NHK has revealed the lead actress for its 81st morning drama series, "Werukame." Gravure idol Kana Kurashina (21) was chosen from an audition of 1,775 actresses to take on the role. She is said to be only the second Asadora heroine to come from a gravure background, after Mao Miyaji in the 2002 series "Manten."

"Werukame" was first announced in January. The comical story revolves around a young woman named Nami (played by Kurashina) who gets laid off from her job at a Tokyo publisher. She reluctantly returns to her home in Tokushima where she finds a job at another publisher, but she is forced to deal with her family and former acquaintances.

Kurashina first gained major attention in 2006 when she won the grand prize in the Miss Magazine contest. Although she is mainly a gravure idol, she has also appeared in several films and dramas, including the "Elite Yankee Saburo" television series.

"Werukame" begins on September 28.