"Drama 1 Week" brings you the week's major drama news. This week (February 7-13) featured news about the upcoming sequel to "The Beast's Path Where Lila Blooms," starring Anna Yamada, and Neru Nagahama's role as the baseball team's head of programming in the Japanese remake of the hit Korean drama "Stove League." The two-part series covers these topics.
On February 7th, filming wrapped up for the NHK morning drama "Bakeke" (General TV, Monday-Saturday 8:00 AM and others), starring Takaishi Akari. Takaishi, who plays the main character Toki, said, "Being the heroine of a morning drama has been my dream since I was little. But now, more than that, I love 'Bakeke' and it's a very important feeling for me. Everyone involved in 'Bakeke' cares about me so much, and I feel so happy every day, knowing that they love me." She went on to express her gratitude, saying, "I realized that acting is fun, and this time made me want to work with everyone I worked with again, so I'll do my best! Thank you so much!"
On the 7th, it was announced that a sequel to the NHK drama "The Path of Lila's Blooming Beasts," starring Anna Yamada, which aired in February 2025, will be produced. Set in the vast natural landscape of Hokkaido, the human drama explores the meaning of life. It was also announced that Takaya Kamikawa will appear in the new role of Kentaro Inukai, a livestock hygiene center employee who guides the protagonist, Satori Kishimoto (Yamada). In the sequel, "The Path of Lila's Blooming Beasts 2," Satori passes the national exam with fellow veterinary students Ayaka (Touma Ami) and Zanyuki (Hagiwara Toshihisa), and begins her career as a veterinarian. However, a "specific livestock infectious disease" breaks out. Satori is faced with the harsh challenge of having to "cull" all livestock that are infected or suspected of being infected.
On the 8th, it was announced that Nogizaka46's Nakanishi Arno will be appearing in "Aku no Hana" (Thursdays at midnight), which will begin airing on TV Tokyo's new drama slot on April 9th. She will appear in the high school arc. This will be Nakanishi's first appearance in a terrestrial drama. The drama is a dramatic coming-of-age story depicting the "out-of-control" behavior of adolescent boys and girls. Nakanishi plays Tokiwa Aya, a girl Kasuga (Suzuki Fuku) meets in high school. She has a bright personality, many friends, and is the center of attention for the boys, yet she also reminds us of Nakamura (Ano-san). Time stops during the days he spends with Nakamura, and as he confronts Kasuga, who is carrying darkness in his heart, Nakanishi is the key person who gradually helps Kasuga regain his color.
On the 9th, it was revealed that Kaho will be starring in the NHK drama "A Novelist's Diary" (General), which will air on March 8th at 11pm. This is the first TV drama script written by Tetsuya Uehara, winner of the 50th Creative Radio Drama Award. Eto Megumi (Kaho), a mid-career editor, was supposed to be in charge of the hit novelist, Tamaki Serizawa (Itao Itsuji), but shortly after, Serizawa dies in an accident. Learning of the diary's existence from his wife, Mariko (Sylvia Grab), Eto approaches Mariko with the idea of polishing it to make it more appealing and publishing it. Also appearing in the drama are Satoru Matsuo and Yuta Hayashi.
On the 9th, it was revealed that Takao Hayato and Shida Kohaku of "ONE N'ONLY" will be co-starring in the drama series "Girls Can't Dabble?" (MBS and others), which will start in March. The story is based on the manga of the same name serialized by Nejiganameta on the manga site "Manga One" (Shogakukan). Kajitani Mizuki (Shida) is concerned about her pure appearance and has had some dating experience. She has a hard time dealing with sweet gestures or being led by men, and by the time she reaches 24, no relationship has lasted long. Hoping to find "the happiness of an ordinary girl," Mizuki starts dating Shinomiya Takayuki (Takao), an elite working at a famous trading company, but...
On the 9th, it was announced that Neru Nagahama will be appearing in the drama "Stove League" (8 episodes), starring Kazuya Kamenashi, scheduled to air and stream in 2026. The drama follows the struggles of a general manager (GM) with no baseball experience, as he attempts to rebuild a professional baseball team that has consistently finished last in the league. It is a joint Japan-Korea project between Studio S, a drama studio under the South Korean SBS Media Group, and NTT Docomo Studio & Live. Nagahama will play Risa Makita, head of the "Dreams" programming department. While initially fiercely opposed to the bold team reforms of new GM Jun Sakurazaki (Kazuya Kamenashi), who has been brought in to rebuild the Dreams, she eventually becomes his right-hand man, driving the reforms forward.
On the 9th, it was announced that Miyachika Kaito and Kishitani Goro of "Travis Japan" will play fellow detectives of the protagonist, Tasukusari Makoto (played by Okada Masaki), in the TBS drama series "Tasukusari Brothers" (Fridays at 10 PM), which will begin airing in April 2026. This will be Miyachika's first regular appearance in a TBS drama. Miyachika will play Ishizaka Naoki, a police officer in the same violent crimes division of the Youth Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division as Makoto, and is a mood maker who brightens up the team. Kishitani will play Koike Shunta, the section chief of the violent crimes division and Makoto's direct superior. He teams up with Ishizaka and leads the team with a calm and collected approach.
