Today it was revealed that actress Tanaka Rena will play the female leading role in the "24 Hour Television 34 Ai wa Chikyu wo Sukuu" special drama, "Ikiteru Dake de Nankurunaisa".

Tanaka's character will be that of a devoted and cheerful wife who continuously tries to support her husband who is suffering from various life-threatening and incurable diseases.

As announced in June, "24 Hour TV" main personality, Kanjani8's Murakami Shingo, will play the male leading role, the disease-stricken husband.

The special drama is based on a novel by Tamamoto Eisaku of the same name, whose tragic yet encouraging plot is based on his own life.

Tamamoto was first diagnosed with a very rare malignant tumor at the age of 25, but he was fortunate and strong enough to make a complete recovery. The following year he suffers a relapse, but is able to recover again, marry his wife and witness the birth of his daughter. A few years later he gets diagnosed with 'acute myeloid leukemia', but once again he managed to win the fight against the disease, especially because of the support of his family. However, all the treatments weakened his body, forcing him to enter and leave the hospital multiple times due to enteritis and pneumonia. Eventually he ended up with 'amyloidosis', an incurable disease against which he cannot win with the help of medicine due to the lack of any known treatments. However, one thing is for sure, he will never lose his will to live.

The message of the drama is not only meaningful to people who are currently fighting against such diseases or might end up doing so in the future, but also to all of the victims of the recent earthquakes and tsunamis. NTV wants to send out a message of hope and once again put the focus on the importance of having a caring family and friends you can rely on.

Be sure not to miss this touching special drama during "24 Hour TV" that will air from August 20th at 6:30PM till August 21st at 8:54PM.

Source + Picture: Cinema Today