Official Website
www.tv-asahi.co.jp/semio

Broadcast
From 11.15 p.m., Fridays, 26 July 2019

Network
TV Asahi

Story
Semi, the cicada, is waiting for the moment to break out of his shell in the garden grounds connected to Utsusemiso, an apartment building in the outskirts of Tokyo. He spent several years in the soil and is impatient for the moment when he can finally come up to the ground to live his last seven days. He wants to take a look the residents of Utsusemiso whom he has been preoccupied with the whole time he was underground. He has only been able to hear their voices and wants to know what kind of people they are. The moment for him to emerge eventually arrives. When Semi finally crawls out onto the surface, he sees a woman about to fall on him. He resigns himself to die without ever flying about after emerging above ground. But the woman skillfully avoided him and landed on the ground a slight distance away. Semi has a narrow escape from death. This woman is Okawa Yuka, a resident of Utsusemiso. Yuka works for a food company and has never had a day when good things happen to her. Semi is touched that she saved his life but senses her loneliness. Out of a burning desire to make her smile, he transforms into a human and appears before her. Semi proposes to be with Yuka for seven days and do anything to repay her for saving his life. This is the beginning of their limited time together, but … …

Characters
Yamada Ryosuke as Semi
He emerged as a cicada this summer but turned into a human. As he was about to break out of his shell, a woman fell from above and he was trapped under her and thought he was finished. However, was saved from death by Yuka’s quick wits. Concerned about the kind but seemingly lonely Yuka, he thinks of doing something for her to thank her for saving his life and wants to make her smile. And so he transforms into a (very beautiful) human and comes to live with Yuka at Utsusemiso for a mere seven days at the risk of his own life. The entire world above is dazzling and he adores it. That is why his favourite phrase is, “What a wonderful world! He loves maple syrup. Since he is a cicada, he knows little of the norms of the human world and his speech and behaviour are frequently out of this world.

Kinami Haruka as Okawa Yuka
A resident of Utsusemiso. She works at a food factory. Because she is hopeless at communicating well with people and proactively mixing with people, her own voice is hardly heard. She has had rotten luck in her life so far … … She comes from the countryside and her parents are hardcore delinquents. Her irresponsible older brother Kenta is also a legendary delinquent in her hometown. One day, she reported Kenta’s crime to the police and felt disapproval from her family and people around her. As a result, she found it difficult to stay on and came to Tokyo. She is profusely thanked for saving Sami’s life and they end up spending just seven days together without her knowing why.

Imada Mio as Kumada Minako
A resident of Utsusemiso. She came to Tokyo from Fukuoka with the dream of becoming a designer. She attends a fashion college and often gets Okawa Yuka to help with sewing that has to be submitted. She gives samples of her own designs to Yuka and the residents of Utsusemiso but they are hardly worn. She is the type of girl these days who speak their mind. She hates huge cicadas.

Miyake Ken as Okawa Kenta
Okawa Yuka’s older brother. He is a well-known legendary delinquent in their hometown. But what this really means is that he is foolish enough to become a legend … … He unknowingly committed theft because he was too idiotic. This was reported to the police by his younger sister Yuka of all things and he was arrested. However, he is somehow impossible to hate.

Kitamura Yukiya as Ogawa Kunio
A resident of Utsusemiso. His occupation is unknown and he often stays in his room. He keeps repeating “weak constitution” and “short life” but it is already many years later. Anyway, he is a man of many mysteries. He will often shout something strangely musical in the middle of the night.

Sagawa Sawako as Shono Nejiko
One of the two landladies of Utsusemiso. The younger of two sisters nicknamed the “Kokubunji sisters”, she is somewhat detached from the real world. In contrast to her impatient older sister Kugiko, she is very calm and does things at her own pace. At times, she fires sharp words.

Dan Fumi as Shono Kugiko
One of the two landladies of Utsusemiso. The older of two sisters nicknamed the “Kokubunji sisters”. Because she is a very impatient person, she always complains about her younger sister Nejiko who does things at her own pace. Even though they constantly argue, they are actually close sisters.

Scriptwriter
Okada Yoshikazu (Monroe ga Shinda Hi, Hiyokko Series, Kibogaoka no Hitobito)

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Official Website
www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/legalheart

Broadcast
From 10.00 p.m., Mondays, 22 July 2019

Network
TV Tokyo

Story
Murakoshi Seiichi is a lawyer who rescues small and medium-sized companies that are on the brink of bankruptcy. He runs a small law firm with Nagai Akane as the accountant and Ikeda Shinji as the office worker. Murakoshi tries to impart knowledge to the many people involved – not only management but also employees and their families – to protect their livelihoods, give them courage and hope, and draw out the strength to take the step towards turning around the company. As long as there is just 0.01% of hope, Murakoshi will sometimes use surprisingly legal methods to save people from bankruptcy as he tenaciously faces off with their creditors. One day, the law firm receives a fax from Yamaya Mamoru, the CEO of a fishery company, asking for help. Murakoshi has an intuition that this is an issue concerning lives and immediately goes to meet him. A fish market that used to boast sales of over 10 billion yen, has seen business deteriorate after the entry of a large supermarket nearby and is on the verge of collapse. Despite the circumstances, Murakoshi reassuringly declares to a distressed Yamaya that there is still hope, and proposes a shocking restructuring plan to prevent impact to the region as a whole because of the bankruptcy.

Characters
Sorimachi Takashi as Murakoshi Seiichi
A lawyer with his own practice. He rescues small and medium-sized companies that are on the brink of bankruptcy. A passionate man who does not give up on turning companies around. He has smiles for his clients and will tenaciously face challenges as long as there is even 0.01% of hope. His hobby is making dioramas.

Koike Eiko as Nagai Akane
She is in charge of accounting at Murakoshi Seiichi’s law firm. Although she has a sharp tongue, she loves cats. As Murakoshi’s subordinate, she believes in him no matter what happens and also has a big capacity for accepting things.

Horii Arata as Ikeda Shinji
An officer worker at Murakoshi Seiichi’s law firm. He is studying hard to become a lawyer. However, he failed the bar exam. He is the life of the office with his enthusiasm and earnestness. He constantly works diligently but this sometimes ends up going nowhere.

Wakui Emi as Murakoshi Shoko
Murakoshi Seiichi’s wife. She understands him well and gives kind, reassuring support. She warmly watches over everyone at the law firm, and at times, she even gives unexpected advice to the staff.

Hashizume Isao as Yonekura Masaomi
The head of a large law firm. Murakoshi Seiichi’s teacher. He always brings delicious snacks to the office. He takes care of Murakoshi in various ways and his casual remarks even helps Murakoshi out.

Scriptwriter
Nishiogi Yumie (Joshu Seven, SPEC Series, Tamiou)

Original Work
Inochi no Saiken Bengoshi ~ Kaisha to Kazoku o Ikikaeraseru by Muramatsu Kenichi

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Official Website
www.tokai-tv.com/dangai

Broadcast
From 11.40 p.m., Saturdays, 3 August 2019

Network
Fuji TV

Story
Shikata Kyoichiro, who heads a computer company’s planning and development department, and his wife Yukiko are taken aback by the terrible state of their living room which has things scattered about in complete disorder. It has been close to a month since their 14-year-old son Kyosuke, a second-year junior high school student, stopped attending school. The boy had always been obedient and mild, but snapped as if he were a different person and behaved violently. Shikata, Yukiko and their two daughters Mayumi and Maki are bewildered. A worried Shikata takes some comfort in the words of Tanno who has also experienced distress over his own son’s violence at home. Tanno is his contact person at Aoi Denki, a client company. He has just finalised a big contract with Aoi Denki thanks to Tanno who was instrumental in overriding objections within the company and coordinating. Tanno suggests that he may be able to understand his child by showing his own weakness, and Shikata decides to have a heart to heart with Kyosuke. On the way home from work, he sees his son jostling with another teen. The boy, who identifies himself as Yamaki Mitsuru, politely greets him and leaves. Kyosuke tells his skeptical father that Mitsuru is his good friend. They drive to the sea and stuff themselves with fish-shaped snacks filled with red bean paste at the seaside while Shikata talks about embarrassments in his past. Although Kyosuke does not attempt to talk about himself, he listens to his father and murmurs that it is hard to go through life. The next day, Shikata gets a shock. His management has cancelled the deal with Aoi Denki. Shikata furiously protests to his boss, but the matter has already been decided. That night, a depressed Shikata drinks heavily and is taken to a seedy date club by a subordinate. He would never have imagined that this would later paint him into a corner. When Shikata gets home, Yukiko tells him with a worried look that Kyosuke has not returned home yet. This instantly sobers him up but he still does not know the severity of the situation. They soon receive unbelievable news from the police. Kyosuke has been killed by his classmate Mitsuru … … This is the beginning of Shikata’s nightmare. At first, he is suspected by the police, and even fiercely criticised by society for erupting in anger at Mitsuru. Mitsuru has been arrested but is protected by the juvenile law and will not be given fitting punishment for his crime. As his family breaks up, Kyoichiro turns his hatred on Mitsuru’s mother Hatsumi and seeks her out. However, he realises that the woman he should not forgive is suffering from loneliness, and is greatly shaken. Kyosuke and Hatsumi who are carrying heavy crosses of their own, soon get close to each other in their search for momentary release and fall headlong into a forbidden love.

Characters
Endo Kenichi as Shikata Kyoichiro
The head of the planning and development department at Maruko Computer in Tokyo. He is a high school graduate but he was selected the lead the department. He is a sentimental career-minded person. He bought a house in the suburbs five years ago and lives with his wife Yukiko and their three children. However, one day, their son Kyosuke is killed by a classmate all of a sudden, and he becomes the “victim’s father”. As his family begins to break up, he looks for Yamaki Hatsumi, the mother of the offender, after going through hatred and loathing. However, he is swayed by the woman he should never forgive when he sees her suffering the same anguish as him.

Tanaka Misato as Yamaki Hatsumi
The mother of Yamaki Mitsuru, the junior high school student who caused Shikata Kyosuke’s death. A club hostess. She got married at the age of 25 and immediately gave birth to Mitsuru. However, she brought him up on her own because she got divorced in a short time. She is in anguish over her beloved son’s murder of his classmate and strikes up a friendship Shikata Kyoichiro as if to forget her fear and grief.

Tanaka Misako as Shikata Yukiko
Shikata Kyoichiro’s wife. She joined Maruko Computer after graduating from high school and was in the development department with Shikata whom she later married. She was cheerful by nature. However, while she was trouble by her son Kyosuke’s refusal to go to school and domestic violence, she became the “victim’s mother” after he was killed. Her relationship with her surroundings and her husband began to change with the attention from the public.

Scriptwriter
Horasawa Mieko (Kamogawa Shokudo)

Original Work
Sorezore no Dangai by Kosugi Kenji

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• Sorezore no Dangai CM

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Date: From 9.00 p.m., 24 August 2019
Scriptwriter: Matsuda Yuko (Seigi no Se, Tokyo Tarareba Musume, Hanasaki Mai ga Damattenai Series)
Cast: Aiba Masaki, Yakushimaru Hiroko, Sakai Wakana, Haru, Tanaka Kei, Fujii Takashi, Takahashi Kyohei, Imai Yuki, Horike Kazuki, Tagawa Shunji, Hiraoka Yuta, Takahashi Tsutomu, Koyanagi Yu
Synopsis: With distances of 200 km, road racing is called the most demanding sport. One man achieved a miracle in the world of competitive cycling, overcoming numerous difficulties to become a top athlete. His name is Miyazawa Takashi (Aiba Masaki).When Takashi (Takahashi Kyohei) was a junior high school student, he declared his intention to be a professional cyclist after watching the Tour de France on television. His mother Junko (Yakushimaru Hiroko) knew that her son had found something that could engross him and decided to give her full support. After graduating from high school, Takashi went on to become a professional cyclist. He surmounted ordeals with his mother and was just one step from realising his dream to be the top cyclist in Japan. Then Junko was diagnosed with liver cancer and given one to two years to live. A liver transplant from a living donor was the only way to save her life. Takashi was the first to tell her doctor that he would donate his own liver. However, undergoing the transplant operation meant putting an end to his career as a professional cyclist. Believing in his own future, Takashi decided to give it a go. Believing in her son’s future, Junko supported him.
Official Website: www.ntv.co.jp/24h-drama2019

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Official Website
www4.nhk.or.jp/P5823

Broadcast
From 8.00 p.m., Fridays, 26 July 2019

Network
NHK BS Premium

Story
16-year-old Nana goes into service with the Kazahaya family but keeps making mistakes from the morning of her very first day. However, she is not only treated kindly by her master Ichinoshin and his wife Sachi, but also embraced by the couple’s two children Shosuke and Toyo, and quickly fits in with the family. Nana is actually from a samurai family. Her father was about to expose wrongdoings within the domain when he was forced to commit ritual suicide by disembowelment for a crime he did not commit. After that, Nana kept her identity secret and sought refuge with her mother’s family. Sachi soon dies from tuberculosis, and Ichinoshin who intends to correct the wrongdoings of the domain, also ends up getting framed. When Nana learns that Todoroki Heikuro, the person at the centre of this who strikes fear in everyone, is none other than her father’s enemy, she makes the decision to fight and protect Ichinoshin and his children just as Sachi had entrusted her to. Even Ichinoshin’s friends get ensnared by the enemy and the people who become Nana’s allies are nothing but difficult to deal with. However, Nana begins to challenge the enemy with their help as well as the evidence of misdeeds in the domain that her father left behind.

Characters
Kiyohara Kaya as Nana
Originally the daughter of a samurai, she has gone into service with the Kazahaya family. When she learns that the man who set up Kazahaya Ichinoshin is the one who drove her father to commit ritual suicide by disembowelment, she takes on a powerful enemy in a high stakes game in order to protect Ichinoshin and his children.

Machida Keita as Kazahaya Ichinoshin
The head of the Kazahaya family. He serves as an accountant and aspires to change the domain’s administration which is in disarray. However, he gets on the wrong side because of that and is framed for something he did not do.

Tanimura Mitsuki as Sachi
Kazahaya Ichinoshin’s wife. She gently guides Nana like a younger sister but she falls ill and entrusts her husband and children to Nana.

Kitamura Yukiya as Todoroki Heikuro
He wields power from behind the scenes in the domain. He frames Kazahaya Ichinoshin, who stands up against the domain’s administration, in an ingenious way. However, he actually has a connection with the Kazahaya family … …

Matsuo Satoru as Dannoura Gohei
A wandering samurai whom Nana saved when he was on the verge of collapsing from hunger. He is actually a swordsman. He teaches Nana the basics of the sword to thank her for the 60 rice dumplings that he ate at that time.

Scriptwriters
Watanabe Mutsuki (Ichiro, Challenged Series, Genya)
Moriwaki Kyoko (Denshichi Torimonocho, Watashi o Mitsukete, Ginnikan)

Original Work
Hotarugusa by Hamuro Rin

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Official Website
www.bs-tvtokyo.co.jp/w-kenkei

Broadcast
From 9.00 p.m., Saturdays, 27 July 2019

Network
BS Tokyo

Story
A gathering of the top brass of the prefectural police headquarters, dubbed “Entaku Kaigi” or roundtable conference, is held in a special private room at Tamayoshien, the most exclusive Chinese restaurant in W Prefecture. One woman is summoned to this tremendously powerful roundtable, which is the highest decision-making body. She is an inspector called Matsunaga Nahoko. Nahoko pushes herself every day with the intention of becoming a member of this roundtable in order to pave the way for female police officers in the prefectural police which remains chauvinistic and old-fashioned. Her job is a position that can be called “police among the police” and she exposes mistakes and the truth about cases to clean up issues before they become detrimental to the prefectural police. She holds her own with female police officers in the various police precincts, making full use of her powers of observation and insight. However, none of them are easy women. Even so, Nahoko is broad-minded enough to be tolerant with an eye toward joining the Entaku Kaigi. But each woman seems to have some sort of secret … …

Characters
Ashina Sei as Matsunaga Nahoko
An inspector called the “police of police”. She was promoted to Senior Superintendent and became the first female member of a roundtable meeting. She aims to reform W Prefectural Police.

Sato Hitomi as Kumakura Sei
A police sergeant with W Prefecture’s Narumi Police Precinct. Her father Kumakura Tetsu was also a police officer. He was a role model for police officers but died mysteriously.

Satsukawa Aimi as Katsuragi Chisa
A police sergeant with W Prefecture’s Nogura Police Precinct’s Community Safety Bureau. In high school, she placed third in the prefecture for judo, but she could not do anything when she was molested because she is so reserved. She wants to become strong. She accused her superior of sexual harassment.

Tanimura Mitsuki as Kusaka Rinko
A police officer with W Prefecture’s Tatsusawa Police Precinct’s Criminal Investigations Division. She has special feelings for her boss Uehara who is in the same division.

Yuki Mio as Chiharu
She secretly has feelings for the veteran Nojiri Tsuneyuki from W Prefecture’s Forensics – Organisational Policy Division. She has a special ability to search out things because of her fine sense of smell.

Toda Naho as Kanei Satomi
A police sergeant with W Prefecture’s Hongo Police Precinct who is in charge of thieves. She is stressed about her work and family but even so she makes great effort every day because of juvenile crime. However, there is a grave secret behind this.

Suzuki Sawa as Takadera Sayuri
A police sergeant with W Prefecture’s Kitamoto Police Precinct’s Organised Crime Division. Although she is a detective, she is in a forbidden relationship with a member of a designated organised crime group. She tries to make this secret relationship work but … …

Tokoshima Yoshiko as Takizawa Sumie
A police sergeant with W Prefecture’s Hio Police Precinct’s Criminal Affairs Division. She once quit as a police officer and became a housewife. However, she returned to work after her husband developed depression. She turns herself in for killing her father who is a priest in a Catholic church, but … …

Ito Kazue as Shimoda Yuri
A police sergeant with W Prefecture’s Saruwatari Police Precinct’s Juvenile Division. A single mother who is strict in the upbringing of her daughter Anna. However, when Anna goes missing, Matsunaga Nahoko also gets involved and the hands of fate start to move … …

Scriptwriters
Izumisawa Yoko (Dairenai, Itsumademo Shiroi Hane, Lunch no Akko-san)
Inoue Tete (Uwasa no Onna, Massage Tantei Joe)
Miura Hayato (Shitsuji Saionji no Meisuiri Series, Prison Hotel, Umi ni Furu)

Original Work
W Kenkei no Higeki by Hamanaka Aki

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Official Website
www.nhk.or.jp/drama/dodra/sagideka

Broadcast
From 9.00 p.m., Saturdays, 31 August 2019

Network
NHK

Story
Detective Imamiya Karen belongs to the Second Investigation Division which is in charge of white-collar crime. She thoroughly and single-mindedly investigates and tracks down criminals wherever they are on her bike. Her secret investigation pays off, allowing her colleagues including Moriyasu Shingo to burst into a secret operations base and successfully arrest the criminals behind a bank transfer scam. However, this bunch are at the bottom of the organisation and do not know anything about the higher-ups who have the large sums of money. In an interrogation with Imamiya, one of the young men called Kaji Hayato starts to make a strange claim that their “job” is of help to society. Imamiya’s section chief Tezuka Kenzo proposes that Imamiya let Kaji go free in the hope that he will make contact with the top. This is the start of Imamiya’s long “game” with Kaji. Meanwhile, Imamiya meets Meguriya Makoto, a well-known entrepreneur, at the yakitori shop that her grandmother Shinobu runs and the two of them hit it off … …

Characters
Kimura Fumino as Imamiya Karen
An assistant inspector who specialises in investigating special types of fraud such as bank transfer scams. She feels strongly about arresting those behind these scams and closes in on these criminals through single-minded and thorough investigations. She is perturbed that she has been rather easily reduced to tears lately. Motorbikes are her interest.

Mashima Hidekazu as Moriyasu Shingo
An assistant inspector who is diligent, competent and handsome. He has been told by Imamiya Karen that he will not understand someone’s feelings.

Endo Kenichi as Tezuka Kenzo
An inspector. Imamiya Karen’s section head. He leads the investigation of bank transfer scams. He proposes letting Kaji Hayato go free to find out whether he will make contact with the higher-ups in his organisation.

Tsurumi Shingo as Kitahara Soichiro
A superintendent. The director of the division. He is a little worried about the time and and budget for the investigation, and is reluctant to start it from bottom up.

Takasugi Mahiro as Kaji Hayato
One of the criminals in the bank transfer scam, he plays the role of the person who makes the phone calls and cheats people. He grew up in unfortunate circumstances and gets involved in fraud in his attempt to succeed in society. Even after he is arrested, he insists that his actions were justified. However, a strange relationship of trust gradually grows between him and Imamiya Karen.

Nagatsuka Keishi as Head guy
A dispassionate man who manages several hideouts and practically runs the organisation.

Aoki Munetaka as Meguriya Makoto
A well-known entrepreneur who is dedicated to the development of new drugs. He makes Imamiya Karen’s acquaintance through motorbikes and they oddly hit it off.

Scriptwriter
Adachi Naoko (Kinou Nani Tabeta?, Toumeina Yurikago, Daibinbo)

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Followers
Date: Beginning of 2020
Network: Netflix
Scriptwriter: –
Cast: Nakatani Miki, Ikeda Eliza, Kaneko Nobuaki, Itaya Yuka, Komu Ai, Nakashima Mika, Yutaro, Uesugi Shuhei, Natsuki Mari
Synopsis: Nara Rimi (Nakatani Miki), an established and popular photographer, meets Momota Natsume (Ikeda Eliza) who has come to Tokyo with dreams of becoming an actress. Although Natsume suffers setbacks, she grows from these experiences in this story about the lifestyles of women whose lives intersect in this world dominated by social media.
Website: www.netflix.com/jp/title/80233221

Kokoro no Kizu o Iyasu to Iu Koto^*NEW*
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Saturdays, 18 January 2020
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Kuwahara Ryoko
Cast: Emoto Tasuku, Ono Machiko, Hamada Gaku, Moriyama Naotaro, Cho Tamiyasu, Asaka Kodai, Kamikawa Shusaku, Hamada Mari, Hiraiwa Kami, Ishibashi Ryo, Kimura Midoriko, Kondo Masaomi
Synopsis: An Kazutaka (Emoto Tasuku) is a young, bashful psychiatrist whose jazz piano skills are as good as a pro. He also has a love for records and books. He searches for his place in the world in his youth. But when he meets the cheerful Shuko (Ono Machiko), who becomes his wife, he finally feels at peace with himself. Right after they have their first child, the Great Hanshin Earthquake strikes. Although his family is affected by the disaster, he begins to search for what he can do as a psychiatrist. As he listens to the stories of disaster victims, he realises that he can help not by treating them, but restoring their capacity to heal. Later on, he compiles his observations of the disaster-hit area as a psychiatrist into a book, and wins a prize for social sciences. He sees this as a positive sign. However, one day when he is 39, he discovers that he has cancer.
Website: –

Kirin ga Kuru
Date: From 8.00 p.m., Sundays, 5 January 2020
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Ikehata Shunsaku (Soroban Samurai Kaze no Ichibei, Natsume Soseki no Tsuma, Kamogawa Shokudo)
Genre: Period
Cast: Hasegawa Hiroki, Kadowaki Mugi, Okamura Takashi, Ishikawa Sayuri, Nishimura Masahiko, Takahashi Katsunori, Uesugi Shozo, Omi Toshinori, Ito Hideaki, Sawajiri Erika, Sometani Shota, Sakai Masaaki, Motoki Masahiro, Kimura Fumino, Minami Kaho, Murata Takehiro, Tokushige Satoshi, Kataoka Ainosuke, Dan Rei, Sasaki Kuranosuke, Takito Kenichi, Tanihara Shosuke, Mashima Hidekazu, Yoshida Kotaro, Ichikawa Ebizo (narrator), Ono Machiko, Mukai Osamu, Kazama Shunsuke, Ibuki Goro
Synopsis: After the Onin War, the world is plunged into chaos. Amid this situation, heroes of the warring states begin to emerge in an attempt to unify the country and rule in these turbulent times. In the mid-1540s, there is a young wandering samurai in Mino which is strategically located between the East and West. His name is Akechi Mitsuhide (Hasegawa Hiroki). At this time, there is plenty of internal strife within the Toki clan which rules Mino. Surrounded by the Oda of Owari, the Imagawa of Suruga and the Asakura of Echizen, Mino has constantly faced the risk of invasion. Mitsuhide is pulled into battle and destroys the enemy. His bravery as well as stratagem catches the attention of Saito Toshimasa, the chief retainer of the Toki clan, and he is singled out. This man who is also known as Saito Dosan (Motoki Masahiro) will go on to takeover the Toki and make Mino his own.
Website: –

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Official Website
abema.tv/channels

Broadcast
From 11.00 p.m., Thursdays, 8 August 2019

Network
AbemaTV

Story
Kiriyama Tsubaki works for the public relations department of matchmaking app service Love Next. He is in love with Sorano Anne in the same team, and the two of them start dating after he agrees to her condition to keep their relationship a secret in office. Tsubaki’s family runs a traditional Japanese-style confection shop at Nihonbashi. However, his father is 100 million yen in debt and they are now stuck with the shop. One night while Tsubaki is walking on the street alone, Hanazono Sakura, the CEO of Love Next, shows up and he gets kissed all of a sudden. Sakura declares that she is great at business and at kissing, and orders him to come to her office the next day. When Tsubaki visits the CEO office, Sakura makes a shocking proposal to him, “Marry me for 1 million yen!” Tsubaki gets married to her, but he is unable to break off his relationship with Anne and they continue to have secret dates in the apartment that he has vacated. He has only confided in his colleague, Kang Yungu, from the Public Relations Department that he and Anne are dating. Although Tsubaki manages to evade Sakura’s persistent monitoring, Sakura gets wind of this and begins to take drastic action.

Characters
Mizuno Miki as Hanazono Sakura
The 42-year-old female CEO of Love Next, the matchmaking app company for people in their 40s. It has annual sales of 10 billion yen. She searches for a man who fits her requirements in order to boost the company’s image, and will stop at nothing to achieve her goals.

Koike Teppei as Kiriyama Tsubaki
A handsome employee who used to be an amateur magazine model and currently works at Love Next’s Public Relations Department. His parents run a traditional Japanese-style confection shop which is facing financial difficulties. He has a delightful personality and is trusted within the company.

Matsumoto Marika as Sorano Anne
A beautiful lady works at Love Next’s Public Relations Department. She and Kiriyama Tsubaki are secretly having an office romance. She is pure and innocent and liked by everyone.

Kote Shinya as Tsukushi Hajime
The secretary of Love Next’s CEO Hanazono Sakura. He is an extreme masochist who was picked up from the garbage dump by Sakura. He is active behind the scenes for Sakura’s sake in order to get “rewards”.

Tanaka Minami as Igawa Hitomi
An employee who works at Love Next’s Public Relations Department. Sorano Anne’s colleague and good friend. A fad follower, she is well-informed about company matters and romance, and is Anne’s confidant.

Scriptwriter
Suzuki Osamu (Meishi Game, Nou ni Sumaho ga Umerareta!, Ubai Ai Fuyu)

Related Post:

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Official Website
www.nhk.or.jp/drama/yoru/doruota

Broadcast
From 11.30 p.m., Saturdays, 27 July 2019

Network
NHK

Story
Endo Ai, an office lady approaching 30, is a little exhausted and pushed to the limit amid the competition to look good on social media and appear superior to her friends every day. Her boyfriend finds this disgraceful and she gets dumped. One day, Ai goes to retrieve her smartphone which she had lost while in despair from the person who had picked it up, and heads to a live music club. There is a live event for an underground idol group called Sunny Side Up in the midst of unusually excited fans. Ai spots one of the members, Kurimoto Hana, who flashes awkward smiles and is terrible at singing and dancing. Although Ai feels irritated by how awkward Hana is, she can identify with her. Moved by Hana’s earnestness she eventually comes to think of Hana as her favourite member and starts to turn out frequently at live events to support her. However, this is precisely the start of “swampy fandom”. Ai gets stuck deep in this morass which is a far cry from her days dressing as a office lady. But the more she gets hooked, the more their relationship begins to go wrong. Was their encounter good or bad fortune?

Characters
Sakurai Yuki as Endo Ai
A woman in her 30s who wants to have other people’s affirmation. She feels anxious if she does not have other people’s affirmation and will not think something is good unless everyone says so. She wants to seems satisfied with her real life but feels frustrated. She gets dumped by her fiance and when she is at the lowest point in her life, she meets Kurimoto Hana, an underground idol. She gains courage from Hana who aspires to become a major idol and decides to give Hana her full support.

Shiraishi Sei as Kurimoto Hana
A member of the idol group Sunny Side Up. Endo Ai becomes her fan. In addition to being terrible and dancing and singing, she has a fear of strangers. However, she keeps her feelings to herself more than anyone else. Fortune begins to smile on her because of her encounter with Ai.

Hosoda Yoshihiko as Azukisawa Hiromu
A central figure among the fans. He is a fan of Hara Karin, the leader of Sunny Side Up. He says a lot of offensive things but he is a likable and good guy.

Murasugi Seminosuke as Shiiba Takafumi
A lawyer who ranks senior among the fans. He teaches Endo Ai how to act like a fan and kindly watches over everyone.

Scriptwriter
Morishita Yoshiko (Gibo to Musume no Blues, Onna Joshu Naotora, Tenno no Ryoriban)

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Eru^*UPDATED*
Date: Spring 2020
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Hayashi Koji (Headhunter, Sniffer Series, Cold Case Season 1)
Cast: Kubota Masataka, Nikaido Fumi, Karasawa Toshiaki, Kikuchi Momoko, Sakumoto Takara, Kazama Morio, Yamazaki Ikusaburo, Nakamura Aoi, Moriyama Naotaro
Synopsis: In 1909, a long-awaited baby boy was born to a family (Karasawa Toshiaki, Kikuchi Momoko) which has run a dry goods store for generations in Fukushima Prefecture. He would later become the talented composer Koyama Yuichi (Kubota Masataka) who wrote many famous songs. Although Yuichi was brought up as the heir of the business, he was rather dreamy and considered a child with no redeeming traits by the people around him. However, when he encountered music, it sparked joy and unleashed his gift in composing music through self-study. As a youth, Yuichi secretly put his name down for an overseas songwriting competition. This would change his destiny. He won runner-up for the song he entered for the competition. As a result, he got to know Sekiuchi Oto (Nikaido Fumi), a female student who wanted to be a singer. Despite the long distance between them – Fukushima and Toyohashi – they tied the knot. When Yuichi and Oto came to Tokyo, they met all sorts of people and weathered a dark period to produce a number of hit songs. However, war broke out and Yuichi had to compose wartime songs at the army’s request. It pained him that young men died in battle after singing the songs he had written. After the war, the country began to recover amid the chaos. The couple made a new era of music in an attempt to encourage the wounded through the power of music.
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Hanzawa Naoki Season 2
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Sundays, April 2020
Network: TBS
Scriptwriter: Ushio Kentaro (Shitamachi Rocket Season 2, Black Pean, Chiisana Kyojin)
Original Works: Lost Generation no Gyakushuu and Ginyoku no Icarus by Ikeido Jun
Cast: Sakai Masato
Synopsis: Hanzawa Naoki (Sakai Masato) is seconded from Tokyo Chuo Banking Corporation to Tokyo Central Securities.
Website: –
Related: Hanzawa Naoki Season 1

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Official Website
www4.nhk.or.jp/P5835

Broadcast
From 10.00 p.m., Sundays, 8 September 2019

Network
NHK BS Premium

Story
In 1994, the maverick Kamijo Keisuke, who has become a professional shogi player without going through the apprentice association after switching from the business world, challenges six-time title holder Mibu Yoshiki. He wins in the early stages of the game. At the same moment, a skeleton is discovered in the mountains of Saitama Prefecture. Detective Ishiba Tsuyoshi of Saitama Prefectural Police’s First Investigation Division and Sano Naoko, who has become a police officer after withdrawing from the apprentice association under the Japan Shogi Association, search for the owner of a famous shogi piece that was buried together with the dead body. As Keisuke is being interviewed by a shogi magazine, he recalls his childhood when he picked up a shogi magazine that was thrown out as rubbish in his hometown of Suwa in Nagano Prefecture. Back in 1972, Keisuke was a poor elementary school student. With the wholehearted support of a retired teacher called Karasawa Koichiro, he quickly grew fascinated with shogi. He soon met the legendary Tomei Shigeyoshi, who went by the nickname “demon slayer” and plays shogi for big money. This started turning the gears of their destinies.

Characters
Chiba Yudai as Kamijo Keisuke
An up-and-coming shogi player who became a professional without going through the apprentice association. He holds the rank of sixth-dan. He challenges six-time title holder Mibu Yoshiki. Born and raised in Suwa in Nagano Prefecture, he had to do work such as newspaper delivery since he was an elementary school student because he lived in poverty. When he was 10, he met Karasawa Koichiro, and was introduced to shogi.

Emoto Akira as Karasawa Koichiro
Kamijo Keisuke’s benefactor. A former teacher who served as principal until his retirement. He taught a young Keisuke shogi, took care of the boy together with his wife as if he were their own child, and provided him both material and emotional support.

Renbutsu Misako as Sano Naoko
A police officer who works for the Community Affairs Division of the Saitama Prefectural Police’s Tokorozawa Kita Police Precinct. A former member of the Japan Shogi Association, she finds out that the shogi piece discovered with the skeleton is a valuable piece. She is partnered with Ishiba Tsuyoshi in the investigation.

Otomo Kohei as Ishiba Tsuyoshi
A veteran detective of Saitama Prefectural Police’s First Investigation Division. He travels across the country together with Sano Naoko to find out where the shogi piece came from. At first, he treats Naoko harshly but he gradually changes his mind.

Shibukawa Kiyohiko as Kamijo Yoichi
Kamijo Keisuke’s father. He work as a miso maker in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture. However, after his wife passed away when Keisuke was in second grade in elementary school, he drank and blew all his money on gambling. He could not even give his son a decent meal and eventually abandoned him.

Takenaka Naoto as Karasawa Koichiro
An extraordinary shogi player. Nicknamed “demon slayer”, he used to be a well-known amateur. But he is no longer in the mainstream and plays shogi for big money.

Scriptwriter
Kuroiwa Tsutomu (Maison de Police, Monte Cristo Haku, Kizoku Tantei)

Original Work
Banjo no Himawari by Yuzuki Yuko

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Seiten o Tsuke^*NEW*
Date: January 2021
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Omori Mika (Mikaiketsu no Onna Series, Kono Koe o Kimi ni, Asa ga Kita)
Cast: Yoshizawa Ryo
Synopsis: Shibusawa Eiichi, the man whose face will be on Japan’s new 10,000 yen bill, is known as the father of Japanese capitalism. He was involved in the founding of almost 500 companies, and at the same time some 600 social welfare organisations. Shibusawa lived in a time of turbulent change. He began as an advocate of anti-foreign sentiment, but recognising the momentum of history he came to embrace Western ideas. Born to a farming family in a rural area, Shibusawa became a vassal of the last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu. But with the demise of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1868, he found himself unemployed. Shibusawa ended up serving the new Meiji government despite himself. After waging a great battle in the political arena, he eventually resigned at the age of 33 and became a civilian. As an industrialist, he kicked off towering reforms, founding what was needed and laying the foundation for modern Japan – banking, insurance, paper manufacturing, railway, shipping, gas and electricity. Guided by the teachings of Confucious, which he had learned since young, Shibusawa was able to rise above adversity no matter how the situation changed. In his later years, he focused his energy on serving public interest and was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
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