TV Asahi's New Vertical Short Drama "Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru" Starts Distribution Today! A "Hungry, Hectic Girls' Ensemble Drama" with Maximum Female Empathy, Featuring Three Life-Sized Heroines in Their 20s
TV Asahi and Gocco Club have teamed up to launch a new vertical short drama, "Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru," which began streaming on SNS platforms from April 14, 2026. Starring Akari Matsukawa, Mao Asahina, and Otoha Asahi, this drama depicts a highly relatable "hungry, hectic girls' ensemble drama" featuring three 20-something heroines.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 17:24 (124h 53m after Collected)
Left: Akari Matsukawa, Center: Mao Asahina, Right: Otoha Asahi
■ New Project "Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru" by Gocco Club, Boasting Japan's Highest Playback Count in Vertical Short Dramas, and TV Asahi, Begins Distribution
TV Asahi has partnered with Gocco Club, which boasts over 12 billion views, the highest playback count in vertical short dramas in Japan, to launch a new short drama account, "Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru" (reading: Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru), which began streaming on SNS platforms from Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
This is a new sensation "hungry, hectic girls' ensemble drama" that combines Gocco Club's accumulated know-how in vertical short dramas with TV Asahi's entertainment expertise, delivering empathy, exhilaration, and sometimes "food porn" to viewers.
This work is an ensemble drama about three girls who, despite having different jobs, personalities, and individualities, become friends by chance and solve "girl-specific incidents and worries" that happen around them while satisfying their hunger, achieving maximum female empathy.
Heroine number one, playing a life-sized woman in her 20s, is Misaki Shibuya, played by Akari Matsukawa. A 27-year-old dazzling woman who works at an advertising agency and is also active as an influencer. Contrary to her appearance, she is deeply loyal to her friends and will do anything for them. However, her motto is "men are stepping stones, disposable," and she can sometimes be seen as cunning and envied.
Heroine number two is Haruna Ueno, played by Otoha Asahi. A 23-year-old hairdresser who works hard every day and is fully committed to her job, but is a bit clumsy. She's the most energetic of the heroines! At first glance, she seems easy to talk to and popular, but her romantic experience is only average. However, she also has a tendency to fall in love easily!
Heroine number three is Aoi Otsuka, played by Mao Asahina. A 25-year-old who once worked for a company but couldn't adapt, and now works part-time at an internet cafe. She can be a bit blunt, but she smiles when she gets close to people. She seems to have a bit of an otaku personality and secretly pursues her dream of becoming a manga artist.
◼️ "Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru" Official SNS Accounts
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sandokuotome
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sandokuotome
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandokuotome
X: https://x.com/sandokuotome
In addition to the drama, various SNS accounts will also feature behind-the-scenes footage, useful recipes, and gourmet information that appear in the work!
■ Starring Three Noteworthy Actresses: A Young Hope of the Acting World, a Regular Vertical Drama Performer and JJ Exclusive Model, and an ABEMA Love Reality Show Alumna!
The lead roles in "Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru" are played by three noteworthy young actresses.
[Role: Aoi Otsuka] Mao Asahina (24)
Actress/Model. Born in Tokyo.
After starting her career as a subject model, she began acting in 2024. She has appeared in a continuous stream of dramas, films, stage productions, and commercials. In 2026, she received the "50th Elan d'or Award Actors Seminar Award," presented by the Japan Association of Film and Television Producers to young actors expected to be active in the future. In a terrestrial drama broadcast the same year, she played a singer-songwriter, and her clear singing voice attracted attention.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maokra__/
[Role: Haruna Ueno] Otoha Asahi (21)
Born in Kagoshima Prefecture, she debuted in the entertainment industry after appearing in ABEMA's youth romance reality show "Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita. -Konatsu Arc-" (2022). She is currently active, appearing in numerous films, TV dramas, and short drama productions.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otohaaaa12/
X: https://x.com/otohaaaa12?s=20
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oth.12?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
[Role: Misaki Shibuya] Akari Matsukawa (29)
Actress/Model. Born in Kanagawa Prefecture.
While active as an actress, appearing in numerous TV and vertical dramas, she is also multi-talented, working as an exclusive model for JJ, and being featured in beauty magazines and women's fashion brands. Her social media presence has garnered attention, and she is supported as an icon for women of her generation.
■ New Project "Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru" by Gocco Club, Boasting Japan's Highest Playback Count in Vertical Short Dramas, and TV Asahi, Begins Distribution
TV Asahi has partnered with Gocco Club, which boasts over 12 billion views, the highest playback count in vertical short dramas in Japan, to launch a new short drama account, "Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru" (reading: Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru), which began streaming on SNS platforms from Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
This is a new sensation "hungry, hectic girls' ensemble drama" that combines Gocco Club's accumulated know-how in vertical short dramas with TV Asahi's entertainment expertise, delivering empathy, exhilaration, and sometimes "food porn" to viewers.
This work is an ensemble drama about three girls who, despite having different jobs, personalities, and individualities, become friends by chance and solve "girl-specific incidents and worries" that happen around them while satisfying their hunger, achieving maximum female empathy.
Heroine number one, playing a life-sized woman in her 20s, is Misaki Shibuya, played by Akari Matsukawa. A 27-year-old dazzling woman who works at an advertising agency and is also active as an influencer. Contrary to her appearance, she is deeply loyal to her friends and will do anything for them. However, her motto is "men are stepping stones, disposable," and she can sometimes be seen as cunning and envied.
Heroine number two is Haruna Ueno, played by Otoha Asahi. A 23-year-old hairdresser who works hard every day and is fully committed to her job, but is a bit clumsy. She's the most energetic of the heroines! At first glance, she seems easy to talk to and popular, but her romantic experience is only average. However, she also has a tendency to fall in love easily!
Heroine number three is Aoi Otsuka, played by Mao Asahina. A 25-year-old who once worked for a company but couldn't adapt, and now works part-time at an internet cafe. She can be a bit blunt, but she smiles when she gets close to people. She seems to have a bit of an otaku personality and secretly pursues her dream of becoming a manga artist.
◼️ "Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru" Official SNS Accounts
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sandokuotome
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sandokuotome
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandokuotome
X: https://x.com/sandokuotome
In addition to the drama, various SNS accounts will also feature behind-the-scenes footage, useful recipes, and gourmet information that appear in the work!
■ Starring Three Noteworthy Actresses: A Young Hope of the Acting World, a Regular Vertical Drama Performer and JJ Exclusive Model, and an ABEMA Love Reality Show Alumna!
The lead roles in "Sandoku Otome wa Hara ga Heru" are played by three noteworthy young actresses.
[Role: Aoi Otsuka] Mao Asahina (24)
Actress/Model. Born in Tokyo.
After starting her career as a subject model, she began acting in 2024. She has appeared in a continuous stream of dramas, films, stage productions, and commercials. In 2026, she received the "50th Elan d'or Award Actors Seminar Award," presented by the Japan Association of Film and Television Producers to young actors expected to be active in the future. In a terrestrial drama broadcast the same year, she played a singer-songwriter, and her clear singing voice attracted attention.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maokra__/
[Role: Haruna Ueno] Otoha Asahi (21)
Born in Kagoshima Prefecture, she debuted in the entertainment industry after appearing in ABEMA's youth romance reality show "Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita. -Konatsu Arc-" (2022). She is currently active, appearing in numerous films, TV dramas, and short drama productions.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otohaaaa12/
X: https://x.com/otohaaaa12?s=20
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oth.12?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
[Role: Misaki Shibuya] Akari Matsukawa (29)
Actress/Model. Born in Kanagawa Prefecture.
While active as an actress, appearing in numerous TV and vertical dramas, she is also multi-talented, working as an exclusive model for JJ, and being featured in beauty magazines and women's fashion brands. Her social media presence has garnered attention, and she is supported as an icon for women of her generation.