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| TV Asahi Announces Spy Romance Drama ‘Revenge Spy’ with Ohashi Kazuya and Shibuya Nagisa |
Naniwa Danshi’s Ohashi takes on his darkest role yet, alongside ex-NMB48 sunshine queen Shibuya Nagisa — but don’t expect Kansai vibes here.
Here’s one for your summer watchlist: Revenge Spy (リベンジ・スパイ), TV Asahi’s brand new Saturday night drama, is bringing together two of Kansai’s most beloved faces — Ohashi Kazuya from Naniwa Danshi and former NMB48 idol-turned-actress Shibuya Nagisa — in a double-life romance filled with secrets, surveillance, and suspiciously strong feelings.
Premiering on 5 July 2025, Saturdays at 11PM, this original drama penned by hitmaker Matsuda Yuko (of Tokyo Tarareba Girls fame) dives headfirst into the world of corporate espionage — but with a cheeky rom-com twist. Ohashi leads as Sugawara Yuga, a cheerful lad working in the sales department of a medical IT company.
But don’t be fooled by that sunshine smile — behind the scenes, he’s a man on a mission: uncovering the truth about his older brother’s suspicious death, which he believes this very company caused.
The kicker? He’s going undercover to collect evidence... and ends up falling for the president’s daughter. Whoops.
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🔍 Plot: Love, Lies, and a Bit of Light Stalking?
Yuga is all charm and cheek during the day, expertly schmoozing colleagues and building connections at lightning speed. But by night, he’s digging into shady dealings, tailing boardroom bosses, and doing all the spy stuff James Bond probably wouldn’t be caught dead doing in a blazer and ID lanyard. It’s personal: his brother died under murky circumstances, and Yuga’s out for answers.
Enter Imuta Hana (played by Shibuya Nagisa), the boss’s daughter. She's poised, private, and not exactly the smiliest — but that changes after a fateful encounter with Yuga. As he gets closer to her to access classified info, emotions get messy and revenge starts to blur into something dangerously close to real affection.
🎭 Cast Highlights: Naniwa Pair, Kansai No More
This marks the first onscreen tag-team between Ohashi and Shibuya, affectionately dubbed the “Naniwa Combo” — though both are consciously ditching their signature Kansai dialects for this drama.
“I want people to see a side of me that’s completely different,” Ohashi shared. “Yuga’s a complex character — bubbly on the outside but burning with purpose underneath. That contrast is what I’m most excited to show.”
He also admitted to being a bit nervous about holding back his usual Kansai flair, joking that “Nagisa-san might accidentally fall into Kansai mode with me if I slip up.”
Meanwhile, Shibuya is just as buzzed for the role — and their uncanny similarities.
“Fans call me the female version of Ohashi Kazuya, and he’s called the male version of me. We’ve both got that smiley image, so I’m curious how people will react when the story gets serious.”
🎬 Behind the Scenes Vibes
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Filming’s reportedly already packed with laughs — Ohashi’s described as “everyone’s sunshine,” and Shibuya confessed his voice booming from the make-up room always puts her at ease. Still, both are committed to showing emotional range and delivering a dynamic on-screen chemistry that veers from flirty to fraught.
And yes, both stars had hilarious answers when asked what they’d spy on in real life. Ohashi cheekily said he’d like to tail Shibuya on her day off (“I’d follow her around on my bike if I could!”), while Shibuya admitted she recently botched a cookie recipe so badly she’d like a “kitchen revenge arc” of her own.
🎼 Extra Sauce: Music & Mood
Adding some flair to the mix is music from fox capture plan — the piano trio known for bringing stylish sounds to dramas like Confidence Man JP and Hot Spot. Expect slick, jazzy tracks to amp up both the sneaky spy action and the slow-burn romance.
And the poster? A visual stunner. Ohashi’s megawatt grin contrasted with his cool, serious spy face — flipped upside down to reflect his double life. It’s giving “trust no one but maybe love someone” energy.
🕵️♀️ Why This Drama Might Just Hit
With a twisty plot, two charming leads playing against type, and a juicy "revenge vs love" dilemma at its core, Revenge Spy is shaping up to be one of summer 2025’s sneaky gems. It’s glossy, it’s got heart, and it knows how to laugh at itself — the kind of late-night drama that keeps you hooked and mildly suspicious of your own coworkers.
Catch the premiere 5 July on TV Asahi at 11PM. You might just start checking your boss’s emails after.
FAQs
When does Revenge Spy start airing?
5 July 2025 (Saturday), 11PM JST on TV Asahi.
What genre is it?
Romantic comedy meets undercover spy drama, with a slice of melodrama on the side.
Is this Ohashi and Shibuya’s first drama together?
Yep — despite their Kansai roots and variety show overlap, this is their first official tag-team.
Will they speak Kansai dialect?
Nope! Both are leaving their Kansai-ben at the door to fully immerse in their characters.
Who’s writing the drama?
Matsuda Yuko — the brain behind Tokyo Tarareba Girls and Hanasaki Mai ga Damattenai.
Any other fun trivia?
Yes — there’s apparently a dramatic scene involving an orca. Not a metaphor. A real orca. You’ll have to watch to find out why.