Former AKB48 singer Yuko Oshima will play a tough policewoman in the upcoming TBS drama "YAMEGOKU -Yakuza Yamete Itadakimasu" (Please stop being a yakuza).
In the drama, she handles requests over a special hotline from yakuza who wish to go straight, even though she hates dealing with them. There are some action sequences, too, as she has to sort things out between the yakuza members going straight and their former colleagues, as well as their new employers.
"The character is totally the opposite of me," said Oshima.
"YAMEGOKU," written by Takeharu Sakurai, is directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi who praised Oshima, saying, “She is astonishingly quick-witted."
“YAMEGOKU” will be aired from April, every Thursday at 9 p.m.
© Japan Today
26 Comments
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JohnBecker
It will be a landmark in the history of television. Or something.
Geoff Gillespie
This story is wrong on so many levels it's kinda hard to know where to start...but I'll give it a go...
Firstly, is that an accurate translation of the title? Please stop being a yakuza? If so, what next? We would be grateful if you tried hard not to commit murder? If it's all the same to you, we would be happier if you didn't mug elderly people?
Secondly, how could an ex member of AKB48 who resembles nothing so much as your kid sister's best friend ever adequately portray - and these are your words, not mine - a tough policewoman?
AlexCook
I don't understand why this is even a story to begin with. No one cares about girls from the talentless AKB48. Only aspect of this drama that might bring ratings is a girl with no talent but looka cute in a costume.
papigiulio
Yuko Oshima a tough cop? Talk about a oxymoron lol
onagagamo
A perfect illustration of why I refuse to own a TV in Japan!
Kaerimashita
Yu-chan as a tough cop will take some suspension of disbelief...... She would be better in Mini-skirt Police.....
dcog9065
Oh dear
Mizuame
Yakuza dramas in Japan are usually written by yakuza, directed by yakuza and star yakuza employees. Director Itami Yuzi was an exception but he was later attacked, beaten, and slashed on the face by five members of the Goto-gumi, and died a mysterious death.
sighclops
isn't it funny how AKB / Johnny's members always get roles in dramas, movies and frequent the panels on TV shows... Ah, Japan!
kyushubill
Like I just gotta get on my Iphone and Twitter like all my friends about this. Like, Lol and stuff.
phaydee
After the seeing the Gingham Check video, I think this is the perfect role for her!
Fred Hunt
Geoff, you can't literally translate Japanese to English and expect it to make perfect sense. Literally that would mean "yakuza stop I humbly receive". You have to interpret it.
As for a former AKB48 star being a tough cop, I'm sure she's grown up a bit since being an idol. ;)
Thunderbird2
26 year old tough female cop - I could imagine that. I've seen stranger Japanese TV series with less believable plots - hello "Mop Girl", I'm pointing at you :D
toshiko
My expansion of YameGoku in Japanese language differ. Since this is a female cop, Gokudo Seokatua kara Asi-o Arai-nasai. Get out from Hoku-do life/
Geoff Gillespie
You have eyes, right? Is that somebody capable of playing a tough policewoman staring back at you? I think not. As for the title...Japan Today's translation / interpretatation, not mine....
toshiko
In USA TV series, good looking and sexy actresses are used as female cops. A majority of them use Japanese style marshal arts to beat up criminals. I think it began when Wonder Woman became very popular. More popular than Michael Keaton's Batman. So, AKB 48 girl from Kuno-iichi country will do as good as American actresses.
toshiko
@Mogunus: have you ever visited screen tests in Japan? Or USA? In USA usually resumes. Girls from Orange /county Univ get priority because they work as extras while students. Not necessarily acting skill. Some of them are quite athletic. They get action film roles better than talented girls. Make up fool viewers. Then later they show up as attorneys, etc. Make up fools us that later we find almost 40 years old playing 20 year old girl. When they get roles, studio assign coaches and marshal art experts. /acting skill? They learn in studio. This AKB girls will be coached. She might be athletic already.
Mlodinow
@toshihiko: Unfortunately, looking the part is also part of acting. This girl is only 26 so the idea of her playing any kind of organized crime police role is pretty much a joke to start with, and with her cute face I assume she'll be about as convincing as Justin Bieber would be trying to play the role of President of the Redwood chapter of the Sons of Anarchy ^^;
toshiko
This show is for Japanese viewers so it iuses Goku instead of world known word Yakuza. This girl will be fine, She is not an old hug yet. Japanese cinematography avoid old actresses and love to use youngsters. Feudal time, Kunoichis were young and protected lords' wives and children, The regends are well known in California and actresses do not copy actors but do their own martial arts. The Japanese studios now have actresses who can act cops. In USA, there are more female cops than black cops, some state people complain. How is in Japan?
turbotsat
Similar show Secret Agent Miss Oh (aka Call of the Country) was good, and Lee Soo Kyung was cute in it, too.
Wolfpack
Maybe so but I would hazard to guess that Ms. Oshima would beat the living daylights out of Justin Bieber.
toshiko
Now, why the show used Golu. It is easier to quit Gokudo life than Yakuza position. All members of organized members are called gokido. Here, we just say yakuza but actually yakuza means bakuchi uchi. gambling specialist. They have to study hard on probability and statistics. Yakuza meant officials in tllegal gambling arena. Years ago, I heard that peoplw who want to become straught no longe4 have to chop pff a little finger so that they are not mistaken for violaters.
Mlodinow
@Wolfpack, I would pay to see that :D
toshiko
Probably Producers and Production companies figured using actress as a cop will have more viewers in Japan. Meaning more ad income. Japanese cops reports do not suggest that they are tough and cop story news do not indicate using male cops will not keep viewers interested. Are there many female cops in Japan where a half of population is female?
nath
Well, if she is a tough mini-skirt wearing copper, I will watch. I like Japnese dramas. They are so real to life.