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It has been announced that Kato Shigeaki from ‘NEWS’ is cast for the lead role in NTV drama series “Zero: Ikkakusenkin Game”. In addition, fellow NEWS members Koyama Keiichiro, Masuda Takahisa and Tegoshi Yuya will make cameo appearances in the drama. They will showcase their close friendship that has been built for 15 years since their debut.

Story for the drama series will revolve around a death game where contestants risk their lives for a chance to win 100 billion yen. Zero Ukai (Kato Shigeaki) teaches middle school students at a private  highschool. In reality, he is a hero who saves the weak that suffers. Zero Ukai participates in a survival game. The game takes place at an amusement park that is under construction. The participants of the game must risk their lives, but the winner will receive 100 billion yen. The participants help each other and strike up friendships.

The story is based on the manga series "Tobaku Haoden Zero" by Nobuyuki Fukumoto (published September 5, 2007 to February 25, 2009 in the Weekly Shonen Magazine).

“Zero: Ikkakusenkin Game” first airs July, 2018 (Sundays 10:30 pm).

Kato said he became addicted to the manga, so much that even when he finished reading it, his heart was still beating fast. He wants to portray a Zero that he can only do, not just based on the Zero of the manga. He said that is so moving to do this for their 15h anniversary and is very happy to be able to show their teamwork in the form of a drama. He's embarrased to work with the others members but wants to enjoy this opportunity as much as possible and produce a satisfying work together with everyone in the staff.

Koyama commented that the role of each member is still secret. He wants to take this as a chance to celebrate their 15th anniversary and hopes they can help Shige with their acting, more than anything else.

Tegoshi confessed that acting with the other members in the same drama makes him feel very nervous, but he's really looking forward to it. He wants to be treated to good food by Shige during the drama filming.

Massu is really pleased and happy to co-star with Shige in the same drama and he said he'll do his best as if he would steal the lead's spotlight.

Official website

Source: Oricon News, Natalie, AsianWiki

( Videos of the interview to Shige and the other three members here )

Tegoshi Yuya of NEWS will appear for the first time in the popular horror special drama “Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi" (True Scary Stories). It will air on August 19th (9pm JST, Fuji TV)

This series is popularly known as "Honkowa", an horror drama which began in 1999, that reproduces psychic phenomena and mysterious experiences from various parts of Japan.

Tegoshi's episode is titled "A certain apartment" and he'll play the role of Shuuichi Inaba, an employee of a cleaning company who's not good at working with other people and has some trouble in finding jobs. One day while he's cleaning an old apartment block, he encounters a middle-aged man in the elevator. When he gets out and looks backwards he sees a woman with long hair and red clothes standing close to the man as if being stuck to him, and the story begins from the moment the man jumps off the apartment and commits suicide.

Tegoshi says he's excited to challenge something unusual for the first time, as he is so afraid of ghosts and horror in general. He wants to show us his reaction even though he knows he'll be so freaked out!

More info on the official website: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/honkowa/index.html

Source: 1, 2