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| Shiraishi Sei Steps In for Nagano Mei in 2026 Taiga Drama “Toyotomi Kyodai” Opposite Nakano Taiga |
Big shake-up in next year’s Taiga drama world — and a big break for Shiraishi Sei. According to sources close to the production, the 26-year-old actress is set to take over the female lead in Toyotomi Kyodai!, NHK’s 2026 historical drama, after Nagano Mei (25) recently stepped down. The drama is scheduled to start filming in June 2025, with NHK expected to make an official announcement soon.
Shiraishi Sei will star opposite Nakano Taiga, who plays Toyotomi Hidenaga, the lesser-known but crucial brother of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The role originally intended for Nagano was that of Nao, Hidenaga’s childhood friend and first love — a key emotional anchor in the story. Nagano’s withdrawal came in the wake of recent tabloid attention, though her camp cited “various circumstances” for the decision. NHK accepted her resignation on May 18.
In a quick turnaround, casting heads moved fast to find a suitable replacement. Insiders say Shiraishi Sei stood out not just for her talent, but her rising presence among actresses of her generation. She’s never appeared in a Taiga before — making this a massive leap forward in her career.
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Shiraishi’s journey started in high school when she was scouted on the streets of Kanagawa. After making her debut in 2016, she rose to prominence as the 12th Zexy CM girl in 2019, before nabbing her first drama lead role in Kyofu Shinbun (2020, Fuji TV). Since then, she’s been a steadily rising name, leading projects like Toriaezu Kanpai Shimasen ka? on TV Tokyo in 2023.
She’s also in the middle of a professional reset. On May 11, she announced a move from Geiei Production — her agency of 9 years — to the well-known talent agency Flamme. In her own words: “I’ll continue to move forward while staying true to myself and my roots.” That spirit might come in handy, as she steps into this high-pressure, high-visibility role on national TV.
The Toyotomi Kyodai! team now faces a tight production schedule, with filming just weeks away. A source from the drama crew admitted, “We’re in a bit of a rush, but confident with Shiraishi’s ability to carry the role.”
While NHK hasn’t officially confirmed the casting yet, all signs point to Shiraishi being the one to step in — turning a moment of uncertainty into a new career chapter.