New drama "Strawberry Night"

Actress Yuko Takeuchi (30) will take on her first role as a police detective in a Fuji TV drama special later this year, titled "Strawberry Night."

"Strawberry Night" is an adaptation of Tetsuya Honda's bestselling mystery of the same name. The book, published in 2006, has sold 600,000 copies so far.

Takeuchi plays the protagonist, Reiko Himekawa, a young detective who has quickly risen through the ranks to become a member of the first investigative division. While trying to solve a mysterious murder, she comes across the keyword "Strawberry Night," and she must decipher its meaning in order to crack the case.

Takeuchi's supporting cast includes Tetsuya Takeda (61) and Hidetoshi Nishijima (39). Fuji TV plans to air the drama this fall, though the exact broadcast date is still undecided.