It has been revealed that actress Kamishiraishi Moka will be co-starring with Ikuta Toma in the Saturday drama "We're Worse at Love Than Pandas" (Saturdays at 9pm), which will be broadcast on Nippon Television from January 2026. The romantic comedy will feature an eccentric zoologist played by Ikuta, and will be Kamishiraishi's first lead role in a terrestrial TV drama series. She commented, "I feel a lot of pressure and some anxiety about whether I can handle the role, but I'm also filled with the desire to deliver a drama that will be a source of enjoyment for viewers throughout the week."
The film is based on the novel of the same name by Sena Kazuaki (Kodansha Bunko). The protagonist, Shibata Ichiyo (Kamishiraishi), an editor who loses motivation after learning on the day of her company's entrance ceremony that her favorite fashion magazine will be suspending publication, ends up ghostwriting a love advice column for her idol, model Haizawa Aria. Ichiyo, who has little dating experience, visits Associate Professor Shido Tsukasa (Ikuta), who claims to be researching love, but his specialty is not "human romance" but "animal courtship behavior." What's more, despite being super cool and handsome, he turns out to be an oddball who has no interest in humans at all...
The script is written by Nemoto Nonji, who has also written "Omusubi" and "Hakozume: Fighting Police Box Girls," and the directors are Suzuki Yuma, Matsuda Kento, and Naeshiro Yuji.
Comment from lead actress Moka Kamishiraishi
This will be my first time taking part in a terrestrial TV drama series as one of the main characters. I feel a lot of pressure and some anxiety about whether I can do it, but I am filled with the desire to deliver a work that will be one of the things that viewers will look forward to in their weekly lives.
The character I play, Ichiyo, is a woman whose dreams and future have not come true, and who is torn between her ideals and reality. She meets Shido Sensei, played by Ikuta Toma, and learns about the ecology and mating behavior of animals.
I think this is a work that takes a new approach, as it not only addresses the various worries people have, such as love, work, and lifestyle, and finds "hints for life" from the way animals live.
From the first time I met Ikuta-san, she had a lovely smile and a warm, positive aura. She has a personality that brightens up the people around her, so I feel that with her, we can create a good atmosphere on set.
As someone who lives with worries myself, I would be happy if this drama can lighten someone's heart, even just a little, and be a work that can bring them empathy and healing. I will do my best in each and every shoot so that we can deliver moments like this, where you can watch it at the end of the week and feel relieved, laugh, or even cry. Please be sure to watch it as the new year begins.
◇Comment from lead actor Toma Ikuta
It's been a while since I last appeared in a romantic comedy, so when I received the offer to "do a romantic comedy with Kamishiraishi Moka," I thought that there was an age difference, so I should first focus on my beauty (laughs).
The character I play, Shiido Tsukasa, is an associate professor at a university who specializes in "animal courtship behavior." He's an eccentric character with almost no interest in anything other than animals, but I think the highlight of the story will be seeing how he changes through his encounters with Ichiyo and other people. There are so many lines this time, I feel like "this is going to be a big challenge" (laughs). There's a lot of technical terminology, so I'm studying it every day while reading the script.
Even before filming began, I felt like Kamishiraishi and I had a great chemistry, and we were working together on the same project. There are lots of cute animals in the film, and we can learn from the animal world, so I think it will be a romantic comedy that the whole family can enjoy. Please look forward to it.
◇Comment from the original author, Sena Kazuaki
The original work is packed with romance, work, and animal courtship behavior. When I heard about the drama adaptation, I was happy, but also worried about whether all these elements would translate well to the screen. However, as more information was released, those worries were blown away. The scriptwriter is Nemoto Nonji, the role of Ichiyo is played by Kamishiraishi Moka, and the role of Shido Sensei is played by Ikuta Toma, all of whom have written and starred in my favorite dramas. The other cast members are also so wonderful that I want to ask, "Do you know my tastes?" The drama "Pankoi," which has been reconstructed with the involvement of many people, is a story that has been far more powerful while retaining the elements of the original work. It is sure to be an interesting work, so as a viewer, I am looking forward to watching it in front of the TV!
◇ Comment from scriptwriter Nemoto Nonji
Taking on the wonderful world of the original novel, "We're Worse at Love Than Pandas," we wondered how we could portray it richly as a film. That was the mission of our film adaptation team. In this Reiwa era, with so many different attitudes becoming more diverse, it has become extremely difficult to portray love. That's why I thought there was so much to learn from the courtship behavior of animals. I would be very happy if this drama inspires viewers to approach love more instinctively, more wildly, and more naturally. I will write the script with all my heart, hoping that as many people as possible will watch it.
◇ Comment from producer Mami Fujimori
Work, love, relationships... I don't think there are many people who are living the way they imagined. No matter how much you think about why things aren't going well or how to be happy, the answers just don't come easily. I would love for everyone to watch this drama! It's a fun and informative romantic comedy that gives you hints on how to live a happy life from the unprecedented "courtship behavior of animals." Kamishiraishi Moka and Ikuta Toma are mismatched but funny, cute, and just the best! So I hope that many people will watch it and be empowered. Please look forward to it!
