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| Raul Lands First Lead Role in Fuji TV Drama Ai no Gakkō Opposite Kimura Fumino |
Fuji TV’s new summer drama “Ai no Gakkō” (Love’s School) is shaping up to be one of the season’s boldest love stories—with Kimura Fumino and Snow Man’s Raul taking the leads in a tale that’s anything but conventional.
Slated to air Thursdays at 10 PM from July 2025, the drama dives into the lives of two people who, on paper, couldn’t be further apart: a rule-following high school teacher and a host who can barely read or write. But as fate throws them together, an unexpected connection begins to blossom.
Kimura Fumino plays Ogawa Manami, a by-the-book teacher raised in an old-school household where everything—including her current relationship—was arranged by her strict father.
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Dutiful to a fault, she finds herself cornered in both her personal and professional life. Her school is teetering on the edge of chaos, she’s facing pressure to marry a man she’s unsure about, and every day feels like a silent scream.
Enter Kaoru, played by Raul in his first ever primetime lead role. He’s a charismatic young host working at a club called “THE JOKER”, popular for his charm but hiding a fragile truth: he struggles with reading, writing, and the basics of daily life that most take for granted.
Despite his bubbly persona and rising status at the club (he’s currently No.7), his past is marked by neglect and lack of education.
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Their worlds collide one night when Manami learns that one of her students has been duped by a host. Rushing into the neon-lit nightlife she’d normally steer far away from, she confronts Kaoru at the club. The scene forces Kaoru to sign a written promise to never contact the student again—and it’s here that Manami realises his secret. Instead of walking away, she offers help.
Thus begins their clandestine “private lessons”—not just about language, but life itself. As she teaches him kanji and conversation, he slowly teaches her how to live more freely. But nothing stays secret for long, and as their bond deepens, so does the scrutiny. Criticism, jealousy, and harsh judgment begin to close in, testing the limits of their connection.
With a script penned by Inoue Yumiko (known for hits like Shiroi Kyotō and Hirugao) and direction by veteran Nishitani Hiroshi, the show promises a fresh yet emotionally rich take on love that defies social labels. Think a blend of heartache, warmth, and awkward smiles—just as messy and human as love often is.
Kimura Fumino, known for playing serious, composed roles, takes a brave step into more emotionally raw territory. “She’s a bit of a ticking time bomb,” Kimura said about her character, “a woman who’s so straight-laced she ends up breaking in all the wrong ways.” As for Raul, stepping into the world of hosts meant intensive training—working with real hosts, rehearsing for hours, and diving deep into a lifestyle totally opposite from his own.
Their chemistry? Quietly electric. “We had a scene, just the two of us, over ten minutes long without a single cut,” Kimura revealed. “The back-and-forth felt like playing catch with our emotions. Raul really surprised me with how much heart he brings.”
Meanwhile, Raul confessed that he couldn’t quite picture himself playing a host at first. “But when I read the script, I was hooked. Kaoru’s not perfect—he’s wild, yes, but also so pure and full of dreams. It made me want to give this everything I’ve got.”
“Ai no Gakkō” isn’t a story about textbook romance. It’s about two people who never should’ve met, falling for each other in spite of all the noise around them. It’s about learning—language, love, and how to be brave when the world tells you not to be.
So if your Thursdays need a bit of chaos, warmth, and soul-stirring storytelling, keep your eyes on Fuji TV this July. Manami and Kaoru are about to take us to school—in the most unexpected ways.