It has been announced that actors Yuki Uchida and Jun Kaname will appear in the drama series "Chihayafuru -Meguri-" (NTV, Wednesdays at 10pm) which starts on July Getsuku. Uchida and Kaname will play the parents of the main character Meguru Aizawa (Ami Touma). It was also announced that Tsukasa Enomoto will play Meguru's younger brother, Kakeru Aizawa.
"Chihayafuru" is a manga by Yuki Suetsugu that was serialized in "BE・LOVE" (Kodansha) from 2007 to 2022. This drama is an original story that depicts the world 10 years after the trilogy that was adapted into a movie. The competitive karuta club at Umezono High School, where the story takes place, has few members and is on the verge of being disbanded. The protagonist, Meguru Aizawa, a second-year high school student and ghost member of the club, played by Touma, meets Kanade Oe (Mone Kamishiraishi), a part-time classical Japanese teacher and the new advisor of the competitive karuta club, and his fate begins to change dramatically.
Megu's mother, Touko, played by Uchida, is the family's breadwinner, working as a busy wedding planner. Susumu, played by Kaname, quit his job as a chef due to the COVID-19 pandemic and now supports his family as a househusband while also working as a cooking influencer.
Uchida commented, "We only get to experience our youth for a brief moment in our lives, but this drama gives us the opportunity to experience that precious time once again. Whether you are experiencing your youth in real time right now or we are of the middle-aged generation, try to feel the happiness of being able to focus on one thing, just like the main character Meguru. I'm sure the view tomorrow will be different. I myself will work hard and sweat as hard as I can during the filming!"
Kaname said, "The character's struggles with childcare and housework while quietly watching over her children growing up are similar to my own experiences, so I was able to play the role with deep empathy. When watching Megu doing her best in a game, I was cheering her on with bated breath, along with Uchida. It's a very moving production. Please enjoy the youth of these young people."
