Actress Yumiko Shaku has been given the lead in the upcoming NTV drama series "LOVE GAME." The show is based on the debut novel of TV writer Motoichi Adachi, who is better known for working on the scripts of variety shows like "Odoru! Sanma Goten" and "Kiseki Taiken! Unbelievable." The novel goes on sale at the end of this month.

"LOVE GAME" revolves around a secret game in which the participants can win 100 million yen if they succeed at a love-related task. However, no one has ever succeeded in the game before.

Shaku plays the beautiful but mysterious "dealer" of the game. The challenges she presents to the contestants, who are constantly monitored, include tasks such as "get your wife to sign divorce papers within 8 hours" and "steal your friend's boyfriend within 3 days."

The guests on the show include Shun Shioya and Hiromi Kitagawa in the first episode, and Waka Inoue in the second episode. NTV will broadcast the series on Thursday nights at 11:58pm, starting on April 23.