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More “Arakawa Under the Bridge” cast members revealed
Posted on May 17, 2011 by tokyograph
Additional cast members have been announced for the live-action adaptations of “Arakawa Under the Bridge.” The newly revealed names are Tezuka Toru, Hiranuma Norihisa (Gekidan EXILE), Arisaka Kurume, Tokunaga Eri, Suruga Taro, Sueoka Takuto, and Mashiko Raito.
It was first announced in April that the comedy manga is being turned into a television series and a film, starring Hayashi Kento and Kiritani Mirei. That was followed by the news that Shirota Yu, Katase Nana, and Abe Natsumi have also been given major roles.
The currently known cast is as follows:
Ichinomiya Kou / Riku – Hayashi Kento
Nino – Kiritani Mirei
Sister – Shirota Yu
Maria – Katase Nana
P-ko – Abe Natsumi
Billy – Hiranuma Norihisa
Jacqueline – Arisaka Kurume
Shiro – Tezuka Toru
Stella – Tokunaga Eri
Last Samurai – Suruga Taro
Tetsujin Kyoudai – Sueoka Takuto & Mashiko Raito
As already announced, the television series is scheduled to start in July, while the movie will open in the spring of 2012.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Takimoto Miori, Tamamori Yuta, Fujigaya Taisuke, Yaotome Hikaru star in “You’re Beautiful” remake
Posted on May 17, 2011 by tokyograph
The popular Korean drama series “You're Beautiful” is getting a remake in Japan, titled “Ikemen Desu ne.” The show will star actress Takimoto Miori (19), along with Kis-My-Ft2 members Tamamori Yuta (21) and Fujigaya Taisuke (23) and Hey! Say! JUMP member Yaotome Hikaru (20).
The original Korean version aired in 2009 and starred Park Shin Hye, Jang Keun Suk, Lee Hong Ki, and Jung Yong Hwa. The story revolved around a fictional boy band named A.N.JELL. Park Shin Hye played a nun-in-training who has to pose as her twin brother and take his place in the group, leading to a complicated relationship between the group’s members.
The series has also been huge in Japan, where it has aired multiple times on television and led Tsutaya’s rental charts for Korean dramas last year.
The Japanese remake has been in the works since last spring. Takimoto, who starred in NHK’s morning drama “Teppan” this past year, will fill the shoes of Park Shin Hye. Tamamori will play Jang Keun Suk’s part.
Other cast members include Katase Nana, Imori Miyuki, Yanagisawa Shingo, Takashima Masanobu, and Manda Hisako.
Kis-My-Ft2 originally intended to make their CD debut with Avex this month, but their plans were changed due to the Tohoku earthquake. It appears that they will now make their debut with a song that will be used in “Ikemen Desu ne.”
TBS will broadcast the drama on Fridays at 10:00pm, beginning in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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EXILE’s MATSU gets first starring drama role in mobile series
Posted on May 18, 2011 by tokyograph
EXILE member MATSU (35) has his first starring role in a drama series, though it’s being made for mobile phones instead of television sets. The show is an upcoming project for mobile service BeeTV, titled “3-maime no Bodyguard ~Boku wa Kimi Dake wo Mamorinuku~.”
In the series, MATSU plays Mishima “Nobu” Nobuo, a man who is careless with his money. An unexpected turn of events results in him entering a contract to serve as a bodyguard for a spoiled girl named Natsumi (Fukuda Mayuko), the daughter of a powerful family from the countryside. Although the two clash, they begin to connect as they find themselves on the run.
MATSU will be taking on some action scenes for the show, as well as some dance scenes.
Takenaka Naoto, Kyomoto Masaki, Moto Fuyuki, and Nukumizu Yoichi also appear in the series. Fellow EXILE member AKIRA will make a guest appearance.
BeeTV will release the series as 13 episodes, each about 5 minutes in length. The first episode will be available on June 1.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Yamamoto Yusuke, Kawaguchi Haruna lead cast of live-action “Ouran High School Host Club”
Posted on May 19, 2011 by tokyograph
According to Anime News Network, the long-rumored live-action adaptation of “Ouran High School Host Club” (“Ouran Koukou Host Club”) is finally becoming a reality. Yamamoto Yusuke (23) is being billed as the show’s star, with teen model/actress Kawaguchi Haruna (16) playing the female lead.
“Ouran High School Host Club” is a popular comedy/romance manga by Hatori Bisco that started in 2003, which also had a successful anime adaptation in 2006. For years, there has been talk of a possible drama adaptation, but the rumors have always been false until now.
The story revolves around a high school girl named Fujioka Haruhi (Kawaguchi) at the prestigious Ouran Academy, who stumbles upon a group of male students who have formed their own club as hosts. Accidentally breaking an antique vase, Haruhi ends up owing the club a vast amount of money, and she ends up posing as a host in order to repay her debt.
Yamamoto will play the part of Tamaki, the president of the club. The rest of the actors playing the club members have not yet been officially announced, though more details will likely be revealed in next week’s issue of LaLa (Hakusensha).
TBS will broadcast the series, starting in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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3 early Higashino Keigo novels get drama specials
Posted on May 19, 2011 by tokyograph
Popular mystery author Higashino Keigo (53) is having three of his early works adapted to the small screen – “11 Moji no Satsujin,” “Brutus no Shinzo,” and “Kairoutei Satsujin Jiken.” Fuji TV will broadcast all three as 2-hour drama specials in its Friday night time slot over three consecutive weeks.
Plenty of Higashino’s works have already been turned into television dramas or theatrical films, such as “Galileo,” “Byakuyakou,” and “Ryusei no Kizuna.” However, the adapted works have mostly been books that he published in the late ’90s and afterward. The three adaptations this time are based on books between the late ’80s and early ’90s.
  
“11 Moji no Satsujin” will air first on June 10, starring Nagasaku Hiromi (40) as a mystery author chasing after the truth about her murdered lover. The next week will be “Brutus no Shinzo,” with Fujiwara Tatsuya (29) as an elite researcher plotting the perfect crime. Last but not least will be “Kairoutei Satsujin Jiken,” in which Tokiwa Takako (39) stars as a woman risking her life to take revenge against the criminal who killed her lover in a fake double suicide.
None of the three stars have ever appeared in a work based on one of Higashino’s novels before.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Esumi Makiko, Ishihara Satomi, Inagaki Goro in drama series “Bull Doctor”
Posted on May 19, 2011 by tokyograph
 
Esumi Makiko (44) is starring in her first drama series in four years. Titled “Bull Doctor,” the show has her playing a forensic doctor, while Ishihara Satomi (24) plays a police detective. The series also features SMAP member Inagaki Goro (37) as another forensic doctor who is dating Ishihara’s character.
Esumi’s character Tamami is the “bull doctor” of the show’s title, which comes from the word “bulldozer.” Ignoring any opposition from the people around her, she uses any means necessary to determine the truth behind the deaths of the bodies she examines. Because of her personality, she is constantly at odds with both Ishihara and Inagaki’s characters.
The screenplay is being written by Hashibe Atsuko, who also worked on hit dramas like “Freeter, Ie wo Kau,” “Boku no Ikiru Michi,” and “Kyumei Byoto 24 Ji.”
NTV will broadcast “Bull Doctor” on Wednesday nights at 10:00pm this summer, beginning in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Matsuda Shota to star in golden time drama series
Posted on May 20, 2011 by tokyograph
Popular young actor Matsuda Shota (25) is confirmed to be starring in a drama series this summer. He will be in a currently unnamed series in NTV’s Saturday 9:00pm time slot, making this his first lead television role during golden time (7:00pm-10:00pm).
In this unusual story, Matsuda plays a child welfare official working at a child consultation center, while Takahashi Katsumi (50) plays a charitable yakuza boss. These two lead completely different lives, but one day, their souls are suddenly switched. As a result, Matsuda begins dispensing odd advice about the “rules of society” and other things. While his colleagues naturally see this as a problem, the children gradually come to rely on him.
  
Narumi Riko (18) will also have a main role as one of the youths at the center. Kobayashi Satomi (45) and Uchida Yuki (35) have also been cast. Oishi Tetsuya (“BECK,” “Death Note”) is in charge of the script, and Nakajima Satoru (“Deka Wanko”) is directing.
The series is scheduled to premiere in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Ueto Aya returns in “Zettai Reido” sequel
Posted on May 22, 2011 by tokyograph
Ueto Aya (25) is confirmed to be returning to Fuji TV in a sequel to the 2010 drama series “Zettai Reido.” While the previous series had the subtitle “Mikaiketsu Jiken Tokumei Sousa,” the new series is subtitled “Tokushu Hanzai Sennyuu Sousa.”
The original show starred Ueto as rookie detective Sakuragi Izumi, who worked on difficult unsolved cases as part of a Special Investigations Office (based on an actual division established by Japan in 2009). This time takes place half a year later, after Sakuragi has been transferred to a different division that deals with current crimes.
The new “Zettai Reido” series will be broadcast in the same Tuesday 9:00pm time slot, starting in July. Before it begins, Fuji TV will air a 2-hour special episode called “Zettai Reido ~Mikaiketsu Jiken Tokumei Sousa~ Special,” which is set one month after the events of the first series.
Other returning cast members include Kitaoji Kinya (68), Miyasako Hiroyuki (41), and Yamaguchi Sayaka (31).
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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“Ouran High School Host Club” main cast confirmed (Updated)
Posted on May 23, 2011 by tokyograph
Last week’s confirmation of an “Ouran High School Host Club” drama series, starring Yamamoto Yusuke and Kawaguchi Haruna, is now truly official. On Tuesday, additional cast details were announced, confirming several names that were unofficially reported before.
As previously revealed, Yamamoto is playing the role of Tamaki, the president of the host club, while Kawaguchi is playing the central character Haruhi. The other cast members are being played by:
    
Nakamura Masaya – Mori
Daito Shunsuke – Kyoya
Takagi Shinpei and Takagi Manpei – Hitachiin twins
Chiba Yudai – Honey
Ryusei Ryo – Umehito
TBS will broadcast the series in the “Friday Break” time slot (Friday night, 12:20am), beginning in July. More details will be released at a later date.
Update: Comic Natalie’s article is more specific about the twins, saying that Shinpei will play Hikaru and Manpei will play Kaoru.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Third “Team Batista” drama series adds Takahashi Katsunori, Konishi Manami
Posted on May 23, 2011 by tokyograph
  
Fuji TV’s popular “Team Batista” drama series is coming back for a third season. Ito Atsushi (27) and Nakamura Toru (45) are naturally reprising their roles as a doctor and a ministry official who unravel the truth behind mysterious deaths.
The “Team Batista” dramas are based on a novel series by mystery author Kaido Takeru, which have also been separately adapted as films starring Takeuchi Yuko and Abe Hiroshi. The television version with Ito and Nakamura started in 2008 with “Team Batista no Eikou,” based on the first book in the series. The second book, “Nightingale no Chinmoku,” was turned into a special episode, and then the third book, “General Rouge no Gaisen,” became the second season of the drama series, under the title “Team Batista 2: General Rouge no Gaisen.”
The third season is tentatively titled “Team Batista 3: Ariadne no Dangan,” after the fifth book of the series, “Ariadne no Dangan.” The story revolves around the planned establishment of a new autopsy imaging center, and a murder inside an MRI scanner. New cast members include Takahashi Katsunori (46) as an elite police bureaucrat, Konishi Manami (32) as a forensic doctor.
“Team Batista 3? will premiere in July, airing on Tuesdays at 10:00pm.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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“IS” manga gets live-action drama with Fukuda Saki, Goriki Ayame
Posted on May 23, 2011 by tokyograph
Rokuhana Chiyo’s award-winning manga “IS ~Otoko Demo Onna Demo Nai Sei~” is being turned into a live-action series on TV Tokyo, co-starring actresses Fukuda Saki (20) and Goriki Ayame (18). This will be Goriki’s first lead role in a drama series.
“IS” stands for “intersexual,” a term referring to people who cannot clearly be classified as male or female, and who may biologically possess characteristics of both sexes. Rokuhana’s manga primarily deals with the troubles faced by the young Hoshino Haru (played by Fukuda), an intersexual who was registered as a girl at birth but has been raised as a boy.
Goriki plays Aihara Miwako, a mysterious classmate who tries to get close to Haru. Inoue Masahiro has been cast as Ibuki Kenji, a member of the soccer club whom Haru begins having feelings for. Nishida Naomi and Minami Kaho play Miwako’s and Haru’s mothers, respectively.
 
TV Tokyo has scheduled “IS” for a Monday 10:00pm time slot this summer, beginning in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Some details confirmed for “Detective Conan” drama series
Posted on May 24, 2011 by tokyograph
Word spread last week that the “Detective Conan” live-action special that aired in April would be turned into a full-length drama series, and today the project was officially announced. The main cast from the special will return, including lead actor Mizobata Junpei, Kutsuna Shiori, Akimoto Sayaka (AKB48), Otsuka Nene, and Jinnai Takanori.
“Detective Conan” was also turned into two drama specials in 2006 and 2008, starring Oguri Shun. This time, however, will be the first live-action series based on the popular manga.
Titled “Meitantei Conan: Kudo Shinichi e no Chousenjou,” the show will air on NTV in a Thursday 11:58pm time slot, starting on July 7. Although the specials were all entirely original stories, the upcoming series will include some parts from the original manga by Aoyama Gosho. Hattori Heiji, the rival of the protagonist Kudo Shinichi, will also appear in live-action form for the first time, though the actor playing the part has not yet been named.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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“Taira no Kiyomori” female cast led by Fukada Kyoko, Takei Emi
Posted on May 26, 2011 by tokyograph
NHK’s 2012 taiga drama “Taira no Kiyomori” already has an impressive male cast lined up, who were announced two weeks ago. Today, NHK held a press conference to reveal the main female cast, adding nine more big names to the roster. At the top of the list were actresses Fukada Kyoko and Takei Emi, playing important roles as partners of lead actor Matsuyama Kenichi.
The drama revolves around the life of the 12th century general Taira no Kiyomori (Matsuyama). Fukada plays his wife, Taira no Tokiko. Meanwhile, Takei plays his concubine, Tokiwa Gozen, who was also a lover to Kiyomori’s rival Minamoto no Yoshitomo (Tamaki Hiroshi).
Out of the nine actresses revealed today, only Fukada and Wakui Emi have appeared in one of NHK’s taiga dramas before. The announced roles are:
Fukada Kyoko – Taira no Tokiko
Takei Emi – Tokiwa Gozen
Narumi Riko – Taira no Shigeko
Kato Ai – Takashina no Akiko
Wakui Emi – Fujiwara no Muneko
Tanaka Lena – Yura Gozen
Dan Rei – Fujiwara no Tamako
Ryo – Horikawa no Tsubone
Matsuyuki Yasuko – Fujiwara no Nariko
“Taira no Kiyomori” premieres in January 2012 and will run for 50 episodes.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Matsushita Nao stars in new drama adaptation of “Kurumi no Heya” (Updated)
Posted on May 28, 2011 by tokyograph
Actress Matsushita Nao (26), who became a household name last year with her role in the hit drama series “Gegege no Nyoubou,” will star in another NHK series called “Kurumi no Heya.”
The drama is based on a novel by the late screenwriter Mukoda Kuniko that was already adapted for television in 1982 (starring Ishida Ayumi) and in 1989 (starring Takeshita Keiko). The story is set in Tokyo around 1980, where the serious young woman Momoko struggles to shoulder the burden of keeping her family intact after her father gets laid off and then disappears.
NHK will broadcast the drama on Tuesdays at 10:00pm, for a total of six episodes between July 26 and August 30. Mukoda’s 30-year death anniversary is on August 22.
The supporting cast features Kanie Keizo, Takeshita Keiko, Igawa Haruka, Usuda Asami, Seto Koji, Harada Taizo, and Nishida Naomi.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Hamada Gaku, Taira Airi lead suspense drama “Piece Vote”
Posted on May 29, 2011 by tokyograph
Young actor Hamada Gaku (22) has landed his first starring role in a television drama, after more than a decade of acting experience. He will play the main character in NTV’s “Piece Vote -Touhyou no Kakera-” (tentative title), while Taira Airi (26) will take on the heroine role.
The suspenseful story revolves around 7 young men and women leading ordinary lives, who are suddenly rounded up on a ship called the “Piece Vote” (an apparent pun on “Peace Boat”). Similar to the movie “Se7en” which was themed around the seven deadly sins, the drama’s motif will be the “seven modern sins” which Japan’s youths are unknowingly guilty of. The 7 passengers on the ship are accused of crimes they are unaware of, and they are forced to stake their lives in a deadly game played out on the boat.
Hamada’s character is a college student named Wakiya, though he has been nicknamed “Wakiyaku-kun” (“supporting role”) when compared to his successful older brother, a well-known businessman. However, after his brother suddenly dies, a mysterious man appears before Wakiya accusing him of causing the death, then takes him onto the Piece Vote.
Meanwhile, Taira plays Iwami Saki, an office worker who hates conflict with other people, so she always ends up holding back her own opinions and ingratiating herself with others.
The series is being directed by Ochiai Masayuki (“Kansen,” “Parasite Eve”). Screenwriters include Mizoi Eiichi Davis (“Sandaime Akechi Kogoro”) and Yamaoka Junpei (“Majisuka Gakuen”).
NTV will broadcast “Piece Vote” on Mondays at 11:58pm, starting on July 4 (first episode begins at 12:18am). The time slot is currently held by the travel variety show “Tabizaru,” but it will be converted into a drama time slot after “Tabizaru” wraps up its run at the end of June. Along with “Meitantei Conan: Kudo Shinichi e no Chousenjou” and “Rokudenashi BLUES,” this will be NTV’s third late-night drama series this summer.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Mizuki Alisa to star in “Hanawake no Yon-shimai” drama series
Posted on May 30, 2011 by tokyograph
Actress Mizuki Alisa (34) will star in a new TBS drama series this summer, making her the first person ever to have a lead role in a drama series for 20 consecutive years. Her part this time is in “Hanawake no Yon-shimai,” based on a manga by Saimon Fumi (“Tokyo Love Story,” “Asunaro Hakusho”).
Serialized from 2005 to 2008 in Kodansha’s magazine Morning, “Hanawake no Yon-shimai” is a comedy depicting the ups and downs of four sisters. Mizuki plays the second eldest Takemi, who has divorced twice and is a single mother of three children.
  
Kichise Michiko (36) plays the eldest sister Fujiko, an “unbeatable” fashion magazine editor. Kanjiya Shihori (25) plays the third sister Sakurako, an employee at a wig maker who is easily swayed by others and who is searching for her true self.Kawashima Umika (17) plays the youngest sister Ume, a 2nd-year theater student at an art college who has zero experience in love.
All four of the sisters are connected somehow to a freelance photographer, played by NEWS member Kato Shigeaki (23). The sisters’ parents are being played by Endo Kenichi (49) and Miyazaki Yoshiko (52).
“Hanawake no Yon-shimai” will air in TBS’s Sunday 9:00pm time slot (currently occupied by “JIN”). The series will premiere sometime in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kamikawa Takaya, Takashima Masahiro, Asano Kazuyuki, Inoue Waka added to “Arakawa Under the Bridge”
Posted on May 31, 2011 by tokyograph
A few more cast members for the live-action adaptations of “Arakawa Under the Bridge” were revealed today: Kamikawa Takaya, Takashima Masahiro, Asano Kazuyuki, and Inoue Waka.
This is the fourth cast announcement for the project, which stars Hayashi Kento and Kiritani Mirei. Other previously announced names include Shirota Yu, Katase Nana, and Abe Natsumi.
Kamikawa has been cast as Ichinomiya Seki, the father of the main character Riku (Hayashi) and the head of the Ichinomiya Company. Takashima will play a government ministry member named Takayashiki, who is friends with Seki. Asano and Inoue will play the Ichinomiya Company employees Takai and Shimazaki, respectively.
With this announcement, almost all of the major characters have been announced, with the notable exceptions of the Village Chief and Hoshi. According to the official website, the final cast announcement is coming soon.
Iizuka Ken (“SAI-REN,” “Summer Nude”) is directing the adaptations. The drama series will begin in July in a late-night time slot on MBS and TBS, and the film version is currently scheduled for release in February 2012.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kuroki Meisa, Tabe Mikako co-star in suspense series “Jiu”
Posted on May 31, 2011 by tokyograph
Kuroki Meisa (23) and Tabe Mikako (22) are acting together for the first time, co-starring in a drama series this summer called “Jiu: Keishichou Tokushuhan Sousakei.” The two will play police detectives on the same special investigation team, though their differing personalities lead them to constantly clash with each other.
Tabe has previously starred in a few television dramas, but this will be the first lead role in a series for Kuroki.
The show is based on the “Jiu” suspense novel series by Honda Tetsuya. Motoko (Kuroki) is a fierce, physically capable investigator with a strong battle instinct, while Misaki (Tabe) is more intellectual, kind-hearted, and naive. The two of them are both working to track down Jiu, the ringleader responsible for a series of brutal crimes.
The original novels also detailed the characters’ love lives, including intense bedroom scenes between Motoko and her lover. It is not yet known how the drama series will depict that aspect of the story.
 
Shirota Yu (25) plays a mysterious man connected to Motoko somehow, while Kitamura Yukiya (37) plays a police superior. According to TV Asahi, the role of Jiu will not be played by a Japanese person, but instead by a popular music artist from overseas.
The series will begin in July and air in TV Asahi’s Friday 11:15pm time slot.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Maki Yoko to star in NHK drama series this fall
Posted on June 2, 2011 by tokyograph
Actress Maki Yoko (28) is taking on the lead role in an NHK drama series at the end of this year. Titled “Kare, Otto, Otoko Tomodachi,” the series is based on the novel “Omoiwazurau Koto Naku Tanoshiku Ikiyo” by the popular, prize-winning author Ekuni Kaori.
 
The story focuses on the love lives of three sisters and their bonds as a family. Maki plays the middle sister Haruko, who turns down a marriage proposal from her beloved boyfriend. Kimura Tae (40) plays the eldest sister Asako, who is hiding the fact that she is suffering from domestic violence by her husband. Kaho (19) has the role of the youngest sister Ikuko, who is unable to understand the concept of love.
 
Nagatsuka Kyozo and Takahata Atsuko have been cast as the parents of the three sisters. Yusuke Santamaria, Tokui Yoshimi (Tutorial), Miura Takahiro, and Kataoka Reiko also have supporting roles.
   
NHK plans to broadcast the show as an 8-episode series between November 1 and December 20, running in a Tuesday 10:00pm time slot. Composer Oshima Michiru is handling the soundtrack, while Ando Yuko is providing the theme song, “Kagayakashiki Hibi.” Asano Taeko is in charge of the script.
Maki previously starred in “Shukan Maki Yoko” in 2008, but that series consisted of unrelated episodes by different writers and directors. “Kare, Otto, Otoko Tomodachi” will count as her first true starring role in a television series.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Post time 20-5-2011 09:59 AM
