biggest task in her life so far. Despite the difficulties experienced during the filming, she felt that she had also learnt about many things in the process and as a result, changed her views in many ways. When asked about what advice she would give to Sakai, Inoue remarked that due to the long filming period, the best thing would be to take good care of his health.

Sakai complimented Inoue for her hard work because in most editions of the Taiga dramas, if the lead character is a man, he would be expected to take on a leadership role. On the other hand, in Inoue's case, her character was more like a supporter to the people around her so it would have been more difficult for her to play the lead. Sakai also commented that he still doesn't know for sure what it means to be the lead of a Taiga drama and would find out from Inoue what kind of snacks to buy for the cast and crew since "Sanadamaru" would also be filmed in Gunma Prefecture where "Hana Moyu" was shot at.

The last episode of "Hana Moyu" will be shown on 13 December while "Sanadamaru" will begin its run from 10 January 2016.

Source: Oricon

Tanaka Rena to join the cast of NHK Taiga "Hana Moyu"

Tanaka Rena will be joining the cast of current NHK Taiga "Hana Moyu" as announced on 22 May. She will play the role of Mori Yasuko (Gin-hime) who was the first wife of Mori Motonori, the last feudal lord of the Choshu Domain and make her first appearance from Episode 28 which will be shown on 12 July. The lead Fumi (Inoue Mao) will be Yasuko's eldest son Motoakira's tutor. The filming began from last week.

This is Tanaka's second appearance in a Taiga since 2012's "Taira no Kiyomori" where she played Yuragozen, Minamoto no Yoritomo's birth mother.

Source: Sanspo

Preview of "Hana Moyu" - 2015 NHK Taiga

Title: Hana Moyu 花燃ゆ
Official website: here
Official Facebook page: here
Official Twitter page: here
O.A. Start Date: 4 Jan 2015
Timeslot: Sundays 8pm
Cast (note that as the story progresses, more characters will be added): Inoue Mao, Osawa Takao, Iseya Yusuke, Higashide Masahiro, Nagatsuka Kyozo, Dan Fumi, Okuda Eiji, Harada Taizo, Yuka, Kitaoji Kinya, Matsuzaka Keiko, Higashiyama Noriyuki, Ishimaru Kanji, Naito Takashi, Wakamura Mayumi, Yamashita Shinji, Kora Kengo, Seto Koji, Gekidan Hitori, Sato Ryuta, Kaname Jun, Igawa Haruka, Tanaka Yoji, Katase Rino, Aso Yumi, Takuma Takayuki, Takahashi Hideki etc 

NHK Taiga handover ceremony from "Gunshi Kanbee" to "Hana Moyu"

The NHK Taiga handover ceremony was held on 21 Nov at the NHK headquarters which was attended by Okada Junichi, the lead actor of the current Taiga "Gunshi Kanbee", and Inoue Mao, the lead actress of the upcoming Taiga "Hana Moyu". Okada offered his encouragement to Inoue who promised to work hard in making her drama a success. As part of the ceremony where the leads exchange gifts from the local areas where their characters hailed from, Okada presented a kimono belt from Hakata, Fukuoka, while Inoue gave raw blowfish from Yamaguchi Prefecture to him.

The final episode of "Gunshi Kanbee" will be shown on 21 December while "Hana Moyu" will begin its run from 4 January 2015.

Source: Sanspo

Filming begins for 2015 Taiga drama "Hana Moyu"

Filming for NHK's 2015 Taiga "Hana Moyu" began at Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on 9 August where cast members Inoue Mao, Osawa Takao, Iseya Yusuke, Yuka, Harada Taizo and Higashide Masahiro gathered to meet the press. The drama which features the lifetime of Yoshida Shoin's younger sister Fumi (Inoue), was to have started its filming on 5 August but the progress was delayed due to bad weather and filming on the 9th itself had to be cancelled too due to the approaching typhoon No.11.  With response to this, Inoue said that it was a tough fight against the rain for the cast and crew but to look at it from a good perspective, they got the chance to try many delicious foods in Hagi so their situation wasn't that bad after all. As for Osawa who plays Fumi's husband Odamura Inosuke, he asked for the viewers' support for this drama when it goes on air next year.

Source: Sanspo

Cast announcements for NHK 2015 Taiga "Hana Moyu"

NHK announced on 11 June the addition of three actors i.e. Iseya Yusuke, Koura Kengo and Higashide Masahiro to the cast lineup of its 2015 Taiga "Hana Moyu" starring Inoue Mao. Iseya will play the role of Yoshida Shoin, the elder brother of Fumi (Inoue) who had an important role in the Bakumatsu Restoration. Koura plays Shoin's disciple Takasugi Shinsaku while Higashide plays Fumi's first husband Kusaka Genzui.

Filming will begin in August at Hagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Source: Sanspo

Osawa Takao to play Inoue Mao's husband in the 2015 NHK Taiga "Hana Moyu"

Osawa Takao will be taking on the role of Odamura Inosuke (later known as Katori Motohiko) in the 2015 NHK Taiga drama "Hana Moyu" starring Inoue Mao who plays his second wife Yoshida Fumi. Odamura had married Yoshida Shoin's younger sister Hisa first but she later passed away. On the other hand, Fumi who was also Yoshida's younger sister, had married Kusaka Genzui but he later committed suicide. Odamura then remarried Fumi later and became the first mayor of Gunma Prefecture who shifted the prefecture's office from Takasaki to Maebashi and contributed greatly to the thread manufacturing and rearing of silkworms industries as well as the education sector.

Osawa acknowledged that he had never heard of Odamura before he got the offer to play this role. However, the drama is more about the people around the hero who played great supporting roles in his success so he felt that this will be a rather different Taiga from the ones made so far.

Source: Mantan Web

Inoue Mao to be the lead in 2015 NHK Taiga drama "Hana Moyu"

NHK announced on 3 December that Inoue Mao will be the lead of their 2015 Taiga drama "Hana Moyu" set mainly in Yamaguchi Prefecture where she will play the role of Fumi, the younger sister of Bakumatsu-era Choshu Domain philosopher Yoshida Shoin. This marks Inoue's first appearance in a Taiga and her first appearance in a NHK drama in four years since 2011's morning drama "Ohisama". During the press conference, Inoue commented that there are lots of things she has to study about her character and promised to take responsibility to work hard for the drama. Besides being Yoshida Shoin's younger sister, Fumi also married Kusaka Genzui, a key person in the Sonno Joi faction in the Choshu Domain. However, Kusaka later passed away so Fumi remarried Katori Motohiko, the first mayor of Gunma Prefecture. Filming begins in August 2014 and the drama will begin its run in January 2015.

Source: Mantan Web