Hisaya Nakajo's manga Hana-Kimi will become a drama on NTV for the 30th anniversary of the start of its serialization, beginning December 5, the production announced. Kawamura Hana, Hasegawa Shin and Fujiwara Itsuki of the dance and vocal group THE RAMPAGE share top billing.
The story follows Ashiya Mizuki, a girl who disguises her sex to transfer into Sakurazaka Academy, an all-boys school, so she can find the person she admires. The manga was adapted into a drama in 2007 with Horikita Maki, Oguri Shun and Ikuta Toma, and remade in 2011 with Maeda Atsuko, Nakamura Aoi and Miura Shohei.
Kawamura plays Mizuki. Hasegawa plays Sano Izumi, the high jumper Mizuki admires, and Fujiwara plays Nakatsu Shuichi, a classmate torn over his feelings for her. The two THE RAMPAGE members play classmates who each come to see Mizuki as special while growing conscious of each other.
Classmates and rivals
Ito Keigo and Tomita Yuki, both of Ryugujo, play Noe Shinji and Sekime Kyogo. Takaoka Miro and Morita Riku, both of Lienel, play Kayashima Taiki and Nakatsu Chisato. Motonosuke plays Tennoji Megumi, the dormitory head who runs Sakurazaka Academy, with Kobayashi Daigo and Nishiyama Tomoki of TAGRIGHT as Namba Minami and Himejima Masao.
Sakurai Yuki of Gekidan EXILE plays Kujo Taketsuki, vice captain of the karate club, and Takahashi Hiroto plays Kagurazaka Makoto, a high jumper and Sano's rival. Koga Fumie, who wrote Boku wa Mada Kimi wo Aisanai Koto ga Dekiru, is among the screenwriters, and Shibata Keisuke, who directed Chotto Matou yo, Harutora-kun, is among the directors.
Stage version to follow finale
A stage version will feature the drama's main cast in the same roles, opening February 13, 2027 — the week after the drama's final episode — in Osaka, Aichi and Tokyo. Additional stage cast include Mochida Yuki and Takahashi Reiya for the Osaka and Aichi runs, Suzuki Shushu for Osaka as Namba, VMA (unløck) for Osaka as Himejima, and Takasaki Shota as Umeda Hokuto, the school doctor who watches over the students.
The drama runs eight episodes, airing Saturdays from 14:30 to 15:00. Episodes will stream on TVer and Hulu after broadcast, and Hulu will carry an exclusive director's cut with scenes not shown on TV.
“When I heard that Hana-Kimi, which has moved so many hearts through the manga, dramas and anime, would take shape again, I was shocked, and I felt strongly that I wanted to play Ashiya Mizuki.”Kawamura Hana, plays Ashiya Mizuki
“I watched the live-action drama back then, so I never imagined I would live in this world as Sano Izumi.”Hasegawa Shin, plays Sano Izumi
“Nakatsu is bright and straightforward, the kind of mood-maker who naturally makes the people around him smile.”Fujiwara Itsuki, plays Nakatsu Shuichi
The original author's team said in a statement that Nakajo, who died, would be watching the drama and stage plans "from up in the sky." The statement asked fans to read the manga alongside the new adaptations.