Maki Horikita

Today finally the the other cast members of the cast of Maki's new dorama "Innocent Love" have been revealed. The biggest surprise would be the male leading part, because Kitagawa Yuujin (31) from the popular folk song duo "Yuzu" will be in charge of that one. This would be his first ever role in a dorama and already as the lead actor at the side of popular Horikita Maki. However, Kitagawa isn't a totally new actor as he has been doing some acting in movies like "Meitentei Hokenshitsu no Obasan" or "All-Night Long 3: Last Chapter" before his actual breakthrough with the folk duo Yuzu in 1998. "I was really surprised. It's a new challenge and I'll work hard with all my might," he commented with a lot of ambition. "I think Horikita Maki is a wonderful actress, whether it's in movies or doramas and I'm very happy to be able to act together with her. I'm slightly older than her, but when it comes to acting she is my senpai. Please take care of me."

The theme for Innocent Love is about "modern loneliness" and the heroine Kanon (Maki) who got neglected by the world around her. Kanon is trying to find happiness in this modern Cinderella story. Kitagawa will play Nagasaki Junya she is wholeheartedly falling in love with. His role is not an easy one. He is a pianist for a church's children choir who seems to have a cheerful naiveté from the outside, but in the inside he holds a deep sadness.

Other cast members include Kashii Yuu (21) who is going to play the role of Sakurai Midzuki, a childhood friend of Junya who has feelings for him since they were young. She'll be like the "first villain" who's going to bully Horikita's character.

Fukushi Seiji (25) will be Kanon's older brother Akiyama Youji who got in juvenile prison as suspect for the murder of their parents. He is worrying about his sister and her loneliness, but he suffers due to the fact that he can't go outside these walls.

Segawa Subaru, a very close friend of Junya will be played by Narimiya Hiroki (25) who's in charge of bringing a fresh and modern feeling to that show. He himself struggles with the problem that he can't tell anybody his feelings, not about his worries about his new assignment and neither his feelings towards the person who loves him.

Shining actress Uchida Yuki (32) will play Kiyoka, the fiancé of Junya. She will be an important key role for the dorama.

According to the producer there is a reason behind every casted actor/actress. "I wanted to appoint him (Kitagawa) for a dorama before already, but this time I finally made the request. If the dorama can reflect the charm that comes out from his inside, then I think there will be a great chemical reaction. He hasn't yet shown anything to the general audience, so please take note of him."
About Kashii Yuu, "I wanted an actress who could play such an ugly character in the inside that you wouldn't be able to tell from her elegant face. It's the first bullying role and I thoroughly wanted to portray it."
"Fukushi-san showed his talent on NHK and I thought he would be the right person for that character with a lot of darkness inside of him. That's why I made him the offer. It will be fun changing him from an handsome man into a man with close-cropped hair."
And then Narimiya, "His role is really delicate with a shock-like secret he is keeping to himself. I think you will be attracted by how great he performs that difficult role."
Uchida will be in charge of the beautiful girl, but as much as she is beautiful as much can she fight and strife for something.
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