There’s something almost supernatural to the sex appeal of the mega-popular JPOP group SixTONES. Often referred to as the resident “bad boys” of the genre, the group’s rapper, Juri Tanaka, is the baddest of all – in the best way possible. I’ve seen him in action – live and in person – and he LOVES toying with the crowd, using his sensuality like a magic spell cast to get them wild and riled.

It’s what makes him the perfect cast for the supernatural action drama ACMA:GAME, streaming exclusively on PRIME VIDEO for international viewers.

Adapted from the manga of the same name written by Meeb (メーブ) with artwork by Megumi Koji (恵広史), it’s filled with mystery and suspense, and yes, magic. Tanaka has taken on the role of Ui Saito, the childhood friend (and corporate rival) of the main character, Teruasa Oda (Shotaro Mamiya). 

The ACMA (pronounced Akuma, meaning “devil”) game is a battle to the death over a mysterious and all-powerful set of 99 keys that – once assembled – will grant their powers unlimited wealth and power.

Serious and driven by such dubious desires, Saito is a character Tanaka had fallen in love with even before he’d been cast in the drama. “I enjoyed reading the original manga of ACMA: GAME,” he stated, as reported on Dumpling Box. “So when I received the offer to appear, I was extremely happy and excited for the upcoming shoot.

SixTONES new single “GONG” is one of the insert songs

In an exclusive moment with Life in Cartoon Motion, he continued his thoughts on what it was like to film such an intense fantasy series. “It was difficult,” he smiled sheepishly. “The story itself is very fictional. There are keys, a devil appears, they play games in a locked room, and they risk money or various things, including their own lives. It is very unrealistic, but simultaneously, a very realistic human nature is added to it. 

“That synergy of the rather stark human reality and the high-level fantasy made it so much fun,” he continues.” I got the chance to incorporate my own personal reality into the fictional setting, which was very difficult but rewarding. I learned so much, and I believe that I’ll be able to use elements I learned from ACMA: GAME in future projects.”

Whether it’s making music, acting in television or film, there’s no denying how incredibly talented Tanaka is. He’s definitely a man to watch – and not just because he’s so easy on the eyes. 

There will be more Juri Tanaka and the rest of SixTONES soon so… 

Stay tuned!