Especially Fukada had to undergo quite a transformation for her very first role as hard-boiled young woman. For her role she graces a full-body tattoo, piercings and blond hair. "It feels like a whole different me. You can see a Fukada Saki you have never seen before," she spoke enthusiastically about her role.

"Quartet" is a crime-action drama based on the universe of a novel of the same name by Osawa Arimasa, but with an entirely new story. It focuses on 3 young people with a truly scattered past and a person from the police that hired them to infiltrate a huge crime organization.

It is Fukada's first drama in which she has to make use of weapons. She said, "I've never even hit a person and was really nervous, but I've trained it a lot." About the appearance of her role she added, "At first it felt really uncomfortable, but it was interesting to become a completely different person. People around me even have told me that I look good with the blond hair." Further she revealed that it takes 3 and a half hour to create her full-body tattoo, but she knows that it is all for the sake of the authenticity of her play. She said, "It is a very important element for transforming into my role. The tattoo is like a switch."

For her co-star, R&B singer Matsushita it is the very first time to appear in a drama. "It is my absolute first time, but I'm having a lot of fun." About Fukuda he said, "During the filming it is no problem, but during the breaks it is still difficult for me to have eye contact with a girl. I never know where to look whenever the camera isn't rolling."

Fukuda has noticed the same thing. "During the filming we really are on the same wavelength," but unfortunately it is still getting awkward as soon as the camera is gone. She added, "We actually have a lot in common, we are of the same age, we act and we both sing." For the rest of the month the team is going to Taiwan to film a couple of scenes there and both of the actors hope that they will be able to get more comfortable with each other while being abroad.

As announced a month ago, Kamikawa Takaya and Natsuna are going to complete the quartet.

"Quartet" is going to premier on January 18th and air every night from Tuesday to Wednesday at 1 am.

Written for Tokyohive

Today it has been announced that this year the aspiring young actress Takei Emi (17) is going to star alongside Nagasawa Masami (23) in the upcoming traditional Valentine commercial of Lotte's "Ghana Milk Chocolate".

As every year, the 2011 edition of the commercial is going to feature Nagasawa and her co-star making their very own chocolate hearts. This time Takei has the honor and it seems like she really wants to find love this year. "It is as if she put a spell on the heart," Nagasawa described Takei's diligence while stirring the chocolate.

Takei commented, "It is my very first Valentine commercial, but thanks to Nagasawa I had a lot of fun at the set."

South Korean girl group KARA's song "SOS" will be used as the theme song.

Unfortunately the commercial won't be released until the 11th.

Written for Tokyohive

The “Weekly Shonen Magazine” has chosen their (quote) goddess Horikita Maki for the cover and main pictorial of their New Year’s edition.

Famous photographer ND Chow has once again worked together with actress Horikita for her photo shoot in Italy and has created a breathtaking pictorial. People who have bought her calendar for 2011 already got a nice taste of how well her smile, beauty and sweetness blends with the Italian flavor.

There often have been rumors about Horikita and ND Chow being item, which would explain why his pictures of her always tend to be a bit more beautiful than those of others.

You can check out the pictures below!

Written for Tokyohive

The drama features a thrilling love story about two engaged teachers, Natsumi (Toda) and Shuji (Miura), at a senior high school and a girl student, Hikari (Takei Emi), that has spent one night together with her teacher Shuji. The overall theme could be described as a “trial of their love”.

It is the first time for both Toda and Miura to act as teachers. Miura had his own way of preparing for such a difficult new role. He said, “I’ve called my homeroom teacher from junior high and bombarded him with questions.” Toda had her problems as well. “The director didn’t give ma a lot of orders, he just told me to be like ‘a good older sister to the students’… Quite a difficult role. The most difficult so far actually,” she expressed hersefl.

Further the actors both expressed their first impression of each other. Miura made the start and said, “She is a great actress who I am looking up to!” Toda couldn’t help but laugh and bashfully thanked him for such a compliment. She then returned the favor and said, “He has a very strong and fresh impression and is very enthusiastic when it comes to acting. Moreover he is very kind and helps me to relax.”

AKB48’s Shinoda Mariko also appears as a close friend and wedding planer of the couple. She actually has been Shuji’s boyfriend before Natsumi. Her comment about the drama: “I haven’t yet completely read the script until the end, but the story is already so interesting that I’ve felt like it is going to be  a smooth read-through as soon as I’ve received the script.” It is also Shinoda’s first real acting role and thus she is having quite some worries. She added, “I’m very nervous. Every day I think about my performance and what would be the best way to convey the characteristics of my role.”

In relation to the drama’s title, the actors further have talked about the important advices they have received from their parents.

Toda said, “My father has told me to always live a modest life full of gratitude.”

Miura has received a similar advice from his mother, “She has told me to always be honest and kind.”

Takei had an advice of her own, “You should find happiness every day.” About the drama she said with plenty of spirit, “I will try hard to destroy their relationship.”

Kazama Morio and Uchida Yuki have attended the press conference as well.

“Taisetsu na Koto” is going to premier on January 17th.

Written by me for Tokoyhive

The infamous weekly tabloid has updated their readers with some photos documenting Aya’s frequent visits to Hiro’s apartment. Furthermore, they’ve discovered that Ueto has recently moved into the same apartment complex as Hiro, which would consequently make it easier for her to drop by his place.

Her agency was quick to deny the rumors of the stars living together, as they’ve said:“It is true that our agency has rented this room, but that doesn’t mean that Ueto herself is going to be living there. Other talents from our agency can use it as well.” They concluded with the standard comment when pressed about Aya’s rumored relationship with the singer: “We wholly leave private matters to the individual concerned.”

HIRO’s agency, on the other hand, has made a comment to the press that left a lot of room for speculation. “Both of them are supporting each other in various ways, and they are both in positions with a certain social responsibility. We would like to make an official statement as soon as we have prepared all the necessary information. We hope that you will be so kind to oblige us and watch over us until then.”

Hiro’s agency ended up creating a new rumor about a possible engagement and upcoming marriage, just by stating that they needed more time to prepare an official statement in regards to their relationship. Of course, everyone could be jumping the gun by inferring too much from the comment, but then again, HIRO’s agency could have made a neutral statement just like Ueto’s agency if the rumors were absolutely untrue.

What do you think? Could we finally be getting an official statement, and maybe even a marriage announcement this year?

Written by me for Tokyohive

Fuji TV has released the third trailer for their upcoming Monday drama, “Taisetsunakoto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshietekureta“, starring Toda Erika and Miura Haruma.

The 1-minute-long trailer features gives us a better grasp at understanding the atmosphere of this upcoming drama –  Toda and Miura are an engaged teacher couple, and Takei Emi is the school girl who is going challenge their happy love life. AKB48’s Shinoda Mariko and Johnny’s Jr. Nakajima Kento are to appear as regulars as well.

From the looks of the trailer, Fuji TV has found themselves another great story for their Monday 9:00PM drama slot, the most prestigious drama time slot in Japan.

Check out the trailer below and be sure not to miss its first episode on January 17th!

Written for Tokyohive.

The morning drama depicts the life of a cheerful young woman (Inoue) during the turbulent Showa period (1926-1989) plagued by the effects of the Second World War.

Inoue already enjoys her role for the fact that she is being surrounded by four young actors. Tanaka Kei (26) plays her eldest brother and Nagayama Kento (21) her second-eldest brother.  Her first love will be played by Kaneko Nobuaki (29), and since she will be getting married during the course of the drama, Kora Kengo (23) will have the honor of playing her husband.

Inoue blushed when looking at the four of them and said: “They all have their own individual charm. I often say how nice it would be to be surrounded by such ikemen, so I’m really happy today.”

The drama will replace Teppan on March 28th, 2011.

—
Written by me for tokyohive
Sources: Sanspo
—

Today, Fuji TV has finally announced that the girl in that forbidden relationship will be played by young actress Takei Emi (16), and it will mark her first role in a Monday drama.

Hikari (Takei) and Shuji (Miura) will spend the night before the opening ceremony of the new school term together, not knowing that they are going to become teacher-student the next day. Once she finds out that he is her homeroom teacher, and that he is in such a oh-so-perfect relationship and is about to get married, her jealousy makes her want to destroy their relationship. However, knowing of the pain and darkness in Hikari’s heart, Shuji gradually gets the urge to help her out of this misery instead of trying use all of his energy to save his relationship with Natsumi (Toda). A truly complicated love triangle full of love and hate.

More than 800 girls auditioned for the role of Hikari, the key person of the whole drama.

Takei spoke about getting the role: “I was really surprised and jumping for joy when I was picked for a role in a Monday drama. I can’t wait for the filming to begin. I’d like to work hard with everyone at the set and hope that many people are going to watch this drama.”

The producers also stated why they’ve picked Takei for the role: “Takei was simply magnificent. You can see her amazing willpower in her eyes. We did the screening by judging all the girls from their appearance on the monitor, but in her case we were still able to feel her intensity as if she was standing right in front of us. I think she is the perfect choice for the role of the student that will be able to drive the two teachers played by Toda Erika and Miura Haruma into a corner.”

“Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta” will start in January and air every Monday at 9 PM on Fuji TV.

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Written by me for tokyohive
Sources: Oricon
—

The Prime Time Report is an overview of dramas and drama specials that have aired during the prime time and all of their competitors. The occasional 2-hour dramas that don’t belong to a drama series will get listed as well, but not their competitors if no other drama aired in that time slot, except for a few that have an interesting cast. In addition morning and noon dramas, if available, will be added to the report as often as possible. Some dramas and variety shows will also get featured with a couple of screencaps, but this is not going to happen on a regular basis.

Improvements and declines will get illustrated by several icons. The colors of the icons and numbers inside of them indicate how much the ratings have changed. Orange… almost no change / Red… ratings dropped / Green… ratings improved

11/22 – Monday

08:00-08:15 – 15.8% Teppan
-
13:30-14:00 – 06.5% Hanayome no Ren
-
20:12-21:48 – 15.0% Otameshika! & Qsama!! 3h SP
20:00-20:54 – 11.5% Mitokomon Season 42
20:00-21:54 – 06.3% Toy Story
-
21:00-21:54 – 13.9% Nagareboshi
21:00-21:54 – 11.5% Ippunkan no Fukaii Hanashi
21:00-22:00 – 11.3% News Watch 9
21:00-22:54 – 05.7% Chikyu SHOW Gakko
-
22:00-22:54 – 16.3% SMAPxSMAP
21:54-23:10 – 13.1% Hodo Station
22:00-22:54 – 12.1% Shabekuri 007
22:00-22:50 – 07.5% Professional Shigoto no Ryuugi
22:00-22:54 – 03.2% Mori no Asagao
-
23:50-24:20 – 03.3% Ojiichan wa 25-sai

Nagareboshi – Ueto Aya caps:

Nagareboshi – Kitano Kie caps (more):

Shabekuri 007 – Kuriyama Chiaki caps:

Ojiichan wa 25-sai – Kurashina Kana caps (more):

11/23 – Tuesday

08:00-08:15 – 15.9% Teppan
-
21:00-21:54 – 15.4% Freeter
20:00-21:48 – 13.7% Yowiko no Mujinto! Kimura Takuya SP
21:00-22:00 – 13.2% News Watch 9
20:54-21:54 – 11.4% Kaiun! Nandemo Kantei Dan
21:00-21:54 – 08.6% Korette Ari Desuka?
21:00-21:54 – 06.4% Kaikin! Story
-
21:54-23:10 – 16.3% Hodo Station
22:00-22:54 – 13.3% Guilty
22:00-22:54 – 10.2% Majotachi no 22ji
22:00-22:50 – 08.3% Second Virgin
22:00-22:54 – 07.9% Lincoln
22:00-22:54 – 05.1% Gaia no Yoake
-
23:50-24:20 – 03.7% Ojiichan wa 25-sai

Freeter – Karina caps:

Freeter – Okamoto Rei caps:

Guilty – Kichise Michiko caps (more):

11/24 – Wednesday

08:00-08:15 – 17.1% Teppan
-
13:30-14:00 – 06.6% Hanayome no Ren
-
21:00-21:54 – 21.1% Aibou Season 9
21:00-21:54 – 15.3% Honmo Dekka!? TV
21:00-21:54 – 14.5% The! Sekai Gyoten News
21:00-22:00 – 11.2% News Watch 9
21:00-21:54 – 05.4% Kuraberu Kurabera
21:00-22:09 – 02.9% Ryouri no Gaijin
-
21:54-23:10 – 16.3% Hodo Station
22:00-22:54 – 13.0% Ougon no Buta
22:00-22:54 – 11.2% The Best House 123
22:00-22:54 – 09.3% Ichi-Hachi
22:00-22:45 – 08.2% Rekishi Hiwa Historia
22:15-23:09 – 04.1% Yarisugi Kouji
-
23:50-24:20 – 03.8% Ojiichan wa 25-sai

Ojiichan wa 25-sai – Kurashina Kana caps:

11/25 – Thursday

08:00-08:15 – 15.9% Teppan
-
13:30-14:00 – 05.5% Hanayome no Ren
-
19:00-20:54 – 11.9% Best Hit Kayosai 2010
19:00-20:54 – 07.6% SupaMoku!! Super Thursday
-
19:57-20:54 – 13.2% Kiseki Taiken! Unbelievable
20:00-20:54 – 13.1% Kyoto Chiken no Onna 6
20:00-20:43 – 08.4% Shin Kankaku Game Questa
19:58-21:48 – 07.3% Sora Kara no Nihon wo Mitemiyo
-
21:00-21:54 – 13.0% Nasake no Onna
21:00-21:54 – 12.8% Tunnels no Minasan
21:00-21:54 – 11.8% Himitsu no Kenmin Show SP
21:00-21:54 – 11.7% Wataru Seken wa oni Bakari 10
21:00-22:00 – 11.1% News Watch 9
-
21:54-23:10 – 14.6% Hodo Station
22:00-22:54 – 13.1% Iryu 3
22:00-22:54 – 09.4% Himitsu no Arashi-chan
22:00-22:50 – 08.0% Buratamori
22:00-22:54 – 04.3% Cambria Kyuden
-
23:50-24:20 – 04.2% Ojiichan wa 25-sai (end)
23:58-24:38 – 03.4% FACE MAKER

Ojiichan wa 25-sai – Kurashina Kana caps (more):

11/26 – Friday

08:00-08:15 – 16.7% Teppan
-
13:30-14:00 – 06.7% Hanayome no Ren
-
21:00-22:52 – 13.0% Kyukei no Koya (Part 1)*
         *Cast: Tamura Masakazu, Eguchi Yosuke, Ikuta Toma, Higa Manami…
21:00-21:54 – 13.0% Nakai Masahiro no KinSma
21:00-22:00 – 11.3% News Watch 9
21:05-22:59 – 10.9% Ghost
21:00-22:48 – 09.4% Sokon Tokoro SP
21:00-21:54 – 07.1% Kenji Onijima Heihachiro
-
21:54-23:10 – 10.4% Hodo Station
22:00-22:54 – 09.6% SPEC
22:00-22:45 – 04.8% World Strollers
-
23:05-23:35 – 09.7% Another Sky
23:00-23:30 – 08.4% Hitoshi Matsumoto no OO na Hanashi
23:15-24:15 – 07.7% Himitsu
23:00-23:30 – 06.9% A-Studio
22:54-23:58 – 05.5% World Business Satellite
22:55-23:50 – 04.4% Bizspo Wide

SPEC – Toda Erika caps (more):

11/27 – Saturday

08:00-08:15 – 14.9% Teppan
-
19:00-19:30 – 16.1% News 7
19:00-19:56 – 13.5% Tensai! Shimura Dobutsuen
19:03-20:51 – 12.2% Figure Skating Grand Prix in France
19:30-20:00 – 09.0% Katsura Chizuru Shinsatsu Nichiroku
19:00-19:57 – 08.9% Sekai Shogeki Eizo Sha
19:00-20:54 – 08.3% Tobidase! SP
19:00-20:54 – 08.3% Saturday Special
-
21:00-23:21 – 13.2% Shindai Tokkyu Cassiopeia Satsujin Jiken
21:00-21:54 – 12.0% Sekai Fushigi Hakken!
21:00-23:10 – 10.9% Kyukei no Koya (Part 2)*
        *Cast: Tamura Masakazu, Eguchi Yosuke, Ikuta Toma, Higa Manami…
21:00-21:54 – 10.9% Q10
21:00-21:54 – 08.6%  Shutsubotsu! Adomachikku Tengoku
21:00-22:15 – 08.2%   Kokoro no Ito**
       **Cast: Matsuyuki Yasuko, Kamiki Ryuunosuke, Tanimura Mitsuki…

Q10 – Maeda Atsuko caps (more):

Q10 – Fukuda Mayuko caps (more):

11/28 – Sunday

18:59-20:54 – 13.5% Figure Skating Grand Prix in France
19:00-20:54 – 08.6% Quiz Talent Meikan SP
-
20:00-21:15 – 21.3% Ryoma den (final)
19:58-20:54 – 16.4% Sekai no Hate Made Itte Q!
19:58-20:54 – 08.6% G?Wars
19:54-21:48 – 07.8% Sunday Big Variety
-
21:00-21:54 – 18.2% Gyoretsu no Dekiru Horitsu Sodanja
21:00-22:54 – 13.3% The Golden Compass
21:30-22:24 – 13.2% Jyuui Dolittle
21:32-22:21 – 08.7%  NHK Special: Yokuzuna Hakuho Saikyo-e no Chosen
21:00-21:54 – 05.6% Perfect Report
-
23:30-24:25 – 09.7% Reinoryokusha Odagiri Kyoko no Uso

Jyuui Dolittle – Inoue Mao caps (more):

Perfect Report – Aibu Saki caps:

Odagiri Kyoko – Ishihara Satomi caps (more):

Odagiri Kyoko – Oshima Yuuko caps (more):

Green Color = Episode with the highest ratings of that dorama
Red Color = Episode with the lowest ratings of that dorama

Fall Season
Mondays
Nagareboshi (KJ: Ueto Aya, Kitano Kie, Kawaguchi Haruna…) Episode 01: 13.6% Episode 02: 14.2% Episode 03: 13.7% Episode 04: 15.0% Episode 05: 12.6% Episode 06: 13.9%	Mori no Asagao (KJ: Kashii Yuu, Tanimura Mitsuki…) Episode 01: 05.8% Episode 02: 03.8% Episode 03: 04.6% Episode 04: 04.3% Episode 05: 04.1% Episode 06: 03.2%

Tuesdays
Freeter (KJ: Karina, Okamoto Rei…) Episode 01: 17.6% Episode 02: 16.8% Episode 03: 17.7% Episode 04: 17.4% Episode 05: 16.7% Episode 06: 15.4%	Guilty (KJ: Kanno Miho, Kichise Michiko…) Episode 01: 15.4% Episode 02: 12.6% Episode 03: 10.8% Episode 04: 14.7% Episode 05: 11.3% Episode 06: 11.3% Episode 07: 13.3%
Second Virgin (KJ: Suzuki Kyoka, Fukada Kyoko…) Episode 01: 05.5% Episode 02: 07.3% Episode 03: 08.6% Episode 04: 07.8% Episode 05: 08.3% Episode 06: 09.4% Episode 07: 08.3%	Yamikin Ushijima-kun (KJ: Katase Nana, Yokoyama Mayuki…) Episode 01: 01.8% Episode 02: 02.4% Episode 03: 02.2% Episode 04: 03.3% Episode 05: 02.9% Episode 06: 02.5%
Kurohyou: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinshou (KJ: Haru…) Episode 01: 01.0% Episode 02: 01.9% Episode 03: 01.8% Episode 04: 01.6% Episode 05: 02.3% Episode 06: 02.1%

Wednesdays
Aibou Season 9 (KJ: …) Episode 01: 17.7% Episode 02: 19.6% Episode 03: 18.4% Episode 04: 20.2% Episode 05: 21.1%	Ougon no Buta (KJ: Shinohara Ryoko, Yamaguchi Sayaka…) Episode 01: 15.3% Episode 02: 14.2% Episode 03: 12.1% Episode 04: 15.2% Episode 05: 14.1% Episode 06: 13.0%

Thursdays
Kyoto Chiken no Onna 6 (KJ: …) Episode 01: 11.1% Episode 02: 12.7% Episode 03: 11.5% Episode 04: 12.0% Episode 05: 14.3% Episode 06: 11.3% Episode 07: 13.1%	Nasake no Onna (KJ: Yonekura Ryoko…) Episode 01: 17.6% Episode 02: 13.1% Episode 03: 12.6% Episode 04: 15.1% Episode 05: 12.1% Episode 06: 13.0%
Wataru Seken wa oni Bakari 10 (KJ: …) Episode 01: 13.3% Episode 02: 10.8% Episode 03: 12.0% Episode 04: 11.4% Episode 05: 11.8% Episode 06: 11.7%	Iryu 3 (KJ: Inamori Izumi, Tanimura Mitsuki…) Episode 01: 16.4% Episode 02: 14.8% Episode 03: 12.5% Episode 04: 12.9% Episode 05: 12.7% Episode 06: 15.2% Episode 07: 13.1%
FACE MAKER (KJ: Hinata Chiho…) Episode 01: 04.3% Guests: Ando Tamae (before), Kato Ai (after) Episode 02: 04.2% Guests: Yoshida Yo (before), Inoue Waka (after) Episode 03: 03.4% Guests: Sato Hiroko (before), Fujii Mina (after) Episode 04: 03.3% Guests: __ (before), __ (after) Episode 05: 02.5% Guests: Machida Mari (before), MEGUMI (after) Episode 06: 04.6% Guests: Watanabe Miyu (before), Iwasa Mayuko (after) Guests: Takizawa Saori (before), Watanabe Miyu (after) Episode 07: 03.3% Guests: Konno Narumi Episode 08: 03.4% Guests: Ito Risako

Fridays
Kenji Onijima Heihachiro (KJ: Uchida Yuki, Nishiyama Maki…) Episode 01: 09.0% Episode 02: 08.8% Episode 03: 09.3% Episode 04: 07.8% Episode 05: 06.1% Episode 06: 07.1%	SPEC (KJ: Toda Erika…) Episode 01: 11.5% Episode 02: 08.2% Episode 03: 10.1% Episode 04: 11.6% Episode 05: 12.1% Episode 06: 10.0% Episode 07: 09.6%
Himitsu (KJ: Shida Mirai, Motokariya Eika, Hayashi Tantan…) Episode 01: 10.1% Episode 02: 08.8% Episode 03: 08.8% Episode 04: 08.8% Episode 05: 09.7% Episode 06: 07.9% Episode 07: 07.7%

Saturdays
Q10 (KJ: Maeda Atsuko, Renbutsu Misako, Takahata Mitsuki…) Episode 01: 15.3% Episode 02: 10.2% Episode 03: 10.7% Episode 04: 11.2% Episode 05: 10.9% Episode 06: 10.9% Episode 07: 10.9%

Sundays
Jyuui Dolittle (KJ: Inoue Mao. Fujisawa Ema…) Episode 01: 16.0% Episode 02: 13.3% Episode 03: 14.2% Episode 04: 14.5% Episode 05: 11.5% Episode 06: 13.2%	Perfect Report (KJ: Matsuyuki Yasuko, Aibu Saki…) Episode 01: 07.7% Episode 02: 07.9% Episode 03: 07.6% Episode 04: 09.7% Episode 05: 06.0% Episode 06: 05.6% Episode 06: 05.6%
Reinoryokusha Odagiri Kyoko no Uso (KJ: Ishihara Satomi, Oshima Yuuko…) Episode 01: 07.8% Episode 02: 07.0% Episode 03: 07.6% Episode 04: 07.5% Episode 05: 08.3% Episode 06: 07.5% Episode 07: 09.0% Episode 08: 09.7%

Green Color = Episode with the highest ratings of that dorama
Red Color = Episode with the lowest ratings of that dorama

Saturdays
Katsura Chizuru Shinsatsu Nichiroku (KJ: Ichikawa Yui…) Episode 01: 10.6% Episode 02: 08.3% Episode 03: 07.7% Episode 04: 08.3% Episode 05: 07.0% Episode 06: 08.6% Episode 07: 09.0% Episode 08: 09.4% Episode 09: 07.4% Episode 10: 07.9% Episode 11: 09.0%

Green Color = Episode with the highest ratings of that dorama
Red Color = Episode with the lowest ratings of that dorama

You can always check the "Drama Ratings Archive" (also available in the top menu) to find the ratings from previous seasons, daily dramas and NHK's taiga drama. Below you will find a list of past season's dramas that are still airing on TV, even though the new season has already begun.

—
Written for: KawaiiJoyuu & tokyohive
Please link back when posting this anywhere else.
—

“Toilet no Kamisama” is an almost 10-minute-long song which Uemura dedicated to her late grandmother. In January every radio station started to play the song and people of all age groups began to fall in love with it. Her popularity skyrocketed and eventually led to a book and a picture book version of the same title. People are looking forward to see her perform the unedited 10-minute-long song at this year’s “Kouhaku Uta Gassen”.

In the drama Uemura’s early childhood will be portrayed by child actress Ashida while Kitano (r.) is going to switch with her for her senior high school days. Iwashi will play her grandmother and Natsukawa Yui (42) her divorced mother.

Kitano about the song: “I have already been aware about Uemura Kan’s ‘Toilet no Kamisama’ before taking the role. It doesn’t really feel like 9 minutes and 52 seconds while listening to it. The lyrics are great and Uemura’s appearance when holding onto her guitar is impressive.”

TBS will broadcast the drama special on January 05th, 2011 at 9pm.

—
Written by me for tokyohive
Sources: mainichi.jp
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