It has been revealed that actress Anna Ishii and former KAT-TUN member Tatsuya Ueda will play a married couple in the drama series "Saint Love Survivors" (TV Tokyo, Wednesday nights at 12:30am), which will begin airing on January 7, 2026. Ishii will play the protagonist, who is troubled by her newlywed life of zero sex despite marrying her beloved "oshi" (favorite person), played by co-star Ueda.
The story is based on the manga of the same name by Satoru Hiura, who is known for works such as "Hotaru no Hikari" and "Saionji-san Doesn't Do Housework." Haru Aizawa (played by Ishii) becomes a freelance writer with the sole desire to meet popular band member Kazuhiro Oji (played by Ueda). Not only does her wish come true, but she also ends up becoming Prince's caretaker.
Then, due to some unforeseen circumstances, the prince proposes to her and they decide to get married, but on the day of their wedding, the prince tells her, "Even after we get married, it's okay if we don't do anything physical, right?" Haru, troubled by her "sex-free" newlywed life, tries to confide in her friends, Fuyumi Matsuoka, a married hair and makeup artist with children, and Akina Kiriyama, who works for a foreign company, but they too are deeply troubled... This is the story.
◇Comment from Anna Ishii
I will be playing the role of Haru!! This work is a new challenge for me, and it looks like I will be facing many emotions while acting. I want to make a work that can empathize with the hearts of people who are troubled. I will take on the challenge head-on while reconsidering what "happiness" and "love" are. I hope that it will reach many people.
◇Comment from Tatsuya Ueda
After reading the original work and the script, I'm really excited about taking on this role for the first time. The prince gives off the impression of being cool, but not cool at the same time. He has a narcissistic, intimidating vibe, but at certain moments his smile is gentle...I think the contrast is what makes him so appealing, so I hope to be able to bring out that contrast and play a prince that Haru can really support. I want to be firmly immersed in the world of "Saint Love Survivors" and make this a production that fans of the original work will enjoy.
◇ Comment from Satoru Hiura
"Saint Love Survivors" has been turned into a TV drama! What's more, it's a late-night TV drama on TV Tokyo, which is known for its "stable quality" for drama fans! I'm so happy.
The role of Haru will be played by Anna Ishii, who is currently on a roll! Ever since her days in "Tokyo Love Story," I've been paying attention to her as an actor with a strong core and a lot of passion. I'm looking forward to seeing her portray Haru's stylishness, which is far removed from the "dullness" of the original work, while also carefully expressing the delicate feelings that lie within!
And the role of the prince will be played by none other than... Tatsuya Ueda! When I heard his name from Producer Suzuki, I was trembling and thought, "Huh? He was in the group of gods, so... surely it's impossible...?" But he readily agreed, and I'm truly honored. I can't wait to see what kind of prince he'll play.
This work is packed with many new challenges for me and is something I feel very attached to, but there are a lot of scenes that make me wonder, "Is this really okay to show on terrestrial TV?" (laughs). But I'm sure that the final episode will be a drama that takes everyone "beyond a happy ending," so please look forward to it!
◇Program producer: Rikako Suzuki (TV Tokyo Drama Production Department)
Perhaps there has never been a work before that deals so frankly and honestly with love and sexuality. Many women struggle with issues related to romance, marriage, and sex, and sometimes they are unable to speak up about or deceive themselves about sex in particular, but the characters in "Saint Love Survivors" face these issues head-on. This is an adult love story that begins with a woman marrying her idol, and realistically depicts the meaning of living true to herself. I believe that the bright, pop worldview created by the original author, Hiura Satoru, which is realistic and frank yet empathetic to women, will undoubtedly resonate with women all over the world, and that's why I offered him the role of adapting it into a TV series.
The main character, Haru, is a lovable character who is in love with her favorite prince, and because of that love, she goes out of control, struggles with conflict, and is full of emotions. Anna Ishii plays this character with charm and charisma. Her ever-changing expressions and feelings are all cute and natural. We asked Ishii to play the role of Haru, who embarks on an adventure of love and sex, as we believe she will be able to approach the role with sincerity even as filming progresses.
Prince, a band member who is Haru's favorite, appears cool and narcissistic at first glance, but shows an innocent, honest and adorable side to Haru, who loves him very much. Ueda Tatsuya plays this prince with a bewitching, mysterious and cute personality. He gives off a wild and stoic impression, but in reality he also has a natural and charming side, making him perfect for the role of Prince. We asked Ueda to play the role, confident that he would be able to charmingly portray the gap between the expressions he shows to the public and the expressions he only shows to Haru.
We will carefully and meticulously craft this tale of love and sex that goes beyond the happy ending created by Hiura Satoru, together with Ishii, Ueda, and Director Kawahara. Please look forward to it.
