Kei Tanaka’s Drama Sequel in Doubt Amid Co-Star Tensions

Nagano seems likely to go on a hiatus from activities

Mei Nagano (25) and Kei Tanaka (40) were reported by weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun (Bungeishunju) to be involved in an affair. Both of their agencies denied the relationship and the alleged decisive LINE message exchanges reported by the magazine, but the impact is severe.

Sponsors who had contracts with Nagano swiftly removed related videos and images from their official sites. She withdrew from the upcoming NHK Taiga drama “Toyotomi Brothers!” scheduled for next year, and her role as a personality on Nippon Broadcasting System’s “Mei Nagano’s All Night Nippon X” ended after only two months. Although she has finished filming the TBS Sunday drama “Caster,” which is still airing, and her starring film “Kakukaku Shikajika” is out, her acting career seems forced into hiatus.

Meanwhile, Tanaka has also had videos and images removed by sponsors he worked with. However, his lead role in the play “Cheerful Ghost” continues at Tokyo’s Theatre Creation until May 29, with regional performances planned until next month.

A showbiz reporter noted, “Erika Karata (27) was driven into hiatus after her affair was revealed in Bunshun in January 2020, while her partner Masahiro Higashide (37) continued working and was criticized heavily. Given Nagano’s current forced hiatus, Tanaka will likely have to self-restrain his activities, or neither the public nor related parties will accept it.”

Tanaka has been with his current agency since age 15 but struggled for recognition until his breakthrough role as Soichi Haruta in the popular TV Asahi drama series “Ossan’s Love” from 2018.

Haruta, a real estate employee with a straightforward and somewhat absent-minded personality, became a beloved character called “Harutan.” The leaked LINE messages between Tanaka and Nagano reportedly showed a purity unexpected for adults, resembling Tanaka’s “Harutan” character. Despite being married with children, Tanaka showed no guilt over the affair.

“Ossan’s Love” aired its third season in January 2024, but Tanaka’s blunders with co-stars on the show have also drawn attention.

The relationships with co-stars are in a complicated state

In 2018, a cheating scandal arose when Tanaka Kei was reported holding hands with Rio Uchida (33). During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, when gatherings were taboo, it was reported that Hidekazu Majima (48) hosted an intimate birthday party for Tanaka in his workroom. Normally, the agencies involved would be reluctant to have their talents work together with Tanaka, but last year a new season was still broadcast. (Entertainment reporter)

Then, with the cheating scandal involving Mei Nagano, many fans hoped for a sequel to the “Ossan’s Love” series. However, Ryota Maki, who plays Haruta’s partner in the series, is Kento Hayashi (34), a senior at Nagano’s agency. The relationships between Tanaka and the co-stars have become quite complicated. Is a sequel even possible?

Entertainment journalist Kazuhiko Futa explained:

“There are basically no NG (no-go) rules between agencies, so conflicts don’t usually happen. The agencies of Nagano and Hayashi have good relations with all other agencies, but since they manage many talents, any conflict would affect work somewhere. Tanaka’s agency is in a similar situation. Ultimately, it comes down to whether the actors get along with each other.”

So, the decision about a sequel will depend on the production side. As for Tanaka’s future, he predicts:

“Tanaka has many rivals of the same age, and because of the reports, his work is expected to decrease. When he became popular with ‘Ossan’s Love,’ his agency aggressively booked many jobs for him. If they had been more selective, it would have been better, but as a result, it unfortunately shortened his career lifespan as an actor.”

The real-life “Ossan’s Love” with Nagano has become a fatal blow to Tanaka.

“FRIDAY Digital” welcomes your tips and information. Please send them via the form below or official X account.

Information form: https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/tips
Official X: https://x.com/FRIDAY_twit