News on Tomoya's new drama "Mukodono 2003"

Tomoya's new drama Mukodono 2003 will start airing on April 17, 2003 on Fuji TV every Thursday 10:00-10:54 p.m.

Co-stars are Noriko Sakai, Ryoko Shinohara, Mari Hoshino, Rieko Miura, Haruka Suenaga, Toshio Kurosawa

This drama will consist of 11 chapters, two of which will be live broadcasted. Also, Tomoya will release a single in the name of Yuichiro Sakuraba at the end of this month (4/30) and will have live performances.

This is the synopsis to the drama from the official Fuji TV website.
For more information/details, please go to the official page (english): http://www.fujitv.co.jp/en/program/new_prog/d_soninlaw2003.html
(the Japanese official page is: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/muko2003/index2.html)

Synopsis:

Fall, 2002: A good-looking guy is kissing a beautiful girl. On the movie screen is the most stylish and striking commercial this fall. The handsome guy on the screen is Yuichiro Sakuraba, and the women in the audience at the movie theater can't take their eyes off the screen during this kiss scene.

The Japan Budokan: Young female fans are screaming at the top of their lungs. The star singing sexily under the spotlight is Yuichiro Sakuraba. When Yuichiro winks at the audience, they squeal wilder than ever.

The television is showing scenes from a documentary-style program that follows the life of Yuichiro Sakuraba around the clock. While watching the show at his agency, "Office Triangle," Yuichiro is getting dressed. Wearing glasses and a headband, the "real" Yuichiro looks like nothing more than a geek.
"I'm sooo darn tired! Kin-san wouldn't let me sleep on the plane."
"Of course not! The press and your fans were on the plane. How could I let them see you drooling and snoring out loud?" says his manager Sujiyama. "I don't drool..."
"Oh, yes you do. Right, Kawamura?"
"He sure does. He even farts from time to time," says Sakuraba's personal driver, Kawamura. Takuro, the president of the agency, is the only one laughing.
"I'll bet ya all the stars fart."
"See! Taku-san agrees with me!"
"Stars DO NOT fart!!"
"What about you Kin-san? Do you fart?"
"I... For heaven's sake, stop calling me Kin-san!" "
The tour in Taiwan was a big success, and everybody loves Yuichiro's new commercial, so let's just forget about it."

Yuichiro is riding his motorcycle home in his tacky sweatshirt, when a kitten jumps out in front of him. In an attempt to dodge the kitten, Yuichiro falls on his side, and hits a pedestrian. Yuichiro seems to be in pain, but he is more worried about the person he collided with. "I'm okay. I was the one walking absent-mindedly."
Minami Ishihara looks ups at Yuichiro.

It was love at first sight for Yuichiro. But the moment he feels relieved to know that Minami has no bruises, he realizes that he has hurt his foot, and can't walk. "OUCH!!"
Minami insists on taking him to the hospital, but Yuichiro keeps saying, "That's not a good idea." So she helps push his motorcycle home with him.

They arrive in an underground parking lot of a gorgeous apartment building, where an elevator takes them straight up to Yuichiro's room. At first, Minami is amazed, but gets suspicious when Yuichiro keeps his helmet on even inside the room. Minami nurses him. Yuichiro's eyes are fixed on Minami. But she's terrible at nursing him. That's what touches Yuichiro's heart even more. When Minami is ready to leave, Yuichiro stops her, and is ready to reveal himself. With his heart racing, he slowly takes off his helmet.
But Minami has a blank look on her face. "What?"
Minami can't tell that the geek in front of her is Yuichiro Sakuraba, the star.

"What songs do you like?"
Yuichiro starts asking leading questions, but Minami doesn't have a clue to what he's getting at. Unable to tell her who he really is, the two just exchange phone numbers and part.

When Yuichiro is later scolded by Sujiyama, Yuichiro decides to keep the encounter with Minami a secret. After an exhausting day, Yuichiro returns home from work, picks up Minami's business card, and smiles to himself. A 31-year-old librarian. She's six years older than Yuichiro. He gathers some courage and dials the number.

His first date with her is in a disguise...It is also Minami's first time to cook a homemade dish... Next is their first Christmas together...And finally their first kiss.

There's one big problem though. Yuichiro still hasn't told Minami that he's "Yuichiro Sakuraba" even after they've been dating. Because his real last name is different, and he hasn't yet found the opportunity to tell her, Minami is unaware of her boyfriend's true identity.

Spring, 2003: Yuichiro is recording a song that's soon to be released. At the same time, he's also shooting a commercial with a young actress by the name of Hikari Aikawa.

One night, after they have been dating for a couple of months, Yuichiro gives Minami a ride home on his motorcycle. It's midnight, and everybody is asleep... they thought.
All of a sudden, the light on the porch comes on.
"Minami, we've all been waiting for you!" Minami's sisters come pouring out of the house.
Toko is the eldest, followed by Nishie, Kitae, and Akira. They've been eagerly waiting to see Minami's "young boyfriend."

Reluctantly, Yuichiro steps into their house. The eldest sister Toko is a cop. The second oldest sister in the family is Minami. The third is Nishie, a doctor. The fourth Kitae, is a flight attendant, and the youngest Akira goes to a well-known private high school.

Every one of the Ishihara sisters has both brains, beauty, and a no-nonsense attitude. They just blatantly stare at Yuichiro, and thoroughly check him out.

Eavesdropping behind the door is their father Mamoru, a gynecologist. He's the only male in the family, and always seems to lose to his daughters. He cares a lot about his daughters, and is proud of them. But none has gotten married yet.

The girls just keep on chattering, and continue bombarding Yuichiro with questions, until finally, Mamoru yells. "What are your intentions for my daughter?" With all eyes glued on Yuichiro, he stammers, "Well... that's a difficult subject." Now everybody's talking at the same time, about different topics, and it's total chaos. Yuichiro feels pressed, and answers, "Of course, to eventually get married." Amidst the confusion, Yuichiro suddenly proposes. Nobody is more surprised than Minami herself. Somebody says, "He looks familiar." Yuichiro can feel his sweat trickling down.

Finally the time has come for Yuichiro to reveal himself in front of the Ishihara's, including Minami. She can't believe that her boyfriend is the famous Yuichiro Sakuraba.

After a lot of ups and downs, and coping with many issues occurring all at once, Yuichiro and Minami get married. What's more surprising, Yuichiro marries into the family of his bride. Will Yuichiro be able to maintain a balance between being a star and being a son-in-law?