Labyrinth of Hortensia and the Minotaur Japanese Television Drama Series
Labyrinth of Hortensia and the Minotaur (Japanese: 一次元の挿し木, Romaji: Ichi Jigen no Sashiki) is a Japanese television drama series broadcast on NTV and YTV networks. The series is scheduled to premiere on July 5, 2026, occupying the Sunday 22:30 time slot previously held by 10 Kai Kitte Taorenai Ki wa Nai.
Production and Background
The television series is adapted from the novel titled Ichi Jigen no Sashiki, written by Ryunosuke Matsushita and published on February 5, 2025, by Takarajimasha. The production involves directors Hideo Jojo, Yusuke Koroyasu, and Takashi Hidaka, with scripts written by Ryo Takada and Masashi Shimizu.
Plot Synopsis
Haruka Nanase is a graduate student specializing in genetics. Having lost his younger stepsister Shiori in a catastrophic flood, he struggles to accept her death and continues to believe she is alive. His perspective shifts when his professor assigns him to analyze the DNA of 200-year-old human skeletal remains excavated in India. During his examination, Haruka discovers a complete DNA match with his deceased stepsister Shiori. As he investigates this anomalous finding, individuals connected to the case are murdered sequentially, and the skeletal remains are stolen from the laboratory.
Cast and Characters
The series features an ensemble cast:
- Ryosuke Yamada as Haruka Nanase
- Sei Shiraishi as Yui Ishimizaki
- Mayu Hotta as Shiharu Nanase
- Honami Suzuki as Kayoko Senba
- Kuranosuke Sasaki as Kyoichi Nanase
- Taisei Kido as Mikio Maehara
- Shiori Doi as Ryoko Mayuzumi
- Masato Wada as Muneyuki Tada
- Hideyuki Kasahara as Tsuyoshi Kashima
- Shinya Kote as Takayuki Hirama
- Kenta Izuka as Yoichi Onodera
- Megumi Kobashi as Kaede Nanase
- Mina Fujii as Tomoe Senba
- Bokuzo Masana as Akihiko Ishimizaki
- Shima Tabata as Ikue Shibashi
- Yuki Matsushita as Yoko Kasuga
- Mitsuo Yoshihara as Ushio
