On February 16th, Fuji TV announced that the former AKB48 member Maeda Atsuko will be appearing in their upcoming spring drama 'Kasuka na Kanojo' starring SMAP's Katori Shingo.

This drama is going to mark Maeda's first participation in a drama since her graduation from AKB48 and her first role as a teacher. It's also her first time to appear in a Fuji TV 'Tuesday-10' drama.

'Kasuka na Kanojo' is a romantic comedy set at a junior high school. The protagonist is a teacher named Koyama Akira (Katori), who has the ability to sense ghosts. The heroine, one of the ghosts who used to be a teacher, is played by Anne. Maeda is going to play the role of Kawai Chiho, the assistant homeroom teacher of Akira's class.

Chiho is very popular among the pupils. She is the ideal teacher - always smiling and completely devoting herself to her job, at least that what it looks like on the surface. The truth is that she couldn't be less passionate about her job as a teacher and that she would change her occupation as soon as she would get a chance.

Maeda commented, "The filming hasn't even begun yet, but I'm already all excited about it. This time I'm trying to think of how my old teachers were." She continued, "I've been watching dramas with Katori as long as I can remember, so it feels like a dream (to appear in a drama with him). Since we'll manage the same class together (in the drama), I'll always be near his side and do my best watching his back."

Fuji TV is going to air 'Kasuka na Kanojo' every Tuesday at 10:00 pm starting in April.

Source: Sanspo (1,2)