Teen actress Sakuraba Nanami (16) has been cast in the lead role of TV Asahi's drama special "Ghost Town no Hana." This is her first time starring in a show outside of cable television.

"Ghost Town no Hana" is based on a script that won last year's Shinjin Scenario Taisho, a competition for new screenwriters. The story is set in a failing new town, where a high school girl (Sakuraba) lives poorly with her father, his second wife, and the wife's two children. Through a friend, she meets a top-notch student and begins dating, but lacking in experience, she seeks advice from an otaku whose specialty is dating sim games.

Nagayama Kento, Haru, Katsumura Masanobu, and Watanabe Noriko also appear in the drama. The broadcast is scheduled for March 20 at 11:15pm.

Source: Tokyograph

Back in December it was announced that Eri Fukatsu will be starring in the live-action movie adaptation of two autobiographical manga by artist Rieko Saibara: Onnanoko Monogatari and Jōkyō Monogatari. Now the other major cast members have been announced, including younger versions of her own character, Natsumi Takahara.


High school-aged Natsumi: Suzuka Ohgo

Ohgo appeared in Isao Yukisada's 2004 film, Year One in the North and more recently played Mizuki in the 2008 Fuji TV drama, Shibatora. Later this year she will appear alongside Kenichi Matsuyama in Yoichi Sai's The Legend of Kamui.


Elementary school-aged Natsumi: Ei Morisako

Morisako has appeared in several TV dramas but is probably best known for playing a live-action version of Maruko in Fuji TV's Chibi Maruko-chan. While on set she was always cheerful and quickly took on the role of pace-setter.



The high school-aged versions of Natsumi's best friends will be played by two actress who have just recently been thrust to the forefront of the Japanese entertainment industry. Kii-chan will be played by Seventeen model Haru, who also has a role in the upcoming film Shugo Tenshi. Misa-chan will be played by Yuko Takayama, who recently made her film debut by starring in the live-action version of Rescue Wings.

Previously announced cast members include Seiji Fukushi, Jun Fubuki, Kaoru Okunuki, and Itsuji Itao. Toshiyuki Morioka (Another Lonely Hitman, Shinizokonai no Ao) directs.

Written by: NipponCinema - All credits to him.

On March 14 there is a romantic movie opening in the cinemas that uses a bit different source material than any other love story so far. While nowadays most Japanese romantic movies and doramas are based on books, mangas or mobile phone novels, this movie steps out of the line by being based on a piggy bank by Bandai.

The movie is called "Ikemen Bank" and director Terauchi Kotaro based the story on the new piggy bank for girls that is shaped like a heart with a little LCD screen at the front. Add money to the bank and various pictures of "ikemen" (handsome and cool men) appear on the screen complimenting the girl or asking for a kiss.

With this the main character of the story is Yamamura Yuri played by young actress Haru who finds herself in the center of a love triangle, no, love hexagon. Not less than 5 guys fell for her and are trying to get her attention and to win her heart. The 5 guys are played by Yanagi Kotaro, Kotani Yoshikazu, Nishi Koichiro, Takiguchi Yukihiro and newly-added D-BOYZ member Yamada Yusuke.

As for the main actress Haru, she's 17 years old and played more or less bigger roles in the movie and dorama versions of "Koizora" and in the movie "Rock'n Roll Diet". Other minor works include roles in "14-sai no haha", "watashitachi no kyoukasho" and "33-pun tantei".


Trailer for Ikemen Bank:


Written by: jyoyu.blogspot.com / Source: Nippon Cinema
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