The regular cast has been revealed for the upcoming drama “Gokudou Joushi ni Aisaretara,” which features A.B.C-Z’s Shota Totsuka and actress Ayaka Konno in dual lead roles. Among the cast is Reia Nakamura, a 28-year-old rising idol who was voted the #1 “Junior you’d want as a boyfriend” in Myojo magazine’s awards in both 2023 and 2024.
Based on a hugely popular manga, “Loved by My Yakuza Boss: Living with a Cold-Hearted Guy That’s Just Too Sweet” (Gokudou Joushi ni Aisaretara: Reitetsu Kare to no Ama Sugiru Doukyo) that ranked #1 on Mecha Comic’s daily overall ranking and surpassed 500,000 copies sold within just 9 months of release, this drama will air as part of MBS’s “Drama-ism” block starting July 22.
Totsuka plays Ren Odagiri, a feared and cold-hearted “yakuza boss” with a hidden identity as the young leader of a criminal gang. On the other hand, Konno plays Makoto Sugawara, who is betrayed by her boyfriend Hayato after living with him for three years. With nowhere to go after the breakup, she is taken in by Odagiri.
Nakamura plays Tora Senzaki, Makoto’s childhood friend who harbors secret feelings for her. Nakamura, a member of the junior idol group KEY TO LIT, formed in February 2025, is also active as an actor and has appeared in several TV dramas and stage plays. He made his drama debut as Ren “Mimurin” Mimura in “Koi no Yamai to Yarougumi,” combining his intellectual look with a sharp-tonged character. His list of notable roles includes: the overconfident young salesman Ryosuke Shinomiya in “Gekikaradou,” the charismatic but unfaithful Shuji Inukai in “Inu to Kuzu,” and the charming Basketball player Kenta Shiraishi in “Sensei Sayonara.” “Loved by My Yakuza Boss” marks his second collaboration with director Keisuke Shibata, who previously worked on “Gekikaradou.” Nakamura, who joined the idol industry in 2009, is also a trained athlete, talented visual artist, gamer, anime & manga fan, and avid skateboarder.
Yuna Hoshino plays Aina Kawatani, the woman who steals Makoto’s boyfriend. Hoshino, who is a popular Youtuber and model, is gaining attention as a breakout actress with roles in a wide range of works, including the shows “Kamen Rider Geats” and “Itsuka, Hero,” and the films “Isho, Kokai” and “Kimi ga Tokubetsu.”
Ryo Ishizaki, Makoto’s ex-boyfriend, is portrayed by Ryotaro Akazawa, who is making a name for himself primarily on stage and also starred in the film “Aki wa Haru to Gohan o Tabetai” as well as its sequel.
Yumi Endo, Makoto’s junior colleague, is played by Nanami Asahi, who has gained popularity through her appearances as a talent and actress, most notably in Netflix’s original dating reality show “Offline Love.”
Ryouhei Matsumoto, another one of Makoto’s colleagues, is played by Kazuki Horike, known for his reliable acting in shows like the NHK morning drama “Tora ni Tsubasa,” the BL drama “Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu,” and the live-action movie adaptation of “Tokyo Revengers.”
Yuma Aoki, Tora’s subordinate, is portrayed by Hikaru Yamazaki, who has been active as an actor since childhood and appeared in works like the films “Makuko” and “A Midsummer’s Equation,” and dramas like “Sundome” and “Subarashiki Kana, Sensei!”
Haruka Kiba, a close aide of Odagiri and a member of the Fudokai syndicate, is played by Reiya Masaki, who has appeared in numerous notable productions, such as the films “Osaka Loan Shark” and “Yuzuriha” and the “Watashi wo Moratte” drama series.
Makoto’s mother Hiroko Sugawara is portrayed by Kinuo Yamada, known for her impressive performances across a wide range of roles, including in the dramas “Vivant” and “Hikaru Kimi e,” and the films “Sisyphustachi no Manazashi” and “Ten Years Japan.”
COMMENTS FROM THE CAST
Reia Nakamura: “I’m truly happy to have been given this opportunity! As someone usually cast in younger roles, it’s exciting to portray a detective in the organized crime division, closer to my real age and even supervising others. I tend to be seen as youthful, so I want to appear more grown-up this time. It’s incredibly reassuring to work with Totsuka-kun, who has supported me since I first joined. I’ll do my best to portray Senzaki Tora as someone who brings seriousness to this romance drama, especially as he confronts Odagiri played by Totsuka-kun.”
Yuna Hoshino: “I’m playing Aina Kawatani! After reading the original manga, I was so happy to be cast in the role of the kind of girl you always see in romance dramas — the kind who really stirs things up. I’m really looking forward to playing her and I’ll give it my all to bring some spice to the story! Please look forward to the broadcast!”
Ryotaro Akazawa: “I’ll be playing the selfish and self-centered Hayato Ishizaki. Every time I read the manga, I found myself thinking, ‘Why did he turn out this way…? Poor Makoto!’ and ‘Wow, Odagiri’s hidden charm is off the charts!’ I’m so excited to see how Totsuka-san portrays Odagiri! I want to stir things up as Ishizaki and bring the same thrilling satisfaction I felt after finishing the manga to the viewers. I’ll give it my all, so please look forward to the show!”
Source: https://mdpr.jp/drama/detail/4599332
“The Yakuza’s Boss’s Beloved” will air on Tuesdays at 24:59 JST (just after midnight) in the MBS “Drama-ism” slot starting July 22. Episodes will be available on TVer for one week after broadcast. Please look forward to it.