The short drama adaptation of Girlfriend, based on the manga by Hisamatsu Eito, launched on DMM Short on June 16 with all 30 episodes available at once.
About Girlfriend
Girlfriend is a romance omnibus manga published under the DEDEDE label of digital manga publisher CLLENN, available across major digital bookstores. The story follows Hana, a 26-year-old woman who, despite her striking looks, lacks self-confidence and tends to depend heavily on others. Each episode draws her deeper into a series of turbulent romantic entanglements with various men and women that she struggles to control.
Cast & Staff
- Hongo Yuzuha as Hana, the protagonist
- Takasaki Kanami as Juda, a charismatic female street musician who upends Hana’s life
- Nishikawa Tatsuro as director and screenwriter
Comments from the Creator and Cast
Manga author Hisamatsu Eito said they were genuinely surprised when first approached about an adaptation, wondering whether the manga’s content could even be translated to screen. After seeing the finished product, however, they were deeply moved — describing it as a wonderful work that makes you want to watch straight through to the end. Hisamatsu also encouraged fans to enjoy both the manga and the drama together.
Hongo Yuzuha admitted to initial doubts about whether she was right for the role, but committed fully once she accepted it. To prepare for Hana — a character who faces misfortune in every episode — she made a conscious effort to spend more time alone during filming and avoided getting too close to her co-stars, all in order to stay in the right emotional headspace.
Takasaki Kanami noted that Juda was the first cool, strong female character she had ever played. Her main concern was that her naturally high voice might not suit the role, so she deliberately lowered her pitch during filming while also bringing out Juda’s bright, spirited energy. She also took on two personal firsts on set: a smoking scene — for which she needed guidance from the crew — and a kiss scene, which she and Hongo Yuzuha both navigated nervously together, carefully working out angles and presentation shot by shot.
Director and screenwriter Nishikawa Tatsuro described reading the source material as an almost horror-like experience — watching a protagonist who desperately wants to be loved spiral into unhappiness through a chain of deception and betrayal. He channeled that sense of dread into the production, using the pace inherent to short-form drama and the full vertical screen to depict the protagonist’s psychological descent. He calls the series a “love horror” — one that, surprisingly, leaves viewers feeling energized once the credits roll.
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