Actor Ikki Sawamura (42) has never starred in a regular drama series before, but that will change this fall when he takes the lead in a TBS drama tentatively called "Meitantei Asami Mitsuhiko."

"Asami Mitsuhiko" is a series of drama specials based on a mystery-solving character created by author Yasuo Uchida. Besides TBS, NTV and Fuji TV have also produced their own specials with different cast members. TBS's version starred Takuro Tatsumi (50) in 13 episodes between 1994 and 2000, then Sawamura took over for 13 more between 2000 and 2008. But with this new series, TBS is changing it to a regular weekly format.

The title character, Mitsuhiko Asami, is a reportage writer and detective who solves difficult cases related to local legends across Japan. Each weekly episode in the new series will have the sleuth visiting a different part of the country to tackle these mysteries.

The show starts in October, airing Wednesday nights at 9:00pm. Although Sawamura is reprising his role as Asami, his supporting cast has changed. Morio Kazama (60), Yoshiko Sakuma (70), and Sachie Hara (31) have been cast in main roles.