Kazuya Kamenashi happy with first ratings for his latest drama

Scene from "Youkai Ningen Bem", with Bera and Berro

Kazuya Kamenashi, star of the latest monster-anime-turned-live-action-drama, achieved one of his best TV ratings last Saturday, reports Mainichi Shimbun on October 24.

“妖怪人間ベム (Youkai Ningen Bem)” started its season off with an impressive 18.9 per cent average rating during the first episode.

“I really want to thank the large number of people who watched the show.  I’m totally happy right now,” Kamenashi said.

It has been reported Kamenashi said it was only the beginning of an exciting series.

“The original story has a lot of character.  Along with our production team who keep breaking down the walls that stand against us in making his live-action show possible, and my co-stars, I hope we can become a stronger team, and put all our heart and hard work into the shoots to make this drama that will stay with people,” he said.

The drama follows three monsters who dream of becoming humans, and in the process befriend a human family.

It has been reported ratings during the first episode peaked at 22.9 per cent, during the scene when the three transform into their monstrous forms.