<figure id="attachment_478982" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-478982" style="width: 2416px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="4cadab74"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/08/3b8046abfbf7eec1b3155afbe00ce4aa.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-478982" class="wp-caption-text">Nagano frequently brings treats to show his appreciation for the film crew, and he’s said to be highly motivated—arriving on set earlier than anyone else in the morning, for example</figcaption></figure>
<h3> Exclusive on-location shots from her starring and producing project</h3>
<p> In the heart of the Obon holiday, with few people on the streets of Ginza, Tokyo, a beautiful woman was seen walking with her shoulders cutting through the wind, dressed in a metallic silver suit with shoulder pads.So dazzling that one might mistake her for a high-flying businesswoman from the Bubble Era who had time-traveled to the present, this beauty is actress Mei Nagano (26).</p>
<p> On this day, filming was underway in a building in Ginza 8-chome—an area where high-end clubs vie for business—for the DMM TV exclusive drama *Himachi no Jōō*, in which she stars. Kentaro Ito (29), who is said to be playing the role of Jun, a club host, was also spotted on set.</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> “The original manga is a hit series with cumulative sales exceeding 1.2 million copies. The protagonist, Ayane Ichijo, played by Nagano, is a former top hostess in Kabukicho. She’s a greedy, competitive character who strives to revitalize her hometown of Tottori by creating Japan’s number-one hostess club.“While there are no explicit love scenes, there are scenes where she seduces customers in revealing dresses and brawls with thugs, so viewers may get to see some of Nagano’s more daring performances,” said a source from the production company.</span></p>
<p> Lead actress Nagano also serves as a producer and is reportedly involved in everything from the script to casting, so it’s clear she’s deeply invested in this drama. In fact, she was seen several times on set deep in conversation with the staff. Still—why did Nagano, who had built her career on a “pure and innocent” image, choose a “hostess” role for her return to drama?</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> “Nagano’s manager—whom she trusted enough to go on private trips with—has gone independent, so it’s unclear when Nagano herself will go independent. Her agency is reportedly covering the massive penalty incurred from that infamous affair scandal, and their true intention is to recoup that money as soon as possible. Then a high-paying offer came in from DMM. There’s no reason to turn it down,” said a source at her talent agency.</span></p>
<p> Nagano will resume her acting career in the Netflix film *My Crazy Feminist Girlfriend*, scheduled for release later this year, but there are no signs yet of a return to her former main stage: terrestrial television.</p>
<p> Will the day ever come when viewers can see this smile on their TV screens again?</p>
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<p> The “September 11 &amp; 18 Combined Issue,” on sale August 28, and the paid edition “FRIDAY GOLD” feature detailed reports—including photos—of Nagano’s plans for a return to terrestrial TV, as described by insiders, as well as scenes from another filming location.</p>
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<p> Click here to view the full details and multiple photos ↓↓</p>
<div data-friday-gold-link-url="https://friday.gold/article/437653" data-friday-gold-link-title="Mei Nagano: Spotted on Set for Her “Comeback as a Hostess”—a Role She Chose Herself" data-friday-gold-link-excerpt=" On the set of the drama *Himachi no Jōō*, which she stars in and produces, she was seen giving directions in a suit, her smile beaming. In the heart of the Obon holiday season, when the streets of Ginza, Tokyo, were sparsely populated, she was dressed in a metallic silver suit with shoulder pads, carrying a briefcase over her shoulder..." data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-wide="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2026/08/IMG_5992-27103342235971.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=256,height=144/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=ZLmRcik5xpzJv9t~09Spe6XbffWSznm13auiLvThESKQ7pWFNonZ3q-GRJdcYpFLMQ01gsS~7pfqQ2dNjsSrFHaIybS0efhwjJoCO1B3BeLWUEChd2rLui57N7vMHpH67jOc8VqYdpwJXeKhtcz-8pqWyfRgdGEBee2nrjBQ3zx7ZLpwflQf-xq~kpTxc8h~dbG7ejMHkzV0FW7~HFPXTv85GS34b-VST46Lg4DBTTYC8SooOF~TUqDfvMgv~TV-onh5iVoNnJga35rlhmGiyjSA2rZQ5Enpably5BWrrA8zx8cI9qXOnsDCwgwoOGInLBfx4H-pUMPgbLsvYnZSxw__" data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-square="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2026/08/IMG_5992-27103342235971.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=105,height=105/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=MdChAao8L~PQIBmRyv82GoSRbHXY1vCeBNE4N1BtJeO5Lh8h-rNSyMoj62IgHyVX86qAVrmEhxLBMaBdOU~jhlsWdd6IOgJ2f7b3lEBxC0naccXuZ4~uBhR8mQCcRw0inNW8BR4jVPmRaYtMAl5Ltb4sQo8drnZKd7kLZAToe7pRT~u2y4skHUuZ8hJmzWYu-mZQvWcYDR7ibHpNoPYx0TgM9-x6E6R9XW81I7t6vs6pZ6EB75APiKSCxmJswQJQSscePEPCUl5PLxFpIxtWFRjboC7CjngZzyQxHMFcmSfM2VXIU4M7gzbePvP3Ez8F-SI4X4ss6enlpKZqIZINsA__"></div>
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<figure id="attachment_478984" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-478984" style="width: 1768px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f04833aa"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/08/443808572f86575c3681ead3afbab488.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-478984" class="wp-caption-text"> Nagano was filming in an entertainment district in Tsuchiura City. Wearing a pure white suit, he stood out particularly prominently.</figcaption></figure>
<p> From the September 11 &amp; 18 Combined Issue of “FRIDAY,” September 2026</p>


 Takeo Kessoku (1st photo), Kumatarō Arai (2nd photo)

 Our magazine caught a glimpse of the filming location for the drama *Himachi no Jōō*, starring and produced by actress Mei Nagano. Why did Nagano—who had built her career on such an innocent image—choose to play a hostess in her drama comeback? It seems there’s a story behind it…

Mei Nagano: Caught on Set as She Makes Her Comeback in a “Hostess Role” She Chose Herself! Her Feelings About Her Drama Comeback and the “Behind-the-Scenes Story”

Mei Nagano: Caught on Set as She Makes Her Comeback in a “Hostess Role” She Chose Herself! Her Feelings About Her Drama Comeback and the “Behind-the-Scenes Story”

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