"Drama Week" summarizes the main drama news of the week. This week (June 6-12), the highlights included the release of the latest trailer for the sequel to TBS's Sunday drama "VIVANT," and NHK's late-night drama "Hirayasumi" winning the Best Drama Award at the 52nd Broadcast Culture Foundation Awards. We will cover these in two parts.
On June 6th, it was revealed that Nene Shida will play the heroine in the short drama "Homeless Marriage ~Is He a Billionaire?!~," which will be streamed on the vertical short drama platform "ReelShort" from June 13th. The lead role will be played by Dori Sakurada, with Anna Iriyama and Takeya Kajiyama also appearing. The drama is a Cinderella story full of classic elements that will make your heart flutter, such as "hiding one's identity," "reversal," and "doting love." Ayane Miura (Shida) was looking forward to getting married on Christmas Eve, but her fiancé, Seiji Kujo (Kajiyama), dumps her and marries Ayane's cousin, Reina Sasaki (Iriyama). Ayane is then to marry Hayato Shirosaki (Sakurada), a homeless man, but Hayato is actually the CEO of the wealthy "Shirosaki Group"...
On the 7th, the latest trailer for the sequel (starting in July) to the popular TBS Sunday drama "VIVANT" (Sundays at 9pm), starring Masato Sakai, was released, revealing a series of new cuts. In the trailer, amidst the many new cuts, a voice believed to be that of Yusuke Nogi (Sakai) can be heard asking, "Why did you try to bring the 'Special Unit' closer to the 'Tent'?" The new cuts include a foreign cityscape with an impressive tower and lighthouse, an old van speeding across a sandy area with palm trees, a man staring from a boat, and a riverbank in what appears to be another location, as well as a person talking on the phone while riding a camel, which is sure to spark much speculation.
On the 8th, it was revealed that Kuranosuke Sasaki will appear in the July drama series "Last Note" (Fuji TV, Thursdays at 10pm), starring Yuki Uchida and Takuto Teranishi of "timelesz". Sasaki will play Masumi Higuchi, the father of the protagonist Sumiharu (Teranishi). Having lost his wife early on, he raised Sumiharu on his own. He once ran a small construction company and was well-off, but it went bankrupt and he is now living a life of decline. He has become a "toxic father," imposing his ideals on Sumiharu and behaving in a controlling manner. It was also announced that Maki Sakai will appear in the series. Sakai will play Yuko Sagawa, the best friend of the other protagonist, Aoi Ichinose (Uchida).
On the 8th, it was announced that season 5 of the popular gourmet drama "Banshaku no Ryugi" (The Way of Drinking Evenings), starring Chiaki Kuriyama, will begin airing on July 3rd (TV Tokyo, Fridays at 12:52 AM). Following last year's season 4, which was the first to air for two consecutive seasons, this season will also air for two consecutive seasons. In this season, Hop Housing, where Miyuki Izawa (Kuriyama) works, expands into Hokkaido. Miyuki is ordered by branch manager Jiro Unno to select a location for the Hokkaido branch, and she accepts the business trip in exchange for evening drinks in Hokkaido... The branch manager of the Hokkaido branch will be played by an actor who represents Hokkaido.
On the 9th, it was Shuri will star in "Closing Down the Family Home," one of the segments in the new installment of the popular anthology drama "Tales of the Tales of the Unusual'26 Summer Special" (Fuji TV), which will air on June 27th at 9pm. This will be Shuri's first appearance in the series. Office worker Natsume Saya (Shuri) has just finished attending the funeral of her mother, Emiko (Hinako Saeki), her only remaining family member, and has come to close down her family home in an old apartment complex. Saya recalls the dread she felt towards her overbearing mother and disposes of the handmade items her mother had made. However, when Saya returns home after taking out the trash, everything has been returned with signs that read, "Don't throw it away!" and "You'll be punished!"
On the 9th, it was revealed that "Hirayasumi," the NHK nighttime drama starring Amane Okayama and co-starring Nana Mori, which garnered much attention, won the Best Drama Award at the 52nd Broadcast Culture Foundation Awards. It was also announced that Okayama and Mori received acting awards. Okayama commented, "Every day I go to work while struggling with myself, but on the set of the drama 'Hirayasumi,' I was guided and encouraged by the wonderful cast and staff, and I deeply feel that I have been blessed with such an opportunity." Mori said, "The summer I spent with the 'Hirayasumi' team will always remain a shining treasure within me."
