The life of late lyricist Yu Aku, known for writing many of Japan's biggest hits of the past few decades, is being turned into a television drama special on NTV. The "Yu Aku Monogatari" will be aired on the night of August 1, the first anniversary of Aku's death.

The drama will cover the songwriter's entire life, from his birth on Awaji Island in 1937 to his death from ureter cancer last year, though the central focus will be the music audition show "Star Tanjou!" from the '70s, which Aku was involved with as a planner and judge. The show was a key part of the "golden age" of music idols, as it served as the starting point for artists like Masako Mori and Pink Lady.

Seiichi Tanabe is starring as Aku, while "Death Note" director Shusuke Kaneko is handling the project.