It’s been revealed that Nagano Mei’s close friend Imada Mio will not be co-starring in the DMM TV drama “Himachi no Joou” (a pun blending “hostess” and “queen”), where Nagano serves as both lead actress and, for the first time, producer. Ito Kentaro has been cast as her co-star instead.
On 5channel, users made sarcastic jabs tying the news to Ito’s past traffic accident and Nagano’s reported romance, while others pointed to scheduling issues on Imada’s side.
8/26/2026
“When I was asked, ‘Why not try being a producer?’, I felt both surprise and a growing excitement for a new challenge — getting to be involved in making the show from a different position than before.”
On August 17th, it was announced that Nagano Mei would star in the DMM TV drama “Himachi no Joou,” streaming this winter, while also taking on producing duties for the first time. She shared these comments about her excitement for the new challenge.
Such a shame they couldn't cast Tanaka Kei for this.
3Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:24:22.57ID:COWA6+US0
Framing it as her being 'turned down' is just malicious wording.
4Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:24:30.04ID:FRCXKGMU0
Wonder how much synergy you get combining an affair scandal with a hit-and-run.
8Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:25:52.47ID:QZIKCIrQ0
Ito Kentaro, huh.
Well, I guess they can just commiserate over each other's scandals together.
12Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:26:42.92ID:Kkfs1PFc0
Deguchi Natsuki said she wanted to be in it too.
13Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:26:45.57ID:LfsOkX5O0
Turned down by her own best friend… (´・ω・`) (a sad kaomoji face)
14Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:27:41.84ID:YkMPmR6H0
It's probably a call made by Imada's talent agency too.
15Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:27:50.85ID:qV8BLZVV0
Wait, what?!
Is it really okay to use the Manga One source material?
17Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:28:06.46ID:Xzv+BVbh0
Imada Mio's genuinely in high demand — her schedule's packed with network TV and film work, so it can't be helped.
19Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:28:45.37ID:mBc+0HZv0
Both Imada herself and her agency probably declined.
If they start marketing it as a 'besties co-starring' hook, Imada's side is the only one who loses out.
20Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:28:45.88ID:OTz4QYVf0
😭
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GS5iPnFa0AAXaLA.jpg
21Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:28:46.78ID:WoIdag9p0
>Due to scheduling reasons
hiding that part to bait people into a misleading thread title —
what do you think you're doing, mods?
23Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:29:03.37ID:OrQvV5oC0
Ito Kentaro's stuck with this image of being dumped by Yamamoto Maika.
Nobody would complain if he ended up with Mei.
26Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:29:15.47ID:0yiJyY6F0
They were basically on equal footing as morning-drama actresses, but he dropped a rank after causing that incident. Whatever he himself thinks, the agency surely doesn't want them co-starring.
27Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:29:27.31ID:0LpHP4+I0
There's no way his agency would ever give the okay.
29Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:29:52.52ID:qdqAaNgM0
There's no upside for someone as in-demand as Imada Mio to play a hostess-club role on Netflix in the first place.
63Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:35:16.05ID:eX6mgRVV0
>>29
Netflix is a different project.
It was DMM TV that offered the role to Imada Mio lol
32Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:30:17.62ID:xNqyBEQ10
Was it more like Imada going 'haha, you're joking, right? LOL'?
35Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:30:24.30ID:EPa3j9+/0
Make it FANZA, not DMM, please. (FANZA is DMM's adult-content brand — that's the joke)
36Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:30:34.34ID:1yLvRRG/0
Well yeah, it's DMM after all —
Imada's got way too many major ad campaigns for that.
38Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:30:57.31ID:pTe/ZX+f0
Just cast Tanaka Kei already
— this is the perfect chance.
42Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:31:22.29ID:OTz4QYVf0
Even a bit part would be fine, but I want Becky in this too.
45Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:32:03.83ID:IvNVOtE40
Invite Nakai-kun too, won't you.
60Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:34:58.53ID:qbNouMK60
>>45
Throw in Sato Jiro, Matsumoto Hitoshi, and Kokubun Taichi too and you'd really round out the range.
89Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:39:51.13ID:s/gfDCGA0
>>60
Jungle Pocket's Saito: 'I'll bring baumkuchen as a gift, so count me in.'
50Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:33:15.72ID:BsQQ8p8C0
Appearing in something this cheap-looking would be career suicide.
51Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:33:20.31ID:lVMpi5ZG0
How about an all-star cast of people who used to be big names but for various reasons you don't see around anymore?
54Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:33:46.76ID:eeTJNzRC0
>>1
No way that's true lol
dying laughing lol
55Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:34:15.37ID:j4hd6xkf0
Then bring in the 'outlet guy' too (´・ω・｀) (referencing an actor's past scandal involving an electrical outlet)
56Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:34:21.90ID:GHQiVTBj0
She's the only one who could play live-action Mii-chan.
Who needs an anime —
hurry up and get the drama version on Netflix.
62Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:35:08.90ID:i1xzZqgf0
>>56
Mii-chan's just glorified — it was retconned later that she's actually supposed to be plain-looking, so it wouldn't work.
57Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:34:23.42ID:wq0KtAce0
Ito: 'If you'll sleep with me, I guess I'll do the drama.'
Nagano: '(without missing a beat) Sure.'
58Anonymous2026/08/26(水) 16:34:28.49ID:fHaPK4fM0
Of course she'd refuse —
it's such an obvious 'drag someone down with you' move.
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