TOKYO (TR) – Once celebrated for her squeaky-clean image, actress Mei Nagano is returning to the entertainment world as a former No. 1 cabaret club hostess after an illicit affair scandal severely derailed her career.
On August 17, DMM TV announced that Nagano will star in the upcoming winter original drama “Himachi no Jouou” (Queen of Himachi). She will also take on the role of producer for the first time, involving herself in script meetings, casting, and scheduling.
Based on a popular manga by Kurese Chihara, the story centers on Ayane, a former top-ranking Kabukicho hostess who flees Tokyo’s red-light district following a mysterious incident. Returning to her hometown in Tottori Prefecture, she reluctantly begins helping out at her mother’s struggling hostess bar, Snack Kayoko.
Using her elite nightlife skills, she revives the bar overnight before teaming up with an ex-boyfriend to build Japan’s top cabaret club — this time working not as a hostess, but as a black-suited floor manager.
“Worst casting”
While Nagano expressed excitement about her new dual role as star and producer, the public reaction has been fiercely critical, overshadowed by her recent fall from grace.
In April 2025, Nagano was engulfed in controversy following reports of an alleged illicit affair with actor Kei Tanaka. The scandal shattered her “pure” public image, leading to devastating professional consequences, including her removal from a major NHK Taiga drama and the cancellation of multiple lucrative commercial contracts.
Unforgiving fans of the original manga have flooded social media with complaints about her casting.
“Worst casting ever! I love this manga, but Mei Nagano? Please change the cast,” wrote one user. Others commented, “Don’t drag my favorite manga through the mud,” and “She is a total miscast.” One cynical commenter even suggested that her alleged real-life lover, Kei Tanaka, should make a cameo as a club customer.
“Relief for her”
However, some entertainment industry insiders view the casting as a calculated and necessary pivot, reports Shukan Josei Prime (Aug. 15).
“She is taking the negative image from her scandal and using it to her advantage,” an entertainment writer noted. “Since it is difficult to restore her pure image, playing a former No. 1 hostess is a strategic shift to a ‘wicked woman’ persona. Shedding the burden of being a ‘pure actress’ might actually be a relief for her.”
Despite the online backlash, manga creator Kurese Chihara expressed full support for the live-action adaptation, stating, “The script is wonderful, and I am looking forward to seeing Nagano play Ayane.”
