Snow Man's Miyadate Ryota has landed the period drama lead he has long wanted.
WOWOW announced that Miyadate will star in Hardboiled Matatabi Bebop, an eight-episode series in its 30-minute Drama W-30 slot that will air and stream from February 2027. It is his first solo lead in a period drama series, and WOWOW has released the drama's first teaser on its official YouTube channel.
Miyadate Ryota in 'Hardboiled Matatabi Bebop' | Photo: WOWOW
Based on Fujimoto Shigeki's manga of the same name, serialized in Kodansha's Evening, the drama is set on the Nakasendo highway in the late Edo period. Miyadate plays Kosuge no Itaro, a wandering gambler who lives for good food. When he is framed for the murder of a villager, he fights to find the real culprit, savoring the local cuisine wherever he goes between life-or-death sword fights. The series is directed by Ochiai Ken and was filmed at the Toei Kyoto Studio.
"I'm truly happy to star in a period drama series, something I've always said I wanted to do," Miyadate said. "Itaro is straightforward yet very human, a really cute and lovable character. There's plenty to see, from Edo-period streets and large-scale sword fight action to the relationships between the characters, and above all, watching it will make you very hungry!"
Producer Iguchi Masatoshi said the team unanimously offered the role to Miyadate, praising his sincerity, elegance and humor, and revealed the project had been in preparation for about three years.
