Aibou Season 25 announces major partner cast transition

The long-running Japanese drama series ‘Aibou’ has announced a major cast transition for its 25th memorial season. In a development described as an unprecedented “partner relay,” the current character Kaoru Kameyama, played by Yasufumi Terawaki, will pass the mantle to Mitsuhiro Oikawa, who returns to play the character Mikoto Kanbe.

This transition marks the fifth such partner change in the series' history. Yutaka Mizutani, who plays the lead character Ukyo Sugishita, noted that this unique development is something only the long-standing ‘Aibou’ world could achieve. Terawaki expressed his commitment to performing with full sincerity until the handover occurs, while Oikawa shared his surprise at the news and his readiness to receive the “second baton” from his predecessor.

The 25th season is scheduled to premiere on October 21 on TV Asahi. To commemorate the milestone, the network will also broadcast a “Ukyo & Kaoru Memorial Selection” starting October 14, featuring selected episodes from the history of the Sugishita and Kameyama partnership.