Sky Castle (Japanese TV series) explained

Native Name:SKYキャッスル
Genre:
Based On:Sky Castle
by Yoo Hyun-mi
Director:Naoki Tamura (TV Asahi) Yuuji
Nakamae Kazunari Hoshino
End Theme:iri Swamp
Country:Japan
Language:Japanese
Num Episodes:9
Executive Producer:Seiko Uchiyama (TV Asahi, EP)
Tatsuki Oe (TV Asahi, GP)
Producer:Soei Hamada (TV Asahi)
Ryosuke Yamagata(Kadokawa Daiei Studio)
Misato Kono (Horipro)
Runtime:54 minutes
Company:Kadokawa Daiei Studios (cooperation)
TV Asahi
Network:TV Asahi
Related:Sky Castle

Sky Castle is a 2024 Japanese TV series; a remake of the 2018 South Korean hit television drama that also aired on Japan via JTBC. It was airing under the same title Sky Castle on TV Asahi's Thursday Drama slot since July 25, till September 26, 2024.[1]  The lead role is played by Nao Matsushita.

After Sky Castle is airing in Japan, it is scheduled to be broadcast and streamed in over 140 countries and regions around the world on Amazon Prime Video and other platforms.[2]

Cast

Main characters

Sae Asami (39)

Original: Han Seo-jin

Played by: Nao MatsushitaHer real name is Yoko Baba. Her maiden name is Okura.She is a perfect celebrity with an enviable career and looks. She has two daughters.She hid the fact that she originally came from an orphanage called Wakanazono, and to save face, lied about her academic background and work history, saying that she graduated from Harvard University and that her parents were surgeons in the United States, but Izumi, who had moved in across the street, discovered that she was actually Yoko Baba.

Minamisawa Izumi (39)

Original: Lee Soo-im

Played by: Fumino Kimura
(10-year-old: Midori Nakano)[3] A novelist. A new resident of Sky Castle. Her maiden name is Kubota. She has a simple personality and a pure sense of justice that is unusual for a celebrity, and she has an excellent husband and son, whom she loves as her own child.

Misaki Natsume (36)

Original: Jin Jin-hee

Played by: Mary Jun TakahashiA former housewife with aspirations of becoming an actress. She has a son. Natsume befriends Asami Sae just to get her daughter's secrets of being a top student in school.

Kyoko Nikaido (38)

Original: Noh Seung Hye

Played by: Manami HigaShe is a talented and beautiful housewife who also went on to graduate school. She has a son and befriends quickly with the new family's housewife. A woman who would do anything in order to protect her son.

Ayaka Kujo (46)

Original: Kim Joo Young

Played by: KoyukiExam coordinator. 100% of students in her care are accepted into their schools of choice. She is a strict person. This woman also earns Ruri's trust and the two get along so well.

Asami Family

Hideyo Asami (51)

Original: Kang Joonsang

Played by: Seiichi Tanabe[4] Sae's husband, a well-known neurosurgeon at the prestigious Teito Hospital. A surgeon who would do anything for respect, fame and is obsessed with maintaining a good track. He comes from a rich family, yet is focused on climbing the social ladder. He is also Miku Yamada's father. He used to date Nozomi Yamada, Miku's mother. Hideyo gets jealous of the new recruit, whom he looks at as a rival.

Ruri Asami (14)

Original: Kang Ye Seo

Played by: Miu Arai[5] Sae's eldest daughter. A new third-year student at Koyo Gakuen Junior High School. She was spoiled by Sae and is always boasting about her good grades. She inherited her mother's extreme competitive nature, vainness, self-centeredness, and twisted personality, so she is disliked by those around her and has no popularity. She has a crush on the new neighbors' son.

Maju Asami (12)

Original: Kang Yebin

Played by: Noa Shiroyama[5] Sae's second daughter. A new first-year student at Koyo Gakuen Junior High School. Compared to her sister, she is not as good at studying, so she is neglected by Sae and feels inferior. She befriends Miku shortly after the latter moves into their house.

Yukino Asami (73)

Original: Madame Yoon

Played by: Mariko Fuji[6] Hideyo's mother. She comes from a distinguished family. She hates her son's wife, Sae, who lies and has false academic credentials and career records. She constantly makes snide remarks and bullies her in every way possible.

Minamisawa Family

Minamisawa Kohei (45)

Original: Hwang Chi-young

Played by: Ryohei Otani[7] Izumi's husband, a neurosurgeon who graduated from a local medical school, was scouted by the hospital director and began working at Teito Hospital. A rival of Hideyo. A doctor who cares about his patients wellbeing and has a good heart.

Minamisawa Aoba (14)

Original: Hwang Woo-joo

Played by: Aito SakamotoSon of Kohei, who remarried Izumi after his wife passed away. A new third-year student at the prestigious Koyo Gakuen Junior High School. He doesn't show his interest in Ruri, but likes Miku.

Natsume Family

Natsume Ryotaru (42)

Original: Woo Yang-woo

Played by: Honda RikiMisaki's husband and a neurosurgeon at Teito Hospital. He is foolish and befriends Hideyo.

Natsume Kensaku (14)

Original: Woo Soo-han

Played by: Fumi MatsufujiMisaki's only son. A new third-year student at Koyo Gakuen Junior High School, who hates studying. He gets along well with Sho and the other kids.

Nikaido Family

Wataru Nikaido (49)

Original: Cha Min-hyuk

Played by: Kosuke SuzukiKyoko's husband and a neurosurgeon at Teito Hospital. He thinks the most prestigious people are the ones on the top of the social pyramid, so in this mindset; he teaches his son at home. He is self-centered and has a strict personality.

Sho Nikaido (14)

Original: Cha Seo-joon

Played by: Fuga ShibasakiKyoko's only son. A new third-year student at Koyo Gakuen Junior High School. A kind and quiet boy who dislikes his father's method of teaching and studying.

Saejima Family

Haruto Saejima (15)

Original: Park Yeong-jae

Played by: Riku OnishiThe only son of Tetsuto and Kaori. Despite not having very good grades, he managed to pass the highly competitive entrance exam for Teito Medical University High School.However, she did not want to pass the exam, and wrote a diary about her exam on the tablet that Sae had lent to Kaori, driving Kaori to suicide.

Kaori Saejima (46)

Original: Lee Myung-joo

Played by: Naho TodaHaruto's mother. A woman with a seemingly perfect family and life. After seeing the diary that Haruto had written on the tablet, she committed suicide.

Tetsuto Saejima (55)

Original: Park Soo-chang

Played by: Jun HashimotoKaori's husband. He is the head of the neurosurgery department at Teito Hospital and an elite who is expected to be the next hospital director. He is a good senior to Hideyo.

Others

Miku Yamada (14)

Original: Kim Hye-na

Played by: Sora TamakiA smart and kind girl who competes with Ruri and Aoba for grades. A new third-year student at Koyo Gakuen Junior High School. She aims to become a doctor while working part-time jobs every day to care for her mother who is hospitalized at Teito Hospital and to pay for her treatment. She receives money from Rei by completing Yuma's school assignments. After seeing a photo in the picture book "Sky Castle," she finds out that Hideyo and Nozomi were dating. She harbors intense hatred for her half-sister Ruri, who has never known hardship.

Nozomi Yamada (41)

Original: Kim Eun Hye

Played by: Kurara Emi Miku's mother. She used to date Hideyo in the past. The two used to have feelings for each other. She was seriously ill and hospitalized at Teito Hospital, but passed away. (Episode 4).

Eiji Nagamine (37)

Original: Cho Tae-jun

Played by: Ko MaeharaAyaka's capable secretary. He is her right hand and Ayaka trusts him.

Rei Kato (40)

Played by: Risa NaitoShe is the mother of Kato Yuma, a new third-year student at Koyo Gakuen Junior High School.

Yuma Kato

Played by: Yuto OtsukaRei Kato's son. He has Miku help him with his school assignments.

Sakura Akikawa (22)

Original: Lee Ga Eul

Played by: Arisa MatsudaA former housekeeper for the Saejima family. She was a good friend to Haruto, but she suddenly left the Saejima family six months ago.

Takashi Okochi (68)

Original: Choi In-ho

Played by: Takehiko OnoThe director of Teito Hospital.

Guest

Episode 1

Played by: Yuki Hirako (Alco & Peace)He is the moderator of an educational seminar hosted by Teishin Bank, which is open only to a limited number of VIPs.

Played by: Haruka MiwaRegistration for the seminar.Yoko Baba

Played by: Honoka Yoshida

Episode 2

A girl chasing the police car in which her arrested father is riding. When she was in sixth grade, she left the orphanage "Wakanaen" and was taken in by a relative, and became Okura Sae. Now that she is married, she uses the surname Asami.

Played by: Maori[8] A teacher reads the picture book "Sky Castle" to Yoko Baba at Wakanaen, the orphanage where she is staying.

Episode 2

Played by: Orion Maeda, Sasara Yamamoto, Yo Funakawa,[9] Hisaki Goto[9] They are the classmate of Yoko Baba and Izumi in elementary school. They bully Yoko when she finds out that she lied about her parents being doctors in America.

Episode 3

Played by: Hajime Ishii[10] Examiner for the midterm exams of Koyo Gakuen Junior High School Class 3-Special A.

Played by: Tsuyoshi Nakano[11] The surgery was performed by Kohei Minamisawa.

Played by: Masato Kato[12] Renovating the Nikaido family's children's room.

Played by: Hideto SuzukiThe convenience store clerk where Asami Masaru tried to shoplift a magazine.

Played by: Keiichiro Hashimoto[13] Moderator of Governor Hasuike's press conference upon his discharge from hospital.

Episode 4

Played by: Kana KajiwaraWhen Izumi was aspiring to be a high school teacher, she was a student of the school where she was doing her teaching practice. She was sending out an SOS and Izumi was unable to save her, leading to her suicide, which had a major impact on the way Izumi lived her life thereafter.

Played by: Erika Natori[14] A clerk at the accounting reception desk of Teito Hospital.

Played by: Hiroyuki Yamamoto[15] Yamada Nozomi's doctor.

Episode 5

Played by: China Kusumoto、Kaori Isoyama,[16] Emiri Tokunaga、Satoko Kikuchi、Chisa Yamaguchi,[17] Hatsumi IshizukaThe residents of Sky Castle are talking about rumors, such as Sae's background, which she tried to stop Izumi from writing a novel, being a lie and having come from an institution.

Production

The series will be broadcast and streamed in over 140 countries and regions around the world on the other streaming platforms and on Amazon Prime Video. The series is filmed in a condominium complex located in Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture.

Viewership

Average TV viewership ratings!!Original Broadcast Date!Title!Director!Ratings
1July 25, 2024Sky Castle Battle BeginsNaoki Tamura8.5%
[18]
2August 1, 2024Shocking Past Revealed5.3%
[19]
3August 8, 2024Breaking Down WallsYuji Nakamae5.4%
[20]
4August 15, 2024Hold Secrets From The Past5.4%
[21]
5August 22, 2024True Face RevealedNaoki Tamura6.3%
[22]
6August 29, 2024Husband Has A Secret Child?Kazunari Hoshino6.7%[23]
7September 12, 2024The Mastermind RevealedNaoki Tamura6.6%[24]
8September 19, 2024All Mysteries RevealedKazunari Hoshino7.6%[25]
9September 26, 2024Unexpected Truth (Finale)Naoki Tamura7.9%[26]
(Viewer ratings are from Video Research, Kanto region, households, real time)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: June 11, 2024 . Nao Matsushita stars in remake of Korean drama "Sky Castle" co-starring Fumino Kimura, Ami Higa, and Yukie Ko . Real Sound Japan.
  2. News: July 22, 2024 . "Sky Castle" will be "re-exported" to South Korea, where the original drama was created. Global broadcasting and distribution. . mdpr.jp.
  3. Web site: 中野翠咲|MODELS|Gurre Kids|ギュラ・キッズ . 2024-08-29 . www.gurre-kids.com.
  4. Web site: June 18, 2024 . "Sky Castle" husband roles played by Seiichi Tanabe, Ryohei Otani, Kosuke Suzuki and Riki Honda battle for success . Natalie Movie Editorial Department.
  5. Web site: 「スカイキャッスル」に坂元愛登、田牧そら、新井美羽、白山乃愛、柴崎楓雅、松藤史恩(コメントあり) . 2024-09-05 . 映画ナタリー . ja.
  6. Web site: 2024-07-30 . 『スカイキャッスル』橋本じゅん、戸田菜穂ら"エリート家族役"のキャスト解禁 . 2024-09-05 . ORICON NEWS.
  7. Web site: 「スカイキャッスル」夫役の田辺誠一、大谷亮平、鈴木浩介、本多力が出世バトル(コメントあり) . 2024-09-05 . 映画ナタリー . ja.
  8. skycastle__ex . 「スカイキャッスル」木曜よる9時【テレビ朝日公式】 . 1815928973626630212 . スカイキャッスル\ 第1話に特別ゲスト登場!/明日よる9時放送の初回拡大スペシャルに… #アルコ&ピース #平子祐希 さんと #三輪晴香 さんが出演します限られたVIPのみが参加できる"秘密の教育セミナー"の司会&受付役❕ . 2024-07-24 . 2024-07-25 .
  9. theatreacademy . テアトルアカデミー . 1818436417367728563 . 【船川燿*後藤日咲】木曜ドラマ『スカイキャッスル』第2話 #船川燿 #後藤日咲 が出演!! 8月1日(木)21時~テレビ朝日系にて放送! . 2024-07-31 . 2024-08-01 .
  10. infogleanmedia . グリーンメディア . 1820303565724008728 . ≪出演情報≫【いしいはじめ】テレビ朝日「スカイキャッスル」3話 2024年8月8日(木)21:00~ . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-08 .
  11. nakanoshowten27 . 中野笑店公式♪ . 1821066602131157235 . 8/8(木)夜9時 テレビ朝日「#スカイキャッスル」第3話に、中野剛も出演しています♪   . 2024-08-07 . 2024-08-08 .
  12. imagination0602 . イマジネイション . 1821356598033371636 . 【ドラマ 出演情報】#加藤雅人 TV朝日「スカイキャッスル」第3話 8/8(木) 21:00~ . 2024-08-08 . 2024-08-08 .
  13. 919quick_ . 株式会社Quick . 1820724881094480224 . 【橋本恵一郎】テレビ朝日「スカイキャッスル」3話 出演 8/8(木) 21:00〜 . 2024-08-06 . 2024-08-08 .
  14. 919quick_ . 株式会社Quick . 1826515693183140009 . 【名取えりか】テレビ朝日「スカイキャッスル」4話 出演 2024/8/15(木) 21:00〜 . 2024-08-22 . 2024-08-22 .
  15. SRpro_jp . SRプロダクション . 1821760527858913727 . 【出演情報】#山本啓之 8月15日(木)21時00分~ テレビ朝日「スカイキャッスル」4話 . 2024-08-09 . 2024-08-16 .
  16. satoko0229 . 菊池聡子‍♀️ . 1826555135277105588 . 【出演情報】本日夜21時〜 テレビ朝日ドラマ「 スカイキャッスル 」に隣人役として出演いたします!ご都合よろしければご覧下さいませ‍♀️韓国版も面白いですが日本版も面白い!毎週楽しみに拝見させて頂いております!出演させて頂き本当に嬉しい✨是非に! . 2024-08-22 . 2024-08-22 .
  17. infogleanmedia . グリーンメディア . 1825797774924984761 . ≪出演情報≫【#徳永笑美里】【#石塚初美】【#山口知紗】【#磯山香】テレビ朝日「スカイキャッスル」5話 2024年8月22日(木)21:00~ . 2024-08-20 . 2024-08-22 .
  18. Web site: 松下奈緒「スカイキャッスル」初回拡大SP8・5% 美しきセレブ妻たちのドロ沼バトル幕開け. nikkansports.com. 日刊スポーツNEWS. 2024-07-26. 2024-07-26.
  19. Web site: 松下奈緒「スカイキャッスル」第2話5・3% 紗英が放った一言…やがて特大ブーメランとなって. nikkansports.com. 日刊スポーツNEWS. 2024-08-02. 2024-08-02.
  20. Web site: 松下奈緒「スカイキャッスル」第3話5・4% 徐々に動き出すドロ沼劇、浅見家にも不穏な影が. nikkansports.com. 日刊スポーツNEWS. 2024-08-09. 2024-08-09.
  21. Web site: 松下奈緒「スカイキャッスル」第4話5・4% 紗英と紗英の過去を知る泉のドロ沼バトル. nikkansports.com. 日刊スポーツNEWS. 2024-08-16. 2024-08-16.
  22. Web site: 2024-08-23 . Nao Matsushita "Sky Castle" Episode 5 6.3% Sae's hidden past is revealed, and her daughter Ruri . 2024-08-23 . . 日刊スポーツNEWS.
  23. Web site: 川田和博 . Nao Matsushita "Sky Castle" Episode 6 6.7%. Ayaka Kujo's past is revealed, to the isolated Sae... . 2024-08-31 . nikkansports.com . ja.
  24. Web site: 川田和博 . Nao Matsushita "Sky Castle" Episode 7 6.6% Miku's rampage turns the Asami family's parent-child relationship into a quagmire . 2024-09-17 . nikkansports.com . ja.
  25. Web site: 川田和博 . Nao Matsushita "Sky Castle" Episode 8 7.6% Sae reveals to Hideyo that Miku, who is in critical condition, is her real daughter . 2024-09-20 . nikkansports.com . ja.
  26. Web site: 川田和博 . Nao Matsushita's "Sky Castle" final episode 7.9% The whole picture is revealed... How will this love-hate drama end? . 2024-10-14 . nikkansports.com . ja.