Rosa Kato “campaigns” for her TV drama.
SANKEI PHOTO

Actress Rosa Kato campaigns for 'CHANGE'

Monday 26th May, 01:44 PM JST

TOKYO —

Actress Rosa Kato, 22, on Sunday campaigned for Fuji TV’s Monday night drama “CHANGE” in which she co-stars with SMAP heartthrob Takuya Kimura, 35, who plays a school teacher-turned prime minister.

Riding in a vehicle designed to look like an election campaign van, Kato toured the Daiba area on behalf of the TV drama. “The campaign van was higher than I expected. I felt like I was really running for office,” Kato said.

Latest 15 of 19 Total Comments Show All

romulus3 at 02:57 PM JST - 26th May

Did she say "Yes we can"?
blvtzpk at 03:05 PM JST - 26th May

Having seen a few minutes of the drama in question,

Rather you than me, effendi!
thepro at 03:31 PM JST - 26th May

Takuya Kimura is so dull
NeoJamal at 07:15 PM JST - 26th May

school teacher-turned prime minister

obviously too plebe to be on the LDP ticket.
SaruTobi at 10:09 PM JST - 26th May

Actually and factually, this is a pretty good drama about a reluctant middle school teacher becoming the prime minister of Japan after being hand picked by the "LDP" to replace his estranged father who died as a Diet member. He's politically naive and just says what he believes is right. Ergo the title "Change" that borrows a bit from Sen. Obama's campaign. Kimura does a good job portraying a naive but earnest politician. He's surrounded by a super competent secretary, Fukatsu Eri, and a smooth political advisor, Hiroshi Abe, as well as another sincere young Diet member and Karl Rove and Dick Cheney LDP types. Rosa is just eye candy and doesn't need to wear white gloves because she's not running for office. It's not Charley Wilson's War but it is done rather well so I'll give it 4.5 stars for what I've seen up to date.
KaptainKichigai at 10:40 PM JST - 26th May

I swear this girl sold me my Yahoo BB package at the mall....is she moonlighting?
Nessie at 11:03 PM JST - 26th May

No gloves = Not a proper campaign = Doesn't get my vote.

And "CHANGE" should be lowercase, unless it's an acronym fer, I dunno, maybe like "Cannabailistic Human Androgenous Ninja Giraffe Exhibitionists." In which case she does get my vote, even sans gloves.
blvtzpk at 11:07 PM JST - 26th May

No gloves = Not a proper campaign = Doesn't get my vote.

Nessie! Yer stealin' my schtick! My lawyers will be calling your lawyers! ;)
Nessie at 11:09 PM JST - 26th May

Blv,

Didn't see it. Sorry. See you in court!
lipscombe at 01:42 AM JST - 27th May

"change" ahahahahahahahahah
NeoJamal at 09:12 AM JST - 27th May

Actually and factually, this is a pretty good drama about a reluctant middle school teacher becoming the prime minister of Japan after being hand picked by the "LDP" to replace his estranged father who died as a Diet member.

Oh great, the dorama celebrates the LDP peerage appointment system. How does that equate to change apart from seeing more ikemen in the front benches?
fds at 10:54 AM JST - 27th May

its kind of an interesting show. they harp on common complaints about japanese politicians and politics so its actually a thinly veiled criticism of the system. i wonder how the politicians themselves view it?
chardk1 at 12:51 PM JST - 27th May

It's fairly entertaining and has a star-studded cast. However, it is also complete fantasy which makes one think everyone involved is pretty cynical about "CHANGE" in Japan.

For example, in a part I saw Kimutaku's character admits on TV during his campaign that his father who held the same office before him secretly took massive bribes, then says "but that's why I have to win, so somebody not like my father holds this office" and everyone says "what a great guy" and he wins. Yeah, that makes PERFECT sense.
fingerless at 06:47 PM JST - 27th May

So the guy was elected without any experience or agenda because his father was in a safe seat. Yeah, that sounds like a whole new start to me.
GW at 08:20 AM JST - 28th May

sounds like the J-version of the GWBush story yuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!