Veteran entertainer Masaaki Sakai and actress Yui Natsukawa will co-star in a new Fuji TV drama series currently titled "Muri na Renai." This is Sakai's first starring drama role in 13 years.

The series uses an original screenplay by Yoshikazu Okada. Sakai plays the role of Shogo, a divorced man with one daughter. In his younger days, he was briefly in a band but it quickly broke up, and he took on a job at a record company. At the age of 60, he falls in love with the 35-year-old Kaede (Natsukawa), but her career and values are very different from his own. In addition, Kaede already has an "ikemen" boyfriend (currently being cast).

Sakai commented that the role is very similar to his own life. He has been divorced twice and has two daughters, and is said to be dating a former model 22 years younger than him.

Other cast members include Hiroshi Kamayatsu (also known as Monsieur Kamayatsu), Mari Natsuki, Toshinori Omi, Sayaka Aoki, Sawa Suzuki, and Kei Tanaka. The drama will fill the Tuesday 10:00pm time slot, starting in April.