The 88th Drama Academy Awards (Winter 2016) - Best Theme Song

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) 365 Nichi no Kami Hikouki - AKB48 (Asa ga kita)
2) Ashita e no Tegami - Teshima Aoi (Itsuka kono koi wo omoi dashite kitto naite shimau)
3) Motto - aiko (Dame na watashi ni koishite kudasai)

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) UNLOCK - KAT-TUN (Kaitou Yamaneko)
2) 365 Nichi no Kami Hikouki - AKB48 (Asa ga kita)
3) Ashita e no Tegami - Teshima Aoi (Itsuka kono koi wo omoi dashite kitto naite shimau)
4) Gravity - Kis-My-Ft2 (MARS ~ Tada, kimi wo aishiteru ~)
5) Motto - aiko (Dame na watashi ni koishite kudasai)

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Ashita e no Tegami - Teshima Aoi (Itsuka kono koi wo omoi dashite kitto naite shimau)
2) 365 Nichi no Kami Hikouki - AKB48 (Asa ga kita)
3) Motto - aiko (Dame na watashi ni koishite kudasai)
4) No more - EXILE ATSUSHI + AI (Naomi to Kanako)
5) UNLOCK - KAT-TUN (Kaitou Yamaneko) / I want u to love me - Alexandros (Onna Kudoki Meshi Season 2)

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) 365 Nichi no Kami Hikouki - AKB48 (Asa ga kita)
2) Ashita e no Tegami - Teshima Aoi (Itsuka kono koi wo omoi dashite kitto naite shimau)
3) Koigokoro - MACO (Tokyo Sentimental)
4) Motto - aiko (Dame na watashi ni koishite kudasai)
5) UNLOCK - KAT-TUN (Kaitou Yamaneko) / No more - EXILE ATSUSHI + AI (Naomi to Kanako) / Kokoro no mama ni - Shimatani Hitomi (Itooshikute) / Friends - Rebecca (MARS ~ Tada, kimi wo aishiteru ~) / Kimi ga ii - Softly (Onna kudoki meshi Season 2)

Source: The Televison

Tanaka Rena announces her marriage

Tanaka Rena announced her marriage through her agency on 5 February. According to her agency, Tanaka's husband is a 40-year-old doctor who she met through friends and started dating since last summer. In her statement, Tanaka revealed that they had submitted their marriage application on the same day and commented that she was attracted to her husband's honest character and mild temperament. She also commented that she would like to build a warm family with him who understands her well and continue working hard on each project that comes her way. Tanaka ended the signed statement by thanking everyone for their support so far and asked for the same going forward.

Tanaka made her debut in the 1998 Suntory beverage CM "Nacchan" and acted in her first movie "Ganbatte Ikimasshoi" the same year. She can be seen in the ongoing NHK drama "Itooshikute".

Source: Oricon

Production press conference of NHK Winter 2016 drama "Itooshikute"

The production press conference of NHK Winter 2016 drama "Itooshikute" was held on 8 January which was attended by Tanaka Rena, Yoshida Eisaku and Akiyoshi Kumiko. The drama which is produced by NHK Nagoya and will be shown from 12 January at 10pm on Tuesdays, features Tanaka as a cloth dyer who gets embroiled in a love triangle with her teacher played by Akiyoshi and the latter's lover who is a vet (Yoshida). The filming was done between the end of September and late December in Nagoya and Gifu Prefecture's Tajimi City so Tanaka had to stay in Nagoya during that period on her own.

Due to the fact that Yoshida had gone through a divorce with his ex-wife Hirako Risa on 21 December, the media was naturally interested to ask him about this topic. In response, Yoshida said with a smile that although many things happened at the end of last year, he hopes to begin the new year afresh and work hard. When asked about his first appearance in a love story for the first time in 10 years, Yoshida said that he didn't realise the long gap until he started the filming and is open to acting in such dramas in future. As for the intimate scene with Akiyoshi, Yoshida commented that he has always been exercising so there is no concern about showing off his figure in such scenes. In order to prepare for the filming, Yoshida also went to the vet he used to go to in order to learn more about the job.

Source: Sanspo / Sponichi

Preview of "Itooshikute" - Winter 2016

Title: Itooshikute 愛おしくて (ma cherie...)
Official website: here
O.A. Start Date: 12 January 2016
Timeslot: Tuesdays 10pm
Broadcast by: NHK
Total number of episodes: 8
Theme Song: Kokoro no mama ni by Shimatani Hitomi
Cast: Tanaka Rena, Yoshida Eisaku, Akiyoshi Kumiko, Ogata Kanta, Hirata Mitsuru, Honjo Manami, Mizuhashi Kenji, Oka Mitsuko, Ishikura Saburo, Minami Kaho and Kobayashi Nenji