New dramas starting in May 2017 on Waku Waku Japan

For those who have access to the cable TV channel Waku Waku Japan, do check out these new dramas beginning their runs here in May. Note that the start dates and timeslots are based on the channel's Singapore website so this may differ depending on the country you are in. I am only listing those dramas which are being shown for the first time on this channel so re-runs happening within May are not mentioned here.

Titles in brackets are the translated titles in English as listed by Waku Waku Japan on their website so you may need to rely on this to check your local TV schedule. You can also access the dramas' respective pages through the hyperlinks in the titles.

Have fun watching these dramas this month!

Team Batista no Eikou チームバチスタの栄光 (Glory of Team Batista)
Autumn 2008 drama from Kansai TV
First drama in the Team Batista series
Cast: Ito Atsushi, Nakamura Tooru, Shirota Yu, Tsurumi Shingo, Hayashi Ryuuzou, Natori Yuuko, Miyagawa Daisuke, Shaku Yumiko, Ihara Tsuyoshi
Start Date: 5 May 2017
Timeslot: Wednesdays 9pm (first episode starts at 10.30pm)

Hachimitsu to Clover ハチミツとクローバー (Honey and Clover)
Winter 2008 drama from FujiTV
Drama version of the hit manga by Umino Chika
Cast: Narumi Riko, Ikuta Toma, Harada Natsuki, Mukai Osamu, Narimiya Hiroki, Takizawa Saori, Kimura Yuichi, Matsushige Yutaka, Takahashi Hitomi, Nagano Satomi, Maekawa Yasuyuki, Kashiwabara Takashi, Izumiya Shigeru, Murakami Jun, Seto Asaka
Start Date: 8 May 2017
Timeslot: Mondays 9pm

S - Saigo no Keisatsukan - S -最後の警官- (S The Last Policeman)
Winter 2014 drama from TBS
Cast: Mukai Osamu, Oomori Nao, Hirayama Hiroyuki, Ikeuchi Hiroyuki, Takahashi Tsutomu, Aragaki Yui, Fuse Eri, Asakura Erika, Ayano Go, Takashima Masahiro, Motomiya Yasukaze, Hirayama Yusuke, Fuchikami Yasushi, Fukiishi Kazue, Tsuchiya Anna, Odagiri Jo etc.
Start Date: 10 May 2017
Timeslot: Wednesdays 9pm

Ooku 大奥 2003 (Ooku -The Inner Palace-)
Spring 2003 drama from FujiTV
First drama in the Ooku series
Cast: Kanno Miho, Asano Yuuko, Ikewaki Chizuru, Adachi Yumi, Harada Ryuji, Kitamura Kazuki, Katsurayama Shingo, Okada Yoshinori, Kimura Tae, Washio Machiko, Yamaguchi Kaori, Kubota Maki, Mizukawa Asami, Kinoshita Houka, Nogiwa Yoko etc.
Start Date: 11 May 2017
Timeslot: Thursdays 9pm

Fragile フラジャイル (FRAGILE)
Winter 2016 drama from FujiTV
Based on the original manga by Kusamizu Bin and Megumi Saburo
Cast: Nagase Tomoya, Takei Emi, Nomura Shuhei, Koyuki, Tsuda Kanji, Matsui Rena, Kitaoji Kinya
Start Date: 12 May 2017
Timeslot: Fridays 9pm

Yuusha Yoshihiko to Maou no Shiro 勇者ヨシヒコと魔王の城 (Brave "YOSHIHIKO" And The Great Satan's Castle)

Summer 2011 drama from TV Tokyo
First part of the Yuusha Yoshihiko drama series
Cast: Yamada Takayuki, Takuma Shin, Kinami Haruka, Muro Tsuyoshi, Okamoto Azusa, Satou Jirou, Nakao Ryuusei
Start Date: 14 May 2017
Timeslot: Sundays 3pm

Winners of the 7th TAMA Movie Awards (2015)

*Movies released between October 2014 and September 2015 were eligible to take part in this year's movie awards:

Best Movie
Umimachi Diary
Kimi wa Iiko

Special Award
Director Tsukamoto Shinya and the staff & cast of "Nobi"

Best Leading Actor
Nagase Masatoshi (An / KANO)
Ayase Go (Shinjuku Swan / Piece of Cake / Tenku no Hachi / Soredake that's it / S - Saigo no Keisatsukan Dakkan RECOVERY OF OUR FUTURE)

Best Leading Actress
Kiki Kirin (An / Kakekomi Onna to kakedashi otoko / Umimachi Diary)
Ayase Haruka (Umimachi Diary)

Best New Director
Sode Yukiko (Good Stripes)
Matsui Daigo (Watashitachi no Haahaa / Wonderful World End)

Best Male Newcomer
Nakajima Ayumu (Good Stripes)
Nomura Shuhei (Ai wo tsumu hito / Hibi Rock / Biri Girl / Taifuu no Noruda)

Best Female Newcomer
Hirose Suzu (Umimachi Diary / Hakemono no Ko)
Sugisaki Hana (Toilet no Pieta / Ai wo tsumu hito / Tsukuroi Tatsu Hito)

Source: TAMA Movie Awards

Special Feature - TV Stations' Merchandise Shops ~ Part 2: TBS

Following the first report on FujiTV's shop at Tokyo Station, here comes the next feature on TBS. Compared to the other TV stations' shops which tend to sell the "in-season" goods, there is a fair mix of merchandise from older and new dramas' which is good news to fans especially if the goods from past seasons' dramas are difficult to find. In addition, there is a more balanced mix of merchandise from dramas, variety programmes and anime as compared to other shops which tend to be from one particular programme or genre. On the other hand, due to the limited shop space, you will notice that the number of items per title is rather small which can't be helped. It's a delicate balance between shop space and variety and extensiveness of the product range so each TV station has their own way of deciding what's more attractive to customers but it may or may not suit your own needs. If you can't find what you want here, you can choose to head to TBS' headquarters in Akasaka or try your luck on their website's store.

First of all, let's take a look at the "in-season" dramas i.e. Autumn 2014. When I was there in Dec, it was towards the end of the autumn dramas so the top level of the shelf was reserved primarily for them. Ever since the success of the Baegashi Manju from "Hanzawa Naoki", it seems like every other TV station is bent on doing the same to replicate the success of that. Of course, because "Hanzawa Naoki" was a TBS drama, the TV station will continue to produce manju for the dramas in the hope that that success will come again. However, "Hanzawa Naoki" was a rare hit in this era of low ratings which led to the high demand for its manju. Honestly, I don't think the manju will sell like hot cakes unless the drama is a runaway success. Having said that, it doesn't mean that you can't or shouldn't buy the manju. When I tried the Baegashi Manju in spring 2014, it tasted quite ordinary to me so I suppose people bought it for the sake of the drama's popularity rather than for its taste. It's a nice memento to buy back if you like the drama but don't expect too much of the taste. "Gomen ne Seishun" seems to be the hotly-promoted drama in the Autumn season with a pretty extensive range of manju, towels, plastic folders, stationery bags and handphone accessories. I don't know if you can still find these by this time though. Comparatively, "N no tame ni" only had two items i.e. the novel by Minato Kanae and handphone accessories on display.

As for the "older" dramas, "SPEC" and "Mozu" have a wider range of items available such as stationery and accessories compared to the other titles. However, the items from "SPEC" aren't entirely from the drama series but from the movies. I bought a plastic folder from the "SPEC" series which had pictures of Toda Erika and Kase Ryo. As for "Mozu", due to the fact that there's a movie version to be made, that is probably why you can still see the drama's items in the store. However, for items which bore pictures other than the drama's logo, you will notice that the image of Nishijima Hidetoshi is printed there rather than those of his co-stars Kagawa Teruyuki and Maki Yoko. This speaks volumes of his popularity and the fact that his face could probably attract female fans to buy those items. One interesting item I found from the older dramas was the prepacked curry from "Kazokugari" which I suppose should be a pun on its name and herb rouge tea from the same drama. TBS seems to be quite keen on developing food items for its drama merchandise.

If you are looking for items from the following dramas which I've not mentioned above, you may also wish to give this shop a visit. Just note that by this time or when you visit, the range of items may have changed again though:
- Roosevelt Game
- S Saigo no Keisatsukan
- Pintokona
- Clover (movie)

Top 10 highest-rated single episode ratings for dramas shown in the first half of 2014 (Oricon)

1) Gochisousan - NHK - 13 March 2014 (Episode 136) - 25.3%

2) Hanako to Anne - NHK - 9 May 2014 / 26 May 2014 (Episodes 35 and 49) - 24.8%

3) Aibou New Year SP & Aibou season 12 2-hour finale SP - TV Asahi - 1st Jan 2014 / 19 Mar 2014 - 19.6%

4) Gunshi Kanbee - NHK - 5 Jan 2014 - Episode 1 - 18.9%
S Saigo no Keisatsukan - TBS - 12 Jan 2014 - Episode 1 - 18.9%

6) Hanasaki Mai ga damatte inai - NTV - 18 Jun 2014 - Final Episode - 18.3%

7) Roosevelt Game - TBS - 22 Jun 2014 - Final Episode - 17.6%

8) Kaseifu wa Mita! - TV Asahi - 2 Mar 2014 - 17.4%

9) BORDER - TV Asahi - 22 May 2014 - Episode 7 - 16.7%

10) Kinkyuu Toshirabeshitsu - TV Asahi - 23 Jan 2014 - Episode 3 - 16.1%
Specialist 2 - TV Asahi - 8 Mar 2014 - 16.1%

Source: Oricon

Odagiri Jo to play a terrorist in the drama and movie versions of "S - Saigo no Keisatsukan"

Odagiri Jo will be taking on the role of an international terrorist for the first time in the ongoing TBS Winter 2014 drama "S - Saigo no Keisatsukan" and its upcoming movie version to be shown next year. His character Masaki Keigo is an intelligent but crazy terrorist who describes his occupation as a professional destroyer. He will make his appearance from the 3rd episode onwards (26 January) and be the biggest enemy facing the leads Kamikura and Soga played respectively by Mukai Osamu and Ayano Go.

Source: Sanspo

Production press conference of "S - Saigo no Keisatsukan"; movie sequel announcement also made

The production press conference and screening of TBS Winter 2014 drama "S - Saigo no Keisatsukan" was held in Tokyo which was attended by the cast Mukai Osamu, Ayano Go, Oomori Nao, Fukiishi Kazue and Ikeuchi Hiroyuki. The drama begins its run from 12 January at 9pm on Sundays. It was also announced during the event that there will be a movie sequel made and shown next year even though the drama hasn't even begun its run and this is the first attempt by TBS. Mukai revealed that in order to look the role of a special forces member, he has been going to the gym since September and even quit smoking. However, his co-star Ayano teased him that he is going to end his no-smoking period soon to which Mukai replied that maybe he can last till the filming of the drama ends.

Source: Sponichi

Preview of "S - Saigo no Keisatsukan" - Winter 2014

Title: S - Saigo no Keisatsukan
Official website: here
Official Twitter page: here
O.A. Start Date: 12 January 2014
Timeslot: Sundays 8.54pm
Broadcast by: TBS
Original manga by: Komori Youichi and Toudou Yutaka
Theme song: Boku wa Pegasus Kimi wa Polaris by MISIA
Cast: Mukai Osamu, Ayano Go, Fukiishi Kazue, Ikeuchi Hiroyuki, Hirayama Hiroyuki, Takahashi Tsutomu, Hirayama Yusuke、Motomiya Yasukaze, Fuchikami Yasushi, Fuse Eri, Asakura Erika, Asaka Mayumi, Sugawara Daikichi, Kondo Masaomi, Omori Nao, Tsuchiya Anna

MISIA to sing the theme song for TBS Winter 2014 drama "S - Saigo no Keisatsukan"

MISIA will be singing the theme song for TBS Winter 2014 drama "S - Saigo no Keisatsukan" starring Mukai Osamu which begins its run from 12 January 2014 in the Sundays 9pm timeslot. The song titled "Boku wa Pegasus Kimi wa Polaris" is due to be released as MISIA's 30th single on 5th February. MISIA commented that she wrote the lyrics after reading the script of the drama which tries to discuss what true strength is and how people's hopes and deep love can be conveyed to others.

Source: Sanspo

Mukai Osamu and Ayano Go to star in TBS Winter 2014 drama "S - Saigo no Keisatsukan"

Mukai Osamu will be starring in the TBS Winter 2014 drama "S - Saigo no Keisatsukan" which will begin its run from January 2014 and will work with Ayano Go for the first time in this drama based on the same-titled manga. Mukai plays the role of Kamikura Ichigo, a retired pro boxer who joins the National Police Agency's Special Assault Team (SAT) as a sergeant. Kamikura boasts of great physical abilities and uses his bare punches to overcome the criminals. On the other hand, Ayano plays the role of Soga Iori who is the No.1 sniper in SAT and is cool, can concentrate well and has great observation skills. Being pole opposites, Kamikura and Soga will be at loggerheads in the drama.

Mukai commented that as this is his first police officer role and that he has many action scenes, he has been going to the gym to learn boxing in preparation for his role. He expressed hope that this drama will be as popular as the current season's hit "Hanzawa Naoki" which is talked about widely in schools and companies on the day after each episode's broadcast. As for Ayano, he said that Soga is a truly attractive role and feels that this character will probably bring some effects to himself even after it ends. As Mukai and Ayano are of the same age, they both expressed anticipation at being able to work together for the next few months.

Source: Dogatch