The live-action adaptation of It’s Strictly Business (Eigyо̄ Desu kara) is officially heading to screens this fall. The production team confirmed a November 5 premiere, with the series slated to air on BS Fuji at 24:30 JST. Alongside the release window, the series unveiled its first teaser visual and confirmed the two leads driving the story's central dynamic.
Sōta Uemura has been cast as the protagonist Ren Ashihara, a college student attempting to boost his popularity with women by staging a fake romance. He is joined by Rio Takahashi, who will portray his clubmate Issei Kuji, the individual who complicates Ren's plan by turning their charade into something more genuine. Behind the camera, the series is helmed by directors Kozue Sasaki and Kana Urara, with Uiko Miura handling the script.
Mitsubachi Miyuki, the creator behind the popular Cheeky Brat (Namaiki Zakari.) series, launched this title in Hana to Yume magazine in 2021. While the manga has been a staple in Japan, English-language readers can look forward to the first volume arriving via Yen Press on September 22. The publisher is also currently managing the release of several other works by Miyuki, including Stray Cat & Wolf and Spring Storm and Monster.
Given the creator's extensive catalog and the recent uptick in live-action adaptations of her work, it will be interesting to see how this project balances the comedic premise of the original manga with the series' romantic developments. With the premiere date now set, viewers can look for further updates on the series' distribution beyond its initial Japanese broadcast.
