It appears that the dreary summer that I was bracing myself for has one bright spot as WOWOW has announced a drama, production crew and ensemble cast that promises to be all levels of awesome!
This August, WOWOW will screen an adaptation of Ikeido Jun’s novel Shitamachi Rocket. Those who recognise Ikeido’s name will know him as the author of high profile works including Soratobu Taiya, which the channel also turned into one of the best social dramas in recent years in 2009. Soratobu Taiya went on to win sweep the best drama awards at the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters Awards, ATP Television Grand Prix and Tokyo Drama Awards.
Shitamachi Rocket will take viewers into the world of space rockets and gadgetry as a small factory battles a big corporation in a contest of wills for a patent that the factory has obtained. Mikami Hiroshi plays the protagonist, Tsukuda Kohei, who was formerly involved in rocket development as a researcher but now runs his own small factory. Watabe Atsuro is Zaizen Michio, the head of the Aerospace division of a big corporation, pitted against Tsukuda over patented technology for his rocket’s engine. Film actress Terajima Shinobu rounds out the leading cast as Kamiya Ryoko, a lawyer who supports Tsukuda as a specialist in the patent case. The supporting cast includes Ikeuchi Hiroyuki, Ayano Go, Harada Natsuki, Mitsuishi Ken, Mizuno Maki and Furuya Ikko.
With such acting heavyweights headlining the drama – by that I mean actors and actresses who care enough about their craft to get under the skin of their characters and into the hearts of audiences – and a reunion of the production crew from Soratobu Taiya and Marks no Yama, Shitamachi Rocket should be nothing less than a blast. This lineup alone is enough to get me giddy with excitement.
These days, it seems that WOWOW is the only channel that has been consistently hitting the right notes.
Shitamachi Rocket is a five-parter and comes to our screens every Sunday at 10.00 p.m. from 21 August 2011.
Another subbing project is in order if we can get our hands on the episodes!
Jdrama Weblog 
Oh damm. Mikami Hiroki and Watabe Atsuro? It’s Yentown reunion! And you add Terajima Shinobu, who is fricking awesome. I want this so badly. I think it’s the only summer drama that I’m excited about. Wohoo!
is anyone subbing this?