Abe Natsumi, who recently “graduated” from the pop group Morning Musume, is to make her debut in the lead role of a drama series. She will play the blind heroine in NTV’s Saturday night series “Koinu no Warutsu” (Puppy Waltz). With the much-hyped upcoming release of the movie “Quill,” seeing-eye dogs seem to be the theme of the year so far.• Soulful duo Chemistry are on a roll. Their 4th album has gone straight to No.1 on the Oricon chart, which puts them in a tie for 2nd for male artists with consecutive chart toppers following their debut. Suntory Whisky is using the track “Meaning of Tears” in its upcoming TV CM, the 8th commercial tie-up from the album.