Gravure idol Akina Minami has her first regular role in a television drama series this summer. She has been cast in Fuji TV's "Shibatora," which is based on a comedy manga by Yuma Ando about a young-looking detective named Taketora Shibata who deals with juvenile delinquents. It was announced last month that Teppei Koike is playing the lead as Shibata.

Minami is taking on the role of Shibata's colleague Tamaki Ayukawa, a cop in the traffic division.

"Shibatora" is scheduled to start on July 8.