The first episode of the drama "Hei no Naka no Biyoshitsu" starring Nao will be streamed for free on WOWOW's official YouTube channel

Ahead of the broadcast and streaming of the WOWOW drama "Serial Drama W-30 ' Hei no Naka no Biyoshitsu,'" starring actress Nao, which will begin on August 22nd, the first episode is now available for free streaming on WOWOW's official YouTube channel and WOWOW On Demand. It will be available to watch until October 14th.

The drama is based on the novel of the same name (Futaba Bunko) by Sakurai Mina, which is modeled after a real beauty salon that operates inside a prison. Set in the "Aozora Beauty Salon" where inmates cut hair for regular customers inside a women's prison, the story follows the protagonist, inmate and hairdresser Komatsubara Haru (Nao), as she faces the crime she committed and her future through her encounters with various people.

In the first episode, Haru (Nao), who is serving time in prison for a certain crime, obtains a cosmetology license while in prison. Haru is the only cosmetologist at Aozora Beauty Salon, which is located "behind the walls" of a women's prison but caters to the general public "outside the walls." Every day, she stands in front of the mirror under the watchful eye of her prison guard, Sugao (Kobayashi Satomi), and beauty technician, Misa (Narumi Riko). One day, newspaper reporter Shiho (Inori Kirara) visits the salon for an interview, hiding her true identity... and so the story unfolds.

The drama series W-30 "Hei no Naka no Biyoshitsu " will be broadcast and streamed on WOWOW Prime and WOWOW On Demand every Friday at 11pm starting August 22nd. It will consist of 7 episodes.

The original author, Sakurai, is also the author of the six-episode drama series W-30: My murdered husband has returned, starring Mizuki Yamashita , the final episode of which aired and streamed on August 15th. In response to the fact that the original work will be adapted into a two-season drama on WOWOW, Sakurai provided a comment to WOWOW.

◇Comment from Mina Sakurai

--Please tell us your thoughts on the TV drama series W-30, " The My murdered husband has returned."

I honestly felt that they made it exactly as I imagined it in the original work. The actors' performances make it different from a world of words alone, and the addition of music made it even creepier. I personally liked how Hodaka (played by Kasahara Hideyuki) was especially creepy, exceeding my expectations. His facial expressions and voice were wonderful, and there were parts that I thought were amazing, and I thought that this is what makes the drama so great.

--What are your thoughts on the TV drama series W-30 "Hei no Naka no Biyoshitsu"?

I felt that the drama didn't deviate from the world of the novel at all, but expanded on the "behind the prison" aspects that weren't in the original work. I think it will be easier for viewers to understand the image of a "beauty salon inside a prison." I was happy that the drama was able to present new aspects that I hadn't been able to portray. Nao, who plays the lead role, was perfect for the image I had of Haru, so I was glad, and in fact I felt lucky that Nao was chosen.

--Please tell us what the highlights are in the first episode of "Hei no Naka no Biyoshitsu."

I'm sure there are people who are curious as to why Haru, the quiet and serious-looking protagonist, is in prison. I hope you will think about what she is carrying and what she is thinking.