Monday, May 15, 2017

First-day-screening event of new movie "Sakurada Reset Kouhen"

The first-day-screening event of new movie "Sakurada Reset Kouhen" was held at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills on 13 May which was attended by the director Fukagawa Yoshihiro and cast members Nomura Shuhei, Kuroshima Yuina, Taira Yuna, Tamashiro Tina, Tsunematsu Yuri, Yoshizawa Hisashi, Kentaro and Maruyama Tomomi. The sequel continues from the first movie shown in March.

With regard to the likelihood of doing another sequel, Nomura revealed that he was not keen on the idea as he had too many lines due to his character's special power of maintaining memories and had to do a lot of explanations. In total, he had 230 pages of lines in the scripts for both movies. However, if the box office takings for the movies cross the JPY 30 billion mark which is very challenging, Nomura said that they might do another sequel and will show it in Hollywood next time which led the audience to laugh. Despite the challenge this time, Nomura said that he still enjoyed starring in his first two-part movie and doing all the promotional appearances in printed media and on TV.

At the beginning of the filming period, the cast members were quite shy in front of one another so the atmosphere on the set wasn't that cheerful. Nomura remarked that it seemed like junior actors these days tend not take the initiative to speak if their seniors do not take the first step but Kentaro said that he found it hard to talk to Nomura who behaves like a delinquent at times. Upon hearing this, Nomura said that this must be when he was feeling sleepy and told Kentaro not to talk to him when he is in this state.

As part of a surprise event, the cast members prepared letters addressed to Nomura where they expressed thanks to him for his leadership on the set. After hearing these, Nomura stressed that he would not cry on stage and is the type to hide at home to cry. When Kentaro teased Nomura for having tears brimming in his eyes, Nomura tried to hide his embarrassment and said that he just wants to go home quickly to take care of his pet dog.

Sources: Oricon / Eiga.com

Friday, May 12, 2017

Top 10 Spring 2017 dramas with the highest satisfaction rating up to 2 May 2017 (Oricon)

Oricon conducts a survey on a pool of 690 monitor researchers nationwide after the broadcast of each drama episode where the respondents are asked to rate the episodes based on criteria such as the drama itself, lead actors/actresses, supporting cast, image quality, lines, music, artistic direction, story direction, time spent watching the episode, how much it is talked about on Twitter. The maximum points achievable is 100 and the results in brackets below indicate the average score based on the episodes shown up to 2 May 2017:

1) CRISIS Kouan Kido Sousatai Tokusouhan (87.8)

2) Kodoku no Gurume Season 6 (87.3)

3) Kinkyuu Torishirabeshitsu 2 (84.5)

4) Reverse (82.7)

5) Boku, Unmei no hito desu (81)

6) Chiisana Kyojin (69.3)

7) Tsuribaka Nisshi Season 2 Shinnyuu Shain Hamasaki Densuke (69)

8) Haha ni naru (66.7)

9) Frankenstein no Koi (63.5)

10) Onna Joushu Naotora (61.5)

Source: Oricon

Watanabe Naomi to star in new TBS Summer 2017 drama "Kanna-san!"

Watanabe Naomi will be starring in the new TBS Summer 2017 drama "Kanna-san!" which will begin its run from July in the Tuesdays 10pm timeslot. This is the first time she is taking on a leading role in a primetime slot drama.

The drama is based on the same-titled manga by Fukaya Kahoru serialised in manga magazine "YOU" between 2001 and 2007 and features Watanabe as a fashion designer Kanna. Although she has a handsome husband Rei, Kanna discovers that he is having an affair and she also has to cope with her difficult mother-in-law. At work, she is bullied by her unreasonable boss. Despite these daily challenges in life, Kanna tries her best to live positively for the sake of her beloved son Reon.

Watanabe commented that she was surprised to see how Kanna looked so much like herself when she read the manga especially how the latter does not let her physical appearance stand in the way of her desire to become fashionable and live her desired lifestyle. This made her wonder if the author created the story with her in mind. However, Watanabe said that Kanna probably packs 5 times more power than she actually has so she will try her best to play this character well.

Sources: Sponichi / Oricon / Eiga.com

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Completion screening event & fan meeting of new movie "Hirugao"

The completion screening event and fan meeting of new movie "Hirugao" was held at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills on 11 May which was attended by the director Nishitani Hiroshi and cast members Ueto Aya, Saito Takumi, Ito Ayumi and Hirayama Hiroyuki. The movie will be shown in cinemas from 10 June.

The film is set at 3 years after the end of the drama where Kinoshita Sawa (Ueto) and Kitano Yuichiro (Saito) meet by chance at a seaside town and begin their forbidden love affair again. Ito plays Kitano's wife Noriko while Hirayama plays the owner of the restaurant where Sawa works at.

When asked if there was any memorable incident during the filming, Saito revealed that they opened a "temporary shop" named Barber Ueto where he was responsible for doing the hairdos of the female staff members while Ueto did the make-up for them. Ueto explained that due to the tight filming schedule, the staff members did not have much time to sleep thus affecting their complexion and their fringes being long enough to cover their eyes. As such, they decided to hold this impromptu doll-up session for them. However, Saito said that all he knew was to apply curls on both the men and women so everyone ended up looking like THE ALFEE's Takamizawa Toshihiko.

Everyone also took turns to relate how Saito was very nice to everyone. For example, Ueto who was with Saito during their trip to Italy for the international premiere of the movie, asked him to buy her a pair of earrings when they were filming a TV programme. Saito thought that it was not nice to reject her request since they were filming and he assumed that the programme's budget would take care of the cost of the earrings but found out that it was the contrary so he had to pay out of his own pocket. Nonetheless, he was pleased that Ueto liked the earrings very much so he didn't mind having to pay for it.

Ueto revealed that she had already given her all during the drama and didn't expect that there would be a sequel even though she had been approached several times to do it. However, she wasn't in the right mode to play Sawa again and the timing wasn't suitable for her so it took about 3 years before the sequel finally materialised. On the first day of filming where they had to shoot a scene of Sawa attending Kitano's presentation, the moment she heard his voice made her slide into the role seamlessly. As such, she expressed thanks to the production staff who never gave up despite these factors and persevered with making this movie.

During the fan meeting, 500 people were selected to take part in this on the condition that they posted the photos they took onto social media platforms. As such, the fans could take an unlimited amount of photos of the cast who appeared with beaming smiles. In the Q & A session from fans, the cast were asked if they were doing anything which they felt that they had to stop doing but couldn't resist doing. Ueto said that she is so obsessed with shopping on the Internet and would spend about 2 hours in bed doing that after tucking her child to bed. She also revealed that Saito bought a cute elephant ring online which he admitted sheepishly that it only cost him 523 yen.

Sources: Eiga.com 1 / Eiga.com 2 / Oricon 1 /  Oricon 2

Supporting cast line-up of new movie "Sanposuru Shinryakusha" announced

The supporting cast line-up of new movie "Sanposuru Shinryakusha" starring Nagasawa Masami & Matsuda Ryuhei has been announced. The movie is adapted by the director Kurosawa Kiyoshi from the same-titled 2015 stage play from theatre group Ikiume. Matsuda plays the role of Kase Shinji who has the habit of going on daily walks every evening but disappears without a trace for a few days. When he returns home, it is as if he has become an entirely different person which makes his wife Narumi shocked at his changes especially when he becomes very gentle and nice to her. Suddenly, Shinji tells Narumi that there will be an attack on Earth which is then followed by a series of strange happenings such as the mass killing of a family in the town they live in and the happening of weird events that disrupts the peaceful life they once had. Hasegawa Hiroki plays the role of a journalist Sakurai who follows the "invader" around as part of his job.

Maeda Atsuko will play Narumi's younger sister Asumi while Mitsushima Shinnosuke will be a hikkikomori young man Nanao who Shinji encounters while on his daily walks. Higashide Masahiro plays a pastor who Shinji meets while Unjash's Kojima Kazuya plays a police detective Kurumada investigating the mass killing case. Mitsuishi Ken plays Suzuki, the president of a company which has business dealings with Narumi, Koizumi Kyoko plays a doctor and Sasano Takashi plays a mysterious man Shinagawa.

The movie will be shown in cinemas from 9 September.

Source: Eiga.com

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

The 92nd Drama Academy Awards (Winter 2017) - Best Theme Song

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Otona no Okite - Doughnuts Hole (Quartet)
2) TOKYO GIRL - Perfume (Tokyo Tarareba Musume)
3) Hikari no Atorie - Mr. Children (Beppin-san)

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Otona no Okite - Doughnuts Hole (Quartet)
2) Still Alive - B'z (A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~)
3) TOKYO GIRL - Perfume (Tokyo Tarareba Musume)
4) Hikari no Atorie - Mr. Children (Beppin-san)
5) HAPPY - Sandaime J Soul Brothers (Super Salaryman Saenai-shi)

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Otona no Okite - Doughnuts Hole (Quartet)
2) TOKYO GIRL - Perfume (Tokyo Tarareba Musume)
3) Hikari no Atorie - Mr. Children (Beppin-san)
4) Iden - Saito Kazuyoshi (Gekokujou Juken)
5) Hitorisekai - 10-FEET (Byplayers) / MAGIC - AAA (Ubai Ai, Fuyu)

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Otona no Okite - Doughnuts Hole (Quartet)
2) Hikari no Atorie - Mr. Children (Beppin-san)
3) TOKYO GIRL - Perfume (Tokyo Tarareba Musume) / Forever Young - Takehara Pistol (Byplayers)
5) Still Alive - B'z (A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~) / Yume no naka e by Inoue Yosui (Shikaku Tantei Higurashi Tabito)

Source: The Televison

The 92nd Drama Academy Awards (Winter 2017) - Best Supporting Actress

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Yoshioka Riho - Quartet
2) Mizuno Miki - Ubai Ai, Fuyu
3) Kimura Fumino - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Oshima Yuko - Tokyo Tarareba Musume
2) Kimura Fumino - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
3) Yoshioka Riho - Quartet
4) Yamamoto Mizuki - Uso no Sensou
5) Mizuhara Kiko - Uso no Sensou

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Mizuno Miki - Ubai Ai, Fuyu
2) Yoshioka Riho - Quartet
3) Koizumi Kyoko - Super Salaryman Saenai-shi
4) Kimura Fumino - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
5) Saito Yuki - Okaasan, Musume wo yamete ii desuka? / Takeuchi Yuko - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Mizuno Miki - Ubai Ai, Fuyu / Kimura Fumino - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
3) Yoshioka Riho - Quartet / Saito Yuki - Okaasan, Musume wo yamete ii desuka? / Fukada Kyoko - Gekokujou Juken

Source: The Televison

The 92nd Drama Academy Awards (Winter 2017) - Best Supporting Actor

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Asano Tadanobu - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
2) Matsuyama Kenichi - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
3) Kudo Kankuro - Quartet

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Matsuyama Kenichi - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
2) Fujiki Naohito - Uso no Sensou
3) Kudo Kankuro - Quartet
4) Sakaguchi Kentaro - Tokyo Tarareba Musume / Yasuda Ken - Uso no Sensou

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Sakaguchi Kentaro - Tokyo Tarareba Musume
2) Asano Tadanobu - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
3) Kudo Kankuro - Quartet
4) Miura Shohei - Ubai Ai, Fuyu / Muro Tsuyoshi - Super Salaryman Saenai-shi / Lily Frankie - Gin to Kin

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Asano Tadanobu - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
2) Matsuyama Kenichi - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
3) Kudo Kankuro - Quartet
4) Sakaguchi Kentaro - Tokyo Tarareba Musume
5) Miura Shohei - Ubai Ai, Fuyu / Fujiki Naohito - Uso no Sensou / Yagira Yuuya - Okaasan, Musume wo yamete ii desuka?

Source: The Televison

The 92nd Drama Academy Awards (Winter 2017) - Best Leading Actress

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Matsu Takako - Quartet
2) Mitsushima Hikari - Quartet
3) Yoshitaka Yuriko - Tokyo Tarareba Musume

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Matsu Takako - Quartet
2) Mitsushima Hikari - Quartet
3) Yoshitaka Yuriko - Tokyo Tarareba Musume
4) Ayase Haruka - Seirei no Moribito
5) Yoshine Kyoko - Beppin-san

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Matsu Takako - Quartet
2) Mitsushima Hikari - Quartet
3) Yoshitaka Yuriko - Tokyo Tarareba Musume
4) Yoshine Kyoko - Beppin-san
5) Ayase Haruka - Seirei no Moribito

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Mitsushima Hikari - Quartet
2) Matsu Takako - Quartet
3) Yoshitaka Yuriko - Tokyo Tarareba Musume
4) Ayase Haruka - Seirei no Moribito
5) Tanaka Rena - Mahiru no Akuma

The 92nd Drama Academy Awards (Winter 2017) - Best Leading Actor

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Kusanagi Tsuyoshi - Uso no Sensou
2) Takahashi Issei - Quartet
3) Kimura Takuya - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Kusanagi Tsuyoshi - Uso no Sensou
2) Kimura Takuya - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
3) Takahashi Issei - Quartet
4) Matsuzaka Toori - Shikaku Tantei Higurashi Tabito
5) Tsutsumi Shinichi - Super Salaryman Saenai-shi

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Takahashi Issei - Quartet
2) Kusanagi Tsuyoshi - Uso no Sensou
3) Kimura Takuya - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
4) Matsuda Ryuhei - Quartet
5) Tsutsumi Shinichi - Super Salaryman Saenai-shi

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Kusanagi Tsuyoshi - Uso no Sensou
2) Kimura Takuya - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~
3) Takahashi Issei - Quartet / Matsuda Ryuhei - Quartet
5) Tsutsumi Shinichi - Super Salaryman Saenai-shi

Source: The Televison

The 92nd Drama Academy Awards (Winter 2017) - Best Drama

Overall Ranking Top 3
1) Quartet (TBS)
2) Uso no Sensou (FujiTV)
3) A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~ (TBS)

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Uso no Sensou (FujiTV)
2) Quartet (TBS)
3) A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~ (TBS)
4) Tokyo Tarareba Musume (NTV)
5) Super Salaryman Saenai-shi (NTV)

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Quartet (TBS)
2) Uso no Sensou (FujiTV)
3) Super Salaryman Saenai-shi (NTV)
4) Tokyo Tarareba Musume (NTV)  / Byplayers ~ Moshimo rokunin no meiwakiyaku ga sharehouse de kurashitara ~ (TV Tokyo) / Ubai Ai, Fuyu (TV Asahi)

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Quartet (TBS)
2) Uso no Sensou (FujiTV)
3) A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~ (TBS) / Byplayers ~ Moshimo rokunin no meiwakiyaku ga sharehouse de kurashitara ~ (TV Tokyo)
5) Tokyo Tarareba Musume (NTV)  / Super Salaryman Saenai-shi (NTV) / Gin to Kin (TV Tokyo)

Source: The Television

Completion screening event of new movie "Chotto ima kara shigoto yametekuru"

The completion screening event of new movie "Chotto ima kara shigoto yametekuru" was held at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills on 9 May which was attended by the director Narushima Izuru and cast members Fukushi Souta, Kudo Asuka, Kuroki Haru, Koike Eiko and Yoshida Kotaro. The movie will be shown in cinemas from 27 May and take part in the Shanghai International Film Festival which will be held between 17th and 26th June.

The story features Kudo in the role of Aoyama Takashi, a young man who has just started his first full-time job and is so stressed by the tough sales targets set by his company and power harassment that he wants to commit suicide by jumping onto a railway track. However, in the nick of time, he is saved by a mysterious man named Yamamoto (Fukushi) who is very cheerful for no apparent reason and keeps speaking Kansai-ben to him. Through their interaction, Aoyama starts to feel the positive energy from Yamamoto rub onto him and gradually sees an improvement in his career. One day, Aoyama is shocked to learn that Yamamoto actually died three years ago due to a suicide.

With regard to their first collaboration in this movie, Fukushi remarked that Kudo is a very energetic and sporty guy since they first met and his impression of the latter has not changed at all even though they know each other better now. On the other hand, Kudo said that he was in awe when he first saw Fukushi and realised why girls are all so besotted with him.

In line with the movie's theme, the cast were asked what they would like to quit doing. Fukushi said that he's very shy in front of strangers and people who he hardly knows as he has very little confidence in himself. When he is the lead actor in a production, he feels the responsibility to become a leader on the set so would try to approach others and strike up a conversation. Upon hearing this, his co-stars teased him that this must be the reason why Fukushi only takes leading roles which led him to clarify that this is not what he means.

Sources: Nikkansports / Yomiuri Hochi / Sponichi / Eiga.com

Supporting cast line-up of new movie "Tokyo Ghoul" announced

The supporting cast line-up in new movie "Tokyo Ghoul" starring Kubota Masataka has been announced. The six characters are those who appear in the cafe "Anteiku" which seems ordinary on the surface but is an assembly place where the Ghouls gather. The lead character Kaneki Ken (Kubota) is a regular customer at this cafe and becomes an employee there after becoming a half-Ghoul.

The manager of the cafe Yoshimura Kuzen will be played by Murai Kunio while Hamano Kenta will play Koma Enji and Sasaki Nozomi will play Irimi Kaya who are both employees at Anteiku. The character Yomo Renji will be played by Yanagi Shuntaro while Aida Shoko and Sakurada Hiyori will play mother and daughter Fueguchi Ryoko and Hinami.

The movie will be shown in cinemas from 29 July.

Sources: Eiga.com / Sponichi

Tuesday, May 09, 2017

Aibu Saki announces her first pregnancy

Aibu Saki announced through her Instagram page and a statement through her agency on 9 May that she is currently pregnant with her first child and due to give birth this autumn. She is expected to continue working for as long as her condition allows. In her statement, Aibu expressed her thanks to everyone around her for their understanding and asked for their continued support.

Aibu got married on 3 May last year to her husband who is 5 years older than her.

Sources: Sanspo / Yomiuri Hochi

Ayase Haruka & Sakaguchi Kentaro to star in new movie "Konya, Romance Gekijou de"

Ayase Haruka and Sakaguchi Kentaro will be joint leads in the new movie "Konya, Romance Gekijou de" (Tonight at the romance theatre) which is written by novelist and scriptwriter will be directed by Uyama Keisuke and directed by Takeuchi Hideki. Although Ayase and Sakaguchi had appeared in the movies "Umimachi diary" and "Kodaike no Hitobito" together before, they had no scenes together so this is their first official collaboration. The script was written with the two of them in mind before the offer was made to them. Filming began at the end of April and will wrap up by early June. The movie is scheduled to be shown in cinemas next year.

The fantasy love story features Sakaguchi as a young man named Kenji who dreams of becoming a movie director and Ayase as Miyuki, a "princess" who appears in monochrome movies and is the woman of Kenji's dreams. Although the two has no likelihood of meeting, Miyuki suddenly comes out from her monochrome world into the colourful current era and appears in front of Kenji which leads to them falling in love with each other. In the movie, Ayase who will be sporting an image similar to Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday", will be wearing at least 25 different outfits.

Sources: Sanspo / Oricon / Sponichi / Eiga.com

Monday, May 08, 2017

Top 10 movies box office ranking for the weekend of 6th & 7th May

Numbers in brackets indicate the number of cinemas showing the movie:

1) Beauty and the Beast (372)

2) Meitantei Conan Karakurenai no Love Letter (354)

3) The Fate of the Furious (355)

4) Tsuioku (293)

5) Teiichi no Kuni (291)

6) Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Shuurai!! Uchujin Shiriri (349)

7) Last Cop THE MOVIE (284)

8) Mugen no Juunin (331)

9) SING (359)

10) Gekijouban FAIRY TAIL DRAGON CRY (101)

Source: Eiga.com

The 20th Nikkansports Drama Grand Prix for the 2016 fiscal year - Best Drama

Note that the 2016 fiscal year includes the Spring 2016, Summer 2016, Autumn 2016 and Winter 2017 seasons. Numbers presented below are in the following order: number of votes from women / number of votes from men / grand total. To see a breakdown of the votes by age groups, please visit the link provided at the end of this post.

Top 10 for the best drama:

1) Sekai ichi muzukashii koi (1619 + 60 = 1679)

2) 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi (888 + 80 = 968)

3) Uso no Sensou (199 + 59 = 258)

4) A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~ (181 + 51 = 232)

5) Nigeru wa haji daga yaku ni tatsu (71 + 148 = 219)

6) Sanadamaru (38 + 128 = 166)

7) Doctor X 4 ~ Gekai Daimon Michiko ~ (28 + 72 = 100)

8) Shihei - DEATH CASH - (53 + 29 = 82)

9) Aibou season 15 (8 + 63 = 71)

10) Toto Nee-chan (21 + 46 = 67)

Source: Nikkansports

The 20th Nikkansports Drama Grand Prix for the 2016 fiscal year - Best Supporting Actress

Note that the 2016 fiscal year includes the Spring 2016, Summer 2016, Autumn 2016 and Winter 2017 seasons. Numbers presented below are in the following order: number of votes from women / number of votes from men / grand total. To see a breakdown of the votes by age groups, please visit the link provided at the end of this post.

Top 10 for the best supporting actress category:

1) Koike Eiko - Sekai ichi muzukashii koi (1436 + 63 = 1499)

2) Eikura Nana - 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi (688 + 78 = 766)

3) Haru - Sekai ichi muzukashii koi (198 + 56 = 254)

4) Ishida Yuriko - Nigeru wa haji daga yaku ni tatsu (146 + 100 = 246)

5) Kimura Fumino - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~ (183 + 50 = 233)

6) Yamamoto Mizuki - Uso no Sensou (149 + 39 = 188)

7) Nagasawa Masami - Sanadamaru (38 + 101 = 139)

8) Kimura Yoshino - Boku no yabai tsuma (71 + 23 = 94)

9) Uchida Yuki - Doctor X ~ Gekai Daimon Michiko ~ (26 + 63 = 89)

10) Koizumi Kyoko - Super Salaryman Saenai-shi (31 + 48 = 79)

Source: Nikkansports

The 20th Nikkansports Drama Grand Prix for the 2016 fiscal year - Best Supporting Actor

Note that the 2016 fiscal year includes the Spring 2016, Summer 2016, Autumn 2016 and Winter 2017 seasons. Numbers presented below are in the following order: number of votes from women / number of votes from men / grand total. To see a breakdown of the votes by age groups, please visit the link provided at the end of this post.

Nikkansports is announcing the winners of one category daily so I will post the results progressively as they become available:

Top 10 for the best supporting actor category:

1) Kagawa Teruyuki - 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi (827 + 107 = 934)

2) Sugimoto Tetta - Sekai ichi muzukashii koi (706 + 30 = 736)

3) Hoshino Gen - Nigeru wa haji daga yaku ni tatsu (331 + 176 = 507)

4) Kotaki Nozomu - Sekai ichi muzukashii koi (433 + 16 = 449)

5) Kusakari Masao - Sanadamaru (85 + 127 = 212)

6) Matsuyama Kenichi - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~ (177 + 34 = 211)

7) Suda Masaki - Jimi ni sugoi! Kouetsu Girl Kouno Etsuko (89 + 24 = 113)

8) Sorimachi Takashi - Aibou season 15 (30 + 70 = 100)

9) Asano Tadanobu - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~ (62 + 33 = 95) / Ooizumi Yo - Sanadamaru (46 + 49 = 95)

Source: Nikkansports

Kato Ai makes her return to acting in FujiTV Spring 2017 drama "Kizoku Tantei"

Kato Ai will be making her return to acting in the 5th and 6th episodes of FujiTV Spring 2017 drama "Kizoku Tantei" which will be shown on 15th and 22nd May. This marks her first appearance in a drama in 3 years since she appeared in TBS drama "Dr. DMAT" in 2014 and gave birth to her first child in September 2015.

Kato will be playing Toyosato Satsuki, the granddaughter of Sakuragawa Takaaki (Ryu Raita) who is known as the "last fixer of Japan". In order to know the background of Kizoku Tantei (Aiba Masaki), Aika (Takei) pays a visit to Sakuragawa's residence where she is welcomed by Satsuki who is there to take part in a ceremony to choose a husband for Sakuragawa's granddaughter Yayoi (Kita Kana). During the ceremony, the last participant suddenly collapses and dies which leads to the beginning of a serial murder case.

Kato commented that when she first read the script, she had the impression that her character is a well-mannered and elegant lady but the producer said that Satsuki has a tomboy, curious and mischievous side too so she hopes to be able to show this through her acting. As for working with Aiba again since their last collaboration in the 2012 NTV drama "Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri", Kato said that Aiba is still the same relaxed and gentle guy she has known and that he is very suitable to play the character of Kizoku Tantei.

Sources: Sanspo / Oricon

Sunday, May 07, 2017

Nagai Masaru & Nakagoshi Noriko welcome the arrival of their first son

Nagai Masaru and Nakagoshi Noriko welcomed the arrival of their first son on 3 May as announced on her Instagram page on 7 May. Nakagoshi stated in her caption that their son was born at 10.45pm on 3 May and expressed her thanks to her family and friends for assisting her during her pregnancy and childbirth. Both mother and son are said to be doing well. Nakagoshi also mentioned that both she and her husband will work together to learn about parenthood and raise their child well and asked for everyone to continue supporting them. A photo of her baby son clutching her finger was attached to the statement.

Nagai and Nakagoshi started dating in 2010 after working together in a drama and announced their marriage in December 2014. Nakagoshi revealed her pregnancy through her Instagram page in December last year.

Source: Nikkansports / Sanspo

Saturday, May 06, 2017

First-day-screening event of new movie "Tsuioku"

The first-day-screening event of new movie "Tsuioku" was held at TOHO Cinemas Nichigeki on 6 May which was attended by the director Furuhata Yasuo, cameraman Kimura Daisaku and cast members Okada Junichi, Emoto Tasuku and Ando Sakura. The film marks the first collaboration between Furuhata and Kimura in 9 years and is their 16th joint production to date. It is scheduled to be screened during the 20th Shanghai International Film Festival between 17th and 26th June. As a sign of appreciation towards Furuhata and Kimura, Okada and his co-stars presented hats made by premium hat maker Toraya with the words "Tsuioku" embroidered to the two of them.

The movie which is based on an original story, is set in the Hokuriku region where three young boys reunite as adults through a murder case as the police officer investigating the case, the suspect and the victim. Okada plays the police officer in this movie while Oguri Shun plays the suspect in the case. The victim will be played by Emoto Tasuku. As the investigation progresses, the truth behind the case and the unspeakable past of the trio gradually come to light.

In line with the movie's theme between 25 years ago and the present, the talk segment featured the cast showing photos of themselves 25 years ago. Okada provided a photo of when he was around 9 or 10 years ago which led Emoto and Furuhata to remark how cute he was. This made Okada very embarrassed as he explained that the photo was taken by his mother in the room where she taught her students how to play the piano and that was before he entered showbiz and he dreamed of being a school teacher at that time.

On the other hand, Emoto showed a photo of himself when he was around 5 or 6 and he dreamed of becoming a stuntman like Jackie Chan. The photo was taken by his mother after he had just fallen from his bicycle with his face hitting the ground first as she thought that it was an interesting sight to capture. Upon seeing this, Emoto's wife Ando said that he looked pitiful but cute as well because he was wearing his underwear only in the photo. Meanwhile, Ando showed a photo of herself striking a weird pose when she was 5 and explained that she was a quiet and expressionless child most of the time but she did odd things like that once in a while. The couple is expecting their first child to be born in June this year.

Sources: Nikkansports / Sponichi / Eiga.com / Oricon

Hirano Sho & Taira Yuna to star in new real-life adaptation movie "honey"

Kansai Johnny's Jr and Mr.KING member Hirano Sho will be taking on his first leading role in a film by starring in the new real-life adaptation movie "honey" based on the same-titled manga by Meguro Amu which was serialised in "Bessatsu Magaret" between September 2012 and December 2015. Hirano will be playing a juvenile delinquent and will dye his hair red for this character. The heroine will be played by Taira Yuna who dyed her hair brown for the first time in her life and cut her long hair by 20cm. The movie will be directed by Shintoku Koji whose most recent work was "Peach Girl" and be released in cinemas next spring.

The story features Hirano as the lead character Onise Taiga who behaves like an delinquent but has a pure personality. One day, he is approached by Kogure Nao (Taira) who is afraid of Onise's reputation but asks to date him with marriage in mind. Onise is unable to reject her and has no choice but to accept her "proposal" which marks the beginning of a sweet and unlikely love story between them.

Hirano who is acting in a love story for the first time, expressed joy when he got the offer and try his best to work hard with his co-stars. As for having to dye his hair red for the role, he is still unaccustomed to how he looks but the people around him have been praising his new look and how it's near to how Onise looks in the manga. As such, he hopes that those who watch this movie will have the feeling that they want to have a romance like what is depicted in the story.

On the other hand, Taira described her character as a frank, pure and cute girl and she feels that it is a refreshing change for her to cut and dye her hair for this movie. As for her impression of Hirano, she feels that he resembles Onise a lot.

Sources: Sanspo / Eiga.com

Friday, May 05, 2017

"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

Hongo Kanata to star in new MBS / TBS Spring 2017 drama "Kaijuu Club Kuusou Tokusatsu Seishunki"

Hongo Kanata will be starring in the upcoming MBS / TBS Spring 2017 drama "Kaijuu Club Kuusou Tokusatsu Seishunki" (Monster Club - The Youth Chronicles of Fantastical Special Effects Films) which will begin its run from 4th and 6th June respectively at 12.50am and 1.28am respectively. The drama which consists of 4 episodes, is set in the mid 1970s and features a group of young men who gather to devote their youth to the research of monsters which appear in special effects films. The lead character Ryouta will be played by Hongo who commented that this will be a drama which everyone can watch especially for those who used to love special effects films and will feel nostalgic about the things mentioned in this story.

Sources: Eiga.com / Sponichi

Romaji lyrics of "Forever Young" by Takehara Pistol (Ending theme of TV Tokyo Winter 2017 drama "Byplayers")

Title: Forever Young
Artist: Takehara Pistol
Lyrics & Melody: Takehara Pistol
Ending theme of TV Tokyo Winter 2017 drama "Byplayers"

nani wo doushitemo
nemurenai yoru wa
nani ga nandemo
nemucchaikenai yoru sa

amayadorisuru kurai nara
hareteiru machi ni kakete yuku sa

Forever Young
ano koro no kimi ni atte
Forever Young
ima no kimi ni nai mono nante nai sa

kutabireta kotoba de
atarashii yakusoku wo kawashi
shioreta koe de
atarashii uta wo utaou

michi michita kotoba wa itsudatte
iroaseta kareha no ue ni hiraku no sa

Forever Young
ano koro no kimi ni atte
Forever Young
ima no kimi ni nai mono nante nai sa

Forever Young
ano koro no kimi ni atte
Forever Young
ima no kimi ni nai mono nante nai sa

Forever Young...

Thursday, May 04, 2017

First-day-screening event of new movie "THE LAST COP Last Cop"

The first-day-screening event of new movie "THE LAST COP Last Cop" was held at Marunouchi Picadilly on 3 May which was attended by the director Inomata Ryuichi and cast members Karasawa Toshiaki, Kubota Masataka, Sasaki Nozomi, Fujiki Naohito, Kohinata Fumio, Wakui Emi, Kurokawa Tomoka, Takeuchi Ryoma, Matsuo Satoru, Sakurai Hinako, Takeda Rena and Ito Sairi. The movie will feature 10 multiple surprise endings featuring the characters 30 years from now which will be shown at random during this three-week period after the ending credits. With regard to filming these different endings which were screened at one go during the event, Karasawa said that it took them about 6 to 7 hours just to do the special effects make-up.

During the event, Kubota represented the cast in reading out a letter addressed to Karasawa where they pledged to keep the spirit of "Last Cop" forever and pledged to follow the latter's lead going forward. In response, Karasawa said that he also had a surprise for Kubota by giving him a jacket similar to the one worn by Karasawa's character Kyogoku. However, the jacket was obviously too small for Kubota which led Karasawa to joke that he should not give it to Kubota after all even though he had bought it specially for the occasion. This led Kubota to say that the jacket will stretch after some time so there was no issue even if it was too small for now.

Sources: Oricon / Eiga.com

Preview of "Sayonara, Enari-kun" - Spring 2017

Title: Sayonara, Enari-kun サヨナラ、えなりくん (Goodbye, Enari-kun)
Official website: here
Official Instagram: here
Official Twitter: here
O.A. Start Date: 30 April 2017
Timeslot: Sundays 12.40am
Broadcast by: TV Asahi
Theme song: "Mamotte agetakunaru" by Watanabe Mayu
Cast: Watanabe Mayu, Enari Kazuki, Uechi Haruna, Ikeda Narushi

Romaji lyrics of "Destiny" by Che'Nelle (Theme song of TBS Spring 2017 drama "Reverse")

Title: Destiny
Artist: Che'Nelle
Lyrics: Matsuo Kiyoshi
Melody: Kawaguchi Daisuke
Theme song of TBS Spring 2017 drama "Reverse"

kizutsuku koto ni wa nareteiru kedo
kanashimu hito wo mushi dekiru hodo kiyou ni wa dekitenai
hajime kara kizuiteitano
uso de mamoreru shinjitsu nante shinjitsu janai koto wo

tsumi to batsu ai no teigi sae hito ga kimeru mono yo

toorisugita jikan dake wo tada natsukashimu no wa suki janai
yume miteita miraitachi to chigau keshiki wo mite chigau hito aishita
soredemo mada sadame wo shinjiteru

It's my, it's my destiny...

abareru kimochi ni kagi wo kaketeta
wari to jouzu ni ikitekita no yo anata ni deau made wa
watashi nara daijoubu dato
nando mo tsuyoku iikikasete wa kokomade tadoritsuita

yoru to hiru yami to hikaritachi kuruizaki no kokoro

toorisugita jikan dake wo tada natsukashimu no wa suki janai
yume miteita miraitachi to chigau keshiki wo mite chigau hito aishita
soredemo mada sadame wo shinjiteru

tsumi to batsu ai no teigi sae hito ga kimeru mono yo

toorisugita jikan dake wo tada natsukashimu no wa suki janai
yume miteita miraitachi to chigau keshiki wo mite chigau hito aishita
soredemo mada sadame wo shinjiteru
ima demo shinjiteru

It's my, it's my destiny...

Wednesday, May 03, 2017

Preview of "Miyazawa Kenji no Shokutaku" - Spring 2017

Title: Miyazawa Kenji no Shokutaku 宮沢賢治の食卓 (The dining table of Miyazawa Kenji)
Official website: here
O.A. Start Date: 17 June 2017
Timeslot: Saturdays 10pm
Broadcast by: WOWOW
Total number of episodes: 5
Original manga by: Uonome Santa
Cast: Suzuki Ryohei, Ishibashi Anna, Yamazaki Ikusaburo, Ichikawa Mikako, Yanagisawa Shingo, Okayama Hajime, Takezai Terunosuke, Inowaki Kai, Inukai Naoki, Kanno Misuzu, Hirata Mitsuru

Kimura Takuya & Ninomiya Kazunari to star in new movie "Kensatsugawa no Zainin"

Kimura Takuya will be taking on the leading role in the new movie "Kensatsugawa no Zainin" (The sinner on the prosecutor's side) which will be shown in cinemas next year. Joining him in the cast line-up will be Arashi's Ninomiya Kazunari. The movie is based on the 2013 novel by Shizukui Shusuke and will be directed by Harada Masato who offered the roles to the actors in March this year. Filming will begin in July.

The story features Ninomiya as a newbie prosecutor Okino Keiichiro who has a strong sense of justice and is sent to work at the Tokyo Public Prosecutors' Office with an elite prosecutor Mogami Takeshi. When a murder case is assigned to their department, Okino and Mogami develop different views about the case. It is revealed later that the suspect in this case happens to be the same suspect in a murder which had passed its statute of limitations. Mogami is bent on not letting this suspect off the hook again as his inability to put him to justice in the past caused the death of a person who was important to him. This causes Mogami and Okino to clash especially when Mogami tries to overstep his authority as a prosecutor and Okino has reservations about the biased manner in which his senior is conducting the investigation.

Kimura commented that he is excited and honoured to be participating in a Harada production and thinks that it will be fun working with Ninomiya and the rest of the cast. Ninomiya commented that he will have to suppress his excitement and keep a cool head to tackle this role and will depend on Harada's directing and Kimura's leading during the filming.

Sources: Nikkansports / Sanspo / Sponichi

Preview of "PTA Grandpa" - Spring 2017

Title: PTA Grandpa PTAグランパ! (Parents-Teachers Association Grandpa)
Official website: here
Official blog: here
O.A. Start Date: 2 April 2017
Timeslot: Sundays 10pm
Broadcast by: NHK
Total number of episodes: 8
Cast: Matsudaira Ken, Adachi Yumi, Asada Miyoko, Matobu Sei, Hasegawa Tomoharu, Sasaki Katsuhiko, Nakahara Takeo

Romaji lyrics of "I need your love" by Beverly (Theme song of Kansai TV Spring 2017 drama "CRISIS Kouan Kido Sousatai Tokusouhan")

Title: I need your love
Artist: Beverly
Lyrics: Sakata Asami
Melody: Carlos K.
Theme song of Kansai TV / FujiTV Spring 2017 drama "CRISIS Kouan Kido Sousatai Tokusouhan"

kikoenai furi de itsumodoori koko de bye-bye
hashirisaru express nabikukami namida kakushi

maemuki na TL dokka ni kakaeru kodoku
anata ni tsutaetakute

daremo ga kitto itami kakushite
smile to hide the pain

taikutsu na machi ni monouge na kao de lie
gomakashita hazu no kokoro fukaku kuzureteku

motto tsutsumaretai no sono ude ni

ashita ga mienakute

I need your love I need your love
I need any day anywhere anything you and me
You and me

aimai na ashita nara
ai nante mienai risuku watashi wa iranai

soredemo nande tomerarenai no
anata no yasashisa ni furetakute

I need your love I need your love
I need any day anywhere anything you and me
You and me

togireta kotoba ni tsutawari karamaru nervous
sore ijou nanimo iwanai de me wo sorashita

yozora ni kakurete hitori utsumuita midnight
anata wo wasuretakute

kagayaku starlight terashite motto overflowing tears

saigo no negai nara

I need your love I need your love
I need any day anywhere anything you and me
You and me

aitakute aitakute
kienaide dare yori motto chikaku ni itai kara

anata wo motto kanjiteitai no
tsunaida te ni tsutawaru kanjou mo

I need your love I need your love
I need any day anywhere anything you and me
You and me

I need your love
Any day anywhere anything you and me

eien nara anata no ai de subete wo ubatte

I need your love I need your love
I need any day anywhere anything you and me
You and me

aimai na ashita nara
ai nante mienai risuku watashi wa iranai

soredemo nande tomerarenai no
anata no yasashisa ni furetakute

I need your love I need your love
I need any day anywhere anything you and me
You and me

Tuesday, May 02, 2017

Preview of "Shachoushitsu no Fuyu - Kyodai Shinbunsha wo toru otoko -" - Spring 2017

Title: Shachoushitsu no Fuyu - Kyodai Shinbunsha wo toru otoko - 社長室の冬 - 巨大新聞社を獲る男 - (The winter of the president's office - the man who gets the big news company)
Official website: here
O.A. Start Date: 30 April 2017
Timeslot: Sundays 10pm
Broadcast by: WOWOW
Total number of episodes: 5
Original novel by: Douba Shunichi
Cast: Mikami Hiroshi, Fukushi Seiji, Kitano Kii, Charlotte Kate Fox, Koichi Mantaro, Watanabe Ikkei, Nakamura Atsuo, Minamisawa Nao, Hara Hideko, Sasano Takashi, Tanaka Min & Kishibe Ittoku

Nishikido Ryo & Matsuoka Mayu to play a married couple in NTV Summer 2017 drama "Uchi no otto wa shigoto ga dekinai"

Nishikido Ryo and Matsuoka Mayu will be playing a married couple in the upcoming NTV Summer 2017 drama "Uchi no otto wa shigoto wa dekinai" (My husband can't do his work) which will be show in the Saturdays 10pm timeslot. The original script will be written by Watanabe Chiho whose most recent work was NHK morning drama "Beppin-san".

Nishikido plays the lead character Kobayashi Tsukasa who appears to be the perfect husband with good looks, stellar qualifications and a high income to his young wife Sayaka (Matsuoka). However, little does she know that Tsukasa is regarded as a burden at his workplace because of his poor work abilities. Tsukasa tries his best to hide this fact from Sayaka who idolises him but things reach a stage where he wants to quit because he keeps making mistakes at work and is even bullied by his juniors at the company. Before he can do that, Sayaka discovers that she is pregnant which makes it impossible for Tsukasa to quit as he is the sole breadwinner. At the same time, Sayaka finds out about her husband's situation at work and she tries to help him overcome the challenge with her support.

Sources: Nikkansports 1 / Nikkansports 2 / Nikkansports 3 / Yomiuri Hochi / Sponichi / Oricon

Nagayama Kento & Oomori Nao as double leads for new TV Tokyo Summer 2017 drama "Izakaya Fuji"

Nagayama Kento and Oomori Nao will be joint leads in the new TV Tokyo Summer 2017 drama "Izakaya Fuji" (Bar Fuji) which will begin its run from July in the Saturdays 12.20am timeslot. Prior to this, Amazon Prime Video will be exclusively showing the drama one week before its OA start date.

The drama is set in an izakaya named Izakaya Fuji that exists in real-life at Naka Meguro and describes the life story of the owner of the place who was nicknamed Oyaji and passed away in 2014. Nagayama plays a struggling actor named Nishio Eiichi who keeps getting roles to play dead people. One day, in order to boost his spirits, he tries to find an izakaya which he saw on the Instagram account of a girl he likes and ends up at Izakaya Fuji which is filled with signature boards of the famous and has a strong Showa feel. What's more he finds actor Oomori Nao there (Oomori playing himself)! Through his interaction with the people there, Nishio gradually realises what is important to him in life. The dishes served at the bar will also be featured in the drama.

Nagayama revealed that there will be big-name guests featured in each episode and it has been a stimulating experience to act in scenes which are usually seen during auditions or workshops. On the other hand, Oomori who is a regular at the real Izakaya Fuji, praised the staff for being to replicate the bar as it is which will give the impression that they filmed at the actual bar. As for playing himself again, Oomori joked that TV Tokyo seems to have a penchance for getting actors to take on their real identities in dramas since he also did the same in the drama "Byplayers".

The ending theme song titled "Yoru no Kumo" (Night Clouds) will be sung by the band Tsuki ni hoeru where Oomori is the vocalist and guitarist.

Sources: Sanspo / Yomiuri Hochi / Oricon / Eiga.com

Cocorico's Tanaka Naoki & Kohinata Shie get divorced

Comedian duo Cocorico's Tanaka Naoki announced through his agency on 2 May that he had divorced his actress-wife Kohinata Shie. The paperwork for the divorce had been completed and Tanaka will have custody of their two sons. In his handwritten statement, Tanaka apologised for causing concern with his sudden divorce announcement and stressed that they reached this decision after repeated discussions. Although they are no longer husband and wife, they are still parents to their children and will continue fulfilling their responsibilities. Tanaka and Kohinata got married in June 2003 and their sons were born in June 2004 and April 2008.

Source: Oricon

Top 10 movies box office ranking for the weekend of 29th & 30th April 2017

Numbers in brackets indicate the number of cinemas showing the movie:

1) Beauty and the Beast (372)

2) Meitantei Conan Karakurenai no Love Letter (354)

3) The Fate of the Furious (355)

4) Teiichi no Kuni (291)

5) Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Shuurai!! Uchujin Shiriri (349)

6) Mugen no Juunin (331)

7) SING (359)

8) Sangatsu no Lion Kouhen (295)

9) Moana (359)

10) Eiga Kamisama Minarai Himitsu no Kokotama Kiseki wo okose Table to Dokidoki Kokotamakai (151)

Source: Eiga.com

The 20th Nikkansports Drama Grand Prix for the 2016 fiscal year - Best Leading Actress

Note that the 2016 fiscal year includes the Spring 2016, Summer 2016, Autumn 2016 and Winter 2017 seasons. Numbers presented below are in the following order: number of votes from women / number of votes from men / grand total. To see a breakdown of the votes by age groups, please visit the link provided at the end of this post.

Nikkansports is announcing the winners of one category daily so I will post the results progressively as they become available:

Top 10 for the best leading actress category:

1) Aragaki Yui - Nigeru wa haji daga yaku ni tatsu (854 + 237 = 1,091)

2) Ishihara Satomi - Jimi ni sugoi! Kouetsu Girl Kouno Etsuko (343 + 46 = 389)

3) Kuroki Haru - Juuhan Shuttai! (340 + 41 = 381)

4) Yonekura Ryoko - Doctor X 4 ~ Gekai Daimon Michiko ~ (241 + 129 = 370)

5) Haru - ON ~ Ijou Hanzai Sousakan Toudou Hinako ~ (223 + 33 = 256)

6) Mitsushima Hikari - Totto Terebi (194 + 27 = 221)

7) Kitagawa Keiko - Ie uru onna (150 + 36 = 186)

8) Ayase Haruka - Seirei no Moribito Kanashiki Hakkaigami (139 +39 = 178) / Takahata Mitsuki - Toto Nee-chan (103 + 75 = 178)

10) Sawaguchi Yasuko - Kasouken no Onna (95 + 40 = 135)

Source: Nikkansports

Romaji lyrics of "Otona no Okite" by Doughnuts Hole (Theme song of TBS Winter 2017 drama "Quartet")

Title: Otona no Okita
Artist: Doughnuts Hole
Lyrics & Melody by: Sheena Ringo
Theme song of TBS Winter 2017 drama "Quartet"

makkuro na naka ni hitotsu kiete wa ukabu toiki yo
tsumetai yamiyo wa boku no negai nomikomi kakumaimasu
masshiro na iki ga ima mottomo muku na honne to
kajikanda koe de nani wo utau? uso demo hontou demo
suki toka kirai toka hoshii toka
kimochi ii dake no serifu deshou
aa shiro kuro tsukeru ni wa fusawashii
..horobi no jumon dakeredo..

masshin na kodomo jidai kyoukasho wo anki shiteireba
seikai fuseikai dochira ka wo eraberu to omotteita
togakidoori ni ikiteiru jibun
adoribu ni wa nareteinai kuse
iitai koto afuredashi kashimashii
..kimi no mae dake dakeredo..

tebanashite mitai kono ryoute fusaida jishiki
donna ni karui to kanjiru darouka
kotoba no yoroi mo noroi mo issai gassai
nuide haide mou ichido
bokura ga deaettara

suki toka kirai toka hoshii toka
kuchibashittara ikanaru deshou
aa shiro kuro tsukeru no wa osoroshii
..setsujitsu ni ikireba koso..
sou jinsei wa nagai, sekai wa hiroi
jiyuu wo te ni shitara bokura wa grey
koufuku ni natte, fukou ni natte
awatadashii mune no uchi dake ga sawagu
..otona wa himitsu wo mamoru..

Monday, May 01, 2017

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

Romaji lyrics of "I'll be there" by Arashi (Theme song of FujiTV Spring 2017 drama "Kizoku Tantei")

Title: I'll be there
Artist: Arashi
Lyrics: Goro T.
Melody: Fredrik "Figge" Bostrom / Sahara Kota
Theme song of FujiTV Spring 2017 drama "Kizoku Tantei"

I'll be with you...
I'll be there for you...

stance wa zanshin nukari naku changing
minogasu koto no nai secret sign
mawari kara Lazy mi ni matou Hazy
subete izanau no sa mystery world

tada utau dake nara escort shiyou dokomade mo

me no mae no yami kakiwake Find it
toomawari shitemo darekaga madowasetemo
joushiki nugisute Higher
mietekuru hazu sa tsunagariau Crazy Days
tadoritsuita sono saki ni wa
kakusareteiru sou hontou no yasashisa
tsukamou shinjitsu no Just one
maboroshi janakute oikakeru no sa
I'll be with you... I'll be there for you...

kotoba takumi na utaimonku mo
yabo na koto ja damasarenai sa
itsudatte Maybe ukabidasu Story
futa aketemireba sou Deep inside

tada ushinaudake demo karamiau ito wo hodoku dake

kankaku togisumashite Catch up
koudou narihibiku kokoro ni toikaketara
master key tsukitome Move on
teizoku na wana wo fumichiarashite Look down now
tsumikasaneta kotae kazashi
mihatenu real wa azayaka ni
dakara egakou soudai ni Dreamer
shinjitsu no imi wo wakaraseru made I'll be with you

kyou mo mukiau regret hitomi no oku wo yurasu
kazoekirenai itami wo daite I'll find the way to go

me no mae no yami kakiwake Find it
toomawari shitemo darekaga madowasetemo
joushiki nugisute Higher
mietekuru hazu sa tsunagariau Crazy Days
tadoritsuita sono saki ni wa
kakusareteiru sou hontou no yasashisa
tsukamou shinjitsu no Just one
maboroshi janakute oikakeru no sa
I'll be with you... I'll be there for you...
I'll be with you... I'll be there for you...

The 20th Nikkansports Drama Grand Prix for the 2016 fiscal year - Best Leading Actor

Note that the 2016 fiscal year includes the Spring 2016, Summer 2016, Autumn 2016 and Winter 2017 seasons. Numbers presented below are in the following order: number of votes from women / number of votes from men / grand total. To see a breakdown of the votes by age groups, please visit the link provided at the end of this post.

Nikkansports is announcing the winners of one category daily so I will post the results progressively as they become available:

Top 10 for the best leading actor category:

1) Ohno Satoshi - Sekai ichi muzukashii koi (1647 + 77 = 1,724)

2) Matsumoto Jun - 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi (882 + 87 = 969)

3) Kusanagi Tsuyoshi - Uso no Sensou (223 + 92 = 315)

4) Kimura Takuya - A LIFE ~ Itoshiki Hito ~ (204 + 71 = 275)

5) Sakai Masato - Sanadamaru (61 + 170 = 231)

6) Mizutani Yutaka - Aibou season 15 (22 + 113 = 135)

7) Tsutsumi Shinichi - Super Salaryman Saenai-shi (33 + 66 = 99)

8) Miura Tomokazu - Shuukatsu Kazoku ~ Kitto, umaku iku ~ (9 + 39 = 48)

9) Matsuoka Masahiro - Kaseifu no Mitazono (21 + 22 = 43)

10) Terao Akira - Aogeba Totoshi (9 + 32 = 41)

Source: Nikkansports

Supporting cast line-up of new FujiTV drama "Yaneura no Koibito" announced

The supporting cast line-up of new FujiTV drama "Yaneura no Koibito" starring Ishida Hikari has been announced. The drama which consists of 8 episodes, begins its run from 3 June in the Saturdays 11.40pm timeslot.

Ishida plays the lead character Saijo Kinuka who is a housewife and has a 17-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son with her husband. Due to the death of her father-in-law, she moves to a Western-style house in Kamakura left behind by him together with her family. Kinuka finally realises her longtime dream of opening a flower arrangement school by doing it in the salon of her new house. Just when she thinks that her life is already perfect, she is aghast to find her ex-boyfriend Seno Itsuki (Imai Tsubasa) at her housewarming party even though they had parted ways 18 years ago. Although Kinuka manages to chase Seno away that day, strange things start happening in the Saijo household as food is found to be missing from the fridge and her husband's clothing disappear for no reason. It turns out that Seno has started living in the attic of the house and this gradually causes the revelation of secrets hidden by the people around Kinuka including her husband, children, mother-in-law and best friend and leads to her being forced into a corner mentally. When a murder takes place, this then causes her fate to be affected drastically.

Takahata Atsuko will be playing Chizuko, a belly dance teacher and the mother-in-law of Kinuka. Although she has no blood ties with her stepson Makoto played by Katsumura Masanobu who is obsessed with climbing the corporate ladder, she dotes on him excessively and will stop at nothing to keep up appearances and uphold her reputation. Kinuka's best friend Suganuma Kyoko will be played by Miura Rieko while Kinuka's daughter Honoka will be played by Ootomo Karen.

Sources: Sanspo / Oricon