Shingo Katori Plays New Prime Minister in Fuji TV Drama Political Pan
Shingo Katori, former SMAP member, played the new prime minister of the fictional country Nipponia in episode 5 of Fuji TV drama Political Pan, broadcast November 4.
1 source 2h ago
Reporting from 1 source: Magmix.
Why it matters
Katori taking the prime minister role puts a second SMAP alum in that part at Fuji TV, and the viewer reaction read the casting as a callback to CHANGE rather than as a fresh bit of casting.
Key Facts
- Shingo Katori played Yoshimi Tamaya, the new prime minister of Nipponia, in episode 5 of Fuji TV drama Political Pan.
- Episode 5 of Political Pan aired on Fuji TV on November 4.
- Yoshimi Tamaya is a second-generation lawmaker from the non-mainstream faction of the ruling party Kokujito.
- Satomi Ishihara plays the thief Yayoi Kisaragi in Political Pan, which airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on Fuji TV.
- Viewers compared the casting to CHANGE, the 2008 Fuji TV drama in which Takuya Kimura played prime minister.
The character, Yoshimi Tamaya, is a second-generation lawmaker installed through a personnel move by ruling party vice president Shiro Kobayakawa. Viewers said they were reminded of CHANGE, the 2008 Fuji TV drama in which Takuya Kimura played prime minister.
Katori plays Yoshimi Tamaya, a second-generation lawmaker from the non-mainstream faction of the ruling party, Kokujito. The choice lands at the end of episode 5, after vice president Shiro Kobayakawa tells his daughter he wants a startling personnel pick, and after he describes a prime minister as a mikoshi that only becomes one when those around carry it. Katori posted a photo of himself in a suit late that night on X and Instagram, and replies ran to the casting: one said the moment he appeared drew a clap and a laugh, and another said the black hair he wore at a fan meeting had been for the role.
Written with AI by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited. See our editorial policy.
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