It has been revealed that Takuto Teranishi, a popular member of Kansai Junior, will appear in Fuji TV's July Thursday drama "Last Note" (Thursdays at 10 PM), which stars actress Yuki Uchida and Takuto Teranishi of the popular group "timelesz". This will be Shimazaki's first appearance in a prime-time drama series and his first appearance in a Fuji TV drama, and he will play the high school version of Sumiharu Higuchi, played by Teranishi.
This love story is the latest work from producer Reiko Misao, who has worked on shows like "Hirugao: Love Affairs in the Afternoon" and "Even If You Don't Do It For Me," and is written by Tomomi Matoba, who has worked on popular marriage suspense dramas such as "Otto yo, shinde kurenai ka?" (TV Tokyo). The story follows Aoi Ichise (played by Uchida), a 49-year-old woman who has gone through marriage, divorce, and setbacks at work and is living a life of maintaining the status quo, and Sumiharu Higuchi (played by Teranishi), a 30-year-old man who has given up on his dreams and lives a life of suppressing his true self. The two meet by chance, and despite their nearly 20-year age difference and various interpersonal relationships, they are repeatedly hit by insurmountable obstacles, but they are irresistibly drawn to each other...
The high school version of Sumiharu, played by Shimazaki, is very different from the current Sumiharu, who spends his days freely pursuing the dream he has found. However, one day, an event occurs that forces him to accept a harsh reality... The story will depict how this leads to the current Sumiharu, who lives while suppressing his true feelings.
Shimazaki recently co-starred with Teranishi in the stage production "AmberS" (2026), making this their second collaboration. "I was so happy to hear that I would be working with Teranishi-kun again so soon. I'll be playing Sumiharu during his student days, so I'm curious to see how Teranishi-kun portrays the current Sumiharu. I hope to ask Teranishi-kun about those things as I act. I'll do my best!" she said, expressing her enthusiasm.
◇Producer Reiko Misao (Fuji Television Drama & Film Production Center)
"When I saw ' I Wish I Could Meet You Again on the Hill Where That Flower Blooms,' the actor who made the biggest impression on me was Toa Shimazaki, and I've always wanted to work with him someday. This time, when I was thinking about who to entrust with the high school years of Sumiharu, played by Teranishi, Shimazaki's face suddenly came to mind. How did Sumiharu, a character who lives with various emotions, come to be? In depicting this important period, which can be called the origin of his character, I expect Shimazaki to carefully express Sumiharu's sensitivity and straightforwardness. I hope viewers will pay attention to the core of his character, which leads to the Sumiharu we see today."
