Inpei Sousa
Date: From 8.00 p.m., Mondays, 13 January 2014
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Nakazawa Yoshinori (Shuden Bye Bye)
Original Work: Inpei Sousa by Konno Bin
Cast: Sugimoto Tetta, Furuta Arata, Yasuda Ken, Matsuzawa Kazuyuki, Mikura Mana, Yasoda Yuichi, Suzuki Sawa, Namase Katsuhisa, Jinbo Satoshi (guest star), Aoyama Noriko (guest star)
Synopsis: Elite police official Ryuzaki Shinya (Sugimoto Tetta) heads the General Affairs Division of the National Police Agency’s Commissioner’s Secretariat. He is a man who sticks to what he believes in and has no regard for rank or the pride of those at the top and bottom. All he thinks about is “taking responsibility for everything”. In sharp contrast to Ryuzaki, Itami Shuntaro (Furuta Arata), the head of the Criminal Investigations Department, is amiable and perceptive. He is tactful about what he truly thinks, shows consideration for his surroundings and is flexible in his response to everything.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/inpei2014
Shitsuren Chocolatier
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Mondays, 13 January 2014
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Adachi Naoko (Oh! My Dad, Rich Man, Poor Woman, Taisetsuna Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshietekureta)
Original Work: Shitsuren Chocolatier by Mizushiro Setona
Cast: Matsumoto Jun, Ishihara Satomi, Mizukawa Asami, Mizobata Junpei, Mizuhara Kiko, Arimura Kasumi, Sato Ryuta, Takenaka Naoto, Kato Shigeaki, Mashima Hidekazu
Synopsis: 20-year-old Koyurugi Sota (Matsumoto Jun) who attends a confectionary school fell in love at first sight with his senior Takahashi Saeko (Ishihara Satomi) during high school days. Like a wish come true, he is in a relationship with her now. After a lot of effort, they started dating right before Christmas. However, Saeko says she cannot meet Sota on Valentine’s Day which they should have commemorated together. He manages to see her on the eve of Valentine’s Day, but she will not accept the chocolates he has made for her with all his heart, knowing that she loves them. In addition, he is even told that she did not mean to date him. However, the single-minded Sota is not discouraged. Resolving to become a chocolatier to make Saeko pay attention to him again, he goes over to France alone. After training for five years, he returns to Japan and converts his father’s (Takenaka Naoto) patisserie Tokio to Chocolate La Vie. Saeko is marrying a much older man (Mashima Hidekazu) by this time. Even so, Sota does not give up. Because she loves the chocolates from the chocolatier Ricdor, he initially views the owner and chef Rokudo Seinosuke (Sato Ryuta) as his rival. However, he gets fascinated by the unique way in which Rokudo looks at the world and makes him his goal. On the other hand, Sota meets a model Kato Erena (Mizuhara Kiko) who also has a one-sided love for another man. They identify with each other due to their similar circumstances, get physically involved and become sex friends.
Website: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/chocolatier
Dark System ~ Koi no Ouza Ketteisen
Date: From 12.28 a.m., Tuesdays, 21 January 2014
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Yuki Shuji
Original Work: Dark System by Yuki Shuji
Cast: Yaotome Hikaru, Tamashiro Tina, Yuge Tomohisa, Ino Kei, Itao Itsuji, Hayashi Ryuzo
Synopsis: Timid, selfish and unpopular Kagami Jiro (Yaotome Hikaru) is about to profess his feelings to Shiraishi Yuri (Tamashiro Tina) whom he loves, but his friend Saionji Go (Yuge Tomohisa) has also taken a fancy to Yuri. The two rivals agree to fight fairly. However, several days later, Saionji starts dating Yuri. Kagami tries to give his blessings, but starts to think of winning Yuri back because of the resentment of having the girl he fancies, taken away from him. And so, he musters his wits in order to drive a wedge between their hearts, and he creates the evil machine, the “Saionji Crusher” with his astounding DIY spirit. It is a listening device in the form of a helicopter with a destructive device that can crush the human body … …
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/darksystem_tbs
Fukuie Keibuho no Aisatsu
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Tuesdays, 14 January 2014
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Masaoka Kenichiro (Run 60), Ushio Kentaro (Shomuni 2013, Take Five)
Original Work: Fukuie Keibuho no Aisatsu by Okura Takahiro
Cast: Dan Rei, Inagaki Goro, Emoto Tokio, Nakamoto Ken, Sorimachi Takashi (guest star)
Synopsis: Assistant Inspector Fukuie (Dan Rei) does not look like an assistant inspector but once she starts an investigation, she takes no notice of anyone as she searches for the key to find out the truth. She does not care for the hierarchical relationship of the organisation or career advancement. If she has doubts, she will not listen to her superior and will persist in investigating to the end. Fukuie’s boss Inspector Ishimatsu (Inagaki Goro) is completely different from her. He places importance on the organisation and discipline, is rigid and strait-laced. Ever since Fukuie became his subordinate, his pride has been in tatters because she loves to disregard his instructions and investigate on her own even though this eventually results in success and he gets credit for her achievements. His principle is to investigate using orthodox methods, but the results that Fukuie delivers goes against this and makes him feel ashamed.
Website: www.fujitv.co.jp/fukuie
Kami no Tsuki
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Tuesdays, 7 January 2014
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Shinozaki Eriko (Furueru Ushi, Nemureru Mori no Jukujo, Magma)
Original Work: Kami no Tsuki by Kakuta Mitsuyo
Cast: Harada Tomoyo, Mizuno Maki, Nishida Naomi, Mickey Curtis, Mitsushima Shinnosuke, Fuji Manami, Mitsuishi Ken
Synopsis: Umezawa Rinka (Harada Tomoyo) lives with her husband Masafumi (Mitsuishi Ken). They do not have children, and she starts working part-time at Wakaba Bank. As a liaison officer, she goes round to customers and gains the trust of lonely old people like Nago Tamae (Fuji Manami) through her willingness to help with household chores. Among them is Hirabayashi Kozo (Mickey Curtis), a local landowner infatuated with Rinka. One day, Rinka is called to the Hirabayashi household where she meets Hirabayashi’s grandson Kota (Mitshishima Shinnosuke) who has come to borrow money from him. Two years later, Rinka embezzles 100 million yen in cash which she has been holding for customers and flees abroad. As Okazaki Yuko (Mizuno Maki) and Nakajo Aki (Nishida Naomi), Rinka’s friends from high school days, retrace the incident Rinka caused, they are forced to confront the darkness in each of their hearts.
Website: www.nhk.or.jp/drama10/kaminotsuki
Team Batista Season 4 ~ Radenmeikyuu
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Tuesdays, 7 January 2014
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Goto Noriko (Goen Hunter, Team Batista Series, Toshi Densetsu Series)
Original Work: Radenmeikyuu by Kaido Takeru
Cast: Ito Atsushi, Nakamura Toru, Kuriyama Chiaki, Katono Taiko, Yamazaki Kento, Aitsuki Akiko, Takuma Takayuki, Hidari Tokie, Mizuno Miki, Yanagiba Toshiro, Nishijima Hidetoshi (guest star)
Synopsis: The Sakuranomiya family runs the district hospital Hekisuiin which is primarily involved in end-of-life care but also conducts autopsies on bodies in the vicinity when the cause of death is unknown. Hospital director Sakuranomiya Iwao (Yanagiba Toshiro) has earned the immense trust of his patients. One day, a radiologist quietly disappears along with an autopsy imaging … … What does the radiologist intend to expose about the family? What secret is Sakuranomiya and his daughters Sayuri (Mizuno Miki) and Sumire (Kuriyama Chiaki) trying to hide from Taguchi Kohei (Ito Atsushi) and Shiratori Keisuke (Nakamura Toru)?
Website: www.ktv.jp/raden
Related: Team Batista 3 ~ Ariadne no Dangan
Ofukousan
Date: From 11.15 p.m., Tuesdays, 7 January 2014
Station: NHK BS Premium
Scriptwriter: Fukuhara Mitsunori (Takanashi-san, Teen Court), Kitagawa Ayako (Taberudake, Kaito Royale), Yoshida Uronta
Cast: Kanjiya Shihori, Hagiwara Masato, Kinami Haruka, Sawabe Yu, Okura Koji, Ibu Masato, Nomura Masumi, Yajima Kenichi, Sato Naoko, Serina (guest star), Yasuda Kei (guest star), Nomaguchi Toru (guest star)
Synopsis: 28-year-old Chikura Tsugumi’s (Kanjiya Shihori) nickname is “Miss Adversity”. She has an unmatched “powers of misfortune” that results in the people around her as well as the people with a connection to her to be unlucky, and acknowledges that she is the “most doomed female” in Japan. In an attempt to be happy, Tsugumi resolves to start work at Anew, a co-working space. It is a place which has attracted attention for the working style of young entrepreneurs and freelancers who stimulate each other and create new value as they work on their own.
Website: www.nhk.or.jp/drama/ofukosan
Ashita, Mama ga Inai
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Wednesdays, 15 January 2014
Station: NTV
Scriptwriter: Matsuda Saya
Cast: Suzuki Rio, Ashida Mana, Miura Shohei, Kimura Fumino, Shirota Yu, Suzuki Sawa, Mikami Hiroshi, Sakurada Hiyori, Watanabe Konomi, Sakai Miki, Sakurai Atsuko (guest star), Nishimura Masahiko (guest star)
Synopsis: Maki’s mother (Sakai Miki) commits assault and Maki (Suzuki Rio) is temporarily placed in the children’s orphanage, Kogamo no Ie. Post (Ashida Mana) is a young girl who reigns as the leader at Kodomo no Ie. While she has lost her parents, she is remarkably strong, resilient and positive. There is also Piami (Sakurada Hiyori) and Bonbi (Watanabe Konomi) who respect Post. These girls, who each have different backgrounds, do not appear sad and seem quite indifferent. When asked for the reason for the queer nicknames they call each other, Post replies that they have cast away everything they received from their parents including their pasts as well as their names. Even if they constantly think about their parents, there will be no happiness. She advises Maki to leave the past behind. Bravado is the only weapon to protect themselves in this harsh, cold world. However, Maki believes that her mother will come to get her.
Website: www.ntv.co.jp/ashitamama
Boku no Ita Jikan
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Wednesdays, 8 January 2014
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Hashibe Atsuko (Osozaki no Himawari, Freeter, Ie o Kau, Boku Series)
Cast: Miura Haruma, Tabe Mikako, Saito Takumi, Kazama Shunsuke, Yamamoto Mizuki, Nomura Shuhei, Fukikoshi Mitsuru, Asada Miyoko, Harada Mieko, Koichi Mantaro
Synopsis: Fourth year university student Sawada Takuto (Miura Haruma) is having a tough time looking for a job. The eldest son of the director of a mid-sized general hospital, his parents (Koichi Mantaro, Harada Mieko) had expected him to become a doctor, but began to focus their hopes on his younger brother Rikuto (Nomura Shuhei) at some stage during his junior high school years. Although Takuto is popular and is good at befriending females, he has no confidence that he will be loved and avoids deep emotional involvement with anyone. One day, he is informed that he does not have long to live because he is suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is an incurable, progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor neurons which provide voluntary movements and muscle power. Muscles gradually atrophy and breathing difficulties develop. Without an artificial respirator, it will eventually result in death. Takuto, who had given vague thought to his goals in life, starts to explore what is left of his life and live with a positive attitude.
Website: www.fujitv.co.jp/bokunoitajikan
Nezumi, Edo o Hashiru
Date: From 8.00 p.m., Thursdays, 9 January 2014
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Omori Sumio (Akumu-chan, Tempest, Kurobe no Taiyou), Kawasaki Izumi (Higashino Keigo Mysteries)
Original Work: Nezumi, Edo o Hashiru by Akagawa Jiro
Cast: Takizawa Hideaki, Kutsuna Shiori, Katase Nana, Kyomoto Taiga, Takashima Masahiro, Hamada Mari, Magy, Watanabe Shu, Hagiwara Minori, Tsubokura Yoshiyuki, Sugiyama Hiroyuki, Yatabe Shun
Synopsis: There is a chivalrous thief known as Nezumi Kozo in the streets of Edo. The true identity of this thief is that of the playboy called Jirokichi (Takizawa Hideaki). Although he is nothing more than a mere thief, he is obsessed about justice and would poke his nose in cases where he will not even get a penny. This is because he loves seeing the happiness of the people living in Edo. Jirokichi solves various cases in Edo with Kosode (Kutsuna Shiori), his younger sister who is a master of the short sword.
Website: www.nhk.or.jp/jidaigeki/nezumi
Kinkyuu Torishirabeshitsu
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Thursdays, 9 January 2014
Station: TV Asahi
Scriptwriter: Inoue Yumiko (Pandora Series, 14-sai no Haha, Shiroi Kyoto)
Cast: Amami Yuki, Tanaka Tetsushi, Hayami Mokomichi, Suzuki Kosuke, Sasai Eisuke, Kusakari Masao, Denden, Osugi Ren, Kohinata Fumiyo, Takashima Masanobu (guest star), Hayashiya Shozo (guest star), Adachi Yumi (guest star), Jinbo Satoshi (guest star), Izumiya Shigeru (guest star)
Synopsis: Makabe Yukiko (Amami Yuki) is a female detective who worked her way up the ranks to be the first female head of one of the sections of the elite Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigative Division and steered the police to crack many brutal crimes. However, she is held fully responsible for the failure of negotiations in a bus hijacking and is assigned to the Emergency Investigation Response Team, which goes by the name of Kintori and is the First Investigative Division’s team of interrogation experts. Surrounded by idiosyncratic veteran interrogators (Tanaka Tetsushi, Denden, Osugi Ren, Kohinata Fumiyo), she pursues the truth hidden behind cases as she plays mind and word games with tough criminals.
Website: www.tv-asahi.co.jp/kintori
Dr DMAT
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Thursdays, 9 January 2014
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Anbuki Ichiro (Shirato Osamu no Jikenbo), Yoshizawa Tomoko (Kuro no Onna Kyoushi, Koko ga Uwasa no El Palacio, Karyuu no Utage)
Original Work: Dr DMAT ~ Gareki no Shita no Hippocrates by Takano Hiroshi and Kikuchi Akio
Cast: Okura Tadayoshi, Kato Ai, Takimoto Miori, Aso Yumi, Ichikawa Mikako, Sato Jiro, Hosshan, Matsuo Satoru, Takizawa Saori, Takaki Yuya, Hidari Tonpei, Ishiguro Ken, Kunimura Jun, Mimata Matazo (guest star), Okamoto Kotaro (guest star)
Synopsis: The Disaster Medical Assistance Team, known as DMAT, was established in response to the lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. First launched in Tokyo in 2004 and then deployed to other prefectural and city governments, it is a team of specialists that responds to major catastrophes and accidents such as a big earthquakes or airplane and train crashes. They are not full-time staff but have been volunteered by the persons in charge of designated hospitals. DMAT has to work under the restrictive conditions of disaster sites which are not properly equipped. There are times when they have to prioritise the lives to save, and provide improvised medical treatments in some other instances. A split second’s hesitation can mean the life or death of a person. Yakumo Hibiki (Okura Tadayoshi) works at Tokyo’s Arisugawa General Hospital. He was with the emergency room until a year ago but transferred to the department of internal medicine after the shock of being unable to save his younger sister (Takimoto Miori), who was admitted because of an accident. She then slipped into a coma. However, the newly-appointed hospital director (Kunimura Jun) nominates Yakumo to be a member of DMAT.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/DrDMAT
Iryu 4 Team Medical Dragon
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Thursdays, 9 January 2014
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Hamada Hideya (Last Hope, Zettai Reido, Last Report), Hikawa Kayo (Kyuumei Byoto 24-ji Season 5, Higashino Keigo Mysteries)
Cast: Sakaguchi Kenji, Inamori Izumi, Koike Teppei, Abe Sadao, Kimura Midoriko, Emoto Tasuku, Ikeda Tetsuhiro, Sasaki Kuranosuke, Natsuki Mari, Kishibe Ittoku, Hira Mikijiro, Takahashi Katsunori
Synopsis: Big corporations and trading companies are buying out hospitals overseas or are building new hospitals to get into foreign countries in an attempt to earn foreign money through healthcare for wealthy individuals. On the other hand in Japan, the administration of mid-sized hospitals which shoulder medical treatment for the rural areas is badly off. This is compounded by the shortage of doctors. The successive closure of the most essential hospitals to patients make many people anxious. Amidst this harsh reality, Asada Ryutaro (Sakaguchi Kenji) and Team Dragon regroup in order to create the ideal hospital and get into action. But there are numerous obstacles that stand in their way including the business consultant Okamura Tadashi (Takahashi Katsunori). Okamura has been chosen one of the world’s 100 influential businessmen in connection with the many hospitals he rehabilitated in the US. He has teamed up with Noguchi Takeo (Kishibe Ittoku) to try to promote a project which will provide high quality Japanese medical treatment to India. Japanese doctors are key for him to penetrate the market and he wants to recruit Team Dragon. However, they are not moved by money or prestige. So he tries all sorts of measures in an attempt to win them over.
Website: www.fujitv.co.jp/iryu4
Related: Iryu 3 Team Medical Dragon
Isharyou Bengoshi ~ Anata no Namida, Okane ni Kaemashou
Date: From 11.59 p.m., Thursdays, 9 January 2014
Station: NTV
Cast: Tanaka Naoki, Yada Akiko (guest star), Watanabe Naomi, Yamada Nana, Takashima Kaho, Iwasaki Nami, Nagai Masaru, Nomura Masumi, Moto Fuyuki, Miho Jun
Synopsis: Hakamada Yukio (Tanaka Naoki) is a competent, mysterious lawyer who only handles settlement cases because of past experiences. Although his scathing words get on clients’ nerves, his primary consideration is their welfare. His philosophy that “love is something that can never be bought with money. But if a client is able to have genuine resolve, I’ll certainly get the compensation and give the push for a fresh start” is the basis for the problems that he solves one after another.
Website: www.ytv.co.jp/hakamada
Yamikin Ushijima-kun Season 2
Date: From 12.58 a.m., Fridays, 17 January 2014
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Fukuma Masahiro (Sengyoushufu Tantei, Yamikin Ushijima-kun Season 1, Call Centre no Koibito)
Original Work: Yamikin Ushijima-kun by Manabe Shohei
Cast: Yamada Takayuki, Ayano Go, Yabe Kyosuke, Sakimoto Hiromi, Irie Jingi, Takeda Kohei, Sakura Mana, Sasaki Mai, Kubodera Mizuki, Kizaki Jessica, Asahina Akari, Ikeda Natsuki, Inagawa Natsume, Suzuki Saki, Kamiya Mayu, Nagano Munenori, Uchida Shige, Emiri, Tokuyama Hidenori, Tokui Yu
Synopsis: Ushijima Kaoru (Yamada Takayuki), the boss of Cowcow Finance, is known as a legendary black market lender. Cowcow Finance lends money at an illegally high interest rate of 5% every 10 days and relentlessly corners bad debtors. But cracks form in what should have been a united Cowcow Finance and tips it into a crisis.
Website: ymkn-ushijima-movie.com/dorama
Related: Yamikin Ushijima-kun Season 1
Tenchuu ~ Yami no Shiokinin
Date: From 7.57 p.m., Fridays, 24 January 2014
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Takahashi Motoko (Tsuki no Koibito), Nezu Rika (Detarame Hero, Zettai Kareshi, Life)
Cast: Ono Yuriko, Izumi Pinko, Kyomoto Masaki, Yanagisawa Shingo, Mitsuya Yuji, Takezai Terunosuke, Shimada Kyusaku, Aoi Wakana, Nogi Ryosuke, Shiraishi Miho, Matobu Sei (guest star)
Synopsis: An enigmatic beauty (Ono Yuriko) with a big scar on her back suddenly appears in a town in modern day Japan. Her name is Sana. Although she has extraordinary strength due to some special training she has undergone, she has built an emotional barrier and both her past and true identity remain complete mysteries. Murata Masako (Izumi Pinko), who comes across Sana in the town, helps her and lets her stay at her place. Learning of Sana’s special ability, Masako uses her in an attempt to solve cases where police intervention is difficult such as domestic violence and bank remittance fraud. Masako has a reason for her distrust of the police and for being unable to turn her back on people who are suffering. In fact, 24 years ago, Masako’s daughter 17-year-old Yukari went missing but the police did a poor investigation and the case went unsolved. Sana is completely in despair and her heart is closed, but as she starts to settle the issues that run rampant in modern society on the orders of Masako, she slowly finds the answers to where she came from and why she is here. She also begins to regain her will to live through sincere rapport with people … … Evil will thrive for as long as there are betrayals, lies and people in this world. This is because people’s desires are the true face of evil.
Website: www.fujitv.co.jp/tenchu
Sanbiki no Ossan ~ Seigi no Mikata, Kenzan!
Date: From 8.00 p.m., Fridays, 17 January 2014
Station: TV Tokyo
Scriptwriter: Sato Kumiko (Kagi no Nai Yume o Miru, Ousama no Ie, Scrap Teacher)
Original Work: Sanbiki no Ossan by Arikawa Hiro
Cast: Kitaoji Kinya, Izumiya Shigeru, Shiga Kotaro, Ono Takuro, Mine Azusa, Komoto Masahiro, Nishida Naomi, Fujita Yumiko, Nakada Yoshiko
Synopsis: Three old men who used to be brats form a neighbourhood watch group called ‘Sanbiki no Ossan’ to tackle all sorts of bad things that are rampant in the town such as fraud, molest and animal abuse. They are Kiyota Seiichi (Kitaoji Kinya), a kendo master who has found another job at a neighbourhood game centre after his retirement; Tachibana Shigeo (Izumiya Shigeru), a judo practitioner and the former owner of a pub called ‘Yoidore Kujira’; and the brainy Arimura Norio (Shiga Kotaro) who runs an instrument factory.
Website: www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/3biki.ossan
Yoru no Sensei
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Fridays, 17 January 2014
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Hayashi Koji (Boss Series, Iryu Team Medical Dragon Series, Code Blue Series)
Cast: Mizuki Arisa, Renbutsu Misako, Tanaka Kei, Omasa Aya, Takahashi Issei, Shinkawa Yua, Yamamoto Maika, Shimizu Kurumi, Taiga, Okayama Amane, Taki Yukari, Ebara Yuka, Orimoto Junkichi, Mitsuishi Ken, Yashiba Toshihiro, Nakahara Takeo, Horiuchi Keiko, Okura Koji, Sasano Takashi, Yamamoto Koji
Synopsis: Yoruno Sakura (Mizuki Arisa) has become a rookie teacher at a part-time high school after going through numerous setbacks and being the proprietress of a bar. She is the type of person who is diligent in everything, but encountered failures in life over and over due to bad luck and her tactlessness. Even so, she did not let it get her down and lived with a positive attitude. Although she is overly friendly, insensitive, sloppy and irresponsible, she is a kind person who is instinctively quick to detect and to help people who have dreams. A teacher at 38, she encounters part-time students (Renbutsu Misako, Yamamoto Koji, Tanaka Kei, Horiuchi Keiko, Okura Koji, Takahashi Issei, Sasano Takashi) of various ages and in the same situation as her. She changes their lives a little and is herself reborn too.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/yorusen
Watashi no Kiraina Tantei
Date: From 11.15 p.m., Fridays, 17 January 2014
Station: TV Asahi
Scriptwriter: Fukuda Yuichi (Tenma-san ga Yuku, Kodomo Keisatsu, Yuusha Yoshihiko Series)
Original Work: Watashi no Kirai Tantei by Higashigawa Tokuya
Cast: Tamaki Hiroshi, Goriki Ayame, Shiraishi Shunya, Naito Risa, Shikanuma Yuki, Yasuda Misako, Watanabe Ikkei, Sano Hinako (guest star), Shiraishi Shunya (guest star)
Synopsis: Ninomiya Akemi (Goriki Ayame) is a university student and huge mystery buff. She puts the private eye Ukai Morio (Tamaki Hiroshi) up in the building she owns at cheap rental, and takes every opportunity to try to get herself involved in his cases. Ukai runs a private investigation agency with a questionable signboard which reads “Welcome Trouble!” Because murder cases are not profitable, he solely focuses on investigating infidelity and searching for the lost dogs and cats of celebrities. That is until his agency moves to Akemi’s building and he gets mixed up with her. He now finds himself repeatedly hauled into murder investigations by Akemi.
Website: www.tv-asahi.co.jp/kirainatantei
Nazo no Tenkousei
Date: From 12.12 a.m., Saturdays, 11 January 2014
Station: TV Tokyo
Scriptwriter: Iwai Shunji (Bandage, Hana to Alice)
Original Work: Nazo no Tenkousei by Mayumura Taku
Cast: Nakamura Aoi, Hongo Kanata, Sakurai Minami, Mickey Curtis, Kyono Kotomi, Saiki Shigeru, Hamada Mari, Takano Hiroyuki, Kanayama Kazuhiko, Miyazato Shun, Uno Narumi, Hayama Shono, Usui Masahiro, Hinoi Asuka, Tozuka Junki, Shiina Kotone, Lily, Sugisaki Hana, Nakano Yuta, Kawahara Sabu
Synopsis: Iwata Koichi (Nakamura Aoi) and Kagawa Midori (Sakurai Minami) are second-year students at Tozaiyama High School. One day, while coming home from school, they discover a shooting star rising up in the sky. The next day, Midori sees a shining figure in school and everyone on the school grounds starts talking about a ghost. At that point, a mysterious transfer student called Yamazawa Norio (Hongo Kanata) suddenly arrives at the school and moves in to live next door to Koichi. Strange things begin to happen frequently around Koichi whenever Norio appears. The reason and objective of Norio’s arrival in this world is gradually revealed.
Website: www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/nazono_tenkosei
Senryokugai Sousakan
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Saturdays, 11 January 2014
Station: NTV
Scriptwriter: Kokami Shoji (Kazoku Kashimasu)
Original Work: Senryokugai Sousakan Hime Deka Umizuki Chinami by Nitadori Kei
Cast: Takei Emi, TAKAHIRO, Yashima Norito, Tokushige Satoshi, Hamada Mari, Nomaguchi Toru, Kinoshita Takayuki, Tezuka Toru, Shibuya Kento, Mizusawa Erena, Kitagawa Hiromi, Koyabu Kazutoyo, Ibuki Goro, YOU, Sano Shiro, Sekine Tsutomu, Emoto Akira
Synopsis: The beautiful mystery buff Umizuki Chinami (Takei Emi) and career elite has been assigned to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigative Division as a rookie detective. However, on her first day of work, she is told that she is not in their future plans. Chinami ends up partnered with the handsome detective Shitara Kyosuke (TAKAHIRO) who has a black belt in karate. The First Investigative Division’s ace, Kyosuke had a promising future until he winds up having the blundering Chinami as his partner. Even though the two of them are scolded by veteran detectives and made to feel like a burden, this curious duo confront and solve difficult cases, and save Japan.
Website: www.ntv.co.jp/senryokugai/
Ashio kara Kita Onna*NEW*
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Saturdays, 18 January 2014
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Ikehata Shunsaku (Saka no Ue no Kumo Series, Boku no Imouto)
Cast: Ono Machiko, Suzuki Honami, Kitamura Yukiya, Watanabe Dai, Okada Yoshinori, Onoue Hiroyuki, Genkaku Yuko, Kanai Yuta, Matsushige Yutaka, Hara Sachie, Kunimura Jun, Fujimura Shiho, Emoto Akira
Synopsis: At the end of the Meiji period, the fields of Tochigi Prefecture’s Yanaka Village are contaminated by pollution from the Ashio Copper Mine. Tanaka Shozo’s (Emoto Akira) fight is in vain and the village even drops sharply to 16 houses. The country orders residents to abandon the village and moves to demolish the remaining houses. Sachi (Ono Machiko) is robbed of her birthplace but she is resilient and maintains her dignity. At the behest of Tanaka, she comes to Tokyo to be the housekeeper of female social activist Fukuda Hideko (Suzuki Honami) and grows up as she interacts with people such as the socialists Ishikawa Sanshiro and Kotoku Shusui as well as the poets Ishikawa Takuboku and Yosano Akiko.
Website: www.nhk.or.jp/dodra/ashio
Lost Days
Date: From 11.10 p.m., Saturdays, 11 January 2014
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Tokuo Koji (Hard Nuts, Soumatou Kabushiki Gaisha), Kato Kohei (Orthros no Inu, Yume o Kanaeru Zou, Yo nimo Kimyouna Monogatari)
Cast: Seto Koji, Ishibashi Anna, Triendl Reina, Yoshizawa Ryo, Kojima Fujiko, Miyoshi Ayaka, Kiriyama Ren, Matsuo Toru, Nishida Naomi, Shaku Yumiko
Synopsis: A group of university students who belong to the same tennis club, Shino Yuta (Seto Koji), Sakurada Miki (Ishibashi Anna), Sasaki Rinka (Triendl Reina), Takano Natsu (Yoshizawa Ryo), Fueki Mana (Kojima Fujiko), Tachibana Satsuki (Miyoshi Ayaka) and Sakurada Wataru (Kiriyama Ren), go on a graduation trip to a cottage in the mountains in winter. Although the seven members seem to be good friends, each of them actually has secrets which they cannot tell anyone about; hidden feelings of love and jealousy. Yuta, the cool and brilliant president of the club, is attracted to the sociable and trusting Miki, and intends to tell her about his feelings on this trip, but things do not work out the way he wants. Miki is dating Yuta’s good friend, the free-spirited Natsu and is so into him that she is blind to her surroundings. The seven friends have conflicting positions and when love starts to go down the tubes, a murder occurs like a bolt from the blue. Amid the fear and doubt, hidden emotions begin to come into the open through exchanges which probe each other’s intentions.
Website: www.fujitv.co.jp/lostdays
Dai Tokyo Toy Box
Date: From 11.55 p.m., Saturdays, 4 January 2014
Station: TV Tokyo
Original Work: Giga Tokyo Toy Box by Ume
Cast: Adachi Rika, Uno Misako, Fukushi Seiji, Kitagawa Hiromi, Cho Tamiyasu, Kikuta Daisuke, Kishi Asuka, Hashimoto Manami, Shiho, Kaname Jun, Aijima Kazuyuki
Synopsis: Momoda Momo (Adachi Rika) dreams of becoming a game creator but her quest for a job ends in repeated failure. At the last minute, she is employed by Studio G3 as a trainee game planner. A troublemaker who boasts that while she lacks the skills, she has the spunk, vivacity and spirit of gaming, Momo starts to cause new trouble at Studio G3. Besides the conflicts, frustrations and growth that Momo experiences through game creation, Studio G3 finds itself at odds with the young female president (Shiho) of an up-and-coming game company as well as faced with Sensui Izuru’s (Fukushi Seiji) grand scheme.
Website: www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/dai_tokyo_toybox
Related: Tokyo Toybox
Shark
Date: From 12.50 p.m., Sundays, 12 January 2014
Station: NTV
Scriptwriter: Kuwamura Sayaka (Bad Boys, Mirai Nikki)
Cast: Hirano Sho, Yamashita Rio, Hamada Takahiro, Matsumura Hokuto, Fujii Ryusei, Iwamoto Hikaru, Kamiyama Tomohiro, Mano Erina, Ujiki Tsuyoshi, Okada Koki, Kawae Rina
Synopsis: The five-member band Shark wants to change the world with their music and dreams of making its major debut. Led by Kurata Mizuki (Hirano Sho), the cocky, slightly silly vocalist who has a lot of potential, they struggle but take baby steps forward on what is certainly not an easy path. Their sights are set on their major debut even if they may be seized by a hopeless sense of loss and despair. They will not give up because of fellow members. A charismatic presence in the indie world, Shark is on the verge of debuting with Wonder Records. However, tragedy assails them when Mizuki dies in an accident … …
Website: www.ntv.co.jp/shark
Gunshi Kanbei
Date: From 8.00 p.m., Sundays, 5 January 2014
Station: NHK
Scriptwriter: Maekawa Yoichi (Lady Joker, Suitei Yuuzai, Marks no Yama)
Cast: Okada Junichi, Nakatani Miki, Eguchi Yosuke, Tanihara Shosuke, Kataoka Tsurutaro, Kuroki Hitomi, Shibata Kohei, Takenaka Naoto, Matsuzaka Toori, Kiritani Mirei, Minamisawa Nao, Yoshimoto Miyu, Uchida Yuki, Ryu Raita, Takaoka Saki, Tanaka Kei, Shunputei Koasa, Hayami Mokomichi, Takahashi Issei, Tsukamoto Takashi, Nagai Masaru, Shiomi Sansei, Fukikoshi Mitsuru, Tanaka Tetsushi, Kaneko Nobuaki, Hamada Gaku, Toda Naho, Masuoka Toru, Sakai Wakana, Bito Isao, Kondo Yoshimasa, Katsuno Hiroshi, Pierre Taki, Bessho Tetsuya, Tsurumi Shingo, Yamaji Kazuhiro, Mashima Hidekazu, Jinnai Takanori
Synopsis: The ancestors of Kuroda Kanbei (Okada Junichi) were samurai of Omi Province but the family arrived in Himeji during his grandfather’s generation after wandering about. Kanbei’s father Mototaka (Shibata Kohei) was given a post as the chief retainer of the local ruling family, the Koderas of Harima Province. At 22, Kanbei marries Kushihashi Teru (Nakatani Miki) in a political union arranged by Kodera Masamoto (Kataoka Tsurutaro), the lord of Gochaku Castle. He is given the post as chief retainer at the same time he becomes head of the family. Kanbei is quick to notice Oda Nobunaga’s (Eguchi Yosuke) potential and is so trusted that he is like a younger brother to Hashiba Hideyoshi (later known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi) (Takenaka Naoto). When his lord betrays the Oda clan, Kanbei falls into a trap in an attempt to persuade him and is locked away in a dungeon for more than a year. After Kanbei’s gets out, he cut ties with the Koderas and became Hideyoshi’s strategist. He is the first to learn of the Honnoji Incident, bring about Hideyoshi’s swift response to Oda’s death at the hands of Akechi Mitsuhide (Shunputei Koasa) and project Hideyoshi as the one who would rule over the whole country. As they get closer to the reunification of Japan, Kanbei learns that Hideyoshi is wary of the man who would aim to be the next ruler. So at the young age of 44, he gives the reigns of the family to his son Nagamasa (Matsuzaka Toori) and simply goes into retirement. After that, he takes the tonsure and the name Josui. At the Battle of Sekigahara, Kanbei leads a troop of wandering samurai to storm Kyushu in his last crucial duel, but the outcome of Sekigahara is decided in half a day through Nagamasa’s efforts and that ends his dream of coming to power. After the battle, Kanbei refuses all rewards. He leads a quiet life in Chikuzen Province (present day Fukuoka Prefecture) which had been offered by his son, and passes away at the age of 59.
Website: www9.nhk.or.jp/kanbe
S ~ Saigo no Keikan
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Sundays, 12 January 2014
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Furuya Kazunao (Kasukana Kanojo, 37-sai de Isha ni Natta Boku, Shiawase ni Narou)
Original Work: S ~ Saigo no Keikan by Komori Yoichi
Cast: Mukai Osamu, Ayano Go, Fukuishi Kazue, Ikeuchi Hiroyuki, Hirayama Hiroyuki, Takahashi Tsutomu, Hirayama Yusuke, Motomiya Yasukaze, Fuchikami Yasushi, Fuse Eri, Asakura Erika, Yuki Jutta, Kimisawa Yuki, Yagi Nanaka, Mika, Santos Anna, Honda Hirotaro, Asaka Mayumi, Sugawara Daikichi, Tsuchiya Anna, Takashima Masahiro, Kondo Masaomi (guest star), Omori Nao
Synopsis: The National Police Safety Rescue, or NPS is the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s special assault team which possesses both the mobility of the Special Unit (SAT) as well as the investigative skills of the Special Investigations Team (SIT), and is tasked with bringing criminals into custody alive. This small elite team is a new approach to fighting against heinous crimes. Kamikura Ichigo (Mukai Osamu) retired from the life of a professional boxer and became a police officer after that. In his second year working as a uniformed police officer, an incident leads to him being scouted by the NPS. Armed with excellent reflexes, explosive power and punches honed through boxing, Kamikura is a close combat specialist who is good at getting control over his opponents using barefists. On the other hand, Soga Iori (Ayano Go) is a member of the SAT. Described as superhuman, he prides himself in his sharpshooting and is the SAT’s best sniper. Soga was once assigned to a police precinct because he had aspirations to become a detective. Before long, he arrested three robbers and attracted attention as one of the promising newcomers. He is cool and collected, has great concentration, endurance, perception as well as combat ability; the embodiment of the SAT’s ideal male.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/S-saigonokeikan-
Chi no Wadachi
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Sundays, 19 January 2014
Station: WOWOW
Scriptwriter: Shinozaki Eriko (Link, Furueru Ushi, Magma)
Original Work: Chi no Wadachi by Aiba Hideo
Cast: Tanihara Shosuke, Harada Taizo, TAO, Takashima Masanobu, Shaku Yumiko, Tokuyama Hidenori, Shimada Kyusaku, Emi Kurara, Satoi Kenta, Hashizume Jun, Tanaka Ken, Kitami Toshiyuki, Takuma Shin
Synopsis: The dead body of Kagawa Tsuyoshi (Satoi Kenta), a former Tokyo Metropolitan Police detective, is found at a park under the jurisdiction of Shinjuku Ushigome Police Precinct. Vowing to avenge their ex-colleague, the Criminal Investigations Department including the First Investigative Division’s Usawa Minoru (Tanihara Shosuke) launch an investigation. On the other hand, it is because the victim is a former detective that the Public Security Department’s Sono Kohei (Takashima Masanobu) makes his subordinate Shimizu Tatsuya (Harada Taizo) get down to the bottom of the matter under a cloak of secrecy. The Public Security Department believes that maintaining confidence in the police organisation is linked to law and order. If a case is found to be damaging to the police, they will not rule out letting it go unsolved. With the support of Sakagami Toko (TAO) of the Special Investigation Team, Usawa learns that Kagawa had drawn up a document right before his death and inserted the data into a memory card that he shipped to a former colleague Kushiwakura Atsuru in Yamagata Prefecture. The Public Security Department which has been keeping tabs on the movements of the Criminal Investigations Department by using a large number of personnel, eavesdropping devices and cameras, also finds out about this and moves to recover the card. Usawa heads to Yamagata in order to get hold of the card first, but … …
Website: www.wowow.co.jp/dramaw/wadachi
Hanasaku Ashita
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Sundays, 5 January 2014
Station: NHK BS Premium
Scriptwriter: Nishiogi Yumie (Ando Lloyd, Honjitsu wa Taian Nari, SPEC Series)
Cast: Koike Eiko, Yamada Yu, Takeda Kohei, Hoshino Mari, Suruga Taro, Yanagishita Tomo, Mashima Hidekazu, Watabiki Katsuhiko, Natsuki Mari, Kunihiro Tomiyuki, Sato Megumi, Miura Rieko
Synopsis: The Hanasakus are a family of five siblings (Mashima Hidekazu, Yamada Yu, Takeda Kohei, Hoshino Mari) including 35-year-old Asa (Koike Eiko) who is the eldest girl. Each of them are facing challenges in their lives. At this moment, their 60-year-old mother Fuuko (Natsuki Mari) who had once abandoned them, returns from Italy and comes back to the Hanasakus for the first time in 20 years. Fuuko is merry, lively, a big eater and braggart. Although she has huge rows with Asa, she uncovers the problems of her troubled children and it is her vitality that guides them toward new lives.
Website: www.nhk.or.jp/drama/hanasaku
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