Oguri to pass torch to Mizukawa for TV drama

[Tokyograph News]

NTV has announced an interesting experiment with one of its drama series for next season. "Yume wo Kanaeru Zou," which was previously announced as a one-shot drama, will also be getting a series, though with a different star. Instead of Shun Oguri, actress Asami Mizukawa will be taking the lead.

"Yume wo Kanaeru Zou" is based on a best-selling comedic novel by Keiya Mizuno. In the original story, Kouhei is an unsuccessful salaryman who encounters a Kansai-ben-speaking manifestation of the Hindu deity Ganesha, and eventually finds happiness in life under Ganesha's guidance.

NTV's 2-hour adaptation of the story stars Oguri as Kouhei and Arata Furuta as Ganesha. Broadcast has been scheduled for October 2 at 9:00pm. But just before midnight on the same day, the network will premiere the serialized version, which is partly a continuation of the tale.

Unlike the original story, the "Yume wo Kanaeru Zou" series will have a female lead. Mizukawa plays Asuka Hoshino, who gets dumped by her boyfriend on her 25th birthday and is forced to temporarily move into a small apartment due to a fire at her old place. While crying and wishing for happiness, she is suddenly confronted by Ganesha, who happened to live in that same apartment with Kouhei several years earlier. Arata Furuta will play Ganesha for the series as well.

The drama's official time slot is 11:58pm on Thursday nights, beginning on October 2.

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