It was announced on the 30th that the popular manga "My Dress-Up Darling," affectionately known as "Kisekoi," will be adapted into a live-action drama in Japan, scheduled to air in the October season. The drama, under the same title, will star Riko Nagase and Kota Nomura in a double lead role.

The manga, authored by Shinichi Fukuda, was serialized in "Young Gangan" (SQUARE ENIX) and has surpassed 11 million copies in circulation. It has won numerous awards, including the "Next Manga Award" (2019) and the "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics" (2020), and was also adapted into an anime.

The story is a romantic comedy between a high school boy who is passionate about making Hina dolls and a gal heroine who is also an otaku. In the live-action version, Kota Nomura plays Wakana Gojo, who is dedicated to making Hina dolls, while Riko Nagase portrays Marin Kitagawa, a gal who loves anime, games, and manga. As Marin notices Wakana's talent for crafting Hina doll costumes, she asks him to create cosplay costumes for her, leading Wakana to start breaking out of his shell. Through the process of making costumes, the two characters, who are complete opposites in both appearance and personality, gradually grow closer.

Riko Nagase, who was selected as "Miss Seventeen 2018," has made a name for herself as a model and actress, appearing in various dramas and films such as "Kurosagi" (TBS, 2022), "Haru wa Mijikashi Koi Seyo Danshi" (NTV, 2023), and "Tokyo Tower" (TV Asahi, 2024).

Kota Nomura, who won the runner-up prize in the "Men's Non-no Model Audition 2023," debuted and has appeared in several dramas, including "Otto no Katei wo Kowasu Made" (TV Asahi, 2024) and "My Girlfriend's Child" (Kantele, 2024). This drama marks his first lead role.

The script is written by Satoko Okazaki and directed by Koji Kamitoku. The show is set to premiere on October 8th, airing on MBS TV (Kansai) every Tuesday at 12:59 AM, and on TBS TV (Kanto) every Tuesday at 1:28 AM.

Character Profiles:

Marin Kitagawa (Played by Riko Nagase)
A gal in the same class as Wakana. A beautiful girl with an open personality who also works as a reader model. Though she loves anime, games, and manga, she struggles with making cosplay costumes, which she initially attempted herself. One day, she encounters Wakana in the clothing workshop making Hina doll costumes and asks him to help her create cosplay costumes. Through their cosplay activities, she gradually grows closer to Wakana.

Comment:
"I'm Riko Nagase, playing the role of Marin Kitagawa. When I first read the original manga, I was struck by Wakana's straightforwardness and Marin's charm. When I met with the director, he emphasized the importance of the relationship between the two characters. Although they seem opposite at first glance, they share similarities, and I want to carefully portray how they change through cosplay. Marin has a flashy appearance but also a delicate heart, and I'm looking forward to bringing out her wonderful character during filming. The hair, makeup, and costumes for the cosplay scenes are also very colorful, so please look forward to the broadcast!"

Wakana Gojo (Played by Kota Nomura)
A high school boy who lives with his grandfather, a Hina doll craftsman, and aspires to become a Hina doll face artist himself.

He has a talent for sewing, which he developed through making Hina dolls as both a hobby and practice. Due to past experiences where his hobbies were dismissed, he struggles with self-expression. His deep passion for Hina dolls, which started in elementary school, has left him without friends, making it difficult for him to fit in with his class.

Comment:
"I'm Kota Nomura, playing the role of Wakana Gojo. The pure-hearted and shy Wakana, who is serious and dedicated, and the bright and carefree Marin, who is true to herself, have such cute and endearing interactions in the original manga, which really touched my heart. I also realized the importance of embracing the things you love. I want to make the drama adaptation of 'My Dress-Up Darling' a wonderful work for everyone, so I hope you'll warmly watch over us!"

Source : ORICON NEWS