This spy rom-com follows Yuga Sugawara (Kazuya Ohashi), who works in the sales department of Imuta Medical Data, a medical IT company. He secretly operates undercover convinced that the company was involved in the death of his older brother. Yet in the process of gathering intel, he unexpectedly finds himself falling for the person he’s targeting. What kind of romantic, thrilling story awaits?
Story Overview
Yuga Sugawara‘s older brother Hisayuki had developed a system suspiciously similar to one released by Imuta Medical Data—and died shortly afterward. His death was ruled a suicide, but security footage showed a suspicious person leaving the scene. Convinced that the company’s president, Ryuichi Imuta, had stolen the system and that the person caught on camera was involved in his brother’s death, Yuga vowed to uncover the truth.
On the surface, Yuga is cheerful and sociable, using his personality and natural friendliness to expand his network and build relationships. But behind the scenes, he operates as a spy, working to uncover the culprit who stole the information from his late brother. Along the way, he unexpectedly falls for Ryuichi‘s daughter, Hana Imuta (Nagisa Shibuya), whom he approaches to gather information. Will Yuga be able to balance his feelings while continuing his mission?
The teaser visual features Yuga and Hana with their bright, cheerful smiles and somber, cool expressions flipped upside down—emphasizing the drama’s central theme of duality. When viewed upside-down, it presents a completely different impression, cleverly reflecting the characters’ hidden sides.
A Spy on a Mission… and a Forbidden Love
In the first official still, Ohashi‘s character is shown fully dressed in black, wearing a headset and black-rimmed glasses—a look that signifies his covert “infiltration mode” as a spy. Unlike his usual bright and cheerful smile, he bears a serious expression, casting a mysterious and intense gaze. This striking contrast brings to life a character that’s “cute yet dangerous.”
The show will showcase the multiple facets of Ohashi‘s character: His life as an everyday corporate worker, his role as a loving younger brother mourning and seeking justice for his late brother, his softer side —seen when being comforted by an orca— and the growing affection he feels toward Hana. Ohashi will have the opportunity to showcase his acting range by portraying these contrasting sides of the same character.
“My character Yuga has elements of myself, but also a completely different side. I want to show the contrast between his spy identity and the romantic-comedy side,” Ohashi said. When asked about how it feels to work with Nagisa Shibuya, he replied: “Our wavelengths will absolutely align—people even call me the ‘male version of Nagisa Shibuya.’ I think we’re both high-energy and comedic—she’s like a ‘master’ to us in comedy. The set atmosphere is warm and friendly, and I’m excited for a fun shoot. I’m thrilled to explore what kind of spy Yuga will be and how his dual aspects and love story unfold!”
Meanwhile, Ohashi‘s co-star Shibuya, who plays Hana, wears a lovely white dress, exuding the elegance of a company president’s daughter. While calm and intellectual, she also exudes an inner strength and determination—someone who never backs down once she’s made a decision. Set against the lush green backdrop of the city in early summer, the scene shows Hana gazing ahead—but what exactly is she looking at? Shibuya sets aside her signature bright smile to portray a complex woman bearing buried feelings, growing emotionally through her relationship with Yuga.
“Ohashi and I are both known for our smiles—so I’m excited to play someone who goes against that,” she shared. “And I heard Ohashi is called the ‘male version of me’—I’m also called the ‘female version of Ohashi‘ by fans! It’s fascinating that this is our first drama together. I hope we spark great chemistry!”
When asked about the energy Ohashi brings, Shibuya remarked: “He really is everyone’s sunshine—I could hear him laughing in the makeup room! He is who he is. We’ll tone down Kansai dialects for filming [laughs].”
Shibuya describes the drama as: “A perfect summer ‘vitamin’—energetic and uplifting, even if people stay up late, they’ll be excited to watch and keep going in their daily lives.”
Expect daring charm, emotional depth, laughter…and secrets piercing through the double lives of the leads.
But Ohashi won’t be going solo during his mission—he will receive support from a fellow agency member and real-life friend: Nao Oriyama from the STARTO Junior group Shonen Ninja.
Oriyama plays the role of Shinnosuke Okayama, who looks up to Yuga like an older brother. Shinnosuke is also a talented gamer and game developer who assists Yuga remotely during his spy activities. Oriyama shared that he and Ohashi have had meals together several times, making their on-screen partnership feel like a natural progression of their friendship. He also praises the Naniwa Danshi leader as a “sun‑like” presence and a radiant force within that group.
“The most exciting scene for me will be one where Shinnosuke has to tail someone. As a ‘ninja,’ I’m good at disappearing and blending in,” Oriyama joked, before adding that he is eager to give his best performance. He also humorously mentioned he would love to spy on Kazuya‘s living room to see if it’s minimalist or flashy. “I’m determined to give 120 percent,” he confidently added.
As the gamer and game creator who is also Yuga‘s right-hand man, Oriyama is preparing thoroughly—even though he’s not a big gamer, he is training intensively for the role.
Known for his sharp dance moves, expressive stage presence, and cool yet approachable personality, Oriyama has captivated fans with every performance. Since joining Shonen Ninja, he has stood out for his natural charisma and strong teamwork, performing in countless concerts, stage plays, and TV shows. Much like Ohashi, Oriyama has been expanding his career into acting in the recent years, taking on roles that highlight his versatility and range. Whether he’s lighting up the stage or appearing on screen, he brings energy, passion, and a quiet confidence that fans can’t get enough of. With his talent and dedication, this ‘Cute Ninja’ continues to grow—and we’re excited to cheer him on every step of the way!
About the Series’ Official Theme Song: “Asymmetry” by Naniwa Danshi
Naniwa Danshi‘s newly announced track “Asymmetry” will be the official theme for the show. “Asymmetry” is a love song, both heartbreaking and beautiful. It’s a symphonic, thrilling dance track that pairs perfectly with the series’ mysterious and dazzling tone. The narrative carried by the song’s sound deeply mirrors the dramatic world of the show. Ohashi commented, “Asymmetry, our new song and the theme for this drama, is incredibly stylish!” He continued, “As the title suggests, ‘asymmetry’ (meaning ‘not symmetrical’) reflects the drama’s central theme of duality. The lyrics speak of a love that can never fully connect, which creates a tense and exciting vibe!” He also added, “The rhythm changes during the interlude to increase the tension, perfectly matching the ‘spy mode’ of my character, Yuga. I’m really looking forward to seeing what kind of choreography we’ll get—it sounds like it’s going to be a full-on dance number. I can’t wait!”
The Cast so far…
Alongside Ohashi, Shibuya, and Oriyama, the series features a talented cast packed with veterans and other rising stars, including:
- Mitsuomi Takahashi as Sho Sakurakoji, executive director of Imuta Medical Data, who is admired by the company’s female employees alongside Yuga.
- Muga Tsukaji from the comedy duo Drunk Dragon as Kojiro Okayama, Shinnosuke’s father, and once once-friend of Yuga‘s deceased brother.
- Junpei Mizobata as Hisayuki Sugawara, Yuga‘s late older brother.
- Masanobu Takashima as Ryuichi Imuta, Hana‘s father and president of Imuta Medical Data.
- Asaki Kiyono as Saki Imuta, Hana‘s younger sister.
- Hiroko Nakajima as Yukiko Sugawara, Yuga‘s mother, who runs a yakiniku restaurant with her husband.
- Shin Shimizu as Eiji Sugawara, Yuga‘s father and Yukiko‘s husband.
- Shuko Ito as Sonoko Iwashita, Yuga‘s supervisor at Imuta Medical Data.
- Karen Yui as Asuka Shiomi, Sakurakoji‘s secretary. She harbors quiet feelings for Yuga and gives off a mysterious vibe.
- Nobunaga Daichi as Seijin Takato, Yuga‘s junior colleague at Imuta Medical Data.
With Ohashi and Shibuya at the center, this irresistible ensemble cast brings added depth and charm to “Revenge Spy,” a romantic comedy full of ‘spy x target’ tension and heart-throbbing emotion. The series will air on all 24 TV Asahi stations every Saturday at 11:00 PM JST starting July 5th. Episodes will be available on TELASA, a video on-demand platform, after broadcast.
Please look forward to it!
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