To celebrate the 30-year anniversary of "Doyo Wide Gekijo," TV Asahi is planning a special drama adaptation of Hideo Yokoyama's best-selling novel, "Hanochi." Kippei Shiina will play the lead role.

"Hanochi" revolves around former detective Soichiro Kaji, who turns himself into the police and confesses to the murder of his wife. According to him, she had developed Alzheimer's disease, and asked to be relieved of her suffering. However, his admission is still considered a "hanochi," or "half confession," because his story is incomplete - he won't say what happened during the 48 hours between the murder and his confession. And thus, a mystery begins.

The novel was previously turned into a film in 2004 by director Kiyoshi Sasabe, starring Akira Terao as Kaji. However, the drama special will differ from both the film and the novel. While Kaji is the protagonist in the previous incarnations, the drama will be told from the perspective of Shiki (played by Shiina), the detective interrogating Kaji (Tsunehiko Watase). In addition, plot elements will be altered and added. For example, Shiki's father (Keiju Kobayashi), also a retired cop, suffers from Alzheimer's as well.

Other cast members include Jun Fubuki, Masanobu Takashima, Isao Hashizume, and Ikkei Watanabe.

TV Asahi aims to broadcast the drama before the end of the year.