On June 20th, Tabe Mikako prayed for the success of her new TBS drama �Naniwa Shounen Tantei Dan� at the Nogi Shrine in Nogizaka, Tokyo.

Tabe wrote a wish for "a wonderful encounter" on her tanabata tanzaku (short notes for writing down wishes), and explained, "Since there was a great encounter through this drama, I wished for another great encounter."

In the drama, Tabe plays an elementary school teacher. She spent about 4 months with the children playing the roles of her students. She commented, "I noticed how adorable children can be for the first time."

The drama is based on Higashino Keigo�s mystery novel of the same name and his �Shinobu Sense ni Sayonara� mystery series (both are published by Kodansha). Tabe plays the protagonist Shinobu, an elementary school teacher, who together with her students, enthusiastically tries to resolve mysterious happenings that occur around them.

In every episode, there is a scene in which Shinobu says sharply: �I am Shinobu of Oji [elementary school]!� Producer Kurosawa Atsushi stated with anticipation and enthusiasm that his �goal is to have that become the most popular phrase of this year.�

Tabe has worn a student uniform in her roles as the heroine of teen movies until recently. She stated, �This is one of my favorite Higashino novels, and the first time I�ve played the role of a teacher. I was nervous when I initially started filming as this is the first time I�ve had a chance to work with the children in the drama, and this was [a perfect challenge].�

Filming began in January and continued over a span of four months. Tabe expressed relief, �I thought �What should I do if I do not play the role of the teacher convincingly?�, but I think because it was the role of 'an elementary school' teacher, it would be fine.� She looked back on the role saying, �I felt like I grew as a person together with Shinobu.�

In the drama, Shinobu becomes the new homeroom teacher for Grade 6 Class 2 in a new school year, and it follows her students until their graduation at the end of the year.� Occurrences such as discoveries of murder and counterfeit cash as well as infant kidnappings pop up around Shinobu. Tabe appealed to viewers as she said, �Whether it is from the mystery parts or the elementary school student parts, I would like to give viewers a sense of enjoyment.�

Also appearing at the press conference were Koike Teppei, who plays the role of Shindo Shuhei, an Osaka police detective who falls in love with Shinobu,�Maeda Kouki (of MaedaMaeda), who plays the role of Harada Ikuo, the student who forms the Naniwa Shounen Tantei group under the influence of�Shinobu,�Hamada Tatsuomi, who plays the role of Tanaka Teppei, Takahashi Akira, who plays the role of Hatanaka Hiroshi, Maeda Oushiro (of Maeda Maeda), who serves as the narrator and plays the role of Harada Osamu, Saito Yuki, who plays the role of Ikuo and Osamu�s mother and owner of a kushikatsu shop, and Matsuzaka Keiko, who plays the role of Shinobu�s mother.

Source and Image: Oricon