Tao Tsuchiya and Shori Sato to Star in New TV Asahi Police Drama

Actress Tao Tsuchiya and timelesz member Shori Sato will co-star as the leads in TV Asahi's new police drama "Borderless ~Koiki Ido Sosatai~" (Borderless ~Wide Area Mobile Investigation Unit~), premiering April 8.

The drama will air across TV Asahi's 24-station network, marking another major television role for Sato following Johnny & Associates' transformation into timelesz earlier this year. For those unfamiliar, timelesz is the group formerly known as Sexy Zone, which rebranded after the Johnny's entertainment scandal and company restructuring.

Tsuchiya, known for her roles in films like "Your Name" and the Netflix series "Alice in Borderland," brings her established acting credentials to the partnership. Meanwhile, Sato continues building his acting portfolio alongside his idol activities – a common path for Johnny's talents transitioning into more diverse entertainment careers.

The "Borderless" concept suggests a crime procedural focusing on cases that cross jurisdictional boundaries, requiring specialized investigative units. This type of police drama remains popular in Japanese television, often featuring dynamic partnerships between contrasting lead characters.

This collaboration represents an interesting pairing of established film/TV talent with a rising idol-actor, a formula that has proven successful in Japanese entertainment. The April premiere puts "Borderless" in the competitive spring drama season, where networks typically launch their most ambitious new series.

With timelesz still establishing their post-rebranding identity, Sato's prominent drama role helps maintain the group's visibility during this transitional period in their career.