Spring 2009 Dramas

Hanchou ~ Jinnansho Azumihan
Date: From 8.00 p.m., Mondays, 13 April 2009
Station: TBS
Cast: Sasaki Kuranosuke, Nakamura Shunsuke, Tsukaji Muga, Kurotani Tomoka, Kashu Toshiki, Yamaguchi Shogo, Hosokawa Shigeki, Tayama Ryosei, Shibuya Asuka, Yasu Megumi, Okunuki Kaoru
Synopsis: Jinnan Police Precinct is a newly established precinct in Harajuku. It is small in scale and Azumi Tsuyoshi (Sasaki Kuranosuke) is the section chief of the Criminal Affairs Division’s Violent Crimes Section but there are only six detectives. Furthermore, the precinct is often belittled by the police headquarters and the detectives of Shibuya Precinct because of its small size. However, the Jinnan Precinct detectives led by their team leader Azumi are not depressed by their circumstances. They bump and stumble around during the course of their investigations. At other times, they steadily and painstakingly repeat what seems like fruitless work. Throughout this, Azumi never tries to say anything. He just believes in and watches over his subordinates. He will risk his life to protect his subordinates and holds an unyielding position if there is a need. His subordinates understand his feelings and have complete trust in him.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/hanchou2009

Konkatsu
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Mondays, 20 April 2009
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Nakai Masahiro, Ueto Aya, Sato Ryuta, Matsukata Hiroki, Ueda Tatsuya, Tanihara Shosuke, Shaku Yumiko, Kitamura Yukiya, Ryo, Kohinata Fumiyo, Fubuki Jun, Hashizume Isao
Synopsis: A salaryman (Nakai Masahiro) in his mid-30s is at the peak of his career. He feels that it is too early for marriage and he is passionate about his job but faces a do-or-die situation at work because of the unprecedented economic downturn. And so he finds himself standing at life’s crossroads where he also has to work hard at activities for marriage in his private life.
Website: wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/kon-katsu

Atashinchi no Danshi
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Tuesdays, 14 April 2009
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Horikita Maki, Yamamoto Koji, Takashima Reiko, Kaname Jun, Okada Yoshinori, Mukai Osamu, Yamamoto Yusuke, Seto Koji, Okayama Tomoki, Kusakari Masao (guest star)
Synopsis: Mineta Chisato’s (Horikita Maki) mother dies of an illness and her father, who is saddled with a debt of 1 million yen, also disappears. In a bid to flee from the debt collectors, she ends up staying in internet cafes while on the run. Then she meets Okura Shinzo (Kusakari Masao), the president of an established toy manufacturer, who offers to assume the debt on condition that she marries him and she begins living together with six eccentric but handsome step-sons (Kaname Jun, Okada Yoshinori, Mukai Osamu, Yamamoto Yusuke, Seto Koji, Okayama Tomoki).
Website: wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/atashinchi

Shiroi Haru
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Tuesdays, 14 April 2009
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Abe Hiroshi, Ohashi Nozomi, Yoshitaka Yuriko, Konno Mahiru, Endo Yuya, Shiraishi Miho, Endo Kenichi
Synopsis: Sakura Haruo (Abe Hiroshi), a “hopelessly bad man” who has served 10 years for a case and just been released from prison, meets Komura Sachi (Ohashi Nozomi), an elementary school girl with the heart of an angel, by chance. He later learns that she is his biological daughter that he had had with his former lover just before he was imprisoned.
Website: ktv.jp/haru

Rinjo
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Wednesdays, 15 April 2009
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Uchino Masaaki, Matsushita Yuki, Takashima Masanobu, Watanabe Dai, Ibu Masato
Synopsis: Kuraishi Yoshio (Uchino Masaaki) is an ace forensics expert who arrives at the scene before the police to assess the cause of death and likelihood of a case. He is reckless in his speech and behaviour, has no regard for discord with the people around him and stands firm when he thinks he is right. Because of his straight-talking style as well as brazen attitude even towards his superiors, the organisation considers him a nuisance but his unwavering confidence, attention towards the dead and genuine kindness gradually draws the people involved with him towards him.
Website:www.tv-asahi.co.jp/rinjo

Fufudo 2009
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Wednesdays, 15 April 2009
Station: TBS
Cast: Takeda Tetsuya, Takahata Atsuko, Yamasaki Shizuyo, Takuma Seiko, Motokariya Yuika, Suzuki Yuuto, Ishikura Saburo, Hashizume Isao
Synopsis: Takanabe Kosuke (Takeda Tetsuya) and Satoko (Takahata Atsuko) are a couple who run a tea plantation and have four children – eldest daughter, Natsumo (Yamasaki Shizuyo); second daughter, Yayako (Takuma Seiko); third daughter, Wakaba (Motokariya Yuika); and young son, Shigeru (Suzuki Yuuto). Around this small family are the interwoven relationships that develop between husband and wife, parents and children, siblings and neighbours – the daily trivial events through which interpersonal relationships grow. (Fufudo aired in spring 2007)
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/fufudo09

Aishiteru ~ Kaiyou
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Wednesdays, 15 April 2009
Station: NTV
Cast: Inamori Izumi, Itaya Yuka, Yamamoto Taro, Sano Shiro, Tanaka Misako
Synopsis: Noguchi Satsuki (Inamori Izumi) lives with her husband Kazuhiko and 10-year-old son Tomoya, a fifth grade elementary school student. She is an ordinary full-time housewife who quit working after she gave birth to focus on raising her child. She has felt lonely because Tomoya has become withdrawn lately but she pays no heed to this as it is probably the way boys are. Then one day, the family is notified by the police that Tomoya has been taken into custody as the suspect in the murder of a 7-year-old boy. This can’t be happening. Something must be wrong … The family runs from the pursuit of society and the mass media despite those thoughts. Satsuki finds herself questioning her existence as a mother as the murder causes conflict and pain to them as well as the victim’s family. Finally she starts to see the unexpected truth through Tomoya’s testimony …
Website: www.ntv.co.jp/aishiteru

Kyoto Chiken no Onna Season 5
Date: From 8.00 p.m., Thursdays, 23 April 2009
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Natori Yuko, Masuoka Toru, Watanabe Ikkei, Terajima Susumu
Synopsis: Tsurumaru Aya (Natori Yuko) is a public prosecutor of the Kyoto District Public Prosecutor’s Office armed with “housewifely intuition” to crack difficult cases.
Website: www.tv-asahi.co.jp/kyoto

Yako no Kaidan
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Thursdays, 23 April 2009
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Fujiki Naohito, Kimura Yoshino, Natsukawa Yui, Watanabe Ikkei, Oginome Keiko, Ishii Masanori, Miura Rieko, Takachi Noboru, Tamaru Maki, Yo Kimiko, Muroi Shigeru, Kobayashi Nenji
Synopsis: Sayama Michio (Fujiki Naohito) is a young and callous hairstylist who will stop at nothing to fulfill his ambition(s). Coming from an impoverished background, he suddenly becomes the darling of the beauty world. Sayama uses women as his stepping stone to get to the top and puts on several different faces when dealing with them. Edamura Sachiko (Kimura Yoshino) is the editor of a top woman’s magazine and proud to be a working woman. She becomes Sayama’s customer and falls for his charms. He has magnificent hair techniques and is the type that brings out a female’s motherly instincts. Sayama initially gets close to Sachiko because of her connections to the entertainment industry, and gradually finds himself attracted to her. Sachiko, who is used by Sayama, soon learns about his past and his connection to a murder …
Website: www.tv-asahi.co.jp/yako

Boss
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Thursdays, 16 April 2009
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Amami Yuki, Takenouchi Yutaka, Toda Erika, Mizobata Junpei, Kichise Michiko, Nukumizu Yuichi, Tamayama Tetsuji, Kobayashi Kendo
Synopsis: Osawa Eriko (Amami Yuki) is brilliant and competent as a career policewoman. However, even though she understands criminals’ psyche, she is completely hopeless at reading men’s feelings. She is also a strong, single woman with hopes of marriage. Incurring the displeasure of the top brass ever since she threw away a career advancement because of her ex-boyfriend, she was sidelined and sent on training to the US. After her return, she somehow becomes the head of the First Investigative Division’s Special Crimes Unit which has been set up to counter the high incidence of violent crimes. Her members are a group of detectives who are capable but have behavioural and personality problems. In other words, it is a post that has been created to get rid of her discreetly but as the boss, she gradually brings them together and builds them up into an outstanding investigation team.
Website: www.fujitv.co.jp/BOSS

Love Game
Time: From 11.58 p.m. Thursdays, 23 April 2009
Station: NTV
Cast: Shaku Yumiko
Synopsis: Love Game is a game in which participants can win 1 billion yen if they succeed in a love-related task. There are no risks to the participants. However, no one has ever succeeded in the game before …
Website: www.ytv.co.jp/lovegame

Smile
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Fridays, 17 April 2009
Station: TBS
Cast: Matsumoto Jun, Aragaki Yui, Nakai Kiichi, Koike Eiko, Katsumura Masanobu, Maeda Gin, Ishida Ayumi
Synopsis: Hayakawa Bito (Matsumoto Jun) is a youth who is the child of a Filipino father and Japanese mother. His father dies and his mother goes missing but he weathers these unfortunate circumstances and his troubles about his race and background with positivity and a smile. Mishima Hana (Aragaki Yui) is a pure-hearted girl with a sunny smile in spite of her loss of speech as a result of some incident.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/smile09

Meitantei no Okite
Date: From 11.15 p.m., Fridays, 17 April 2009
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Matsuda Shota, Kashii Yu, Kimura Yuichi
Synopsis: Tenkaichi Daigo (Matsuda Shota) is a famous detective who is brilliant, accomplished and exceptional in his ability to take action. However, while he is orthodox in solving difficult cases, he is also an unconventional detective who exposes setups and tricks like never before.
Website: www.tv-asahi.co.jp/meitantei

Godhand Teru
Time: From 7.56 p.m. Saturdays, 11 April 2009
Station: TBS
Cast: Hiraoka Yuta, Mizukawa Asami, Murakawa Eri, Kaname Jun, Araki Hirofumi, Bessho Tetsuya, Watabe Atsuro
Synopsis: Mahigashi Teru (Hiraoka Yuta) is a new surgeon at Yasuda Memorial Hospital whose endless blunders always make those around him apprehensive. But he transforms into a genius doctor when patients’ lives are in danger and prides himself on having zero mortality in his miraculous surgeries. When patients face certain death, the bruise on his chest in the shape of the palm of a hand, shines. That is where “God’s hands” dwell. This bruise was sustained in a plane crash during his childhood after his father, a brilliant surgeon, gave him a heart massage in exchange for his life. His father had died in this accident and because of that he feels strongly about the “bonds of life” and “never ever letting a person die”. In contrast, Shinomiya Kozue (Mizukawa Asami) is a skillful surgeon who views Teru as her rival and thinks that the only thing a doctor needs is technique.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/god-teru

Mr Brain
Time: From 7.56 p.m. Saturdays, 23 May 2009
Station: TBS
Cast: Kimura Takuya, Ayase Haruka, Mizushima Hiro, Ichikawa Ebizo, Hiraizumi Sei, Shitara Osamu, Yamazaki Shigenori, Isaka Shinya, Hayashi Yasufumi, Kobayashi Katsuya, Tanaka Yuji, Matsumoto Tortoise, Daichi Mao, Kagawa Teruyuki
Synopsis: Tsukumo Ryusuke (Kimura Takuya) a neuroscientist who is in charge of the scientific method of identification, investigation and research of crime solving at the National Police Agency’s Science Institute. He solves difficult cases as well as major cases with his exceptional ability. He is quite different from people who can read situations and gets on the wrong side of those around him but his attitude when he gets thoroughly fixated in the pursuit of something that interests him, will certainly drive criminals into a corner …
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/mr-brain

Harukanaru Kizuna
Time: From 9.00 p.m. Saturdays, 18 April 2009
Station: NHK
Cast: Suzuki Ann, Gregory Wong, Yue Xiuqing, Hu Bing, Morishita Aiko, Kato Kenichi
Synopsis: In 1970, when there still wasn’t the phrase “Japanese orphans left behind in China,” a lone youth arrives at Narita airport. He is reunited with his real parents after 25 years but what lies ahead of him is a difficult life in his homeland. Then his daughter goes to his hometown in China to study. She learns about his past over there and begins to trace the footsteps of her father who struggles with his love of Japan and China.
Website: www9.nhk.or.jp/drama/dramalist/kizuna.html

Kaette Kosaserareta 33-pun Tantei
Time: From 11.10 p.m. Saturdays, 28 March 2009
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Domoto Tsuyoshi, Mizukawa Asami, Takahashi Katsumi, Sawamura Ikki, Totsugi Shigeyuki
Synopsis: –
Website: wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/33tantei

Majo Saiban
Time: From 11.10 p.m. Saturdays, 25 April 2009
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Ikuta Toma, Kato Ai, Higa Manami, Ishida Yuriko, Kutsuna Shiori
Synopsis: Yoshioka Toru (Ikuta Toma), a young freeter – the term used to describe freelance part-time workers – who has no interest in social issues gets embroiled in a baffling case when he is chosen to be a juror. Kashiwagi Kyoko (Ishida Yuriko) is accused of a murder over an inheritance. She is surely guilty but why are the jurors votes leaning towards innocent? This is because a mysterious group is working behind the scenes to fix the verdict.
Website: www.fujitv.co.jp/majo

Iindaze! ~ Ikemen Sobaya Tantei
Time: From 12.55 a.m. Sundays, 5 April 2009
Station: NTV
Cast: Fujiki Naohito, Namase Katsuhisa, Furuta Arata, Horiuchi Keiko
Synopsis: Higuchi Juntaro (Fujiki Naohito) is an elusive soba seller. One day, his older sister, Itako (Horiuchi Keiko), who is worried about him, comes down from Osorezan. However, besides being a soba seller, Juntaro is also a detective who has impressively solved several difficult cases around him that have caused a stir. Surrounding him are Ikeda (Furuta Arata), the president of an entertainment agency; Kuroda (Namase Katsuhisa), a detective who clashes with Juntaro over almost everything; and the many handsome shop assistants working part-time as soba noodle deliverymen.
Website: www.ntv.co.jp/ikesoba

The Quiz Show
Time: From 9.00 p.m. Saturdays, 18 April 2009
Station: NTV
Cast: Sakurai Sho, Yokoyama Yu, Matsuura Aya, Maya Miki
Synopsis: A forbidden quiz show is about to start now … The 10 selected contestants don’t know that this programme will attempt to expose the wickedness in them; that the questions spun by the eccentric and famous emcee, Kamiyama Satoru (Sakurai Sho), will attempt to make the secrets that they have covered up, known to the public … Kamiyama had been a cheerful and popular person during his high school days but ended up in a vegetative state for 6 years because of some accident. He still suffers from memory loss now.
Website: www.ntv.co.jp/quizshow

Boku no Imouto
Time: From 9.00 p.m. Sundays, 19 April 2009
Station: TBS
Cast: Odagiri Joe, Nagasawa Masami, Tomosaka Rie, Tanaka Tetsushi, Wakabayashi Shigo, Otaki Hideji, Katase Nana, Kohinata Fumiyo
Synopsis: Two siblings – an older brother (Odagiri Joe) called a gifted surgeon but inadequate when it comes to handling his younger sister feelings and the younger sister (Nagasawa Masami) who is so lousy at studying to the extent that she is called a “miraculous idiot” in school but has an exceptional ability to survive because she knows how to swim with the tide – only have each other because their parents died early. However, these two people with completely opposite personalities repeatedly get into quarrels though this serves to strengthen their bonds.
Website: www.tbs.co.jp/program/bokunoimouto.html

Soratobu Taiya
Time: From 10.00 p.m. Sundays, 29 March 2009
Station: WOWOW
Cast: Nakamura Toru, Tanabe Seiichi, Hagiwara Masato, Mizuno Miki, Mimura, Hakamada Yoshihiko, Emoto Tasuku, Komoto Masahiro, Aijima Kazuyuki, Ono Machiko, Endo Kenichi, Honjo Manami, Nishioka Tokuma, Toda Naho, Osugi Ren, Kunimura Jun
Synopsis: One day, Akamatsu (Nakamura Toru), who runs a small transportation company, receives a call about an accident. The tyre of one of the company’s trailers had come off and hit a mother and her children, resulting in injuries and death(s). Poor maintenance is labelled as the cause of the accident. Faced with a relentless probe by the police (Endo Kenichi), Akamatsu loses confidence but with the encouragement of his executive managing directors Miyashiro (Osugi Ren) and Kadota (Emoto Tasuku), and his wife (Toda Naho), he decides to take on a big business in order to find out the cause of the accident. Sawada (Tanabe Seiichi), the Manager of Customer Strategy at Hope Motors who receives an inquiry from Akamatsu, knows of the existence of “T meeting”, a secret internal meeting headed by Kano (Kunimura Jun), Hope Motors managing director, to discuss their vehicle recall coverup. Working with his colleagues Komaki (Hakamada Yoshihiko) and Sugimoto (Ono Machiko), Sawada gets his hands on “T meeting” information and plans to push Kano’s faction out with the purpose of ridding the company of corruption.
Website: www.wowow.co.jp/dramaw/taiya

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