Miki Nakatani to star in TV Tokyo drama special

Nakatani Miki will be starring in the new TV Tokyo drama SP "Mohouhan" (Copycat Criminal) which is due to be shown within the year and is the first part of the commemorative project to mark the TV station's impending move from Toranomon to Roppongi this autumn. The drama SP which is based on the long mystery novel by Miyabe Miyuki, sold more than 4.2 million copies and had been made into a movie in 2002 starring SMAP's Nakai Masahiro as the criminal Peace a.k.a. Amikawa Koichi. In the 2016 version though, it will be from the perspective of Nakatani's character Maebata Shieko who is a report writer and had also appeared in Miyabe's spin-off novel "Rakuen",

Maebata Shigeko is a housewife of a family which owns a factory and works part-time as a report writer. However, she doesn't have any famous stories to her name yet. By chance, she comes into contact with the people involved in a serial murder case such as the teenage boy who was the first to find the body and an old man whose granddaughter was killed. While trying to find the truth behind the murders, she wonders if she is qualified and able to report on this case from the viewpoint of an ordinary housewife.

Nakatani commented that although this is the first time she is acting in a drama based on Miyabe's work, she had read the novel more than 10 years ago and was impressed by how Miyabe showed the beautiful and ugly sides of human beings. At that time, she already thought that it would be a great challenge to adapt the novel into a drama or movie so she is very happy to be offered the role this time. Although this is the first time she is playing a report writer, Nakatani said that she can be quite inquisitive and persistent such as reading about other people's lives in the articles they wrote or eavesdropping on conversations at bar counters. Since she is constantly in the world of fiction due to her acting career, she wanted to stay connected to the real world by hearing things from other people.

Sources: Sanspo / Yomiuri Hochi

Miki Nakatani to star in WOWOW drama "Katamoi"

Nakatani Miki will be starring in the new WOWOW drama "Kataomoi" (One-sided love) which is based on the same-titled novel by Higashino Keigo. The drama consists of 6 episodes and will be shown this autumn.

Nakatani plays the lead character Hiura Mizuki who is a woman with gender identity disorder. After a reunion dinner in the summer of 2017 with her friends in the American football team which she used to be the team manager for, Mizuki admits to her teammates that she had murdered someone and that she is living as a man named Kanzaki Mitsuru now and works at a club in Ginza. Faced with such a shocking revelation, Mizuki's friends try to find the truth behind her revelation in a bid to protect her. However, as they gradually unravel the truth, they are faced with the harsh truth and how to decide what's best for everyone. The meaning of "one-sided love" in the title will also be explained as the story progresses.

Nakatani commented although this is the first time she is acting in a Higashino work, the pressure is great because rather than volunteering to take on this role, she was given this heavy responsibility to play this difficult character. In order to look convincing as a man, Nakatani cut her hair by 15cm and even went through physical training for 2 months but she will also have to show the sadness of how Mizuki's efforts may end up in naught as she cannot become a man completely.

Higashino who has 5 works adapted by WOWOW to date i.e. "Shukumei", "Genya", "Bunshin", "Henshin" and "Kakkou no tamago wa dare no mono", said that he was surprised that there was finally someone who dared to take on this difficult topic featured in "Kataomoi" as it is something which the current society has yet to find answers to. As such, he hoped that the drama will bring more attention to this issue. He also praised Nakatani for having the courage to take on such a role and expressed his joy in seeing how she will play Mizuki.

Filming began from 6 May.

Sources: Eiga.com / Sanspo / Yomiuri Hochi / Oricon

The Japanese and the Germans, joining forces again.

Miki Nakatani marries German violist Thilo Fechner

Miki Nakatani has married Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra violist Thilo Fechner. Nakatani's agency made the announcement on November 27th.

The two met in 2016 and started dating shortly thereafter. Nakatani commented, "While respecting each other's cultures, we hope to grow older together."

Source: Yomiuri Shimbun

Miki Nakatani to star in NETFLIX drama "Followers"

Miki Nakatani will star in the Netflix drama series “Followers.” The drama series will revolve around Tokyo people influenced directly by social media. Miki Nakatani will play photographer Rimi Nara and Elaiza Ikeda will play aspiring actress Natsume Hyakuta.

“Followers” will be available to stream on Netflix sometime in 2020.

Source: natalie

Miki Nakatani to star in 2023 WOWOW drama "Giver Taker"

Miki Nakatani will star in the 2023 WOWOW drama "Giver Taker".

Nakatani plays Itsuki Kurasawa a police detective who used to be a primary school teacher.

She joined the police force after her daughter was killed by one of her former students, Takashi Ruoto and she decided to keep this from happening again. 12 years after her daughter's death, just before her death anniversary, she finds out Ruoto is being released from the medical facility where he had been held. But she wonders if Ruoto has really changed.

The drama airs in 2023.