Johnny’s Talent’s Rise and Spring Drama Winners/Losers After 2 Months

A month has passed since the spring dramas began, and the winners and losers are becoming apparent. First, what were the initial expectations for this spring’s dramas? Here’s what a sports paper’s entertainment desk has to say,

“In this season’s battle for spring drama ratings, Horiki Hasegawa (47), starring in the Sunday Theater’s ‘Anti-Hero’ (TBS), was considered a favorite, while the attention was also high for ‘Destiny’ (TV Asahi) starring Satomi Ishihara (37) and Kamenashi Kazuya (38). Additionally, An (38) takes over the lead role from Mayu Matsuoka (27) in the popular drama based on Jun Ikeido’s work, ‘Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out’ (NTV). While there’s no standout hit, this season had a lineup with a fair amount of buzz.”

Now, let’s see how it’s actually going. As we reach the halfway point, the winners and losers are becoming apparent.

While “Anti-Hero” and other highly anticipated dramas are performing steadily, the toughest battle seems to be at Fuji TV’s flagship slot, the “Monday 9 p.m.” Ever since last July’s “Midsummer Cinderella” starring Nana Mori (22), the ratings have consistently remained in single digits. This season’s “366 Days,” starring Alice Hirose (29), managed an average household rating of 7.2% for its first episode (according to Video Research, Kanto region), far from double digits. The latest six episodes have also struggled in the 5% range. Similarly, “9 Border” (TBS), starring Haruna Kawaguchi (29), whose predecessor ‘silent’ was a big hit, has also faced tough times, with three consecutive weeks of ratings in the 5% range, including the latest five episodes.

On the other hand, big-name actors’ dramas are attracting attention. “Believe – The Bridge Over You-” (TV Asahi), which started with a good 11.7% initial rating, continues to perform well with the latest episode at 9.8%, starring Takuya Kimura (51), showing signs of a resurgence in popularity. Additionally, “Blue Moment” (Fuji TV), starring Tomohisa Yamashita (39), is also putting up a fight. It’s interesting to note the rise in ratings for dramas featuring former Johnny’s-related talents.

“What stands out first is the dismal performance of the Monday 9 p.m. slot. Despite being a well-crafted piece inspired by HY’s hit song ‘366 Days,’ neither the cast nor the story shines, reflecting in the declining ratings. The decline in the ‘Monday 9 p.m.’ brand power seems unstoppable. There have been jokes within the company that ‘re-airing past masterpieces would bring in better numbers,’ but it’s becoming less of a laughing matter. It’s hard to avoid saying that there’s a high possibility of the slot itself disappearing if this continues.” (Mid-level staff at a key station)

There are also dramas receiving harsh evaluations. The aforementioned key network employee continues,

“Despite initial expectations, ‘9 Border’ has fallen short of delivering satisfactory results. Besides Haruna Kawaguchi, the rest of the cast is weak, and the storyline gives a somewhat unrealistic impression, failing to resonate with viewers.”

Amidst a lineup of dramas struggling to gain altitude this season, a surprise standout is “Believe,” starring Kimutaku. A representative from the production company explains the reason for its success,

“The lineup of supporting cast surrounding Kimura-san is simply luxurious. From veterans like Kin’ya Kitaoji (81) and Bunshi Katsura (70) to younger talents like Ryo Ryusei (31) and Maika Yamamoto (26), everyone complements each other perfectly. Moreover, the storyline is so compelling that viewers are irresistibly drawn in. The success is well-deserved, and if things continue like this, we might even expect a sequel. This could be a significant catalyst for Kimura-san’s resurgence in popularity.”

Furthermore, dramas featuring talents related to Johnny’s are also performing well. According to an entertainment agency insider,

“Yamashita’s drama ‘Honest Real Estate 2’ (NHK), which aired at the beginning of the year, was also popular, marking his second consecutive leading role. Initially, there was attention on Kamenashi’s co-starring with Minami Tanaka (37), with whom he was rumored to be dating. However, his performance effectively dispelled those rumors, leading to good ratings. Expectations are high for its future performance as well.

This season was considered a sparse spring lineup with few standout productions. However, amidst this, the stability and experience of Johnny’s-related actors, who have handled numerous lead roles in the past, seem to have drawn in many viewers.” 

Ultimately, amidst the lack of standout options, the demand seems to have concentrated on dramas featuring strong actors like those from Johnny’s. Expectations and attention are now turning towards the excitement of the second half of the season.