■ “I think Rika is a character that makes people think, ‘Who is this person?!’ I’ll do my best to add some spice to it.” (Akimoto Manatsu)
Additional cast members have been announced for the new drama “Aoshima-kun is Mean,” which will begin airing on TV Asahi’s Oshidora Saturday slot on July 6th.
This work is the first film adaptation of the popular comic “Aoshima-kun is Mean” (Yoshii Yuu/Mecha Comic Original), which was ranked first in the 2020 “Mecha Comic” annual ranking and has exceeded 130 million cumulative views (cumulative downloads within the Mecha Comic service, including free downloads as of June 2024). It stars Snow Man’s Watanabe Shota and Nakamura Anne.
The story depicts the “love pact” that begins with a small lie between Aoshima Mizuki (Watanabe), a younger, fasting guy who has no interest in romance, and Katsuragi Yukino (Nakamura), a 35-year-old dried-fish girl who has given up on romance.
The cast members who will play Aoshima and Yukino’s coworkers have now been decided.
Tozuka Junki plays Tanizaki Shinji, a general affairs employee at Cat Beverage, the beverage manufacturer where Aoshima and Yukino work.
Tozuka, who has appeared in popular dramas such as the TV drama “Wings on a Tiger” (2024) and “But Passion Is There” (2023), will play Tanizaki in this work. Tanizaki is Aoshima’s college classmate and close colleague. He is also a junior in the General Affairs Department, the same as Yukino, and knows both Aoshima and Yukino well, calling himself a “man who can read the mood.” In a sense, he is the key figure in the love between the two.
Keep an eye on Tanizaki, about whom Tozuka says, “He’s the kind of character who makes it seem like something is going to happen when he appears, so I hope you’ll look forward to him.”
And Akimoto Manatsu plays Kimura Rika, a junior of Yukino and a member of the general affairs department. Rika prioritizes her private life (boyfriend) over work, with the goal of marrying a good man. She is a young employee who relies on Yukino and takes advantage of her at work, but she doesn’t want to become a bossy woman like Yukino.
Even after graduating from Nogizaka46 in 2023, Akimoto is still in high demand for variety shows and other shows, and in this film she takes on the role of a cunning, modern girl who values status above all else. “I think Rika is a character that makes people think, ‘Who is this person?!’ but I’ll do my best to add some spice to it,” says Akimoto, raising expectations for her “cute and cunning” acting.
Ryoko Kobayashi will play Takako Suzuki, a career-oriented sales representative who is Yukino’s colleague. Kobayashi has been appearing in 12 consecutive seasons of dramas such as “The Ring Finger for the King” (2023) and “Hayabusa Fire Brigade” (2023), and has been a hot topic for her solid acting skills. She is currently playing the role of the protagonist’s senior in the morning drama “Wings of the Tiger” (2024).
Kobayashi, who is not only an actor who has appeared in many such productions, but also a businessman, is a reliable friend who pushes Yukino, who is hesitant to get into love, while working hard. “I’ll do my best as Takako, who supports Yukino’s love life. And I want to enjoy supporting Aoshima with everyone!” says Kobayashi, who vividly embodies the role of Takako.
■ Watanabe Shota and Nakamura Anne start filming! “I was so nervous that I ended up talking a lot to Anne (laughs)” (Watanabe Shota)
As anticipation for the first episode grew, the stars Watanabe and Nakamura started filming. The two of them filmed a scene in which Aoshima, who will be attending Yukino’s friend’s wedding as her “one-day boyfriend,” asks Yukino to choose a tie for him.
Before filming began, Watanabe pumped his fist in excitement and said, “I’ll do my best!” He began pursuing his acting from the very first day, exchanging ideas with Nakamura and the director.
Watanabe said, “I’m surprisingly shy,” but after the shoot he said, “I was so nervous that I ended up talking a lot and ended up talking to Ann a lot (laughs).” The atmosphere on set was relaxed and friendly throughout.
“I realized he wasn’t shy at all (laughs). He’s really easy to talk to,” said Nakamura, and the first day of filming finished safely on set, filled with smiles.
The “contract love” between these two is finally starting in earnest. As anticipation for the broadcast grows, it has been decided that the first episode on July 6th will be an extended special (11pm to midnight).
“We’ve been having a lot of fun since the very first day, but we’ll do our best to make filming even more enjoyable in the future!” (Watanabe), and “We’ll continue to do our best to deliver a work that will make your heart flutter, while enjoying various scenes!” (Nakamura), reaffirming their determination.
■The 30-second teaser video has been released for the first time! The second part of Shota Watanabe and Anne Nakamura’s “Special Talk” is now available
In addition, a 30-second teaser video will be released for the first time during the final episode of “Tokyo Tower” which will be aired on May 15th.
A 15-second teaser video based on the original comic is already available, in which viewers can feel as if they are actually experiencing the change in Yukino, who has lost interest in love after being toyed with by Aoshima, and whose heart begins to fire up again. The 30-second version, which will premiere on June 15, shows the two characters growing even closer.
The two hands are tightly joined, and as Yukino clicks the computer mouse, Aoshima approaches from behind and their hands overlap…the image gives the impression of an adult love story beginning to unfold.
This 30-second teaser also reveals the full chorus of the theme song “You Are My Thing” sung by Snow Man. Be sure to enjoy it along with the video.
Additionally, the second part of Watanabe and Nakamura’s “Aoshima-kun is Mean Special Talk” will be released on TVer and the TV Asahi official YouTube channel.
In response to the question, “How will you play the roles of the slightly mean but handsome Aoshima and the dried-fish type girl Yukino?” Watanabe grinned and said, “There’s no need to focus on the appearance of the characters…I want to play them with confidence, with the feeling that, ‘I’m already handsome!'”
Watanabe also told Nakamura, “It seems difficult for Anne because she doesn’t have the dried fish feel,” but Nakamura said, “I can totally relate to that!”, suggesting that she is quite in sync with Yukino’s inner self.
Watanabe also spoke at length about how to turn a scene that “had some slightly erotic parts, and when I read the original I was like ‘Shhhhh’ and closed the book (lol)” into a live-action version, his enthusiasm for filming, his thoughts on acting out a drama together for the first time, and more. Don’t miss the hilarious conversation between the two, who are already in perfect sync.
■ Comment from Shota Watanabe (role of Mizuki Aoshima)
The day before filming began, I set a rule to read the script carefully for two hours. I concentrated on reading, slept well, and was ready for the first day. But when I got to the set…I was nervous! I’m surprisingly shy, but I got so nervous that I ended up talking a lot to Ann (laughs).
When I saw Anne’s script on set, there were lots of sticky notes and she had written down the character’s profile, so I thought she was a very serious person. I personally tried different orders of doing things, like maybe it’s better to overdo the comedy part at the beginning and then pull back. In the hand-holding scene (where only our hands are shown), I was too conscious of it and it didn’t work out, so I had a really hard time… But in the scene where she chose the tie, my idea was adopted! I was so happy.
I was pretty nervous when we started filming, so I hope I can relax a little more in a good way from now on. That said, I’ve been having a lot of fun since the first day, and I’ll do my best to have even more fun filming in the future!■Comment from Anne Nakamura (role of Yukino Katsuragi)
I had a little bit of work the day before, so I concentrated on it after that. Since I read the script last week, I was really thinking about what kind of tension I should create, and I watched a lot of romantic comedies and imagined them, so yesterday I was nervous and “imagining the final part”. But on the first day, I was still excited and quite nervous.
There are scenes where we raise the tension with “Aoshima-kun!”, and I want to “make the comedy part of the romantic comedy more playful.” Watanabe-kun is leading the way, so I’d like to follow him and continue to have as much fun as I can. As we do more scenes and get better synced, I think the love and play parts will have more variation…I’ve already felt a sense of accomplishment from day one! I’ll continue to do my best to deliver a work that will make you feel excited while enjoying various scenes.■Comment from Junki Tozuka (role of Shinji Tanizaki)
Q: How did you feel when you were chosen to appear in this film?
It’s been a long time since I’ve appeared in a romantic comedy, and it’s also been a long time since I’ve experienced the sparkling feel of the original work, so I was very happy to be asked to take on the role.Q: What is your impression of the character Tanizaki?
Tanizaki is a bright presence who changes the atmosphere of the room just by being there, but actually I’m not that bright, so we don’t have anything in common (laughs). I have to act out parts of myself that I don’t have, so that’s the difficulty this time. But Tanizaki is the kind of presence that makes it seem like something happens when he appears, so I hope you’ll look forward to it.Q: What are your impressions of Watanabe-san and Nakamura-san?
I have a connection with the Snow Man members, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to work with Watanabe-san this time. We play classmates, and we’re actually the same age, so I hope we can do a performance that only we can do. This is my second time acting with Nakamura-san. He’s a very friendly and cheerful person, and we play characters with a close relationship, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the romance between Aoshima and his senior at work develops.Q: Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the broadcast.
My top priority is that the audience can enjoy a relaxing time at the end of the week, and I will do my best to make my character, Tanizaki, the “overwhelming No. 1” (lol), and to deliver the best possible production!■Comment from Manatsu Akimoto (role of Rika Kimura)
Q: How did you feel when you were chosen to appear in this film?
The original work is very popular and is full of heart-pounding moments. I read it and empathized with it, so I’m really happy to be able to take part in this work.
I was really nervous on the first day of filming! On the first day of filming in the General Affairs Department, I didn’t know where to look, so I just looked at the computer screen the whole time I was waiting (laughs). At that time, Totsuka-san spoke to me, and I felt a little less nervous.Q: What is your impression of the character Rika?
I get the impression that she prioritizes her private life over work. She comes to work in clothes that make you wonder, “Is that really what you wear to work?” and she seems to prioritize her after-work plans, so I thought she might be a bit of a modern, cunning girl.Q: What are your impressions of Watanabe-san and Nakamura-san?
Watanabe-san said, “Let’s make it a fun set,” which was very reassuring. I also worked with Nakamura-san for the first time the other day, and he was a really cheerful person who warmed up the set with his smile, so I was looking forward to acting with him in the General Affairs Department scene. Both of them create a very friendly atmosphere, so I will do my best to blend in with them!Q: Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the broadcast.
I think there are many parts that women of Yukino’s generation can relate to. Among my unmarried friends, there are many who say, “I want to live a peaceful and normal life.” I hope that people who live such daily lives will also enjoy watching the show and empathize with Yukino, who is inspired by Aoshima-kun. I think the character I play, Rika, will make people think, “Who is this person?”, but I want to do my best to add some spice to it!■Comment from Ryoko Kobayashi (role of Takako Suzuki)
Q: How did you feel when you were chosen to appear in this film?
Since this is a work with a lot of fans, I want to make sure I don’t ruin the image that readers have of it, and as a fan myself, I want to feel the excitement and thrills of this world. I’m turning 35 this year, so while I’m thinking, “I wish I had this kind of excitement!” (laughs), I’m really enjoying reading the script and rooting for the love between the two characters.Q: What is your impression of the character Takako?
I get the impression that she is a hard worker. In reality, I think that salespeople are charming and good at talking, so I hope I can express that side of her well. Also, I feel that one of her good points is that she shows not only the good parts of marriage, but also the domestic side, so I hope I can convey that well. Also, Takako’s sales mindset of “always get new business!” is something I feel while working at my company, so I really sympathize with that.Q: What are your impressions of Watanabe-san and Nakamura-san?
I’m shooting while thinking, “Yukino-chan is so cute! Do your best!” Takako is married, so there are times when I think, “I don’t have any love anymore…” and sometimes I feel jealous of Yukino-chan and think that maybe I could have had a wonderful encounter like that too (laughs). Both Yukino-chan and Ann herself are cute when she’s worried. And the other day, I saw a scene where Aoshima-kun was being screamed at. Whatever he does, he’s wonderful, and he tickles the feminine or maternal heart, so I want to enjoy being a fan with everyone.Q: Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the broadcast.
We have been a great team that has been able to create a fun atmosphere from the very first day, and we are having fun filming. I would like to watch over the love between the two together with the viewers, and act while experiencing the ups and downs of their relationship. I will do my best as Takako, who supports Yukino’s love while interjecting comments!
Program Information
TV AsahiOshidora Saturday “Aoshima-kun is mean”
Starts July 6th
Every Saturday from 23:00 to 23:30 *First extended special
Original work: “Aoshima-kun is mean” by Yu Yoshii
Screenplay: Erika Seki
Cast: Watanabe Shota (Snow Man), Nakamura Anne
Junki Tozuka, Manatsu Akimoto, Ryoko Kobayashi, and others
Theme song: Snow Man “You Are Mine”
TVer program page
https://tver.jp/series/sr72qpil2x
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https://twitter.com/oshidoraEX
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https://www.tiktok.com/@oshidora_ex
“Aoshima-kun is mean” program site
https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/aoshima_ijiwaru/
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