Singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi, whose career turned 30 this year, is working with TBS on a 3-part drama series. The show's episodes will each be based on one of her songs, all of which are included on her upcoming best album "Expressions," being released October 1.

The drama is scheduled to air on three consecutive nights, from October 6 to October 8. The show focuses on women in love, with each episode's protagonist belonging to a different generation. Rosa Kato will lead off with "Camouflage." She will be followed by Misaki Ito in "Genki wo Dashite" and Naomi Zaizen in "Junai Rhapsody."

Actress Lena Tanaka is participating in her first stage production this fall. It is an adaptation of Kuniko Mukoda's "Omoide Trump," with the script and direction being handled by Takahiro Tamura of the acting troupe ONEOR8.

The story is a human drama about the bonds between a woman and her family. Coincidentally, Tanaka was born in 1980, the same year that Mukoda won the Naoki Prize for several works, including "Omoide Trump." Mukoda died the following year in a plane crash.

Toshie Negishi, Ryoichi Yamaguchi, and Satomi Achiwa are part of the supporting cast. The play will be performed in Tokyo this October.

The popular shojo manga series "Itazura na Kiss" is being adapted to the stage. Galulu member Asami Abe is starring as the protagonist Kotoko, while Ren Yagami plays the male lead Naoki.

Performances will be held at the Theater Sun-Mall from November 27 to December 7.

Chinese model Hu Bing will be making an appearance in his first Japanese drama. NTV's "OL Nippon," starring Alisa Mizuki as a top-notch office worker, partly involves around a group of trainees from China, managed by Sadao Abe. Hu Bing will play Abe's work partner, who comes to Japan with high expectations, but learns that the reality is different.

Also appearing in the series are talento/gravure idol Rola Chen and a new actress who won a small talent audition held in Beijing.

"OL Nippon" premieres on October 8.

Eriko Imai, of the recently reunited group SPEED, has been given her first film appearance since five years ago. The movie is "Yuzuriha ~Kimi mo Mata Tsugi no Kimi e~," directed by Kentaro Hayase.

The picture is a 60th-anniversary project of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf. Imai recently revealed that her 3-year-old son Raimu has hearing problems. In the movie, her role requires the use of sign language. She commented that she has been learning it for the past 5 months, and she recalled her joy when Raimu learned to call her "mama" in sign language just two months ago.

Imai's last movie role was in Yojiro Takita's "Onmyoji II" in 2003. "Yuzuriha" is being released next year.

Free announcer Mari Watanabe (41) revealed on Thursday that she has married Ichiro Takai (45), a producer for Fuji TV. The news was announced during a press conference held after a taping of TV Asahi's "Medical Horror Check Show," on which Watanabe is a regular with host Takeshi Kitano. Kitano appeared at the press conference, serving as Takai's substitute.

Watanabe and Takai tied the knot on August 27, only about three months after they first met. They were introduced to each other in May by free announcer Akiko Yagi, who attended the same middle school and high school as Watanabe. The date of 8/27 was apparently chosen because of their birthdays - 2/27 for Takai and 6/27 for Watanabe.

Watanabe mentioned that she plans to continue working under her original name.