Michiko Kichise (35) has been given her first starring role in a drama series, set to air this spring. She will play an elementary school teacher in "Hagane no Onna," based on an ongoing manga by Kahoru Fukaya.
Kichise plays the titular character, Ineko Haga, whose nickname is "Hagane" ("steel"). 35 years old and single, with no savings and no stable job, she returns to teaching with a position as the homeroom teacher of a fourth grade class. However, the class has been plagued with problems such as bullying and disobedience, leading several previous teachers to quit.
The supporting cast includes Jun Kaname, Osamu Shitara, Kasumi Arimura, Nozomi Ohashi, Miwako Shishido, Toshiki Ayata, Akihito Yoshiie, Michiko Shimizu, and Megumi Yokoyama. One of the guests on the first episode will be former Morning Musume member Hitomi Yoshizawa.
Ketsumeishi's "Nakama" is being used as the show's theme song. The series starts on May 21 in TV Asahi's Friday 11:15pm time slot.
cr: Tokyograph
Sound interesting… Kind of like Jyoou no Kyoushitsu except not. ^^;;