Actor Takashi Sorimachi (35) has finally landed his first starring role in a jidaigeki drama, playing the famous samurai Yagyu Jubei. The part will be in TV Tokyo's annual "Shinshun Wide Jidaigeki," which airs at the start of the new year.

Scheduled for January 2, 2010, the drama is tentatively titled "Yagyu Bukeicho." Although the "Shinshun Wide Jidaigeki" dramas started out at 12 hours long in 1979, they were shortened to 10 hours long starting in 2001. This time, the drama will be only 7 hours long.

Sorimachi has acted in jidaigeki dramas before, including a role as Oda Nobunaga in the 2002 taiga series "Toshiie to Matsu," but he has never starred in one until now. His supporting cast members include Hideki Takahashi (65) as Jubei's father, Yagyu Munenori, and Mocomichi Hayami (24) as Jubei's brother, Yagyu Munefuyu. This will be Hayami's first time in a jidaigeki role.