With boy band NEWS hosting this year's annual "24 Hour Television" program on NTV, member Ryo Nishikido (24) has been chosen to star in the telethon's customary drama special. Ryosuke Yamada (16) of Hey! Say! JUMP has also been cast in the show.

The drama is titled "Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide" and is based on a book by writer Masumi Kawakami. Nishikido plays a young man named Keisuke Kawai, who aspired to become a physicist since he was young. His hopeful parents send him to an expensive college prep school, but at the age of 15, during his third year of junior high, he is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Told that he only has one year to live, he falls into despair, giving up on treatment and even lashing out against his own mother. Ultimately, with the support of his family, he struggles with the tumor for eight years before dying at the age of 23.

Keisuke's younger brother will be played by Yamada, while his parents are played by Hitomi Kuroki (48) and Takanori Jinnai (50). Yumi Shirakawa (72) plays the grandmother.

"24 Hour Television" is going on the air on August 29-30. "Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide" will be broadcast on the night of August 29.