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| Ex-Nogizaka46 Star Takes Centre Stage in Suspense Drama About a Husband Who Should’ve Stayed Dead (Pic: WOWOW) |
Former Nogizaka46 member Yamashita Mizuki is stepping into seriously intense territory with her first solo lead role in a drama series — and it’s not for the faint-hearted.
The upcoming WOWOW series, Koroshita Otto wa Kaettekimashita/殺した夫が帰ってきました (The Husband I Killed Came Back), kicks off this July, and it promises to be one wild psychological ride.
Based on Sakurai Mina’s bestselling novel, the six-episode drama centres on Mana Suzukura, an aspiring fashion designer working her way up at an apparel company.
Things seem to finally be going her way — she’s on the cusp of her designer debut — but she’s harbouring a devastating secret: she killed her abusive husband in the past to escape a life of violence and reclaim her peace.
Or so she thought.
One day, the man she believed she had put in the ground turns up very much alive… with no memory of the past.
What follows is a tense, emotionally charged cohabitation where old wounds resurface, secrets unravel, and the line between guilt and forgiveness blurs. Is he really a new man, or is something even darker at play?
This is Mizuki’s first time leading a drama on her own, and she’s admitted it was both daunting and deeply personal.
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| WOWOW.jp |
Speaking about the role, she said, “Mana is someone who can’t call for help, even when she’s at her breaking point. She’s not loud or dramatic — she just survives. That kind of quiet strength and sadness really stayed with me.”
The production wasn’t exactly a walk in the park either. Mizuki recalled filming in brutal winter conditions, crawling through mud and battling heavy winds during pivotal scenes.
“There was one moment I genuinely thought I might stop breathing — it felt that real,” she shared.
The series is directed by Ayaka Katō, known for Old Fashion Cupcake, with a script penned by industry veterans Hideya Hamada (Ichikei no Karasu) and Yoshino Ichinohe (Lion’s Hideaway).
Author Sakurai Mina also praised the adaptation, saying she was moved to see how the team brought such a harrowing tale to life on screen.
“Koroshita Otto wa Kaettekimashita” isn’t your average murder mystery — it’s a chilling character study about trauma, redemption, and the haunting nature of secrets. With Yamashita Mizuki at the helm, this could very well be her most powerful performance yet.
The drama airs on WOWOW starting July, with the first episode available for free via WOWOW Prime and WOWOW On Demand.