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Investor Z Manga Gets Live-Action TV Series Starring Hiroya Shimizu

TV Tokyo announced on Thursday that it is producing a live-action television series adaptation of Norifusa Mita's Investor Z manga starring Hiroya Shimizu (live-action Chihayafuru's Akihito Sudō). The series will premiere in July on TV Tokyo's "Drama 25" drama block, which airs every Friday night at 12:52 a.m. (effectively Saturday morning).

Crunchyroll simultaneously published the manga as it was released in Japan, and the company describes the story:

Zaizen Takashi passes his entrance exams at the top of the heap, and starts his first year in junior high school at Dojuku Gakuen, a 130-year old super-advanced institute of higher education. The day after the entrance ceremony, "the secret" of the school is revealed to him, which concerns the existence of an "investment club," consisting only of the top student from each of the 6 grades.

Its club members have a mission. They must invest from a capital of 300-billion yen and yield a profit of 8%, which is their annual goal. This is why Dojuku Gakuen, boasting the highest standards of education in all of Japan, is tuition free.

"The most exciting game in the world. The ultimate game of ultimate thrill… In other words, money… Investments!" Here begins the story of the genius Zaizen, who bets the entirety of his youth on money. Learn, Zaizen... and make a bundle!!

Mita launched the manga in Kodansha's Morning magazine in 2013, and ended it last year. Kodansha published the manga's 21st and final compiled book volume last October.

Mita's 2003-2007 Kodansha Manga Award-winning Dragon Zakura manga was adapted into a Japanese television drama in 2005, with a sequel in 2010, and a Korean live-action television series in 2010. Mita's Angel Bank: Dragon Zakura Gaiden manga was also adapted into a Japanese drama in 2010. Nikkei reported in 2015 that China's Alibaba group was producing its own live-action drama. Mita launched a sequel manga titled Dragon Zakura Two in Kodansha's Morning magazine on January 25. Crunchyroll is publishing the manga as it is released in Japan.

Sources: Investor Z live-action show's official website, Comic Natalie