Mizuno Miki reportedly pregnant and due to give birth next summer

Mizuno Miki is currently pregnant and due to give birth next summer as reported on 22 December. According to various sources, Mizuno is in the early stage of her pregnancy and will continue appearing in the TV Asahi Winter 2017 drama "Ubai Ai, Fuyu" which is due to begin its run from 20 January in the Fridays 11.15pm timeslot as there are no plans for any physically-demanding scenes. Nonetheless, there will be measures to take her condition into consideration during the filming.

Mizuno got married to illustrator and actor Karahashi Mitsuru on her birthday this year (28 June) after a 3-month whirlwind romance. In this year alone, Mizuno had appeared in four dramas including NHK's "Nigeru Onna", FujiTV's "Love Song" and NTV's "Kuroi Juunin no Onna".

Source: Sports Hochi

The 89th Drama Academy Awards (Spring 2016) - Best Supporting Actress

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Koike Eiko - Sekai ichi muzukashii koi
2) Kimura Yoshino - Boku no Yabai Tsuma
3) Eikura Nana - 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Eikura Nana - 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi
2) Koike Eiko - Sekai ichi muzukashii koi
3) Haru - Sekai ichi muzukashii koi
4) Kimura Yoshino - Boku no Yabai Tsuma
5) Matsui Jurina - Watashi kekkon dekinain janakute shinain desu

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Koike Eiko - Sekai ichi muzukashii koi
2) Haru - Sekai ichi muzukashii koi
3) Kimura Yoshino - Boku no Yabai Tsuma
4) Ando Sakura - Yutori desu ga nani ka
5) Ito Sairi - Sono [okodawari], watashi nimo kure yo!!

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Ando Sakura - Yutori desu ga nani ka
2) Kimura Yoshino - Boku no Yabai Tsuma
3) Koike Eiko - Sekai ichi muzukashii koi
4) Eikura Nana - 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi
5) Fujiwara Sakura - Love Song

Source: The Televison

Winners of the 4th Confidence Award Drama Prize (Spring 2016)

Best Drama: Juuhan Shuttai! (TBS)

Best Leading Actor: Okada Masaki - Yutori desu ga nani ka (NTV)

Best Leading Actress: Mitsushima Hikari - Totto Terebi (NHK)

Best Supporting Actor: Yagira Yuuya - Yutori desu ga nani ka (NTV)

Best Supporting Actress: Kimura Yoshino - Boku no Yabai Tsuma (FujiTV)

Best Script: Kudo Kankuro - Yutori desu ga nani ka (NTV)

Best Newcomer: Fujiwara Sakura - Love Song (FujiTV)

Source: Confidence Award Drama Prize

Production press conference of FujiTV Spring 2016 drama "Love Song"

The production press conference of FujiTV Spring 2016 drama "Love Song" was held on 4 April in Tokyo which was attended by cast members Fukuyama Masaharu, Fujiwara Sakura, Suda Masaki, Kaho, Mizuno Miki and Uzaki Ryudo. This is Fukuyama's first appearance in a drama since he got married to Fukiishi Kazue last September and he also wrote the theme song "soup" for this drama which is sung by Fujiwara. The release date of the song is undecided yet. In addition, he also wrote three other insert songs which will be played in the drama.

Fukuyama plays the role of a 44-year-old former professional musician working as a corporate counsellor who meets a lonely young woman where they find a common connection through music. He revealed that in a relationship, no matter how much a person loves his or her partner, there are bound to be differences between them. However, the belief that he or she is the only one the person wants to be with is represented by the soup where different ingredients come together to form a single dish.

Fujiwara who is making her debut as an actress in this drama, commented that she was very nervous during the press conference and recounted how she was in awe of Fukuyama when they first met during the audition which interviewed around 100 candidates. The latter praised her for being quick to pick up things and is very curious about everything so he finds it stimulating to work with her in this drama. At the end of the press conference, Fujiwara performed her own song "1995" together with Fukuyama.

As for the scene where Suda Masaki's character was involved in a clash with Fukuyama's character, Fukuyama revealed jokingly that Suda was so into his acting that he felt for the first time that the latter had such a frightening side which he didn't know before. Suda replied that he had to go to that extent since their characters are rivals in love.

Sources: Sanspo / Yomiuri Hochi / Sponichi

Preview of "Love Song" - Spring 2016

Title: Love Song ラヴソング
Official website: here
Official Twitter: here
O.A. Start Date: 11 April 2016
Timeslot: Mondays 9pm
Broadcast by: FujiTV
Cast: Fukuyama Masaharu, Fujiwara Sakura, Suda Masaki, Kaho, Yamaguchi Sayaka, Kinoshita Houka, Shibukawa Kiyohiko, Suruga Taro, Tanaka Tetsushi, Yuki Saori, Uzaki Ryudo, Mizuno Miki

Suda Masaki to appear in FujiTV Spring 2016 Gekku "Love Song"

Suda Masaki will be appearing in the FujiTV Spring 2016 Gekku "Love Song" which begins its run from April in the Mondays 9pm timeslot. The drama which stars Fukuyama Masaharu and Fujiwara Sakura, will be Suda's first appearance in a Gekku in 5 years since he last participated in the Winter 2011 drama "Taisetsu na koto wa subete kimi ga oshiete kureta". He plays the role of Amano Soraichi who is a childhood friend of Sakura (Fujiwara) and has been in love with her all this while. Suda who has always admired Fukuyama, expressed his excitement at being able to work with him this time and will do his best to play the role of Soraichi.

Source: Yomiuri Hochi

Newcomer Fujiwara Sakura to be the heroine in Spring 2016 FujiTV Gekku "Love Song"

20-year-old newcomer Fujiwara Sakura will be the heroine in the upcoming FujiTV Spring 2016 Gekku "Love Song" starring Fukuyama Masaharu which begins its rum from April in the Mondays 9pm timeslot. She was chosen out of 100 applicants in an audition for her pro musician background smokey vocals in contrast to her cute and young appearance. This will be the first time Fujiwara is appearing in a Gekku drama.

Fujiwara plays the heroine Sano Sakura who was raised in a orphanage and is not good at communicating with others. She works at the maintenance department of a company dealing in the maintenance and sale of large-sized vehicles and is frustrated at how her life has turned out. One day, she meets Fukuyama's character who used to be a musician and is a corporate counsellor which makes her open up to him gradually and fall in love with him.

Fujiwara commented that she knows nothing about acting but was elated to know that she was chosen during the audition. As such, she hopes to enjoy the experience and do her best.

Co-stars include Kaho who plays a sisterly figure to the heroine, Tanaka Tetsuji who is a former bandmate of Fukuyama's character, Uzaki Ryudo who operates a livehouse and Mizuno Miki who plays a woman secretly in love with Fukuyama's character.

Source: Sponichi

Fukuyama Masaharu to star in FujiTV Spring 2016 drama "Love Song"

Fukuyama Masaharu will be starring in the new FujiTV Spring 2016 drama "Love Song" which is due to begin its run from April in the Mondays 9pm timeslot. This will be his first appearance in a drama since he got married to Fukiishi Kazue last September.

Fukuyama plays a 44-year-old former professional guitarist who tries to regain what he had lost in the past after meeting a woman who has to deal with loneliness in her life. It will be his first attempt at playing a musician in a drama and he is expected to perform songs with a guitar in this drama. His last appearance in a Gekku drama was Spring 2013's "Galileo".

Source: Sankei Sports