Nobuo Mizuta's upcoming disaster movie "252: Seizonsha Ari" will be tied in with a drama special on NTV, tentatively titled "252: Seizonsha Ari episode ZERO." While the film stars Hideaki Ito and Masaaki Uchino as members of a rescue squad, the drama will feature Hayato Ichihara as the main character. Ito, Uchino, and other cast members from the film will make guest appearances.

The drama's story takes place two years prior to the film. Ichihara plays a fireman aiming to become part of the rescue squad, motivated by the death of his parents in the Great Hanshin earthquake.

Filming for the episode is scheduled to end this month. NTV has set the broadcast date for December 5, the day before the movie officially opens in theaters.