Yoshikawa Ai, formerly known by the stage name, Riko Yoshida, is a Japanese actress. She was born on October 28, 1999, in Tokyo, Japan, and made her acting debut in 2006. Since then, she has appeared in a wide variety of films and television dramas, including “INFLUENCE” (2021).

Yoshikawa Ai

TV Asahi

A Japanese high school is rocked by the arrival of an enigmatic, charismatic, and highly mysterious transfer student named Mishima Zero (Michieda Shunsuke). This white-haired 19-year-old begins telling classmates that he wants to bring down the current world order – created and run by adults – and build a new future. He asks them to join his cause, and help put an end to the world they know.

Many of the school’s more disgruntled, depressed, and rebellious students begin to flock to Mishima Zero’s cause – some of them seemingly falling under his charismatic spell. They create a group called Mars, as they begin on their destructive quest. Teachers and some students, however, are less keen on Mars’ talk of revolution. Mars finds itself on a collision course with those unaligned with its values – but who will prevail?

“Mars” is a 2024 Japanese drama series that was directed by Katayama Osamu and Hirakawa Yuichiro.

Mars

🐺 The Rebels 🐺

Fuji TV

As a standup paddleboard instructor, summer is unquestionably Natsumi Aoi’s (Nana Mori) busiest season. Living and working at a popular seaside destination, it’s only natural for Natsumi to meet people from all walks of life. Little did she know that this summer, those people would ultimately change her life forever.

As Natsumi’s childhood friend, Takumi Makino (Fuju Kamio) has always been by her side. Never leaving his seaside home, Takumi is now a carpenter who still has a knack for being around anytime Natsumi needs him. Kento Mizushima (Shotaro Mamiya), on the other hand, is an out-of-towner who also works in construction. But his major company ties and degree from a prestigious university set him miles apart from Takumi. Joining him on this seaside adventure is Osamu Sasaki (Riku Hagiwara), a second-year clinical resident and Kento’s high school best friend. Enjoying a little seaside escape of their own are Airi Takigawa (Ai Yoshikawa), Mamoru Yamauchi (Alan Shirahama), Lisa Ogura (Sawa Nimura), and Sosuke Hayakawa (Koji Mizukami).

Coming from all walks of life, this group of young people finds their fates slowly entwining during their seaside adventures. Eventually forced to confront their complex feelings and bottled-up emotions, will any of them find the one thing they’re all so desperately searching for?

Everything a seaside summer romance should be, “Cinderellas of Midsummer” is a 2023 Japanese romance drama directed by Ryo Tanaka.

Cinderellas of Midsummer

⛱️ Summer Guys Team🌞

Masaki Nitta (Nakajima Yuto) is a young music teacher who is about to start a job as an assistant teacher at a new school. He is a music teacher, too, and has been brought in to replace the previous music instructor – after the latter’s sudden disappearance. The day before he begins work, he is at school, preparing, when he sees the piano. He begins to play and suddenly meets Sae Izumi (Ai Yoshikawa), a student at the school. Sae Izumi appears to be distressed by something, and the two get chatting. They feel a bond developing…

The next day, Masaki Nitta is startled to discover that Sae Izumi is a student in the class he is to teach. As they spend more time together, their interest in one another deepens, and together they try to work out what happened to the previous music teacher. The situation gets perilous, but they are eventually parted. But what happens when fate brings them back together five years later...when Sae Izumi is now an adult?

“Love Dissonance” is a 2022 Japanese drama that was directed by Hijikata Masato.

Love Dissonance

Tune In for Love Team 🎹

WOWOW

In high school, Yuri Totsuka (Kanna Hashimoto) was just another teenage girl. Experiencing all the ups and downs that come with high school, Yuri’s struggles weren’t any different than every other girl her age. Living on her own, in a quiet apartment complex in a peaceful province, Yuri should have had a largely uneventful teenage life. But one terrifying event would change not only her life, but the lives of two of her classmates, forever.

Once a friend of Yuri’s, Satoko Hino (Ai Yoshikawa) had given up on their friendship after the two had a falling out. Now more a stranger than a friend, Satoko suffers through her miserable life alone. Alongside her, transfer student Maho Sakazaki (Wakana Aoi) seems doomed to spend her high school years as a loner; but living in the same apartment complex as Yuri, the two soon become close friends. With a new friend by her side, Yuri might have forgotten all about Satoko, had Fate not decided to intervene in a truly cruel and horrifying way.

When Maho is attacked by a violent assailant, Yuri steps in, desperate to save her friend; but her frantic attempt to help ends in murder. Only adding to the horror of it all, Satoko is arrested the very next day. Now caught in a tangled web of lies and murders, the three girls desperately search for a way out. But is escape even an option when you’re in this deep?&nbsp;

Adapted from the novel of the same name by Fumie Kondo, “INFLUENCE” is a 2021 suspense drama directed by Naruhide Mizuta and Paul Young.

INFLUENCE

Five years ago, Sakura Nanase (Mone Kamishiraishi) was one of a number of witnesses who watched as a handsome young doctor stepped in at the last minute to save the life of a stranger. Enamored as much by his charm as she was by his professional skill, Sakura could stop herself from immediately falling in love. Determined to find a way to meet this heroic doctor again, Sakura decided rather quickly that the only way to do so would be to go into the medical profession herself. Now, at twenty-two, Sakura is a rookie nurse who has just taken her first position at a local hospital.

Working hard at her new job, Sakura is surprised when she learns that the doctor she fell in love with all those years ago is working in the same hospital. But what’s even more surprising is the fact that Doctor Kiari Tendo (Takeru Satoh) is nothing like she imagined him to be. Often referred to as the “Devil” at work, Doctor Tendo is a cold perfectionist who has no qualms about making snide comments and biting remarks to his co-workers. Despite this fact, Sakura works hard to gain Doctor Tendo’s recognition at work and has no problem expressing her feelings about him openly and honestly. Her persistent nature earns her the nickname, “Warrior Chick” at work and, as she refuses to back down, Doctor Tendo can’t help but take notice.

Despite his numerous efforts to resist, Doctor Tendo finds his heart softening towards the tenacious nurse, Sakura. Will her dedication to her work and her persistent declarations of love be enough to finally win him over?

Adapted from the manga of the same name by Maki Enjoji, “An Incurable Case of Love” is a 2020 romantic comedy drama directed by Fuminori Kaneko, Ryosuke Fukuda, and Kenta Tanaka.

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