In early November, it was announced that Kei Inoo from Hey! Say! JUMP and Honoka Matsumoto will co-lead and share their first on-screen pairing in the upcoming Sunday drama “50-fun kan no Koibito” (“50-Minute Lover” or “My Lover for 50 minutes”) from ABC TV & TV Asahi, premiering January 2026. Following a standout year with three main drama roles in 2025, this project marks Inoo‘s first-ever lead role in a prime-time drama.
An ensemble of industry veterans and rising stars in supporting roles has recently been unveiled ahead of the show’s premiere, including STARTO Entertainment Junior Koki Kuroda, who was a member of Shonen Ninja.
STORY OVERVIEW
The story follows Naho Karashima (Matsumoto), a responsible and career-focused character designer who has always placed work before love. One day, an unexpected turn of events leads her to form an unusual arrangement with Haruru Amami (Inoo), a brilliant yet socially awkward game creator whose only real companion is AI. The deal? Naho must make 30 homemade bento lunches for Haruru.
As the two spend exactly 50 minutes of lunchtime together each day, they gradually grow close. But when they discover they work for rival companies locked in a bitter feud, their bond abruptly turns into a relationship they must keep secret.
Although Naho is frequently thrown off by Haruru’s odd behavior, she slowly finds herself drawn to his sincerity and kindness in this “misaligned but heart-fluttering” romantic comedy. Viewers will enjoy the contrast between Haruru‘s quirky unpredictability and Naho‘s level-headed warmth, and the gentle way their hearts begin to align.
Written from scratch as an original script, the drama is designed to showcase both leads’ strengths. While packed with classic rom-com tropes, it also explores subtle emotional shifts, unexpected character contrasts, the thrill of shared secrets, and the obstacles that arise from a forbidden relationship. With expressive acting, Matsumoto and Inoo create lively, rhythmic banter.
Gorgeous, appetite-inducing bento lunches appear every episode. Though Naho initially cooks them reluctantly, she gradually begins wanting to satisfy Haruru, honing her skills even more. Viewers can also look forward to Haruru‘s unique reactions—his “delicious face,” and lines like “Bono!”
CAST
Kei Inoo as Haruru Amami, a mysterious game creator at the game company Pirates. Socially awkward and perpetually curt, he survives on protein bars, enjoys bonsai, and prefers talking to his AI speaker over interacting with people—a true oddball at first glance. Yet under those quirks lies a pure, earnest young man carrying a childhood trauma. How Inoo brings out Haruru‘s contradictions and unique charm is a major highlight of the series.
Honoka Matsumoto as Naho Karashima, a hardworking character designer at Wstars. Focused on her career, she enters every in-house competition and always brings a homemade bento—even after an all-nighter. Raised in a warm family, she’s confident in her cooking skills and serves as the quick-witted “tsukkomi” to Haruru‘s eccentricities.
Ryosuke Mikata as Yuta Shibuya, a reliable superior to Naho and a talented lead designer. Shibuya recognizes Naho as a gifted junior colleague—and secretly has feelings for her. As the person closest to Naho within Wstars, what will happen when he begins to hope for something more than a professional relationship? Known for his work across stage and screen, Mikata brings warmth and depth to this ideal superior figure.
Manatsu Akimoto as Remi Shiomi. The secretary of Pirates’ president, Remi has set Haruru in her romantic sights. Even though Haruru shows zero interest, she refuses to give up—inviting him to lunch day after day using a variety of tactics. Since graduating from the idol group Nogizaka46, Akimoto has expanded her acting career; here she vividly portrays not just a “cute” character, but a relentless “love fighter.”
Koki Kuroda as Wataru Karashima, Naho‘s younger brother. As a college student whose university is conveniently close to Naho‘s apartment, Wataru often drops by to eat his beloved sister’s cooking. He aims to enter the same gaming industry as Naho and ends up learning Haruru‘s secret before she does. The siblings’ warm, casual conversations may end up pushing Naho and Haruru‘s relationship in an unexpected direction. This marks Kuroda‘s first appearance in a prime-time drama, and his first appearance in any drama since 2022’s “Koi no Yamai to Yarougumi Season 2.”
Oideyasu Oda as Daisuke Yoneda. As the managing director at Pirates, Yoneda serves as the right-hand man to the impulsive and sometimes immature Kyohei, Pirates’ president. One of the few people who can communicate openly with Haruru, he often acts as a mediator in various situations. For the role, Oda sets aside his trademark loud comedic “tsukkomi,” unveiling a softer and more composed side.
Mitsuomi Takahashi as Pirates’ president Kyohei Kurihara. Kyohei is a warm-hearted yet jealous and emotionally driven leader. He was the first to recognize Haruru‘s creative talent and remains an important mentor to him. Kyohei is constantly preoccupied with the movements of Wstars and his ex-wife, Shima—revealing that lingering feelings still remain. Takahashi portrays Kyohei‘s humorous clumsiness as he swings between love and resentment, celebrating and despairing over each shift in company performance.
Tae Kimura as Wstars’ president Shima Anno. Shima is a charismatic CEO with a striking personality and the ex-wife of Kyohei. Still resentful over the cause of their divorce, she strictly forbids her employees from interacting with anyone from Pirates. Though feared for her severity, her business acumen is top-notch. Shima‘s daily routine includes kickboxing, baseball, and golf—sports that let her vent stress through powerful swings while sharpening her combat abilities. To prepare for the role, Kimura trained in kickboxing and batting, and even enrolled in a golf school.
COMMENTS FROM THE CAST
Honoka Matsumoto
“This is my first time leading a romantic comedy, so I was excited. On set, I’m always thinking about how to make viewers’ hearts flutter.”
“I thought the world felt wonderfully strange. It has the classic rom-com elements, but because it’s a ‘misaligned rom-com,’ it also features deliberately offbeat moments. Haruru’s hobbies and speech patterns are odd, while Naho seems normal at first. But she’s also straightforward and passionate about the things she loves—which is something I relate to. I hope the way these two grow attracted to each other becomes one of the show’s charms.”
“I hope both women and men can enjoy the classic heart-fluttering rom-com moments. The cast is full of big personalities, and the drama is like a bento box—you never know what you’ll find inside. Each episode brings a completely different development. Please look forward to it!”
Kei Inoo
“It’s my first time starring in a rom-com, too, so there was a lot to figure out. For example, in a scene where Haruru catches Naho as she falls, I had to consider what body position would make the audience feel the most ‘dokidoki.’ Some scenes were so action-heavy I wondered if we were filming a ‘rom-com action’ instead,” he laughed.
“My character Haruru made me think, ‘Who is this guy?’ I’ve never met anyone like him—he carries bonsai around and says ‘Bono!’ He’s extremely unique. I tried to make him lovable so viewers—and Naho—would genuinely fall for him.”
“I’m grateful to Matsumoto-san—she thinks deeply about each scene and helps maintain continuity by saying things like, ‘Earlier, the situation was like this.’ I’ve learned a lot.”
Ryosuke Mikata
“When I first read the script, I thought, ‘Wow, this is so easy to read!!’ Each character is full of personality, yet it never felt heavy. Shibuya is straightforward and smart—quite different from me—so imagining how to build him was really fun. As a ‘misaligned rom-com,’ it has its challenges, but thanks to the whole cast and staff, I think we’ve created wonderful little quirks. Please look forward to it!”
Manatsu Akimoto
“The way Haruru and Naho’s relationship shifts because of the bento is sweet, surprising, and even appetite-inducing. Remi, the character I play, chases Haruru so intensely that her love keeps getting heavier. Working with a junior colleague, she tries every trick to get Haruru to look her way. I hope viewers enjoy watching how Remi grows—and how Haruru begins to change thanks to Naho’s cooking.”
Koki Kuroda
“This is my first time appearing in a prime-time drama, so I was truly thrilled when I received the offer. I gave everything so people would feel glad I was part of this work. Wataru teases his sister a lot and has an easygoing personality, but he’s extremely serious about food. I’d love it if viewers begin to see him as a kind of ‘national little brother.’ Working with Inoo-kun was nerve-racking at first, but I felt his greatness as an actor up close. He often talked to me during breaks and was incredibly kind. I hope people watch to see how Wataru gets involved in the love-comedy between his sister and Amami. Don’t just watch once—watch many times! I hope this show becomes beloved by many.”
Oideyasu Oda
“Haruru and Naho, Kyohei and Shima—there are so many intersecting feelings, and every character is full of love and consideration for others. Daisuke is such a good guy it’s almost too good for me! The set had a wonderful atmosphere, and everyone was easy to talk to. Both Inoo-kun’s Haruru and Takahashi-san’s Kyohei are unlike their usual personas, so switching in and out of character looked difficult, but it was really fun to watch. I hope viewers look forward to Sundays, and I think this will be a show that makes you hungry every week!”
Mitsuomi Takahashi
“When I first read the script, I thought it might be a straightforward rom-com—but no, every character is a quirky one! My character Kyohei, the president of Pirates, appears as quite a wild personality. Why he’s like that becomes clear later in the drama. He also carries a hidden emotion deep within him. I hope viewers enjoy his internal struggles. Inoo-san laughs easily, so whenever I do something, he always laughs—that really saves me during filming. Alongside the pure young romance between Haruru and Naho, please pay attention to the complex sub-story between Shima and Kyohei.”
Tae Kimura
“I play Shima, a powerful president who gets heated easily and is stubborn to boot. As someone who’s usually low-energy, I wondered if I could really go full throttle—and portray someone athletic who excels at everything. I trained nonstop, and though my heart was in constant chaos, filming was fun despite the muscle aches. I hope that joy reaches the viewers. I’d be happy if people enjoy not only the quirky romance but also the heartwarming bento moments.”
“50-fun kan no Koibito” will air on ABC TV and TV Asahi’s nationwide network on Sundays at 10:15 p.m. (JST) starting January 18, 2026. Episodes will be available after broadcast for a limited time on TVer. Please look forward to it.
Follow Hey! Say! JUMP on their official accounts for the latest updates and fun!
More Hey! Say! JUMP on Dumpling Box
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.