Poster Ohisama revealed starring Inoue Mao

Starring actress Inoue Mao (24), the promotional poster for NHK's spring asadora, Ohisama was revealed on March 1st. In the poster, Inoue appears basking in the sunlight with her hair softly swept by the wind. Wearing a sleeveless white top with her chin resting on her hand, the letters in the title are entwined with flowers above her. The entire composition gives off a simple, yet gentle feeling.

The poster was shot in studio back in January. When asked to describe the reasoning behind the poster, the chief producer says that "her expression is one that preserves through time." Posters featuring the remaining cast members will be revealed shortly afterwards.

Ohisama will start March 28, airing weekday mornings from 8:00 to 8:15. It will run for a total of 156 episodes.

Ohisama Poster Revealed
Source: Mainichi
Translated by: sparkles_n15 @ asianfanatics.net

Mao Inoue in novel adaptation movie Youkame no Semi

Actress Mao Inoue (23) has been chosen to star in a movie adaptation of Mitsuyo Kakuta's popular novel "Youkame no Semi." Izuru Narushima is directing the film, scheduled for release in 2011.

Inoue plays Erina, a young woman who was abducted as a baby by her father's mistress Kiwako (Hiromi Nagasaku). Kiwako raises Erina as her own child up until her arrest four years later. Erina grows up but has no place to truly call home, and she ends up carrying on her own affair with a married man and becoming pregnant.

The focus of the story is on the two women Erina and Kiwako. Their supporting cast includes Eiko Koike, Hitori Gekidan, Tetsushi Tanaka, Yoko Moriguchi, and Jun Fubuki. The script is being handled by Satoko Okudera ("Summer Wars"). Filming is expected to wrap up at the end of October.

"Youkame no Semi" was previously adapted as a television drama on NHK earlier this year.

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Shun Oguri and Mao Inoue in drama Veterinarian Dolittle

It is now confirmed that Shun Oguri (27) and Mao Inoue (23) will co-star in a new drama series this fall. The pair, who appeared together in the live-action "Hana Yori Dango," have been cast in an adaptation of "Juui Dolittle" ("Veterinarian Dolittle"), a manga written by Midori Natsu and illustrated by Makiyoshi Chikuya.

Oguri plays the part of Kenichi Tottori, a highly capable veterinarian known by the nickname "Dolittle." He has a sharp tongue, and he maintains a strict attitude about issues such as money and proper pet care. But in addition to saving animals, he also helps fix the problems of their owners.

Inoue plays the female lead as Kenichi's co-worker Asuka Tajima, while Hiroki Narimiya (27) as rival veterinarian Masaru Hanabishi. The show will also focus on the love triangle between the three characters.

The show will air on TBS in the Sunday 9:00pm time slot, starting in October.

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Mao Inoue in morning drama Ohisama

NHK has revealed the details of its 84th Asadora (morning drama) series, titled "Ohisama." The show, set to air during spring and summer of 2011, will star young actress Mao Inoue (23) and will be written by Yoshikazu Okada ("Churasan").

Inoue's last appearance in an NHK drama was in 1999. This time, however, will be her first starring role on that network.

Set in the Nagano prefecture, "Ohisama" is said to be a biographical drama about a woman who lived through World War II, described as having a smile bright like the sun ("ohisama"). Inoue plays the woman, named Yoko Sudo, from the age of 16 before the war up to the age of 30 after the war. Producer Masayo Komatsu mentioned that the role will have Inoue becoming an elementary school teacher, then a soba shop owner, then a mother. Because the story starts during Yoko's student days, Inoue will once again be seen in a school uniform, even though she had declared last year that "Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu" would be her last time wearing one.

NHK plans to begin filming in October, though a small part will be shot at the end of this month, when the "soba flower" (a central piece of the story) is in bloom. The drama will be broadcast in the regular Asadora time slot (Monday-Saturday, 8:00-8:15am) from March 28 to September 24, for a total of 156 episodes.

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No chance for 'Game On' glasses! Inoue Mao more in work mode than love mode?

The awards ceremony for the 22nd Japan Best Dressed Eyes Awards was held at Tokyo's Big Sight on 27th October. Actress Inoue Mao, actor Karasawa Toshiaki and Suzanne were among the 6 who were up on stage to receive the award.

Inoue who won in the Showbiz Field wore a black one-piece dress she chose together with the stylist to match her glasses. During her childhood, she used glasses regularly for about 10 years. "Putting on glasses feels like going back to my former self. Showing myself with glasses on in front of so many people is embarrassing."

The reporters asked if she liked men in glasses. "When someone who does not usually wear glasses puts them on, it makes my heart flutter," she replied. "When I go on a date, I choose fashionable glasses," she said, revealing the existence of her 'Game On' glasses. "Lately, I haven't had the chance to use those glasses though,"she added, a little disappointment in the romance department perhaps. Inoue, who has a starring role in a recently-opened movie, is looking increasingly radiant these days. It seems that rather than love, she will continue in work mode for a while.

On the other hand, Karasawa Toshiaki who won in the Sunglasses Field said of his unexpected win,"I don't see myself having the image of having sunglasses on but I think it's because I had them on all the time in the movie '20th Century Boys'."

Every year, well-known people from various fields who look good in glasses are chosen and given awards in different categories. The other prize-winners this year are Nagatsuma Akira in the Political Field, Yanai Tadashi in the Economic Field, Ishizaka Koji in the Cultural Field and Suzanne for the Special Prize.

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