Kubota Masataka & Mizukawa Asami reportedly dating since autumn 2017

Kubota Masataka and Mizukawa Asami are said to be dating and have been living together since autumn this year according to FRIDAY's 8th December issue. When asked about the report, the couple's agencies simply commented that they will leave this to their artistes to handle since they are already adults thus indirectly admitting to the fact that the two of them are an item.

Sakai Masato wins individual award in TV category of the 50th Galaxy Awards

Sakai Masato appeared at the prize giving ceremony of the 50th Galaxy Award on 3 June where he picked up an individual award in the TV category for his work in the dramas "Legal High" and "Ooku ~ Tanjou". He commented that the roles in both dramas were totally different and expressed joy at winning the award. When asked who he would like to share his joy with, Sakai did not mention his wife Kanno Miho and simply said that the award should be shared with the staff members who worked with him on these two dramas.

Source: Sanspo

Tabe Mikako & Kubota Masataka caught on overnight date by FRIDAY

Tabe Mikako and Kubota Masataka are rumoured to be dating according to an article in the 31st May issue of FRIDAY. The two were caught entering Tabe's apartment in late May and Kubota was seen leaving only in the following morning. Tabe and Kubota last worked together in the autumn 2012 drama "Ooku ~ Tanjou" and had acted in intimate scenes. FRIDAY claimed that after working on the drama, the two of them became an item. When asked about the rumour, Tabe's agency declined to comment by giving the reason that the person-in-charge was not available.

Source: Sanspo

The 16th Nikkansports Drama Grand Prix (Autumn 2012)

Note that the number in brackets indicate the number of votes received:

Best Drama
1) PRICELESS (457)
2) Doctor X (212)
3) Aibou season 11 (120)
4) Taira no Kiyomori (75)
5) TOKYO Airport (71)

Best Leading Actor
1) Kimura Takuya - PRICELESS (548)
2) Mizutani Yutaka - Aibou 11 (235)
3) Sakai Masato - Ooku Tanjou (146)
4) Ikuta Toma - Osozaki no Himawari (130)
5) Matsuyama Kenichi - Taira no Kiyomori (107)

Best Leading Actress
1) Yonekura Ryoko - Doctor X (419)
2) Fukada Kyoko - TOKYO Airport (206)
3) Kanno Miho - Kekkon Shinai (176)
4) Kitagawa Keiko - Akumu-chan (152)
5) Natsuna - Jun to Ai (NHK)

Best Supporting Actor
1) Nakai Kiichi - PRICELESS (345)
2) Ishiguro Ken - Sousa Chizu no Onna (104)
3) Narimiya Hiroki - Aibou 11 (99)
4) Kishibe Ittoku - Doctor X (97)
5) Matsuda Shota - Taira no Kiyomori (70)

Best Supporting Actress
1) Karina - PRICELESS (434)
2) Uchida Yuki - Doctor X (129)
3) Fukada Kyoko - Taira no Kiyomori (79)
4) Tabe Mikako - Ooku Tanjou (77)
5) Maki Youko - Osozaki no Himawari (72)

Source: Nikkansports

Top 10 favourite dramas of the Autumn 2012 season (Ori Star)

Note that the sample size of this survey is relatively small (only 1,000) and that the pool of respondents are all ladies so preferences may be skewed towards certain genres and results may differ from what the ratings ranking reflects. Number in brackets indicate number of people who voted for the drama:

1) Kekkon Shinai (91)
2) Ooku - Tanjou (84)
3) PRICELESS (67)
4) Yuusha Yoshihiko to Akurei no Kagi (60)
5) Aibou (57)
6) Koukou Nyuushi (52)
7) MONSTERS (47)
8) Osozaki no Himawari ~ Boku no Jinsei, Renewal (46)
9) Akumu-chan (36)
10) TOKYO Airport (34)

Source: Ori Star

Production press conference of "Ooku ~ Tanjou (Ariko Iemitsu Hen)"

The production press conference of TBS autumn drama "Ooku ~ Tanjou (Ariko Iemitsu Hen)" was held at Shinjuku Picadelly which was attended by cast members including Sakai Masato, Tabe Mikako and KAT-TUN's Tanaka Koki. The drama which begins its run on 12 October, is a continuation from the 2010 Ooku movie starring Arashi's Ninomiya Kazunari which depicts a reverse Ooku where the shogun is a female and is served by many men.

Source: Sanspo

Preview of Ooku ~ Tanjou - Arikoto Iemitsu Hen 大奥～誕生 [有功・家光篇] - Autumn 2012

Title: Ooku ~ Tanjou - Arikoto Iemitsu Hen
Official site: here
O.A. Start Date: 12 October 2012
Timeslot: Fridays 10pm
Broadcast by: TBS
Original by: Yoshinaga Fumi
Theme song: DEEPNESS by MISIA
Cast: Sakai Masato, Tabe Mikako, Tanaka Koki (KAT-TUN), Hirayama Hiroyuki, Minamisawa Nao, Omi Toshinori, Danta Yasunori, Naito Takashi, Asou Yumi