"Drama 1 Week" brings you the latest drama news from the past week. This time (August 16th-22nd), we'll be covering the much talked about news about Nogizaka46 member Shiori Kubo's appearance in the NHK morning drama "Anpan," and actor Yo Oizumi teaming up with screenwriter Akiko Nogi for the upcoming drama "A Little Esper" (TV Asahi), which will air in October. We'll cover these topics in two parts.
On August 18th, the 101st episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Anpan " (General TV, Monday-Saturday 8:00 AM and other times), starring Mio Imada , aired. Nogizaka46 member Kubo Shiori made her debut as singer Shiratori Tamae, sparking buzz among viewers. This was Kubo's first appearance in a Asadora . Shiratori Tamae, a popular singer who sings "Te no Hira wo Taiyou ni" ( Te no Hira wo Taiyou ni ), a song written by Takashi ( Takumi Kitamura ), asks Takashi for help with recital arrangements and other requests. Viewers responded on social media with comments like, "Shiratori Tamae is quite the pushy woman (lol)." There was also a scene where Tamae repeatedly addresses Takashi as "Takashi-san," leading to comments like, "Nobu-chan is probably the only one who calls him 'Takashi-san.'"
On the 19th, it was announced that the drama series "A Little Bit of Esper" (TV Asahi, Tuesdays at 9 PM), starring Yo Oizumi, will air in October. This will be Oizumi's first time starring in a TV Asahi drama series. After being fired from his job and divorced from his wife, Bunta (Oizumi), a struggling salaryman, passes an interview at a mysterious company and is given the job of saving the world as a "little bit of esper." He then ends up living with a "strange wife" as a married couple... The story unfolds as a completely original story, written by hitmaker Akiko Nogi , who has produced such hits as "Unnatural" (TBS, 2018), "MIU404" (TBS, 2020), and " Diamonds Sleeping in the Sea " (TBS, 2024).
On the 19th, it was revealed that the duo "Humbert Humbert" will be performing the theme song for the NHK Asadora drama "Bakebake " (NHK General TV and others), starring Akari Takaishi , which will begin airing on September 29th in the second half of 2025. The theme song is titled "Waratari Korondari" (Laughing and Falling), and will be debuted on NHK's music program "Utacon" (NHK General TV), which will air from 7:57 pm on August 26th. This will be Humbert Humbert's first time performing and singing on a public live broadcast. Takaishi, who plays the heroine Toki Matsuno, and Tommy Bastow, who plays Toki's husband Lefkada Haven, will appear as guests on "Utacon" and talk about the highlights of the drama.
On the 19th, it was announced that Yuya Tegoshi will be appearing in the NTV Sunday drama "Bokutachi-n-Ichi" (Sundays at 10:30 PM), starring Mitsuhiro Oikawa , which will start in October. This will be Tegoshi's first drama appearance in seven years, and he will play the role of a cool, gay junior high school teacher. Tegoshi has previously appeared in the TBS drama "Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge" (2010), as well as the NTV dramas "My Boss My Hero" (2006) and "Deka Wanko" (2011, 2012). In this work, he plays the role of Sakuta Saku, a junior high school teacher who is tossed around by Genichi, whom he meets by chance. A visual of Tegoshi, who is well known for his blonde hair, now with black hair has also been released.
On the 19th, it was announced that Aya Ogawa of the idol group Nogizaka46 , who gained attention for her role in the April drama series " A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You " (Fuji TV), will star in the short drama "Kanade no Lala," which will be streamed on TikTok from August 26th. A visual of Ogawa, who plays the heroine, blonde gal Lala, was also released. The protagonist, high school girl Lala, is captivated by the paintings of her classmate, genius painter Kuga Kanade (Kanamaru Takateru), and decides to join the art club. With her chance of joining the club at stake, she takes on her first ever competition... The story is about a total of 10 episodes, which will be streamed on Cycomi's official short drama account on TikTok (@cycomishortdrama).
On the 20th, an exhibition tracing the career of Takashi Yanase , the manga artist and picture book author behind "Anpanman," opened at the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store (Chuo Ward, Tokyo). The exhibition runs until September 2nd. The " Anpan " exhibition, which allows visitors to experience the world of the NHK Asadora"Anpan ," is also being held at the same time. Yanase joined the Mitsukoshi Advertising Department in 1947, where he wrote manga for the company newsletter and designed in-store posters. This exhibition, featuring an experiential display using a giant picture book, showcases stories about the three lions that had a profound impact on Yanase's life and work, as well as rare materials from the Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings collection, including handwritten posters, company newsletters, and illustrations, all of which are on public display for the first time.
