Buzzer Beat ~ Gakeppuchi no Hero ~

10Jul09

Buzzer Beat

Official Website
http://wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/buzzerbeat/

Broadcast
Mondays, 9.00 – 9.54 p.m. from 13 July 2009

Station
Fuji TV

Story
Kamiya Naoki, who is on the professional basketball team, JC Arcs, has hit a slump in contrast to his outstanding success during his school days. At that moment, it is rumoured that the club he belongs to will be abolished as a result of the recession. Naoki would like to marry his girlfriend, Nanami Natsuki, one of the team’s cheerleaders, but cannot decide every time he comes to the crucial moment. One day after a quarrel, Naoki gets worried when he cannot contact Natsuki and in the process of searching for her, he meets Shirakawa Riko, who is working part-time at a bookstore and aims to be a violinist. Riko is the girl that Naoki’s team coach, Kawasaki Tomoya, has fallen in love with at first sight …

Characters
Yamashita Tomohisa as Kamiya Naoki
An athlete on the basketball team, JC Arcs, he decided to be a professional basketball player after his buzzer beater in a basketball match when he was an elementary school student. He is unable to bring out his best at critical moments and has no burning desire. He is dating Natsuki but she has gravitated to Ren. He rapidly starts warming up to Riko with whom he can talk about anything, and his feelings for her gradually grows from friendship to affection. Brought up in a family of females – his mother, elder sister and younger sister – he is a down-to-earth guy who is not extravagant because he knows the value of money. He is a modern day guy who doesn’t have self-confidence in his basketball skills and love too. Blood type: A.

Kitagawa Keiko as Shirakawa Riko
Cheerful and positive. She works part-time at a bookstore while aiming to be a violinist. She dislikes dishonesty and is also considered masculine by the people around. Pure-hearted and sincere by nature. She is kind to everyone and self-assured but also has a meddlesome streak. Kawasaki Tomoya, the coach of JC Arcs, confesses his feelings for her and she is moved. In the course of meeting Naoki, she gradually falls in love with his kindness and serious devotion to basketball. She is a modern-day girl who boldly forges ahead in love and her dream of becoming a violinist. Blood type: O.

Aibu Saki as Nanami Natsuki
The captain of the cheerleaders. She is a beauty and is also good at dancing. Her juniors admire her. She has a strong desire to move up and devotes herself to studying dance routines. Even though she has been dating Naoki, who has no hope of ever getting ahead, for two years, she runs out of patience with him and starts seeing Yoyogi Ren, a star player and wild guy. But the appearance of Riko makes her conscious of Naoki again. She is cool, practical and will do whatever it takes to achieve her goals. Blood type: O.

Kanjiya Shihori as Ebina Mai
Riko’s good friend and roommate. She aims to be a flute player after graduating from music college, and works part-time at a bookstore with Riko. A person who takes things at her own pace, has a dynamic personality and is always active. Once she and Riko start talking, they get carried away and cannot stop. She is a gourmand and loves smart dressing. In particular, she has a weakness for shoes and tends to buy them against her better judgment on payday. She loves romance stories but doesn’t have a boyfriend because she’s the cautious sort. She detests girls of Natsuki’s type. Blood type: B.

Mizobata Junpei as Hadano Shuji
Naoki’s junior who was born in Kansai. His position on the team is shooting guard. He is good at behaving like a spoilt younger brother. He is stuck with being a reserve. Blood type: A.

Maya Miki as Kamiya Makiko
Naoki’s mother. She reached an amicable divorce with her husband when Naoki was 10 and raised him while working as the manager of an Italian furniture store. She believes in her son’s efforts and has hopes he will flourish and shine.

Ito Hideaki as Kawasaki Tomoya
The head coach of JC Arcs and a man who looks good in suits. During his playing days, he won MVP (Most Valuable Player) awards and was a well-known player in the world of basketball. He retired because of a knee injury and chose to be a coach. The more inferior Naoki feels, the more superior he appears. He falls in love with Riko at first sight and although he is gentle-mannered, he has an aggressive side when it comes to love. Blood type: O.