The new Ryuto Sakuma for the drama series W-30 "Nagatan and Ao to - Ichika's Cooking Book - 2" (WOWOW), starring actor Kadowaki Mugi and co-starring Sakuma Ryuto of the popular group ACEes, was announced on December 25th, revealing that Kobayashi Toranosuke will play a key character who will move the story forward.
The drama is based on the manga of the same name by Yuki Isogai (Kodansha). Set in Kyoto shortly after the war, the gourmet love story begins when the protagonist, chef Ichika Kuwanoki (played by Kadowaki), marries off in an arranged marriage to Shu Yamaguchi (played by Sakuma), the third son of a long-established hotel owner in Osaka, in order to keep her family's struggling restaurant, Kuwanoki, afloat. The previous series, "Nagatan and Ao to - Ichika's Cooking Book," was broadcast and streamed in 2023, and drew attention for the frustrating love story between a couple with a 15-year age difference and Ichika's "delicious-looking dishes."
Kobayashi plays Sakae, the older brother of Shu (Sakuma). He is the most talented of the three brothers, but due to a special upbringing he has been placed in an unfortunate position in the Yamaguchi family. He married into the wealthy Kawashima family in Tokyo and soon studied abroad in the United States, but has since returned to Japan. It seems he is plotting something sinister against the Kuwanoki restaurant, which is beginning to recover from financial difficulties... He recognizes Shu's abilities and gets along relatively well with him, but he does not trust him, and he plays the role of a scheming man who harbors hidden ambitions in his heart.
The appearances of Tsunematsu Yuri and child actor Mano Riku have also been announced. Tsunematsu will play Shoko, the only daughter of the wealthy Tokyo Kawashima family and Sakae's wife. She is born with a frail body, but is a bright and innocent character. She is pure and affectionate, and even though they were separated due to work shortly after they got married, she still loves Sakae deeply, and feels frustrated that Sakae never comes home. The relationship that develops between the Kawashima couple is said to be one of the major highlights of the film.
Riku's character, Michiya, is a war orphan who, due to certain circumstances, is adopted into the Kuwanoki family by Ichihi's (Kadowaki) aunt, Machiko (Toda Keiko). Michiya's presence as Ichihi and Amane's "new family" will bring a breath of fresh air to the relationship between the two, which remains as innocent as ever.
"Serial Drama W-30 'Nagatan and Ao to - Ichika's Cooking Book - 2'" will be broadcast on WOWOW Prime and WOWOW On Demand every Friday at 11pm starting February 20, 2026. There will be a total of 10 episodes, with the first episode being broadcast for free.
