Hanbun, Aoi
Date: From 8.00 a.m., Monday – Fridays, 2 April 2018
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Kitagawa Eriko (Unmei ni Nita Koi, Sunao ni Narenakute, Orange Days)
Cast: Nagano Mei, Sato Takeru, Matsuyuki Yasuko, Takito Kenichi, Harada Tomoyo, Tanihara Shosuke, Kamimura Kaisei, Yamoto Yuma, Nao, Yo Kimiko, Fubuki Jun, Nakamura Masatoshi, Rokkaku Seiji, Hirooka Yuriko, Yamoto Yuma, Takagi Wataru, Iketani Nobue, Toyokawa Etsushi, Igawa Haruka, Seino Nana, Shison Jun, Nakamura Tomoya, Furuhata Seika
Synopsis: In 1971, the year after the Osaka Exposition, a girl called Nireno Suzume was born to the owners of a small eatery in a town in Gifu Prefecture’s Tono region. She was a healthy child who ran around the hills and fields every day. But when Suzume was an elementary school student, she ended up losing her hearing in one ear because of an illness. Her loving parents Utaro (Takito Kenichi) and Haru (Matsuyuki Yasuko) and childhood friend Hagio Ritsu (Sato Takeru) born on the same day at the same hospital were the ones who give her encouragement. After graduating from high school, Suzume (Nagano Mei) sets her sights on writing manga for girls with her unique creative powers and leaves for Tokyo which is in the middle of the bubble economy. Put through training by her teacher Akikaze Haori (Toyokawa Etsushi), she tries hard to improve herself by learning from fellow assistants and devoting herself to studying but soon faces setbacks. Suzume gets married and has a daughter but the family finances are dire. She ends up divorcing her husband who is a dreamer. The bubble economy bursts before she realises it and enters a period of low growth. After repeated failure, Suzume returns to her hometown as a single mother. What awaits her will become an unexpected turning point in her life … …
Website: www.nhk.or.jp/hanbunaoi
The Confidence Man JP
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Mondays, April 2018
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Kosawa Ryota (Date Series, Legal High Series, Suzuki Sensei Series)
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Nagasawa Masami, Higashide Masahiro, Kohinata Fumiyo
Synopsis: Dako (Nagasawa Masami) is a confidence trickster who has a weakness for money, fashion and delicious food. With her intelligence and extraordinary powers of concentration, she can master even profound specialised knowledge in a short time and become a “professional”. Together with the timid Boku-chan (Higashide Masahiro) and seasoned veteran Richard (Kohinata Fumiyo), she works as a team to extort money from the money-mad including CEOs of unscrupulous companies and mafia bosses by using whatever means possible. Once they set their sights on someone, the target never gets away. At times, they even trick their allies with excellent teamwork and crazy tactics.
Website: www.fujitv.co.jp/confidenceman_jp
Konda Teru no Gouhou Recipe
Date: From 6 March 2018
Network: Amazon Prime
Scriptwriters: Inoue Kiyoshi (Seisei Suru Hodo Ai Shiteru), Kanda Yu (Inochi Urimasu, Sauce-san no Koi, Loveho no Ueno-san Series)
Original Work: Konda Teru no Gouhou Recipe by Umada Isuke
Genre: Food comedy
Cast: Ryusei Ryo, Yamamoto Maika, Aoyagi Sho, Kato Shinsuke, Uchiyama Shinji, Kimura Ryo, Honkon, Tsubokura Yoshiyuki, Inaba Yu, Musaka Naomasa, YOUNG DAIS, Komiya Arisa, Shinoda Mariko, Ogi Shigemitsu, Nakano Hideo, Ozawa Hitoshi
Synopsis: Konda Teru (Ryusei Ryo) is a third-year high school student and gang member of the Shimofuriniku-gumi. He lives with death in a world of guns, torture and fighting, but gunpowder smoke can make him think of mackerel grilled with salt. Konda attends school with classmate Haru Maki (Yamamoto Maika). Despite being faced with the dangers to his life and swamped by schoolwork, he takes inspiration from his day and creates exquisite food daily with wild imagination. This food gets him through difficult gang situations, at times sparks love and even saves people’s lives.
Website: –
Preview: Konda Teru no Gouhou Recipe Teaser
Kunoichi Ninpocho Hotarubi
Date: From 8.00 p.m., Tuesdays, April 2018
Station: BS Japan
Scriptwriter: Dobashi Akihiro
Original Work: Ninpocho Soutou no Washi by Yamada Futaro
Genre: Period
Cast: Becky
Synopsis: During the reign of the fifth shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the Negoro-gumi, a group of three beautiful female ninjas took action against the various domains which threatened the Shogunate. They are Okei (Becky), who looks like an ordinary girl in town at first glance, and fellow ninjas Omiyo and Otama.
Website: www.bs-j.co.jp/official/hotarubi
Hana Nochi Hare ~ Hanadan Next Season
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Tuesdays, April 2018
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Yoshida Erika (Dansui!)
Original Work: Hana Nochi Hare by Kamio Yoko
Genre: School romance
Cast: Sugisaki Hana, Hirano Sho, Nakagawa Taishi, Hamada Tatsuomi, Iitoyo Marie, Imada Mio, Suzuki Jin, Nakata Keisuke
Synopsis: Edogawa Oto (Sugisaki Hana) is a student at Eitoku Senior High School. She was the daughter of the company president of Edo Quality, a large cosmetics manufacturer, but her life completely changed after it went bankrupt. Her father now works away from home and she lives with her mother. Oto works part-time at a convenience store to support the family and is in charge of all the housework. She is supposed to marry her childhood friend Hase Tenma (Nakagawa Taishi), who is the popular student council president of the rival Momonozono Academy, when she turns 18. But the condition is that she has to attend Eitoku Senior High School until then.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/hana_hare
Tokusou 9*NEW*
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Wednesdays, April 2018
Network: TV Asahi
Scriptwriter: –
Genre: Detective
Cast: Inohara Yoshihiko, Hada Michiko, Tsuda Kanji, Fukikoshi Mitsuru, Taguchi Hiromasa, Hara Sachie, Nakagoshi Noriko, Terao Akira
Synopsis: The Ninth Unit of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigative Division led by Kano Rintaro solved difficult cases through teamwork. But the members were disbanded and went their separate ways after Rintaro was deployed to the Cabinet’s Counter-Terrorism Office. However, after one year, the police commissioner (Satomi Kotaro) orders the formation of an independent investigation team to swiftly crack cases from the initial investigation to turning over suspects to the public prosecutor’s office. And so, Asawa Naoki (Inohara Yoshihiko), Komiyama Shiho (Hada Michiko), Murase Kengo (Tsuda Kanji) and other former members of the Ninth Unit get back together. The new leader of this investigation unit is Munakata Sakutaro (Terao Akira), a man of many mysteries, who worked in the personnel division but retired several years ago due to some incident. He has returned to the police force after persuasion from the police commissioner. Even his reinstatement has been kept under wraps for some reason.
Website: www.tv-asahi.co.jp/tokusou9
Kioku
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Wednesdays, 21 March 2018
Network: Fuji Next & J:COM
Scriptwriter: Kanbayashi Marie (Love Song)
Original Work: Memory by Kim Ji-Woo
Genre: Family
Cast: Nakai Kiichi, Yuka, Izumisawa Yuki, Imada Mio, Moro Morooka, Kawano Naoki, Kizuki Hajime, Miyazawa Shu, Ochii Miyuko, Maruyama Tomomi, Miura Takahiro, Otaka Akira, Aijima Kazuyuki, Yamanaka Takashi, Onishi Takeshi, Mizuhashi Kenji, Kubo Akira, Kusamura Reiko, Ishimaru Kenjiro, Matsushita Yuki
Synopsis: Honjo Hidehisa (Nakai Kiichi), a successful lawyer in his 50s, is found to have an early onset of Alzheimer’s. He forgets memories which he ought to remember and constantly recalls those that he wants to forget. One incident he wishes to forget is the death of his son in a car accident 15 years ago. The culprit still has not been caught. Honjo has not faced up to the past until now. He has only thought of work and neglected his new family (Yuka, Miyazawa Shu, Ochii Miyuko). But as he gradually begins to lose his memories, he devotes his remaining life to exposing his past and taking on his final case.
Website: www.kioku-drama.jp
Seigi no Se
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Wednesdays, April 2018
Station: NTV
Scriptwriter: Matsuda Yuko (Tokyo Tarareba Musume, Hanasaki Mai ga Damattenai Series, Hotel Concierge)
Original Work: Seigi no Se Series by Agawa Sawako
Cast: Yoshitaka Yuriko, Yasuda Ken, Miura Shohei, Hirose Alice, Tsukaji Muga, Hirano Kinari, Miyazaki Yoshiko, Osugi Ren, Namase Katsuhisa
Synopsis: 29-year-old Takemura Ririko (Yoshitaka Yuriko) is the eldest daughter of a tofu shop owner (Namase Katsuhisa) in Tokyo’s traditional working class neighbourhood and a junior prosecutor who is in her second year at the Yokohama District Public Prosecutor’s Office. While she is swamped with work, she is pressed by her boyfriend to choose between marriage and work, discovers her father’s alleged affair, and the possibility that a suspect whom she indicted is innocent … …
Website: www.ntv.co.jp/seigi-no-se
Monte Cristo Haku ~ Kareinaru Fukushuu
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Thursdays, April 2018
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Kuroiwa Tsutomu (Juuyou Sankonin Tantei, Kizoku Tantei, Boku no Yabai Tsuma)
Original Work: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Genre: Revenge
Cast: Dean Fujioka, Okura Tadayoshi, Yamamoto Mizuki, Arai Hirofumi, Takahashi Katsunori
Synopsis: In a small fishing town, Saimon Dan (Dean Fujioka) is to marry Meguro Sumire (Yamamoto Mizuki) whom he loves and is overjoyed. Meanwhile, Dan gets sent to jail in a foreign land to save the necks of Nanjo Yukio (Okura Tadayoshi), his love rival who tries to steal his fiancee; Kagura Kiyoshi (Arai Hirofumi), his colleague who is jealous of his career progression; and Iruma Kohei (Takahashi Katsunori), a police officer with some situation. Locked away for a crime he did not commit for 15 years, Dan is robbed of a future with Sumire. He escapes prison life through unexpected luck. Then he amasses immense wealth and makes a comeback as a different person. With his intellect and great fortune, Dan takes bold, elaborate revenge against the three men who set him up and ruined his life.
Website: www.fujitv.co.jp/MONTE-CRISTO
Shitsuji Saionji no Meitsuiri
Date: From 8.00 p.m., Fridays, April 2018
Station: TV Tokyo
Scriptwriter: Tanaka Shinichi (Keishichou Ikimono-gakari, Shachoushitsu no Fuyu, Kaiki Renai Sakusen)
Genre: Mystery
Cast: Kamikawa Takaya
Synopsis: Saionji Hajime (Kamikawa Takaya) is the perfect butler. He is exceedingly capable, perfectly attentive and absolutely loyal. He even complies with all the wishes of the elegant, refined “wife” of the Ijuuin family. Saionji has served her before the master of the family passed away and established a deep trust with her. He will literally go through fire and water and put everything on the line for her. One day, the two of them come across a murder. Reading her suspicions about the case, Saionji begins his own investigation. No matter how capable he is as a butler, he should be an amateur at investigating cases. However, nothing is impossible for Saionji who brilliantly figures out the mystery with his knowledge and skills.
Website: www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/shitsuji
Anata ni wa Kaeru Ie ga Aru
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Fridays, April 2018
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Oshima Satomi (Machi Koba no Onna, Hanamoyu, Taiyo no Wana)
Original Work: Anata ni wa Kaeru Ie ga Aru by Yamamoto Fumio
Genre: Family
Cast: Nakatani Miki, Tamaki Hiroshi, Santamaria Yusuke, Kimura Tae
Synopsis: Sato Mayumi (Nakatani Miki) has been married to Hideaki (Tamaki Hiroshi) for 13 years. The couple have a daughter Rena who has entered a private junior high school. Her school fees and miscellaneous expenses have squeezed the household budget. In order to maintain their lifestyle, Mayumi decides to go out and work for the first time since their marriage. However, Hideaki does not feel a sense of crisis and is also not supportive of her work or cooperate with household chores. This makes Mayumi unhappy with him. Meanwhile, Nasuda Taro (Santamaria Yusuke) and his wife Ayako (Kimura Tae) visit a show house of the property company which Hideaki works for. Hideaki is carried away by his attraction to Ayako who is the complete opposite of Mayumi. Ayako herself feels that meeting Hideaki is destiny. At home, the void between Mayumi and Hideaki deepens. He feels increasingly uncomfortable, the more she tries to work hard on her own for the sake of the family and ends up retreating into a forbidden romance with Ayako.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/anaie
Yami no Bansosha Season 2 ~ Henshuuchou no Jouken
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Saturdays, 31 March 2018
Station: WOWOW
Scriptwriter: Aso Kumiko (Cain & Abel, Zannenna Otto, Yami no Bansosha Season 1)
Original Work: Henshuuchou no Jouken by Nagasaki Takashi
Genre: Mystery
Cast: Furuta Arata, Matsushima Nao, Tsuda Kanji, Shiraishi Shunya, Konno Hiroki, Komiya Hironobu, Yagi Akiko, Nukumizu Yoichi, Nomaguchi Toru, Maeno Tomoya, Mano Kyoko, Morimoto Reo, Tanaka Min, Hiraizumi Sei, Iwamatsu Ryo
Synopsis: A legendary manga editor who once took the world by storm plunges to death from a building rooftop. The police quickly classify it as an accident because there was neither a suicide note nor any reason to suspect foul play. However, there are many riddles surrounding his death. His editorial staff and the people around him say he deserved to be killed. Was it murder or suicide? Investigator Mizuno Yuki (Matsushita Nao) teams up with Daigo Shinji (Furuta Arata), who happens to take over as the manga editor, to solve his death. Their clue is an old manga manuscript by an anonymous author which the late manga editor left behind. The two of them pursue the investigation and eventually get to the unsolved Shimoyama case which was the biggest post-war mystery.
Website: www.wowow.co.jp/dramaw/bansosha2
Related: Yami no Bansosha Season 1
Miss Devil ~ Jinji no Akuma
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Saturdays, April 2018
Station: NTV
Scriptwriter: –
Cast: Nanao, Sato Shori, Kimura Yoshino, Funakoshi Eiichiro, Nishida Toshiyuki, Wada Masato, Shiraishi Sei, Tsurumi Shingo
Synopsis: Tsubaki Mako (Nanano) is a coldhearted, merciless human resource consultant who is called the devil. She solves problems which can occur in a company such as sexual harassment, power harassment, factional fighting and monster employees with bold methods and a signature phrase “You have the right to quit this company”.
Website: www.ntv.co.jp/missdevil
Black Pean
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Sundays, April 2018
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Ushio Kentaro (Chiisana Kyojin, Mutsuu, Heat)
Original Work: Black Pean by Kaido Takeru
Genre: Medical
Cast: Ninomiya Kazunari
Synopsis: Tokai Seishiro (Ninomiya Kazunari), a surgeon who is a genius in suturing techniques, is a loner with no interest in career advancement and an eternal rank-and-file medical staff at Tojo University Medical Hospital. He is called the devil of the operating theatre by colleagues. While he prides himself for his 100% success rate, his arrogance constantly causes friction with the people around him. According to newly appointed doctor(s) from other universities, surgical skills are completely unnecessary. The latest surgical equipment is brought in in an attempt to introduce new forms of surgery. Questioning whether there is an ulterior motive, Tokai opposes it. Meanwhile, jousting for the truth hidden in a black haemostatic forceps called the “black pean” and Tokai’s own connection are both revealed.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/blackpean_tbs
Innocent Days
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Sundays, 18 March 2018
Station: WOWOW
Scriptwriter: Goto Noriko (Uso no Sensou, Kazoku no Katachi, Toshi Densetsu no Onna Series)
Original Work: Innocent Days by Hayami Kazumasa
Genre: Suspense
Cast: Tsumabuki Satoshi, Takeuchi Yuko, Arai Hirofumi, Yoshine Kyoko, Tomosaka Rie, Hasegawa Kyoko, Ikeuchi Hiroyuki, Yamanaka Takashi, Ashina Sei, Satsukawa Aimi, Kiyohara Kaya, Taguchi Hiromasa, Hara Hideko, Ishibashi Renji, Yo Kimiko
Synopsis: Sasaki Shinichi (Tsumabuki Satoshi) watches his childhood friend Tanaka Yukino (Takeuchi Yuko) receive the death sentence in court. She had set the apartment of the man whom she had dated on fire, and caused his wife and child to be burned to death. Shinichi’s intuition tells him that Yukino is not the real criminal. Wanting to save Yukino, he goes to meet the different people who know her, but hears about her bitter past wherever he goes. Meanwhile, Yukino waits dispassionately for the time of her death sentence which is drawing near. Prison guard Sadoyama Hitomi (Yoshine Kyoko) begins to be drawn to her for some reason … …
Website: www.wowow.co.jp/dramaw/innocentdays
Gakeppuchi Hotel!
Date: From 10.30 p.m., Sundays, April 2018
Station: NTV
Scriptwriter: Tsuchida Hideo (Kono Yo ni Tayasui Shigoto wa Nai, Saito-san Series)
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Iwata Takanori, Toda Erika
Synopsis: A once exclusive hotel in the outskirts well-known to only people in the know, is now on the brink of bankruptcy with a debt of 300 million yen, under the management of incapable and unmotivated staff. The diligent, rookie general manager Sakuri Sana (Toda Erika) is too young, the new patissier cannot read situations, the sous chef is obsessed with boat racing, the cleaner is an amenities thief, the bartender is always drunk and the assistant general manager is suspected of embezzlement. Then an unlikely young man Ukai Naoya (Iwata Takanori) shows up as a mysterious guest, and the staff who only have an abundance of pride, regard him disagreeably. No one knows just yet that his arrival will overturn everything about this hotel … …
Website: www.ntv.co.jp/gakehote
Miss Sherlock
Date: April 2018
Network: Hulu & HBO Asia
Scriptwriters: Marumo Akane (White Lab, Fukuie Keibuho no Aisatsu, Honboshi), Kotani Nobuaki, Masaike Yosuke (Massage Tantei Joe), Oikawa Mami (ST Aka to Shiro no Sousa File, Maruho no Onna, Summer Rescue), Mori Junichi (Hamon (Yakubyougami Series))
Genre: Investigative
Cast: Takeuchi Yuko, Kanjiya Shihori
Synopsis: What if Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson were in present day Japan? And what if they were both Japanese women – Sara Shelly Futaba (Takeuchi Yuko), an investigation consultant to the police department who solves bizarre and difficult cases, and Dr Wato Tachibana (Kanjiya Shihori), a surgeon recently returned from a volunteer doctors’ mission in Syria.
Website: –
Preview: Miss Sherlock Teaser
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