On March 11th, TV Asahi held a briefing at its headquarters (Minato Ward, Tokyo) regarding its April 2026 schedule changes. Producer Seishi Kawashima explained the reasons behind the casting of actress Tao Tsuchiya and Sato Shori of the popular group "Timelesz" in the drama series "Borderless: Wide-area Mobile Investigation Team" (starting April 8th, Wednesdays at 9pm), which will star the two main characters.
A new detective drama will be aired in the traditional Wednesday 9pm slot, familiar from shows like "Aibou," "Tokuso9," and "Detective 7." The completely original script is by Kimizuka Ryoichi, who also wrote the "Bayside Shakedown" and "Kyojo" series (both on Fuji TV), and depicts the exploits of the Mobile Investigation Division, a "truck-driven investigation headquarters" that the National Police Agency has decided to operate on a trial basis. Producer Kawashima promoted the drama by saying, "It's a detective drama in which the team solves cases 'borderlessly' by traveling all over Japan in a truck, transcending the boundaries of local jurisdictions and prefectures."
When asked why Tsuchiya and Sato were chosen, as they are younger than the actors who have previously starred in the "Wednesday 9pm" time slot, Producer Kawashima explained, "In order to breathe new life into the Wednesday 9pm time slot with such an innovative project, we wanted to cast young, energetic people in the lead roles."
Regarding Tsuchiya, he said, "She is widely recognized for her roles in various productions, including as the lead in a Asadora, and above all, I think her excellent acting ability makes her suitable for the lead role in this time slot." Regarding Sato, he said, "She is a central member of the most popular group right now, Timelesz, and I thought she would be an excellent fit for the character who would be loved as the lead."
The series will also feature Kitaoji Kinya and Yoshihiko Inohara. The two previously appeared in detective dramas "Detective 7" and "Tokuso9," both of which aired in the Wednesday 9pm slot. Producer Kawashima also mentioned the reason for casting the two, saying, "It's a drama with an unusual setting, so it's very important that the leader has the ability to persuade viewers. In that sense, I thought it would be a great fit for Inohara, who has been the face of this time slot for many years, to be the leader of this division."
Regarding Kitaoji, who plays the role of a car mechanic who backs up the Mobile Investigation Unit, he said, "The two main actors are young, so I thought that if Kitaoji was there, the balance of the drama would be very good, so I asked him to appear."
