Casting Ash in a J-drama AKA If Japan Ever Decided to Make a Lesbian!Cinderella Drama..

Time for something fun in this blog. So, some of you may or may not recall my review of Malinda Lo’s Ash wherein I stated that I was incapable of imagining the characters as Asian. Knowing this, I suppose you might be wondering, why in the world would I cast Japanese stars for my imaginary movie/drama? Well, I’m really playing with what-ifs here: If I could have imagined the cast as Asian, who would I cast? It was fun, challenging my white-as-default mindset for this novel. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I was inspired by this glorious, glorious photoshoot starring Horikita Maki and Kuroki Meisa. This photo in particular:

THEIR LOVE IS TRUE AND THEY LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER ♥ ♥

I looooove this photobook, and then thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be fun if Horikita Maki played Ash and Kuroki Meisa played Kaisa? Who else would I cast in an Ash j-drama?” With the encouragement and help of ninefly (YOU ROCK MY WORLD! ♥), I am now here with my proposed imaginary cast for a Ash j-drama!

(Okay, for those familiar with their j-dramas, yes I do realize that with a lesbian Cinderella premise, I could have easily just recasted all the main characters from Last Friends and it would have totally worked BUT working with this photoshoot was much more fun. KUROKI MEISA X HORIKITA MAKI!!!)

Note: I tried to make this casting post non-spoiler friendly, so that anyone coming in without having read Ash can understand this post. I er, do make some j-drama references, because the roles I’ve seen them played influenced my decisions, but hopefully it’s comprehensible.

THE CAST:

Horikita Maki as Ash – Our residental Cinderella

Because Horikita Maki has that sweet face going on while totally capable of channelling inner intensity and stoic-ness. The good girl sans the ditz, in other words.



Kuroki Meisa as Kaisa – The kickass Huntress. Also known as Cinderella’s One True Love

Because Kuroki Meisa is soooooooo badass. And seriously hot.









Nishikido Ryo as Sidhean – The fairy godmotherfather as the fairy prince with Bad Intentions

Haha, casting Sidhean was hard, since I wanted someone cold but has a pretty face at the same time. Then, thankfully ninefly reminded me of Nishikido Ryo. Think he can’t play the cold, bad guy of the triangle? I’ve got two words for y’all: Last Friends. *hears all arguments die* I thought so.




Amami Yuki as Elinor – Cinderella’s dead mother

*is proud* I think this is my most perfect casting, in terms of finding the actress that can fit into Elinor’s character into a T.









Abe Hiroshi as the Father – Cinderella’s dead father who left Ash in debt

Honestly, I casted him because I thought he’d look so good next to Amami Yuki 8D But Abe Hiroshi is one of THE most talented J-actors in the industry, so I think he can play almost anything with charisma and ease.









RYO as Isobel – The eeeeeeeeeevil Stepmother of evilness

I think this is a perfect cast by ninefly, THANKS! =D








Karina as Ana – The snotty stepsister from hell

I think Karina’s got snobbery done pat. =D











Ishihara Satomi as Clara – The other stepsister that’s outshone by everyone

I love Ishihara Satomi and anything she has ever played, so it kinda pains me to cast her in this kind of typecast role, but I think Ishihara Satomi would lend subtlety into this character and bring her to life, make her memorable.







Ueno Juri as Gwen – The bubbly servant girl who’s friends with our Cinderella

Foreget her role in Last Friends for a second and remember Nodame Cantabile. Happy go lucky without being annoying about it. It’s perfect.







Kamenashi Kazuya as the Prince – The Prince who didn’t end up with Cinderella (dun rmb name...)

*cackles* Um, because Kamenashi Kazuya was paired with both Horikita Maki and Kuroki Meisa in two different dramas and the idea that he doesn’t end up with either of them in the same show cracks me up? (I love Kame! But I love Maki/Meisa even more.) Besides, he would totally look so spiffy in Princely attire. =D



Natsuki Mari as Maire - The greenwitch aka Wise Old Lady with Powers

One of the easiest to cast. Her whole repertoire is filled with the eccentric older lady type roles.









So, whaddya think? Agree? Disagree? Wanna proposed different actors to play the parts? Or recast them with different Asians? (I’m not gonna lie, the idea of a Korean drama!Ash is tempting me…) I’m all ears. In the meantime, I’ll end off with another pimpage of the Meisa/Maki photoshoot. (It’s THAT GOOD. ♥)