Kenichi Matsuyama Joins TBS Drama for Third Consecutive Season
Matsuyama's three-season TBS streak, following roles as a pastry chef and a sushi academy instructor, shows the network is cycling him through varied lead-supporting slots across its key drama blocks.
Reporting from 2 sources: Eiga Natalie, Cinema Today.
Kenichi Matsuyama will appear in the July TBS Friday drama "Until the T-Shirt Dries," marking his third consecutive season on the network. He plays Mitsuru, a 40-year-old coffee shop owner described as an "unconsciously charming man" whose gentle and elusive personality captivates those around him. The drama stars Yui Atsu in her first lead role in a terrestrial drama in 18 years, alongside Ayumu Nakajima, Fumiya Takahashi, and Kaho. The script is by Miku Ubukata, known for "Silent," with direction by Yutaka Doi, Renpei Tsukamoto, and Sakura Komaki. The story follows two couples whose lives collapse after an accident exposes secrets about their loved ones. Matsuyama previously appeared in the January Sunday Theater "Reboot" and the April Tuesday drama "It's Already Sushi!?" His last Friday drama role was in "Who Saw the Peacock's Dance?" in 2025. Matsuyama commented that the role is a genre he has not done much before and that he finds it interesting to jump into the unknown.
Matsuyama's character Mitsuru runs a coffee shop where Naoto (Fumiya Takahashi) works part-time. His specialty is financiers, a small French almond cake. The character is described as gentle and calm but elusive, with a people-pleasing side that makes him "unconsciously charming."
Matsuyama noted that the script by Miku Ubukata ("Silent") "depicts a person from many different angles" and that viewers "will discover something new with each episode." He added that he has worked with lead actress Yui Atsu since he was about 20 years old.
The director lineup includes Yutaka Doi ("We Made a Beautiful Bouquet"), Renpei Tsukamoto ("Love Letter at 35"), and Sakura Komaki (Sunday Theater "Mr. Ue"). Producers are Yukitoshi Chiba and Akira Miyagawa.
Matsuyama's previous Friday drama appearance was in "Who Saw the Peacock's Dance?" in 2025, where he played a lawyer. His three-season TBS streak began with the January Sunday Theater "Reboot," where he played a family-oriented pastry chef, followed by the April Tuesday drama "It's Already Sushi!?" as a strict sushi academy instructor.
"Until the T-Shirt Dries" airs Fridays at 22:00 on TBS starting July.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Eiga Natalie 松山ケンイチが7月期の新ドラマ「Tシャツが乾くまで」出演、TBSは3クール連続
- Cinema Today 松山ケンイチ、3クール連続TBS連ドラ出演 人たらしの喫茶店オーナー役「全然想像がつかなかった」