Actor Kenichi Matsuyama (known for his recent role as L in the Death Note movies) will be starring in a TV drama series this spring. The series is based on the "Sexy Voice and Robo" manga written by Iou Kuroda. Matsuyama will play a young otaku who likes robots.

The drama will begin in April, airing in NTV's Tuesday 10:00pm time slot. This block is currently part of NTV's 2-hour "Kayo Suspense Gekijo" drama program, but the station will be eliminating it, choosing to replace it with a new variety show at 9:00, followed by the 10:00 drama time slot.

The results of the 49th Blue Ribbon Awards have been announced, and Sang-il Lee's "Hula Girl" walked away as Best Film. The film also led young actress Yu Aoi to win as Best Actress, though she also starred in "Honey and Clover."

Ken Watanabe won Best Actor for "Memories of Tomorrow." Best Supporting Actor went to Teruyuki Kagawa for roles in multiple films including "Yureru," while Best Supporting Actress went to Sumiko Fuji, who also appeared in "Hula Girl" as well as "Inugamike no Ichizoku."

Drunk Dragon's Muga Tsukaji and rookie film actress Rei Dan earned Best Newcomer awards for their roles in "Mamiya Kyodai" and "Bushi no Ichibun," respectively.

Miwa Nishikawa ("Yureru") became the first female to win Best Director.

Last October, comedian Cha Kato of The Drifters collapsed from an aortic dissection, which resulted in an emergency surgical operation. He has been gradually recovering since then, and on Wednesday, he made a public appearance at a friend's party. According to Kato, he expects to return to work in the middle of February.

FUNimation's third announcement in its Kickoff 2007 is the acquisition of the 26-episode Aquarion anime series. The first volume is scheduled for Fall 2007.

Actress/musician Nao Matsushita will star in a five-episode drama called "Good Job," in which she plays a hard-working office lady. The story is based on the manga by Misao Kataoka, and the screenplay is written by Mika Omori.

The series will be broadcast daily on NHK at 11:00pm from March 26 to March 30.