Kyoko Fukada has been announced as a cast member in NTV's upcoming drama series that stars Tomoya Nagase as a swindler recruited as a government spy. The show was first revealed last month, but it still does not have an official title.

Previous reports said that the show would include a "Bond girl"-type character named Dorothy. It was recently confirmed that fashion model Anne has been cast as the "Bond girl," but it appears that Dorothy is actually a different character that will be played by Fukada.

The character of Dorothy, also a member of Nagase's team, has been established as an elite spy with previous experience as part of the UK's intelligence agency MI6. Like Nagase, Fukada's role will require her to dress up in various disguises, such as a nurse, a bus guide, and a nun.

Nagase and Fukada's last drama series together was "Kanojo ga Shinjatta" in 2004. This new one will start next month on Saturday nights.

Copied from Tokyograph.

Director Isao Yukisada is working on a screen adaptation of author Shuichi Yoshida's first full-length novel, "Parade," which won the Yamamoto Shugoro Prize in 2002.

Yukisada has apparently been hoping to make a movie out of the book ever since it was published in 2002. The story revolves around an unusual group of five young adults living together in a 2LDK apartment (two bedrooms, living room, dining room, and kitchen). Despite sharing such a small space, it turns out in the end that they really don't know much about each other.

Yukisada has assembled a talented young cast for the movie. Tatsuya Fujiwara stars as Naoki, an employee of a film distribution company. Karina plays the illustrator Miki, while Shihori Kanjiya is the unemployed Kotomi and Keisuke Koide is the college student Ryosuke. Around the same time that a string of disturbing incidents occurs in their neighborhood, Miki meets a male prostitute named Satoru (Kento Hayashi), who ends up also living in the apartment.

In addition to directing, Yukisada wrote the screenplay for the adaptation. Filming started on May 15 and will continue until mid-June. The movie is currently scheduled for release in 2010.

Copied from Tokyograph.
All credits to them!

According to the newest issue of Josei Seven, actress Fukada Kyoko (26) was seen on a date with Waseda University pitcher Saito Yuki (20). In mid-February, the two reportedly ate together in a private room at a well-known yakiniku restaurant. Fukada was also said to be staring at Saito and holding his hand at one point.

The popular Saito earned the nickname "handkerchief prince" a couple years ago for the blue handkerchief he used to wipe his sweat as he led his high school Waseda Jitsugyo to its first Koshien win. He apparently met Fukada through a popular health clinic that they both frequent.

When asked about the article, Fukada's management denied the rumors of romance, saying that Fukada and Saito had gone to the restaurant as part of a larger group and that there is nothing between them.

Source: Tokyograph

In preparation for its annual Drama Grand Prix, Nikkan Sports already conducted voting for the 2009 winter season earlier this month. A total of 13,613 votes were collected. The big winner this time was NTV's "Kami no Shizuku," which starred KAT-TUN member Kamenashi Kazuya. The show picked up all four categories it was eligible for, leaving Kanno Miho to win for Best Actress.

Best Drama:

1. Kami no Shizuku - 4376
2. Uta no Oniisan - 3950
3. Zeni Geba - 1207
4. RESCUE - 876
5. Voice - 864

1. Kanno Miho (Kiina) - 5136
2. Eikura Nana (Mei-chan no Shitsuji) - 2330
3. Nakama Yukie (Arifureta Kiseki) - 2012
4. Minamisawa Nao (Akai Ito) - 880
5. Izumi Pinko (Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari) - 805

1. Naka Riisa (Kami no Shizuku) - 2310
2. Katase Nana (Uta no Oniisan) - 2007
3. Kimura Yoshino (Uta no Oniisan) - 1464
4. Mimura (Zeni Geba) - 919
5. Ishihara Satomi (Voice) - 773

1. Kamenashi Kazuya (Kami no Shizuku) - 4637
2. Ohno Satoshi (Uta no Oniisan) - 4154
3. Matsuyama Kenichi (Zeni Geba) - 1387
4. Mizushima Hiro (Mei-chan no Shitsuji) - 625
5. Nakamaru Yuichi (RESCUE) - 554

1. Tanabe Seiichi (Kami no Shizuku) - 2104
2. Maruyama Ryuhei (Uta no Oniisan) - 1891
3. Ikuta Toma (Voice) - 1782
4. Masuda Takahisa (RESCUE) - 870
5. Sato Takeru (Mei-chan no Shitsuji) - 844

Despite a 20-year age difference, comedian Imada Koji (43) and actress Kato Rosa (23) seem to be the latest couple outed by weekly magazine FRIDAY. According to this week's issue, the pair were seen on a date in Tokyo late last month.

Imada and Kato spent about three hours on their date, which included a meal at a sushi restaurant. They were later seen sharing an umbrella in the rain, but the date ended when Kato took a taxi by herself.

The two first worked together on the NTV drama series "Africa no Tsume" in 2004-2005, but they have also appeared in variety shows since then.

Although Imada is 43, this is the first time that he has been romantically linked to someone. Kato, on the other hand, was previously reported to be dating actor Hiroshi Tamaki, and was also later seen on a date with KAT-TUN's Jin Akanishi.

Neither Imada's nor Kato's agency has offered a comment on the FRIDAY article.

Source: Tokyograph

Actress Shaku Yumiko has been given the lead in the upcoming NTV drama series "LOVE GAME." The show is based on the debut novel of TV writer Adachi Motoichi, who is better known for working on the scripts of variety shows like "Odoru! Sanma Goten" and "Kiseki Taiken! Unbelievable." The novel goes on sale at the end of this month.

"LOVE GAME" revolves around a secret game in which the participants can win 100 million yen if they succeed at a love-related task. However, no one has ever succeeded in the game before.

Shaku plays the beautiful but mysterious "dealer" of the game. The challenges she presents to the contestants, who are constantly monitored, include tasks such as "get your wife to sign divorce papers within 8 hours" and "steal your friend's boyfriend within 3 days."

The guests on the show include Shioya Shun and Kitagawa Hiromi in the first episode, and Inoue Waka in the second episode. NTV will broadcast the series on Thursday nights at 11:58pm, starting on April 23.

Source: Tokyograph

Fuji TV's 2008 drama series "Loss Time Life" is returning in the form of a mobile phone drama. A five-minute episode, starring Tanimura Mitsuki, is being created by mobile operator KDDI and media company ROBOT Communications. This is the first time that a mobile phone company has led production on a drama.

The original "Loss Time Life," which aired from February to April 2008, was an omnibus drama series dealing with people on the verge of death who are granted extra time before they die (based on the idea of stoppage time in soccer).

KDDI will distribute the episode on its LISMO Channel and other sites, starting in April.

Source: Tokyograph

Kabuki actor Nakamura Kantaro (27) and actress Maeda Ai (25) have settled on a month for their wedding ceremony. The couple, whose engagement was revealed in early January, plan to hold their wedding at a Tokyo hotel at the end of October. They will have their formal engagement ceremony next month.

The exact date has not been chosen yet, but it is expected to be during the last week of October. October 26 is a strong possibility, as it will be a taian (good fortune) day.

Source: Tokyograph

Actress Okina Megumi (29) is getting married again. She revealed on her official blog that she is currently four months pregnant, and she plans to register the marriage in the coming days.

Her fiance is a 29-year-old salaryman that she has been dating since 2007, around the time that she began writing her autobiography that was published last April.

Okina was previously married to Cyber Agent president Fujita Susumu from January 2004 until July 2005. However, they never had children during their marriage.

Source: Tokyograph

Popular young actor Ikuta Toma has a solo starring role in a drama series for the first time. The show, titled "Majo Saiban," will be the first drama to tackle the issue of Japan's new "saiban-in" (lay judge) system.

This May, Japan is reintroducing the jury system, which was previously abolished in 1943. Since then, only judges have decide the outcome of criminal cases, but under the new system, cases will be decided by a combination of judges and lottery-selected citizens.

In "Majo Saiban," Ikuta plays a typical part-timer with little interest in social issues. However, he is unexpectedly chosen as a juror in the trial of a suspected female murderer. While the mystery surrounding the case unfolds, an unknown group is secretly attempting to bribe the jury.

Actress Kato Ai plays a housewife who is also selected as a juror, while Higa Manami (picture) plays Ikuta's girlfriend, a newspaper reporter. Ishida Yuriko takes on the role of the accused.

Fuji TV will air "Majo Saiban" on Saturday nights at 11:10pm. The series starts on April 25, about a month before the actual jury system goes into effect.

Source: Tokyograph

Hiroshi Tamura's best-selling autobiography "Homeless Chugakusei" will have a sequel to its television adaptation. Last July, Fuji TV aired a drama special that starred new child actor Kuroki Tatsuya as Tamura's childhood self. The episode garnered ratings of 18.8% in the Kanto area and 26.0% in the Kansai region.

On April 12, the network will broadcast "Homeless Chugakusei 2," based on the book "Homeless Daigakusei" that was published by Tamura's older brother Kenichi this past October. The book relates the family's experiences from the perspective of Kenichi, who was a college student at the time.

Including Kuroki, the cast of the first special - including Kaho, Tanaka Kei, Naito Takashi, and Yakushimaru Hiroko - will reprise their roles. In addition, Tanimura Mitsuki is joining the cast as Kenichi's girlfriend.

Source: Tokyograph

In celebration of Hinamatsuri on March 3rd, Oricon asked 900 men and women (between their twenties and their forties) what type of girl they would want to raise their daughter like, if they had one.

Talento Becky was ranked #1 overall and among the women surveyed. #2 was actress Aoi Miyazaki, who ranked first among the men surveyed.

1. Becky
2. Aoi Miyazaki
3. Nanako Matsushima
4. Aya Ueto
5. Norika Fujiwara
6. Yukie Nakama
7. Miho Kanno
8. Masami Nagasawa
9. Maki Horikita
10. Yui Aragaki

Actor Matsuda Shota has just picked up his first true lead role in a television drama. Titled "Meitantei no Okite," the show is based on a "parody mystery" work by award-winning author Keigo Higashino.

The original "Meitantei no Okite" is a short mystery collection that takes a humorous approach to many of the genre's cliches. Matsuda stars as the "famous detective" Daigoro Tenkaichi, while Kashii Yuu plays the female lead as a rookie cop. Kimura Yuichi has also been cast.

"Meitantei no Okite" will air on TV Asahi on Friday nights at 11:15pm, starting in April.

Source: Tokyograph

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

Actress Amami Yuki (41) is taking on her next lead drama role this spring in Fuji TV's "BOSS." This will be her first time playing a police detective in a TV series.

Amami stars as the new "boss" of a team of quirky detectives who are trying to fight a series of brutal crimes. Her character is intelligent and capable in her work. But even though she can understand the mentalities of the criminals she pursues, she has difficulty understanding men, leaving her unable to find what she really wants: a husband.

The nickname "boss" is strongly associated with Ishihara Yujiro's character in the drama series "Taiyou ni Hoero!" from the '70s and '80s, where he played a similar role as the leader of a detective team.

Amami's supporting cast in "Boss" includes Takenouchi Yutaka, Toda Erika, Mizobata Junpei, Kichise Michiko, and Nukumizu Yoichi. The show will air on Thursdays at 10:00pm, starting on April 16.

Source: Tokyograph

Rumors of actor Sousuke Takaoka (27) cheating with gravure idol Asuka Kinbara (19) have surfaced in this week's issue of Josei Seven. The actor has been married to popular actress Aoi Miyazaki (23) since 2007.

According to the magazine, after Takaoka's birthday party on February 6, he was seen taking a taxi with Kinbara to her place. They were later spotted holding hands as they entered her apartment. Takaoka is said to have left approximately three hours later. The article also said that Miyazaki had not attended the party.

The management of Kinbara, who barely made her debut last year, said that Takaoka only accompanied her to the apartment and left right away. The two reportedly met through a friend last year, and they have gone out with a group of friends many times. The agency emphasized that the two are not romantically involved. Takaoka also responded to the reports through his own blog, stating that he would absolutely never cheat.

Miyazaki recently attended a PR event for the movie "Shonen Merikensack," which opens this coming weekend. When asked about the article, she said that everything is fine and that she and Takaoka are getting along well.

Source: Tokyograph

Joe Odagiri and Masami Nagasawa have been cast in co-starring roles on a TBS drama series next season. Tentatively titled "Boku no Imouto," the drama is based on an original script by writer Shunsaku Ikehata.

Odagiri plays an elite surgeon, while Nagasawa plays his younger sister. Unlike her brother, Nagasawa's character is poor in academics to the point of being called "miraculously stupid," but her strengths lie in her good nature and power of living. However, she also has a bad eye for men, and in the first episode she is discovered to be having an affair with a married man, leading to a big fight between the two siblings. But because they lost their parents when they were young, they grew up with a strong bond despite their constant conflicts.

"Boku no Imouto" will air on Sundays at 9:00pm, starting in April.

Source: Tokyograph

Some details have been revealed about "Nakumonka," the upcoming movie by director Nobuo Mizuta and screenwriter Kankuro Kudo. The comedy, first announced in December, reunites Mizuta and Kudo with lead actor Sadao Abe, whom they last worked with in "Maiko Haaaan!!!"

The story revolves around a young man running a restaurant in a Tokyo shopping district (Abe), living earnestly despite being abandoned by his father as a child. He is unknown to his younger brother, who is finding success as a comedian (Eita). Meanwhile, Yuko Takeuchi plays Abe's marriage prospect, the restaurant's original owner's daughter who has mysteriously grown from an ugly child into a beautiful woman. This is said to be the first true comedy roles for Eita and Takeuchi.

Shooting began at the start of this month and will wrap up in mid-April. Toho has scheduled the film for a November release.

Source: Tokyograph

The late-night TBS variety show "Goro's Bar," hosted by SMAP's Goro Inagaki, is being turned into a drama special for the first time. The drama will use the same premise as the show, with Goro playing the owner of a bar.

The show's regular characters, such as comedy groups Kuwabata Ohara and Harisenbon, will be joined by additional cast members, including Ryoko Kuninaka and Tsuyoshi Abe. Fellow SMAP member Takuya Kimura will also make a guest appearance.

The drama will air on March 10.

Source: Tokyograph

In December, Toho revealed that director Isshin Inudo would be in charge of a new film adaptation of the popular Seicho Matsumoto novel "Zero no Shoten," also known by the English title "Zero Focus." The movie's main cast has now been revealed, with actress Ryoko Hirosue taking the starring role.

The story, set in the 1950s, centers around a newlywed woman (Hirosue) whose husband Kenichi (Hidetoshi Nishijima) fails to return from a business trip. She sets out to search for him, but uncovers that he has been living a double life.

Hirosue's strong supporting cast includes Miki Nakatani as the wife of a company president, Tae Kimura as that company's receptionist, Tetta Sugimoto as Kenichi's brother, and Takeshi Kaga as Kenichi's boss.

Filming has already started in Kanazawa and is expected to continue until April. Toho is aiming for an autumn release.

Source: Tokyograph