New dramas showing on Waku Waku Japan from October 2017

Sorry for posting this rather late but here are the new dramas showing on Waku Waku Japan from this month including some in-season offerings. Note that all dates and times are based on Singapore's timezone so please check the Waku Waku Japan website for the other regions where the TV channel is also shown in:

"Kodoku no Gurume Season 6" & "Tsuribaka nisshi Shinnyuu shain Hamasaki Densuke" to have first collaboration project

TV Tokyo's Spring 2017 dramas "Kodoku no Gurume Season 6" and "Tsuribaka nisshi Shinnyuu shain Hamasaki Densuke" will be having their first collaboration project where the cast members will appear in each other's dramas. In the 5th May episode of "Kodoku no Gurume" Hamada Gaku who plays Hamasaki Densuke, will be making a guest appearance to have revolving belt sushi with Goro-san (Matsushige Yutaka). Likewise, Matsushige will do the same in the 26th May episode of "Tsuribaka nisshi" where he goes to the restaurant operated by Hirose Arisu and eats with Hamada and Nishida Toshiyuki's characters.

Hamada commented that he is very happy to be able to appear in "Kodoku no Gurume" as Hamasaki Densuke and that Matsushige had been very gentle and accommodating towards him. On the other hand, Matsushige said that this is the first time that he is appearing in another drama as Goro-san who usually moves around on his own, he is excited about interacting with other people this time.

Sources: Oricon / Sanspo

Preview of "Tsuri baka nisshi Shinnyuu shain Hamasaki Densuke" (Drama SP)

Title: Tsuri baka nisshi Shinnyuu shain Hamasaki Densuke 釣りバカ日誌新入社員浜崎伝助 (Fishing enthusiast diary Newbie employee Hamasaki Densuke)
Official website: here
Official Twitter page: here
Official Facebook page: here
O.A. Start Date: 2 January 2017, 9pm
Broadcast by: TV Tokyo
Original manga by: Yamasaki Juuzo / Kitami Kenichi
Cast: Hamada Gaku, Nishida Toshiyuki, Hirose Arisu, Atsushi, Fukikoshi Mitsuru, Tanabe Momoko, Kitarou, Sakakibara Ikue, Ibu Masato etc.

Higa Manami to appear in TV Tokyo New Year drama SP "Tsuri baka nisshi Shinnyuu shain Hamasaki Densuke"

Higa Manami will be appearing in the upcoming TV Tokyo drama SP "Tsuri baka nisshi Shinnyuu shain Hamasaki Densuke" which will be shown during New Year 2017. She will play the role of Yajima Aki who Hama-chan (Hamada Gaku) used to like when he was a student and is the daughter of a family operating boat trips who has a son. As this is the first time that Higa will be playing a mother, she commented that she is prepared for such a role to come her way anytime so she views this as a welcome challenge in her career.

Besides Hamada, Nishida Toshiyuki, Hirose Arisu and Fukikoshi Mitsuru who had been announced earlier to be part of the cast, Aki's husband Yajima Kenji will be played by Arakawa Yoshiyoshi while Aki's father Iwata Genzo will be played by Ogura Hisahiro. Takeuchi Riki will also be appearing in the drama.

As part of the filming, Higa visited Ise Shima for the first time  and said that the atmosphere here felt different from her hometown in Okinawa. Since this is a port town, it offers a brilliant view of the sea and there are lots of delicious seafood such as sea bream which are available here.

Source: Oricon

Hamada Gaku to star in TV Tokyo drama SP "Tsuri baka nisshi Shinnyuu shain Hamasaki Densuke"

Hamada Gaku will be starring in the TV Tokyo drama SP "Tsuri baka nisshi Shinnyuu shain Hamasaki Densuke" which continues from the same-titled drama series shown last year. The drama SP whose broadcast date has not been confirmed yet, will be set in Ise Shima in Mie Prefecture and the first in the drama version to be shot there. Filming is currently in progress.

Hamada commented that he is having fun with the fishing scenes and hope to be able to produce something which will be as good as the original manga and movie versions. In this SP, Hamada will reprise his role as the salaryman Hamasaki Densuke who is obsessed with fishing and working in his company for the second year, Most of the staff and cast will be the same as the drama series so he is happy to be working with them again. Hamada also expressed how much he was in awe of Nishida Toshiyuki's combination with the late Mikuni Rentaro and revealed that before the filming started, he and Nishida practised their lines together and he was glad that it didn't take them too long to regain their chemistry. While in Shima for the filming, Hamada revealed that the local fishermen and residents were very supportive of them. In addition, they had night drinking sessions and he was especially happy to be drinking with Nishida and the staff.

As for Nishida who returned to work in June after undergoing surgery for cervical subluxation and cholecystitis and recuperating for four months, he thought that he could not recover in time for the filming. During his hospitalisation stay, Hamada came to visit him which provided him with a lot of emotional strength so he is especially glad to be able to make it for the filming in good condition.

Co-stars in this SP include Hirose Arisu and Fukikoshi Mitsuru.

Source: Oricon