"Wakakozake Season 8" (every Wednesday from midnight to midnight) will be broadcast on BS TV Tokyo from January 8, 2025 (Wednesday). This is a drama series about Wakako Murazaki (26 years old), an office lady who was born with a "drinker's tongue" and wanders around various bars to enjoy a drink alone. The original work is "Wakakozake" (Monthly Comic Zenon/Core Mix) by Chie Shinkyu, which has sold over 3.2 million copies (print and electronic combined/23 volumes published so far).
The lead role is played by Takeda Rina, who has played Murazaki Wakako throughout the series. Familiar characters such as the owner (Nozoe Yoshihiro) of Wakako's favorite restaurant "Oraku", the store clerk Aoyagi (Kenta Kamakari), and her co-workers Mii-san (Yamada Kinuo) and Abe-chan (Watanabe Mizuki) will also appear! Season 8 will be exciting.
In addition to the winter delicacies such as monkfish and ark shell, we will introduce many attractive restaurants that serve gourmet food that goes well with alcohol, such as town sushi and Mongolian cuisine, which I tried for the first time. Also, please enjoy the blissful moment of Wakako, who is drinking in the morning as part of Wakako's morning activities, and let out a sigh of "pshhhh" in front of the TV.
Furthermore, a new member will appear in the Wakako series! Wataru Monma will play the role of Itsuki Yamamoto. How will he be involved with Wakako? Please look forward to it!!!
The new episode of BS TV Tokyo's popular drama series "Wakakozake" will start airing on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at midnight! In addition, it will be exclusively distributed for one week on NTT Docomo's video distribution service "Lemino". Don't miss it!
Comments
■ Role of Wakako Murazaki: Rina Takeda
It's been 10 years since I played Wakako. When I entered the set, the staff said, "It's Wakako! You haven't changed at all," which was a relief, but as the filming went on, various thoughts grew and I realized that a lot has changed in those 10 years.
As I've gotten older, I've had many encounters and partings, and my way of thinking and dealing with things has changed. In the monologue of this work, there is the line, "The courage to change. The determination to remain the same." I felt all of those feelings and acted this time without forgetting my original intentions.
While acting, I was able to reaffirm that the time spent drinking alone, the time spent toasting with someone, and the moments when you feel "delicious" are special times that remain the same no matter how old you are. I'm sure that special times for everyone are hidden in your daily lives. I hope you can feel those small happiness together with me through this drama!
■ Producer: Shoji Kawamura (TV Tokyo)
Thanks to you, we have reached season 8. This time, we have packed in the things that all the staff want to do and the things that we want to introduce in the drama, and we will deliver a "load of deliciousness in both alcohol and gourmet food". Thanks to the cooperation of everyone involved, we have a lot of delicious alcohol this time as well. We are grateful to have alcohol from the disaster-stricken areas, which is a long-awaited wish of the staff. We will also be enjoying a variety of fried foods that go perfectly with alcohol, the undoubtedly rich flavor of Tohoku's snacks, the strongest yakiniku and Chinese food, Western food with white and demi-glace sauces, reward gourmet food such as eel and sushi, foreign cuisine and flaming cuisine... Wakako's first-time experience of menus will also be appearing one after another.
And the best part is seeing Takeda Rina, who has become even more like Wakako. She gently takes a sip of her drink, eats the gourmet food, and then drinks more... When you see her smiling, flushed, happy expression, you will not be able to resist eating and drinking with her. When I was recording a monologue the other day, I asked her to ad lib an exclamation in one scene, and she said a line that was more like Wakako than any of the staff could have imagined, which was well received and very moving.
Delicious drinks and snacks, the people there, and Wakako-san. I would be delighted if you could join me in enjoying a fun time that will delight your taste buds and your heart.
Regular Cast
▲ Aoyagi Shota: Kenta Kamakari
▲ Yamamoto Itsuki: Monma Wataru
▲ Yoshihiro Nozoe plays the role of General Ishida Katsuichi
▲ Role of Mii-san: Kinuo Yamada
▲Abe-chan: Mizuki Watanabe
▲Hasegawa: Takayuki Sakoi
▲ Ito: Shinya Hasegawa
▲Chief Okada: Kohei Shiotsu
Original story introduction
"Wakako Sake"
(Zenon Comics/Core Mix)
Author: Chie Shinkyu
Publisher: Coremix
Volumes 1 to 23 are on sale now!
Volume 24 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, February 20, 2025‼
Wakako Murazaki is 26 years old. She was born with a tongue for drinking, so tonight she is wandering around looking for a place to belong. This is a short story about a solo drinker who might be sitting next to you.
"Wakakozake" Episode 1 sample:
https://comic-zenon.com/episode/10834108156688950516
Season 8 Episode Titles (※Broadcast dates are tentative)
January 8th (Wednesday) First Night: "The Strongest Chicken Nanban"
January 15th (Wednesday) 2nd Night "A Toast to Showa Retro"
January 22nd (Wednesday) Third Night "Real Chinese and Local Chinese"
January 29th (Wednesday) 4th Night "Taste of Hokuriku in Tokyo"
February 5th (Wednesday) 5th Night "The Taste of Smoke"
February 12th (Wednesday) 6th Night "Fire Camembert"
February 19th (Wednesday) 7th Night "The Chef and the Chef's Taste"
February 26th (Wednesday) Episode 8 "Morning Activities♪"
March 5th (Wednesday) Episode 9: "My First Town Sushi"
March 12th (Wednesday) Episode 10: "Established Western Cuisine and Mother's Love"
March 19th (Wednesday) 11th Night: "Asian Food and Alcohol"
Wednesday, March 26th: 12th Night "Shirayaki Reward"
Introduction
Today is also a happy day for drinking alone
Wakako Murazaki is a 26-year-old woman who loves alcohol and food more than anything else. She is a heavy drinker who will gather up her courage and take a step into any bar she happens to come across. Wakako enjoys drinking alone at the bar, thinking about events at work and listening to the conversations of the other customers. Sometimes she indulges in a particular dish and drink, and sometimes she relaxes and savors seasonal dishes and drinks. Her friends, coworkers, the chef of her favorite bar "Oraku," and the people around her kindly watch over her relationship with alcohol. The moment the alcohol and food are perfectly combined, her whole body is filled with euphoria and she can't help but let out a sigh. It is a moment of bliss for Wakako.
Program Overview
[Title] Wakakozake Season 8
[Broadcast date and time] Starts January 8, 2025 (Wednesday) Every Wednesday from midnight to midnight
[Broadcasting station] BS TV Tokyo (BS⑦ch BS TV Tokyo 4K (4K⑦ch) Nationwide free broadcast
【delivery】
The series will be exclusively released for one week on NTT Docomo's video distribution service "Lemino Premium," and all episodes from the first to the latest will be available to watch.
▶Lemino： https://lemino.docomo.ne.jp/
The free ad-supported video streaming services "Netto mo TV Tokyo" and "TVer" will be streaming the latest episodes for free for one week starting immediately after they are broadcast on BS TV Tokyo.
▶TV Tokyo website:https://video.tv-tokyo.co.jp/
▶TVer： https://tver.jp/
[Original work] "Wakakozake" by Chie Shinkyu (Monthly Comic Zenon/Core Mix)
Cast: Rina Takeda, Kenta Kamakari, Wataru Monma, Yoshihiro Nozoe, Kinuo Yamada, Mizuki Watanabe, Takayuki Sakoi, Shinya Hasegawa, Kohei Shiotsu, and others
[Director] Shinji Kuma, Shohei Wakabayashi, Taro Kubota
[Screenplay] Kumiko Aso, Momoka Onna Satoyama, Shinji Kuma, Shohei Wakabayashi
[Chief Producer] Noboru Morita (TV Tokyo)
Producers: Shoji Kawamura (TV Tokyo), Mitsuo Ishii (M-Rocks), Yasushi Minatoya (Darwin)
[Content Producer] Fumiho Ogino (TV Tokyo) Hatsura Takahashi (TV Tokyo)
[Produced by] BS TV Tokyo Darwin
【Production・Author】2025 "Rakko Sake 8" Production Committee
【Official website】https://www.bs-tvtokyo.co.jp/wakako_zake/
【Formula X】@wakakozake_TV
[Official Instagram]@wakakozake_tv