Atsuko Maeda lands first TV drama role since leaving AKB48

She is way too young to play a teacher role.

If there's anything unsettling to the stomach, it's hearing about former AKB48 members

how is 21 too young?

In our country, you graduate at the age of 20, you work at 21. So 21 is fine.

I also work with a lot of twenty-something's who pretend to be schoolteachers. Course, none of them are as easy on the eyes as Atsu-chan.

@Ichiro can you really be a teacher in Japan at the age of 21? Don't you need to do 4 years of college at least? I think in Canada it would be 4 years of university plus a year at teacher's college so you would probably be at least 23.

Canuck, we graduate high school at age 16, that's already 4 years college course duh. University of course.

She is way too young to play a teacher role.

I'm going to allow this.

AKB and its graduates are the best thing since sliced bread.

＠Ichiro

Where is "your country"? Obviously not Japan.....

I'll watch the show if I have a chance.

A former AKB48 AND a Smap member staring the stage. Entertainment doesn't get any better than that.

I'm only going to watch this show if in one episode there is a scene of somebody running in the rain whilst crying, and in another a kindly but dying grandparent offering words of venerable wisdom which make somebody cry and say "arigato".

Hey Ichiro, so you can flunk out of highschool (cuz you sure don't graduate it at 16) and still become a teacher? Are you really Japanese? In the middle school I taught at, the kids graduated at 15, add three years for highschool and at least 3 for uni (and that is being generous) and it still doesn't add up to 21.

Actually, it does add up to 21. Ha. Three years of uni isn't enough though. So, you can't be right.

Who says she's playing a 21 year old?

Without her minority youth appeal, it's sink or swim now.

Well, good on her. It's got to be a better job than being part of that weird cult that is AKB48. I hope she has a rich and fulfilling career in acting and that she'll garner praise and recognition for her talent, rather than her sex appeal to creepy ephebophiles.

I wish her well, the group is a fine one and a credit to both Japan and modern entertainment and I do wish her well with her career. It is a really nice way that they graduate from the group when they have done what they feel is their part to contribute and then can move on to their own careers. It shows support and respect for the group and for their own goals. Good luck with the new show, sounds fun.I will watch for it.

So, the AKB1048 is like a preliminary preparation class for young women to enter the movie career?

36 year old male vs 21 year old female, no that won't do anything to propagate the lolita culture here.

AKB and its graduates are the best thing since sliced bread.

If that sliced bread is mouldy.....

maybe she is kindergarten teacher.. or arts and drama teacher.. who cares how old she is.. good that she has her freedom and opportunity to be individual.. lets see what she does with it.. maybe she will find love and be example of today's career woman in Japan.

Guys I am 21 and I am a Kindergarten teacher and I have also been an English teacher here in Japan. You don't need university for all jobs. You just need to get lucky. I think she won't be 21 in the tv series tho...but even if she is...it is still possible.

electric2004FEB. 17, 2013 - 09:35AM JST She is way too young to play a teacher role.

in fact, she is perfect. there are many many teachers as young as her be it kindergarten, elementary, junior or junior high. of course mostyly are 臨時, 非常勤. my 10yo's 担任 is only 22.

she is just old enough. As for whther this TV show will be any good, that is another story. Likely to be a poor vehicle for her huge talent.

You poor folks having to watch to watch this dribble. She's 21 and just left AKB48, so likely has NO acting talent or background. But she lands a lead role anyway. And they are about to start shooting. Japan TV deserves its terrible reputation.

You poor folks having to watch to watch this dribble.

No one has to watch any dribble. All TVs these days come with a channel-changing function, and if all else fails, an OFF button. works like a charm every time.

Anyway, the word isn't dribble it's drivel. She is way too good for this vehicle. But it will be a way for her obvious talent and charisma to be noticed by others and she will end up in some top of the line Japanese production.

Yawnnnn. I give the show about a year before the fad sizzles out and no one will watch or remember this show or this girl.

36 year old male vs 21 year old female, no that won't do anything to propagate the lolita culture here.

Where in the article does it say they will be romantically involved?

Besides, doesn't the "lolita culture" hate anyone over 20?

36 year old male vs 21 year old female, no that won't do anything to propagate the lolita culture here.

What EVER are you muttering about?

Maeda Atsuko of course its not the actress Japan was waiting. She have a very average talent as an actress. The only difference its the post-AKB push and the work of her agency (and the support of her not so objective fans).

Maybe, in some year she will improve her histrionic skills and become a more or less regular actress.

Lets se how she do in this drama. 21 years old character or not .

Guys I am 21 and I am a Kindergarten teacher and I have also been an English teacher here in Japan. You don't need university for all jobs. You just need to get lucky.

Yeah, but you need a 4 year degree to work as an EFL teacher in Japan or immigrations won't give you a worker's visa. That's not luck, that's the bottom line.

Haruna Kojima.

Now that's the girl that really should graduate and move on to bigger (!) things.

She's about as White Rice as they come.

nice cant wait to see maeda again coming back on screen ...