<figure id="attachment_431545" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 4038px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-431545"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="d998ff8c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/07/63a20c182e6953f8a573717518378bcc.jpeg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-431545" class="wp-caption-text">After finishing the photo shoot under the scorching sun, Haruka Fukuhara heads to the shuttle car with a cheerful, beaming smile.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>&#8220;It&#8217;s really hot.&#8221;</h2>
<p>In early July, under the blazing sun at Tama-Dobutsukoen Station (Hino City, Tokyo), a drama shoot was underway. Due to the intense heat, there were few visitors to the nearby zoo, and apart from the film crew, the station was nearly empty.</p>
<p>Soon, a woman appeared with a large group of staff, wearing a light blue shirt and beige pants — a refreshingly cool outfit. It was actress Haruka Fukuhara (26).</p>
<p><strong>“They were filming for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m. drama Ashita wa Motto, Ii Hi ni Naru, which began airing on July 7. This marks Fukuhara’s first starring role in the iconic ‘Getsu-9’ time slot,” a TV magazine writer explained. “The heartwarming human drama is set at a child guidance center (Jidō Sōdanjo). Fukuhara plays Tsubasa Natsui, a police officer in the serious crimes division of the Kanagawa Prefectural Police. One day, she is temporarily assigned to the child welfare department, where she begins working as a new caseworker.”</strong></p>
<p><strong>The first episode featured a story about a single mother who abuses her 8-year-old son, and Fukuhara’s portrayal of a woman torn between the roles of police officer and child welfare worker was powerful. “Her performance was impressive — a complete departure from her alluring role as courtesan Tagasode in the NHK Taiga drama Berabou,”</strong> the writer added.</p>
<p>In Berabou, she plays a historical figure, Tagasode, who seduces high-ranking officials like Tochi Tanuma (played by Hio Miyazawa, 31) and Hiroko Matsumae (38), younger brother of a feudal lord — her seductive performance drew wide attention.</p>
<p>As a child, Fukuhara told zakzak in an August 2010 interview,</p>
<p><strong>“It’s my dream to appear in a Taiga drama.”</strong></p>
<p>Over a decade later, she fulfilled that dream. Regarding her first Getsu-9 lead role, she commented at the “Fuji TV Drama Live 2025” press event on June 28:</p>
<p><strong>“I’ve always enjoyed watching the Monday 9 p.m. dramas, so I never imagined I’d be starring in one myself.”</strong></p>
<p>At another promotional event on July 6, she said:</p>
<p><strong>“This drama involves a lot of outdoor filming, and it’s really hot. But I’m doing my best every day, getting tanned alongside the amazing cast and crew.”</strong></p>
<p>Indeed, the temperature in the Tama region during the time of her shoot was 33.5°C, with intense sunlight beating down. Still, Fukuhara handled the shoot with her usual high spirits. This summer, all eyes will be on her continued success.</p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="Haruka Fukuhara in a fresh corset"></div>
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<figure id="attachment_431546" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3546px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-431546"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="073d5f98"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/07/6890fc5bf3e808d33348593b0e71385e.jpeg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-431546" class="wp-caption-text">This year marks a major breakthrough for Haruka Fukuhara, starring in both a Taiga drama and a Fuji TV &#8220;Getsu-9&#8221; series.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_431547" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3546px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-431547"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="176dfebc"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/07/f8f2acc0af3410ae21fc6d34c8b57fc2.jpeg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-431547" class="wp-caption-text">On this day, the temperature reached 33.5°C, yet Fukuhara maintained a refreshingly calm expression.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_431548" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3546px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-431548"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="c3529dea"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/07/a88dcb67f004aa2a190404b8ae0f7653.jpeg" alt=""></a>In the current drama, she plays the lead character — a police officer by profession who is temporarily assigned to work as a child welfare caseworker.</figure>


 Kumataro Arai

 In early July, Haruka Fukuhara was spotted at the Tama Zoo station filming Fuji's "Geki 9" drama "Tomorrow Will Be a Better Day". Despite the scorching sun, she had a fresh smile on her face, and the staff were caught up in the smiles.

Haruka Fukuhara Shines in First Fuji Monday Drama Lead—A Refreshing Contrast to Berabou

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