Teppei Koike (of WaT) has been given his first lead role in a television drama. In December, Fuji TV will broadcast a special called "Mada Minu Chichi e, Haha e: Tamashii de Utau Aoi Umi," which tells the story of Okinawan tenor Tsutomu Aragaki.

Aragaki, who is 54, was born to a Mexican-American soldier and a Japanese woman. Shortly after his birth, an accident turned him completely blind. His parents left him with his grandmother, who passed away when he was 14. Fortunately, he found his way into church music, eventually becoming a pastor and a singer.

In the drama, Koike will portray Aragaki's life between the ages of 14 and 42. Other cast members include Ayumi Ishida, Yumi Aso, and Akiyoshi Nakao.