I've noticed that she's in alot of dramas really. Mostly just minor roles.
And I saw a poster for one of her gravure DVDs in a drama, but can't remember which one.

Ushi ni negai wo - Love & Farm
Less than a minute in the first episode


Love Stories IV (third part starring Mizukawa Asumi)


Teioh

Saw another drama today in which she popped up.

This is Kekkon Dekinai Otoko (A man who can't get married) from 2006, where she plays a cashier with two lines.

I'd like to have her serve me  

I nearly said service because my mind works weirdly.

Here as a hospital receptionist in Hatachi no Koibito ("20 years old lover"), with Nagasawa Masami and Tsukamoto Takashi (yes, I watch a lot of Japanese dramas  ). Again only a few lines. But hey, someone has to do them!

Haha, I'm glad you catch this stuff. It makes me wonder, with how many dramas you've watched where she's randomly cropped up... how many more must she be in? 

Ayano is my favorite of the 3rd-gen girls, so I like to have these updates on her. I do hope she sings again someday, as Itte Kureta I Love You was honestly my favorite solo track off of Shangri-La.

Is she finally getting a main role? http://www.s-megami.tv/4th_stage/dorama_dvd/index.html

OMG I think she sings in this. =o Someone help me find more info on this drama!

She had a main role in Deep Love, remember?

Love that brown blazer she's wearing - my top favorite school uniform set. Quick translation from the Amazon page: The story is about 4 high school girls (Makoto, Sachie, Aoi, Nozomi) with different personalities and a love for music. While practicing guitar and fighting like always in the cafe, the cafe owner hands them a flyer with the title "Best high school girl guitar and vocal battle". They can only enter as a group of two, so Sachie and Aoi teams up while Nozomi and Makoto make up the other team. In the challenge they had been waiting for, they have to do games like changing swimsuits battle and bowling battle, which has nothing to do with music. It seems that this battle has been set up by the music producer Naito and the millionaire Gonda. Who will debut? And how will the battle end?

Sounds interesting.  This DVD isn't out until October? grrr... I need to find this subbed somewhere.

Well, unless I'm missing something obvious, double check the year

I'm going crazy, I could have sworn that I saw 2010.