The official website for the Wakakozake live-action TV drama series announced today that the next 12-episode eighth season is set to premiere on BS TV Tokyo on January 8, 2025. Rina Takeda (High Kick Girl!, KG -Karate Girl-), who has played the title character Wakako Murasaki for ten years, will reprise the role once again.The TV drama adaptation of Chie Shinkyu’s manga series about a young office lady enjoying the finer points of dining alone started airing in Japan in January 2015. The series was an important turning point in the acting career of Takeda, who had previously appeared mostly in martial arts action films.
“Finally, it has been ten years since I started playing Wakako,” said Takeda. “When I entered the filming site, the staff said, ‘It’s Wakako! You haven’t changed at all.’ I was relieved to hear that, but as the filming continued, I felt a lot of emotions and realized that a lot has changed in the past ten years. As I have grown older, I have met and parted with many people, and my way of thinking and facing things has changed. In the monologue of this drama, ‘The courage to change, and the determination not to change.’ I felt all of these feelings as I played the role, and I never forgot my original intention this time.”Special times for you must be hidden in your daily life,” she added. “I hope you can feel such small happiness with us through this drama!”The original manga series by Chie Shinkyu runs in Monthly Comic Zenon since September 2011 with 13 volumes released in Japan to date. The first two seasons of the Wakakozake live-action TV drama series are currently available on Crunchyroll as well as the 12-episode TV anime that aired from July to September 2015. Crunchyroll describes the series as such:
Based on the mouth-watering anime, Wakakozake brings you Murasaki Wakako, a 26-year-old OL that loves nothing more than delicious food and drink. Wakako’s favorite thing to do for relaxation is to go off by herself after work and go to various places to eat and drink, even if she’s never been there before. The moment Wakako is able to taste the pairing between the food she wants to eat and the perfect accompanying drink, the happy sound of “Pshuuu” leaves her lips. Now, then. Where shall we drink tonight?
Source: “Wakakozake” live-action drama official website / X (formerly Twitter)
