GACKT to Star in First Monday 9pm Drama as Lawyer-Architect Dark Hero
The casting places a musician with a limited recent acting resume in the lead of Fuji TV's flagship drama slot, betting on his persona rather than a proven television actor to carry a weekly series.
Reporting from 2 sources: Eiga Natalie, Cinema Today.
GACKT will lead the Fuji TV Monday 9pm drama "Black Trick: The Lawyer Who Manipulates Justice," premiering July 20, 2026. He plays Uramawashi Naoto, a lawyer and first-class architect who uses lies and architectural knowledge to expose the fabricated truths of powerful opponents. The role marks his first Fuji TV drama appearance, his first Monday 9pm lead, and his first time playing a lawyer. GACKT described the script as feeling like a proper Monday 9pm drama and called his character elusive, noting that there are not many lawyers like him. Producer Makino Tadashi, known for the "Galileo" and "HERO" series, said GACKT's presence, quiet madness, and psychological control give the dark hero character unique persuasiveness. The series is an original legal entertainment story written by Yoshitaka Hisao of "Midnight Diner" fame, directed by Mitsuhashi Toshiyuki of "Forensic Doctor Asagao" and "Confidence Man JP," with cinematography by Japan Academy Prize winner Sakō Akira. It airs weekly from 21:00 to 21:54.
The drama's scriptwriting team includes multiple writers beyond Yoshitaka Hisao. Shitō Sayaka, Abe Sayaka, Hagimori Jun, Kitaura Katsuhiro, Suzuki Yōsuke, and Kanazawa Tatsuya are each credited with individual episodes. The direction team also includes Shimohata Yūta and Hayashi Tōru alongside lead director Mitsuhashi Toshiyuki. The lighting director is Kase Hiroyuki, who won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Lighting alongside cinematographer Sakō Akira for Kingdom: Return of the Great General.
GACKT's recent acting credits include the Fly Me to Saitama film series and If Tokugawa Ieyasu Became Prime Minister. He began his career in 1995 as the second vocalist of visual kei rock band MALICE MIZER before moving into solo music and acting.
Producer Makino Tadashi described the protagonist's methods in detail: "The protagonist uses everything available-law, information, psychology, public opinion-and does not hesitate to employ deceptive tactics and risky schemes to expose the lies set by powerful forces. He is not a hero who fights fair. But there are weak people who can only be saved by such risky methods." Makino added that GACKT's "overwhelming presence, quiet madness, and air of psychological control give this character unique persuasiveness."
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.