The 94th Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2017) - Best Theme Song

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Wakai Hiroba - Kuwata Keisuke (Hiyokko)
2) HANABI - Mr.Children (Code Blue THE THIRD SEASON)
3) Family Song - Hoshino Gen (Kahogo no Kahoko)

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) HANABI - Mr.Children (Code Blue THE THIRD SEASON)
2) Are You There? - A.Y.T. (Koshoku Robot)
3) Family Song - Hoshino Gen (Kahogo no Kahoko)
4) Kiseki no Hito - Kanjani 8 (Uchi no otto wa shigoto ga dekinai)
5) Bokutachi ga yarimashita - DISH// (Bokutachi ga yarimashita)

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Family Song - Hoshino Gen (Kahogo no Kahoko)
2) Wakai Hiroba - Kuwata Keisuke (Hiyokko)
3) Forevermore - Utada Hikaru (Gomen, Aishiteru)
4) HANABI - Mr.Children (Code Blue THE THIRD SEASON)
5) Yumemakase - "SOIL&""PIMP""SESSIONS feat. Yojiro Noda (Hello Harinezumi) / Bokutachi ga yarimashita - DISH// (Bokutachi ga yarimashita)

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Wakai Hiroba - Kuwata Keisuke (Hiyokko)
2) Bojou - Nakajima Miyuki (Yasuragi no Sato)
3) Yumemakase - "SOIL&""PIMP""SESSIONS feat. Yojiro Noda (Hello Harinezumi)
4) Family Song - Hoshino Gen (Kahogo no Kahoko) / Forevermore - Utada Hikaru (Gomen, Aishiteru)
6) HANABI - Mr.Children (Code Blue THE THIRD SEASON) / Papa Mama Song - Yusuke Santa Maria, Hirao Nanaka, Kadowaki Mugi, Ishida Nicole, Ando Tamae & Okamoto Kenichi (Ecchan) / TAKE MY HAND - Yoru no honki dansu (Seshiru no Mokuromi)

Source: The Televison

Spin-off drama of FujiTV Summer 2017 drama "Seshiru no Mokuromi" to be shown from 26 July

The spin-off drama of FujiTV Summer 2017 drama "Seshiru no Mokuromi" will be shown via the TV channel and FujiTV-on-demand (FOD) from 26 July. The drama titled "Seshiru Boys" (CECILE BOYS) consists of 5 episodes and is positioned as the male version of the main drama starring Maki Youko.

The leads of the spin-off drama will feature the 5 handsome and young models of VANITY's brother magazine MEN'S VANITY played by Nakata Keisuke, Endo Fumiya, Mizuishi Atomu, Inoue Shota and Miyazawa Hio as their daily lives are presented in a comedic documentary style. The broadcast schedule of the spin-off drama is as follows:

Via FujiTV
Ep 1 - 26 July at 3.05am
Ep 2 - 2 Aug at 3.05am
Ep 3 - 9 Aug at 2.55am
Ep 4 - 16 Aug at 2.55am
Ep 5 - 23 Aug at 3.40am

Via FOD
All episodes to be available for viewing until 20 September
Ep 1 - from 26 July
Ep 2 - from 2 Aug
Ep 3 - from 9 Aug
Ep 4 - from 16 Aug
Ep 5 - from 23 Aug

Source: Oricon

Fujisawa Ema announces her impending marriage on 21 August

Fujisawa Ema will be marrying her boyfriend who is 3 years older than her on 21 August as reported in the media on 17 July. The couple reportedly met 15 years ago when Fujisawa came to Tokyo from her hometown in Kagawa to attend Sophia University and joined the school's tennis club. Her boyfriend was her senior then and had taken care of her since she was new to the city. However, as Fujisawa won the Grand Prix in the model audition of fashion magazine "non-no" in her first year at university, she became so busy juggling studies and work that they didn't date as a couple. Nonetheless, her boyfriend still sent her emails every year on her birthday and always showed her concern. When Fujisawa went to Los Angeles for language studies in 2009, he also visited her there when he was on a business trip. 3 years ago, he asked her to be her girlfriend but she asked for time to consider and it was only until 21 August last year when she finally agreed. He then proposed to her on her birthday last year i.e. 26 December. The wedding ceremony is expected to be held in autumn this year after their marriage registration in August.

Fujisawa said that as the relationship between her and her boyfriend had been that of a senior and junior for a long time, it took some time for them to get closer and he had waited so long for her because she is the type to take her own sweet time. She also revealed that she had informed Kagawa Teruyuki and Katahira Nagisa who played her parents in the 2004 NHK morning drama "Tenka" and they were so happy for her that they cried.

As Fujisawa is currently filming the FujiTV Summer 2017 drama "Seshiru no Mokuromi", her co-stars including Maki Youko, Ito Ayumi and Itaya Yuka held a celebration for her on 16 July when they presented her with flowers and a tiara. She thanked everyone for the celebration and said that this was an unforgettable surprise.

Sources: Nikkansports / Sanspo

Preview of "Seshiru no Mokuromi" - Summer 2017

Title: Seshiru no Mokuromi セシルのもくろみ (Cecile's Plot)
Official website: here
Official Instagram: here
Official Twitter: here
O.A. Start Date: 13 July 2017
Timeslot: Thursdays 10pm
Broadcast by: FujiTV
Original novel by: Yuikawa Kei
Theme song: "TAKE MY HAND" by Yoru no honki dansu
Cast: Maki Youko, Kichise Michiko, Ito Ayumi, Kaneko Nobuaki, Ono Yuriko, Majima Hidekazu, Ishibashi Kei, Ito Shuko, Sato Eriko, Fujisawa Ema, Hasegawa Kyoko, Tokui Yoshimi, Uno Shohei, Sato Ruiki, Kato Masato, Itaya Yuka, Lily Franky

Production press conference of FujiTV Summer 2017 drama "Seshiru no Mokuromi"

The production press conference of FujiTV Summer 2017 drama "Seshiru no Mokuromi" (Cecile's Plot) was held on 2 July which was attended by cast members Maki Youko, Ito Ayumi, Kichise Michiko, Itaya Yuka and Hasegawa Kyoko. The drama which is based on the same-titled novel by Yuikawa Kei, marks Maki's first leading role in a drama in 2 years. The name Cecile in the title comes from the French novel Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan where a young girl with good looks plots something sinister as she grapples with the struggles and troubles of being a woman.

The story features Maki as the lead character Nao who is a housewife and has not been paying much attention to her appearance for a long time as she is caught up with taking care of her husband and son who is in the first year of junior high school. By chance, she is scouted to become a readers' model by a fashion magazine Vanity where she comes face to face with jealousy, the need to keep up appearances and rivalry in this industry. Through her interaction with various women in different life situations, she undergoes a transformation both externally and psychologically. Co-stars include Kichise Michiko who plays Hamaguchi Yukako, the No.1 charismatic model grappling with loneliness, Ito Ayumi who is Okita Eri, a single freelance writer worried about her future and is the one who scouted Nao as well as Itaya Yuka who plays the chief editor of Vanity named Kurosawa Junko and Hasegawa Kyoko as Yasunaga Maiko who used to be the No.2 model at Vanity and is a commentator appearing on TV programmes now.

When asked about her thoughts about her character Nao, Maki revealed that she could identify with the views of Nao who is portrayed as someone who loves her family very much. In response to the question on when she feels happy in her private life, Maki said that upon seeing the family members she loves being happy, she will also feel the same. As such, she suggested changing one of the lines Nao said in the first episode to reflect this view in a clearer way.

In response to the drama's title, the cast were also asked about their "plots" for this summer. Kichise said that she would like to work on building her ab muscles especially after seeing Maki's abs during the poster shooting. Even though they both are mothers, Kichise was so impressed by Maki's abs that she wants to examine how to go about achieving the same effect. However, Maki said that she hasn't done anything special and attributed this to her being in the athletics team when she was in junior high so she has had well-defined ab muscles since then.

Itaya then said that she would like to devote her full effort to this drama after Maki told them during the script-reading session to follow her lead this summer. Although Itaya was impressed with Maki's words and how she behaved like a manly woman, Maki herself seemed to have forgotten what she said then. On the other hand, Hasegawa said that she would like to become a yoga instructor and aim to achieve the headstand pose in a beautiful manner.

Sources: Nikkansports / Sanspo / Yomiuri Hochi / Sponichi / Oricon

Yoru no Honki Dance to sing the theme song for FujiTV Summer 2017 drama "Seshiru no Mokuromi"

Rock band Yoru no Honki Dance will be singing the theme song for FujiTV Summer 2017 drama "Seshiru no Mokuromi" starring Maki Youko which will begin its run from 13 July in the Thursdays 10pm timeslot. The song titled "TAKE MY HAND" will be released on 9 August.

The drama which is based on the same-titled novel by Yuikawa Kei, marks Maki's first leading role in a drama in 2 years. The name Cecile in the title comes from the French novel Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan where a young girl with good looks plots something sinister as she grapples with the struggles and troubles of being a woman.

The story features Maki as the lead character Nao who is a housewife and has not been paying much attention to her appearance for a long time as she is caught up with taking care of her husband and son who is in the first year of junior high school. By chance, she is scouted to become a readers' model by a fashion magazine Vanity where she comes face to face with jealousy, the need to keep up appearances and rivalry in this industry. Through her interaction with various women in different life situations, she undergoes a transformation both externally and psychologically. Co-stars include Kichise Michiko who plays Hamaguchi Yukako, the No.1 charismatic model grappling with loneliness, Ito Ayumi who is Okita Eri, a single freelance writer worried about her future and is the one who scouted Nao as well as Itaya Yuka who plays the chief editor of Vanity named Kurosawa Junko and Hasegawa Kyoko as Yasunaga Maiko who used to be the No.2 model at Vanity and is a commentator appearing on TV programmes now.

Yoru no Honki Dance is a four-member band from Kyoto which was formed in 2008 and made its major debut in March 2016. This will be the first time that the band is singing a theme song for a drama series. The aggressive rock song was inspired by the drama's content. The band commented that it is honoured and surprised to be given the chance to sing the theme song and are looking forward to their song being played to the public when the drama airs.

Sources: Sanspo / Yomiuri Hochi

Maki Youko to star in new FujiTV Summer 2017 drama "Seshiru no Mokuromi"

Maki Youko will be starring in the new FujiTV Summer 2017 drama "Seshiru no Mokuromi" (Cecile's Plot) which will begin its run from July in the Thursdays 10pm timeslot. The drama which is based on the same-titled novel by Yuikawa Kei, marks Maki's first leading role in a drama in 2 years. The name Cecile in the title comes from the French novel Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan where a young girl with good looks plots something sinister as she grapples with the struggles and troubles of being a woman.

The story features Maki as the lead character Nao who is a housewife and has not been paying much attention to her appearance for a long time as she is caught up with taking care of her husband and son who is in the first year of junior high school. By chance, she is scouted to become a readers' model by a fashion magazine Vanity where she comes face to face with jealousy, the need to keep up appearances and rivalry in this industry. Through her interaction with various women in different life situations, she undergoes a transformation both externally and psychologically. Co-stars include Kichise Michiko who plays Hamaguchi Yukako, the No.1 charismatic model grappling with loneliness, Ito Ayumi who is Okita Eri, a single freelance writer worried about her future and is the one who scouted Nao as well as Itaya Yuka who plays the chief editor of Vanity named Kurosawa Junko and Hasegawa Kyoko as Yasunaga Maiko who used to be the No.2 model at Vanity and is a commentator appearing on TV programmes now.

Maki who has a 8-year-old daughter in real-life, said that she can identify with the challenges faced by working mothers but hopes that she will be able to show via this drama that the people who look like they are living a good life stick to their own principles and live by their own means in different ways.

Sources: Sanspo / Nikkansports / Yomiuri Hochi / Oricon