Kotaro Koizumi stars in drama special about Cowra breakout

[Tokyograph News]

This summer, NTV plans to broadcast a drama special tentatively titled "Cowra Horyoshuyojo Kara no Daidasso." The story centers on the town of Cowra in New South Wales, Australia, the site of one of the largest prison breakouts during World War II.

The Cowra breakout took place in 1944. Although living conditions in the prison were said to be decent, many of the Japanese POWs considered their capture to be a great disgrace. One night, hundreds of them attempted to escape the prison, though many were killed or committed suicide.

Kotaro Koizumi stars as one of the prisoners. His supporting cast includes Yo Oizumi, Sadao Abe, Ai Kato, and Tsutomu Yamazaki. The drama's script is written by Miho Nakazono ("Anego," "Haken no Hinkaku"), whose uncle is said to have experienced life in the Cowra prison.

"Cowra" is the second of three wartime drama specials that NTV is planning this year to commemorate its 55th anniversary. The first special was "Tokyo Daikushu," which aired on March 17-18.

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