Mei-chan no Shitsuji « Jdrama Weblog

Mei-chan no Shitsuji

25Dec08

Meichan

Official Website
http://wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/mei-chan/index.html

Broadcast
Tuesdays, 9.00 – 9.54 p.m. from 13 January 2009

Station
Fuji TV

Story
Shinonome Mei, the daughter of a noodle shop owner, is leading a happy school life when she suddenly receives news of the death of her parents in an accident. Then Shibata Rihito, a good-looking guy appears in front of Mei and humbly says, “I’m your butler.” Mei’s grandfather is actually the multi-millionaire Hongo Kintaro. Her father had run away from home and raised her while keeping his family background a secret. Mei is in physical danger because she is the heiress of the Hongo Group. Afraid of getting the people around her involved, Mei has no choice but to decide to be admitted to St Lucia Girl’s Academy. Meanwhile, Mei’s childhood friend, Shibata Kento, attends a butler school in order to protect her.

Characters
Mizushima Hiro as Shibata Rihito
The butler with the best looks and ability. He is the hope of a family of butlers that has served generations of the Hongo Group, which is the largest corporation in Japan and one of the largest in the world. He received hothousing to thoroughly train him to be a butler, and also performs the role of bodyguard. He handles everything indifferently on the premise that it’s for Mei’s interest but it’s robotic avoidance.

Eikura Nana as Shinonome Mei
She was raised as the daughter of a noodle shop owner but learns that she is the successor of the Hongo Group when her parents suddenly die. Mei’s school results are poor but she’s a cheerful and popular girl. She’s also very stubborn and has the habit of bottling up her worries. At St Lucia Girl’s Academy, she tackles various problems with the ideas and spontaneity of a commoner and grows up influenced by the wealthy girls around her.

Sato Takeru as Shibata Kento
Rihito’s younger brother. He is Mei’s childhood friend and has always liked her. But Mei has not reciprocated his sincere feelings and because both of them are very stubborn, they end up quarrelling. Kento is worried for Mei, who has joined St Lucia Girl’s Academy, and decides to enroll in a butler school in order to protect her. He is jealous of his older brother but Rihito is marvels at the qualities that Kento possesses.

Yamada Yu as Hongo Shiori
The female student who has been crowned with the title “Lucia”, which is given to the best lady of St Lucia Girl’s Academy. She wields absolute power over the students. After Mei’s father ran away from the Hongo household, she was adopted as the successor and suppressed feelings of whether she will be the right person for the Hongo family. As a result, her heart became very black. She is jealous of Mei who has made Rihito her butler. At the same time, Mei also becomes her worst enemy as the Hongo Group’s successor.

Mukai Osamu as Shinobu
The butler who serves Shiori. His real name, age and background is not known. Called the most beautiful butler within the academy, he is as popular as Rihito. Shinobu holds a Doctor of Medicine and simultaneously works as the academy’s physician. He follows Shiori’s orders with complete loyalty and also excels at schemes to demean people. He is in effect the perpetrator who sets Rihito and Mei up. His feelings for Shiori goes beyond his professional duties as a butler but … ?

Horiuchi Keiko as Sister Rose
The principal of St Lucia Girl’s Academy. She has a candid personality and adopts a policy of non-interference, leaving the academy’s autonomy to all the students. She has a clear understanding of the purpose of cultivating the next generation of ladies and gives shrewd advice to Mei and other troubled students. Sister Rose was a graduate of the academy and was crowned with the title “Lucia” for being the best student at that time. She became legendary as the best Lucia in the history of the academy.

Tsugawa Masahiko as Hongo Kintaro
The present head of the Hongo Group. He is Mei’s grandfather but he is a stern man who doesn’t give her preferential treatment even though they are blood relations. He seems to speak coldly as far as she is concerned. However, this is also because he wants her to be strong. He knew that Rihito’s father, Hideto, who is also his chief butler, was harbouring Mei’s family but he tacitly tolerated his son’s way of life.