Korean actor Bae Yong Joon will be making guest appearances in the upcoming "Hotelier" drama. He will play Shin Dong Hyuk, the same character he played in the original Korean series. In that series, he was a businessman trying to take over the protagonist's hotel. This time, however, that role will be played by Mitsuhiro Oikawa while Bae Yong Joon's character will be a supporter of the main character (Aya Ueto).

Bae Yong Joon will appear in the first episode and in a few later episodes. His scenes will be shot in Korea, and his lines will mostly be in Korean.

It was also announced that Ueto will be in charge of the drama's theme song.

On Wednesday, NHK announced that actress Shihori Kanjiya will play the role of the heroine in "Chiritotechin." The series, which is NHK's 77th Asadora, begins on October 1. Kanjiya's character is a young woman aiming to make it big in the world of rakugo.

Actress Mao Daichi announced on her fan club's homepage that she is now engaged. Her fiance is interior designer Yasumichi Morita, who is 12 years younger than her. Their relationship first became public in February.

Actor/singer Hiromitsu Suzuki died of liver cancer on Wednesday morning. He was 60.