"Drama 1 Week" brings you the latest drama news from the past week. This week (November 15th-21st) featured topics such as Sae Okazaki playing the heroine for the first time in a Fuji TV drama, and NHK's production of the drama "The Devil's Ball Song," in which Hidetaka Yoshioka will play Kosuke Kindaichi for the fourth time. This article covers these topics in two parts.
On November 17th, it was announced that Shinohara Ryoko will star in the NTV drama series "Punch-Drunk Woman: Days Left Until Prison Break," which will begin airing in January 2026. This will be Shinohara's first lead role in a NTV drama series in approximately six years, since the sequel to "Haken no Hinkaku" (2020). The original story is inspired by a true story from overseas about a female prison guard who helps a male inmate escape from prison and then runs away with him. Shinohara plays veteran female prison guard Fuyuki Kozue, who has lived a disciplined and honest life, but her life is turned upside down when she meets Kusaka Reiji, a pretrial detainee charged with robbery and murder who is closely related to Kozue's secret.
On the 17th, it was announced that TV Asahi has organized a new drama slot, "Dora Dora Daisakusen" (Saturdays at 12:30 AM). The series will air challenging works created by young directors. The first series, "30 Minutes Until the Live Broadcast," will begin airing on November 22nd. Each episode is a single-take ensemble drama told from the perspectives of four protagonists, including Rena Takeda. Set in a broadcasting station, the series depicts the various incidents and human dramas that unfold before the live broadcast of the late-night music program "Talking Music" begins. Each episode tells a story from the perspective of each of the four protagonists: a program assistant director, a manager of a female idol group, an actor inside a mascot, and an enka singer. The protagonists are played by Miyu Nakajima in the first episode, Mariko Shinoda in the second, Jun Hashimoto in the third, and Kazuyoshi Ozawa in the fourth.
On the 17th, it was revealed that Rio Uchida will be starring in the TV Tokyo drama series "Drama Choose! 'Rakutou-Rakukon'" (Tuesdays at 12:30 AM), which will begin airing on January 6, 2026. She plays a wife whose husband is stolen away by his lover who is pregnant with his child, with Kentaro Ito playing the husband and Yurika Nakamura playing the lover. The series is based on Mei Yamada's manga "Rakutou-Rakukon: The Talented Woman is Chosen," which garnered attention for its depiction of a nasty pregnancy battle between an ex-wife and a current wife. TV Tokyo producer Noboru Morita commented, "This drama, which takes our previous infidelity and revenge stories to the next level, will leave viewers with a refreshing feeling of exhilaration and the courage to live for tomorrow, thanks to its dramatic and intense plot. Please look forward to it."
On the 17th, it was announced that Misako Renbutsu will be appearing in NHK's evening drama "Hirayasumi" (General TV, Monday-Thursday 10:45 PM), starring Okayama Amane. Renbutsu, who is still fresh in our memories for her role as a pastry chef in "Vanilla Everyday," will be returning to the drama for the first time in about eight months since the series ended. She will play Noguchi Saki, the wife of Hiroto (Okayama)'s best friend, the annoying but somehow lovable Hideki (Yoshimura Kaito). Renbutsu commented, "I never thought I'd be returning to a night drama so soon after 'Vanilla Everyday'! I was happy when the producer said 'Welcome back' during the costume fitting." It was also announced that the comedy duo "Asagaya Sisters" will appear as themselves, and Taro Suruga will play the role of manga magazine editor Nikaido Yasuki.
On the 18th, it was revealed that Sae Okazaki will play the heroine in the drama series "Professional Insurance Investigator Amane Ren" (Thursdays at 10 PM), starring Hiroshi Tamaki, which will air on Fuji TV from January 2026. This will be Okazaki's first time playing the heroine in a drama on the network. The drama is set in an insurance investigation company that investigates incidents and accidents involving insurance claims. Amane Ren, played by Tamaki, works with his unique colleagues to uncover the truth behind suspected insurance fraud cases, sometimes deceiving even his own allies. Okazaki will play Kurita Rin, an investigator's assistant who becomes Amane's "public" partner. Rin is a former detective from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigative Division who is unconventional and will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. She hates crookedness and is known for her love of alcohol and alcoholism.
On the 18th, it was announced that Snow Man's Ren Meguro will be appearing in season 2 of the drama "SHOGUN," produced and starring Sanada Hiroyuki. Meguro will be playing Kazutada, making his first appearance in season 2. Meguro commented, "When I watched SHOGUN on Disney+ last year, I was moved by how different and grandiose it was from the way Japan has been portrayed overseas up until now, and as a Japanese person myself, I really wanted to appear in this work. I was given the opportunity to participate in auditions earlier this year, so I sent in a video and auditioned with the American team, and now that I've been selected to take part in my long-awaited role in SHOGUN, it really feels like a dream come true."
On the 19th, it was announced that Nao Matsushita will star in the January 2026 drama series "He's Definitely My Husband" (Kantele/Fuji TV, Mondays at 10 PM). She plays a wife whose life begins to spiral out of control after she mistakenly identifies a body as her husband and receives insurance money. One day, Asahi Seiko (Matsushita) suddenly loses her husband. A month later, she is called to the police and told that her husband died in a river accident. Based on the body's belongings and certain physical characteristics, she concludes that it is her husband. However, a year later, her supposedly dead husband reappears. Who was the body she identified? Why was her husband missing? And what happened to the insurance money she received? This human suspense drama explores these questions.
On the 19th, it was announced that NHK will be producing a drama called "The Devil's Ball Song," with Yoshioka Hidetaka playing the role of Kindaichi Kosuke. Starting in March 2026, the series will air on BS Premium 4K and NHK BS in two 90-minute parts. NHK has previously aired four Kindaichi series: "Gokumon Island" (2016), "The Devil Comes and Plays the Flute" (2018), "The Village of Eight Graves" (2019), and "The Inugami Family" (2023). Yoshioka has been playing Kindaichi Kosuke since "The Devil Comes and Plays the Flute." Filming will begin in Okayama Prefecture from late November to late December. The script will be written by Yasuko Kobayashi, known for "Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe" and "The Inugami Family," and the drama will be directed by Teruyuki Yoshida, known for the historical drama "The 13 Lords of the Shogun."
