Mana Ashida plays an autistic rookie lawyer in new Japanese drama

Mana Ashida stars as a rookie lawyer with autism in the Japanese drama “Minamida Minami Is a Natural.”

The series follows Minami as she encounters cases and people while working at a law firm.

Ashida said her first courtroom scenes felt tense, but she is becoming more confident in the role as filming continues.

Fumiya Takahashi plays a paralegal who supports Minami, while other cast members include Kanata Hosoda and Shiori Kubo.

Hosoda and Kubo said their characters have quarrels, and that their own trust helps them play those scenes.

The cast described a warm atmosphere on set and praised Ashida’s preparation for the lead role.

The drama premieres on October 19 on the Kansai TV and Fuji TV network, with episodes scheduled for Monday nights.