Actress Kasumi Arimura on Thursday was selected for the lead role in an NHK drama titled "Hiyokko" that will be aired from April 2017.
Arimura was chosen without an audition, with producer Hiroshi Kashi describing her as "an actress with the ability to play different types of characters."
The 23-year-old actress last appeared in an NHK morning drama in 2013, starring as an 80s pop idol in "Amachan."
Arimura also appeared in the 2015 movie "Biri Gyaru" ("Flying Colors"), playing the role of a delinquent high school student who is accepted into Keio University.
More recently, Arimura has appeared as an aspiring photographer in "Natsumi no Hotaru," which is now screening in cinemas nationwide.
In October, the young actress is scheduled to play the role of a job-hunting university student system in "Nanimono" ("Somebody") alongside Takeru Sato ("Rurouni Kenshin") and Takayuki Yamada ("Crows Zero").
