Sakurai Sho, Oshima Yuko to co-star in television drama, Blackboard

Arashi’s Sakurai Sho (30) and AKB48’s Oshima Yuko (23) will appear together in a television drama for the first time. In April, TBS plans to air a 3-episode miniseries, and Sakurai and Oshima have been cast in the first episode.

The miniseries, titled “Blackboard ~ Jidai to Tatakatta Kyoushitachi~,” revolves around teachers in different time periods having to deal with the problems of that era. For example, the first episode stars Sakurai as Shirahama, a junior high school teacher who taught his students about “dying for your country” during wartime. After later losing his right arm in the war, he returns to teaching but is burdened and conflicted by what he taught his students in the past.

Oshima will play one of Shirahama’s colleagues, an English teacher. She becomes an eventual love interest for him, though it seems to develop into a love triangle with his older brother’s wife (Miyazawa Rie).

This is the first time that an AKB48 member has appeared in a drama starring an Arashi member. Filming will take place between February and March, but it is said that initially their schedules were so busy there was only one day when they were both available. However, their schedules were later adjusted, and the production team gave up on filming on location (due to the time required just to travel) and instead constructed a nearly 2,000-square-meter set in Yokohama that reportedly cost 100 million yen.

The second episode of “Blackboard ~Jidai to Tatakatta Kyoushitachi~” will star Sato Koichi (51) as a teacher during the 1980s having to deal with school violence. Shida Mirai (18) will play a delinquent student, and Kanjiya Shihori (26) will play another teacher at the school.

The cast for the third episode has not yet been finalized.

TBS plans to broadcast “Blackboard ~Jidai to Tatakatta Kyoushitachi~” over three consecutive nights in April.

From Tokyography

Sakurai-sensei! This is so fitting for his image, so proper with a suit and tie, ne?! The plot sounds quite interesting enough, hopefully they do not compact excessively into one episode.

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Ninomiya Kazunari to star in latest Higashino Keigo adaption, Platina Data

On January 26th, it was announced that Ninomiya Kazunari from Arashi will be starring in an upcoming movie titled,”Platina Data“.

“Platina Data” is based on a novel by famed writer Higashino Keigo. Set in 2017, it tells the story of a young brilliant scientist named Kagura Ryuhei (Ninomiya), who works as a DNA specialist for the National Police Agency in the newly created underwater DNA data center. One day, he suddenly becomes the prime suspect in the murder case of the person who developed the new DNA investigation system. Having no memory of what actually happened, Kagura decides to run away from the police.

Ninomiya commented, “It’s an incredible story that lets you take a look at a not too distant future… It’s an honor to be involved in this project.”

It was also announced that the detective in charge of the pursuit, Asama Reiji, will be played by actor Toyokawa Etsushi.

“I’m really happy to be able to work with Toyokawa. I can learn so many things from him,” Ninomiya said. “I’ll immediately start the preparations in order to be able to keep up with him.”

Toyokawa commented, “I’ve always thought of Ninomiya as a wonderful and young actor with a great individuality, from whom I can still learn a couple of things myself. I can’t wait to interact with him.”

The filming will begin in February, which gives Ninomiya a few more days to study the latest reports about DNA research, as he said. Aside from the science factor, the movie is said to include various dynamic action scenes as well. Distributor Toho stated that they want to create an epic mystery on the level of a Hollywood movie.

“Platina Data” will not appear in cinemas before 2013.

From Tokyohive

Looks like another great movie for Nino, I love the sci-fic and mystery factors and cannot wait to see it!

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