[Fuji TV] Kōhei Takeda & Kento Shibuya Co-star in "Smoke Blue, Then Clear Skies", an Adult Bittersweet Love Story Depicting the Lives and Loves of Two Forty-Something Former Salarymen, Exclusively Streaming on FOD!

https://fod.fujitv.co.jp/title/71aj　(Streaming Page)

https://www.ytv.co.jp/smokeblue/　(Official Page)

Fuji TV's video distribution service FOD has decided to exclusively stream the drama "Smoke Blue, Then Clear Skies," which begins airing on Yomiuri TV (Kansai) starting April 6th (Monday), from 25:59 on the same day. New episodes will be streamed every Monday at 25:59 thereafter.

"Smoke Blue, Then Clear Skies" (C) Kamome Hamada/KADOKAWA/"Smoke Blue, Then Clear Skies" Production Committee

"Smoke Blue, Then Clear Skies" is a live-action drama adaptation of Kamome Hamada's popular BL comic, which has surpassed a cumulative circulation of 700,000 copies and garnered significant support, with its voice comic's YouTube views exceeding 1.4 million. The story follows two forty-something former colleagues who once competed as top sales representatives. An eight-year reunion prompts them to re-examine their lives. It explores not only romance but also parental aging and death, job satisfaction, and the choice between living with someone or alone. The drama portrays the world and emotions that become visible with age, depicted in a true-to-life manner.

Kōhei Takeda (C) Kamome Hamada/KADOKAWA/"Smoke Blue, Then Clear Skies" Production Committee

Kento Shibuya (C) Kamome Hamada/KADOKAWA/"Smoke Blue, Then Clear Skies" Production Committee

Kōhei Takeda, known for his diverse roles in "Kamen Rider Build" and "Old Fashioned Cupcake," plays Azuma Sakutaro, a former pharmaceutical company ace MR who quit due to career stagnation and is now unemployed. Kento Shibuya, who has built a career with his solid acting skills since childhood and recently gained attention in the NHK historical drama "Toyotomi Brothers!", plays Kuji Shizuka, Sakutaro's former colleague who now works as a medical translator. The two accomplished actors will carefully embody the subtle emotional shifts and unspoken feelings of the two men whose lives begin to move forward after their reunion eight years later.

This work depicts the journey of two forty-somethings at a crossroads in life, as they confront their own ways of living triggered by their reunion, all from a quiet and warm perspective. Please look forward to a "grown-up bittersweet love story" that, beyond romance, resonates as a human drama, without being overly sweet.

(Left to right) Kento Shibuya, Kōhei Takeda (C) Kamome Hamada/KADOKAWA/"Smoke Blue, Then Clear Skies" Production Committee

[Synopsis]

Azuma Sakutaro (Kōhei Takeda), 38, is unemployed and gay. Until a few years ago, he worked as an ace MR at a pharmaceutical company.

As his performance declined in his mid-30s, he became anxious that his life wasn't progressing compared to his peers who were getting married or changing jobs, leading him to eventually quit suddenly due to mental and physical exhaustion. He is currently living rent-free with his sister's family, sleeping until noon and blowing off stress through nightlife. One day, he was almost forced into a hotel by a man he met at a gay bar, but was saved by Kuji Shizuka (Kento Shibuya), his former colleague and rival who competed with him for No. 1 sales during their MR days.

The two had a one-time encounter on Kuji's last day of work and are now reuniting for the first time in 8 years. Kuji, still with his characteristic sarcastic personality, has long hair and works as a translator.

The one-time relationship, suppressed eight years ago, suddenly moves the lives of the two men forward with their chance reunion. This "adult bittersweet love story," not overly sweet, shared by two forty-somethings with life experience, realistically portrays the world and emotions that become visible with age, including parental aging and death, job satisfaction, and the choice between living with someone or alone.

◇ Drama Overview

Title: "Smoke Blue, Then Clear Skies"

Distribution: Exclusive streaming begins April 6th (Monday) at 25:59. New episodes will be streamed every Monday at 25:59 thereafter.

※Distribution times are subject to change without notice.

Cast: Kōhei Takeda, Kento Shibuya, and others

Original Work: Kamome Hamada "Smoke Blue, Then Clear Skies" (Fleur Comics / published by KADOKAWA)

Directors: Natsuki Takahashi, Rei Nakata

Screenplay: Mari Kai, Erika Aoki

Production Company: LesPros Entertainment

Production Cooperation: stu

Production: "Smoke Blue, Then Clear Skies" Production Committee

Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation / Avex Pictures

URL: https://fod.fujitv.co.jp/title/71aj　(Streaming Page)

https://www.ytv.co.jp/smokeblue/　(Official Page)

◇ FOD Overview

FOD (https://fod.fujitv.co.jp/) is Fuji TV's official video and e-book distribution service. The "FOD Premium Standard Course" for ¥1,320 (tax included) per month offers unlimited viewing of over 100,000 titles including dramas and movies, and unlimited reading of over 200 magazines. You can also enjoy over 700,000 e-books. Additionally, every Friday, we offer the "FOD Friday" benefit, allowing you to watch TOHO Cinemas movies at a special price of ¥1,200 (tax included).

Details on the "FOD F1™︎ Plan" where you can watch Formula 1® can be found here:

https://fod.fujitv.co.jp/f1/register