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Kochikame, the longest continuously running manga in history, will be receiving an adaptation into a TV drama, reveals the latest Weekly Shonen Jump.Shingo Katori, the youngest member of famous Japanese band SMAP will be playing the role of lazy police officer Kankichi Ryotsu.Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kouen Mae Hashutsujo (This Police Station in front of Kouen Park, Katsushika Prefecture), usually shortened to こち亀 / Kochikame, has been continually serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 1976, making it the single longest running manga series in history.


The story deals with Kankichi Ryotsu, the lazy and undisciplined patrol cop and his equally bizarre police officer co-workers at the Kameari police station. A TV anime began in 1996 producing two theatrical films before ending in 2005.Details on the TV drama are scarce, but the casting of Shingo Katori (pictured above) as Ryotsu is receiving its good share of attention.Since SMAP is essentially a male idol group, created by famed talent agency Johnny’s and mostly popular among Japanese women, the choice of Katori for the manly Ryotsu has generated a fair amount of criticism.

Credits : Sankaku / WSJ