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| From Dump Trucks to Digital: Karata Erika & Seiya Set to Star in Fuji TV’s Risky ‘102 Proposal’ |
Fuji TV’s about to do it again. Word on the street is that Karata Erika (27), fresh off her career resurgence, is set to headline the sequel-slash-remake of one of Japan’s most iconic love dramas: 1991’s 101st Proposal. Yep, the one with the “Boku wa shinimashen!” dump truck scene that basically defined peak bubble-era romance telly.
Tentatively titled 102 Proposal, this new spin will star comedy duo Shimofuri Myojo’s Seiya (32) in the lead role — yes, the same Seiya known for his unapologetically loud Takeda Tetsuya impersonations. And now he’s meant to channel the same tragic charm as the original? That’s bold casting, mate. But also, oddly perfect.
Filming’s slated to kick off this autumn, with the series landing on Fuji TV’s streaming platform, FOD. So don’t expect it in prime-time telly just yet — but it’s very much being positioned as a Big Deal Drama revival.
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🕰️ A Look Back: What Made 101st Proposal So Massive?
Let’s rewind to the OG: the original aired in the golden “Getsuku” slot in 1991, back when Monday 9pm dramas ran the country and Takeda Tetsuya was delivering raw, unglamorous, utterly heartbreaking romance energy. His character? A clumsy, unlucky-in-love middle-aged salaryman who’d failed at omiai 99 times. Enter Asano Atsuko’s character — grieving her late fiancé and nowhere near ready to move on — and the two somehow found something quietly magical.
It was odd, offbeat, and way too raw for bubble-era tastes at first. But then came the iconic scene: Takeda's character diving in front of a lorry yelling, “Boku wa shinimashen!” (“I will not die!”). Cue the tears. Cue the awards. Cue the trendsetting. The final ep hit 36.7% viewership — numbers that today’s dramas can only dream about.
Even the theme song, “SAY YES” by Chage and Aska, sold millions. The show was remade in China and South Korea, and became a staple of 90s love drama canon. So yeah, it’s a big deal to touch it.
🎭 The 2025 Cast & Creative Team
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Fast forward to now. Seiya might seem like a left-field pick, but the bloke’s acting chops aren’t just a joke. He turned heads in 2020’s mystery drama “Theseus no Fune”, playing a surprisingly weighty role. And now he’s back in a lead? People are curious — and cautious.
Karata Erika, meanwhile, is having her own low-key comeback moment. After a bumpy patch a few years back, she roared back with Netflix’s Gokuaku Joou, and this casting — if confirmed — could cement her as one of the most talked-about actresses of the post-pandemic era.
But not everyone’s clapping yet. Social media’s already grumbling about Fuji TV’s ongoing “remake addiction”. Between the revived Odoru Daisousasen, and yet another Last Cinderella spin-off, some reckon the network’s just playing it safe by flogging old hits. The announcement’s been met with a mix of excitement and classic Japanese netizen scepticism: “It’ll never top the original,” some say. “Why mess with a classic?”
Whether you’re here for the nostalgia, the chaos, or just wanna see Seiya get serious in a love confession scene, 102 Proposal is shaping up to be one of this autumn’s most talked-about dramas — for better or worse.
Takeda Tetsuya himself is even rumoured to cameo. If he shows up with another truck scene, we’re calling it: the man’s immortal.
Stay tuned for official casting announcements and behind-the-scenes drops — and maybe dust off that “SAY YES” karaoke mic while you’re at it.