I really liked the song at the end of Bara no nai Hanaya. I found the song and added it to my playlist...AND I also found another song by Yamashita Tatsuro that he sings in English...wow...I'm going to have to make a playlist for my NON J-drama songs...Yamashita's will have to go first..It's really really nice...I also added the theme song from Hotaru no Hikari, Yokogao by Aika...enjoy.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Done with "Bara no nai Hanaya"
YAY! I'm done with another one. Geez, I'm so lame. It was a tearjerker of an episode though it didn't end how I thought (hoped) it would. It was still a good ending.
The story begins when Shiomi Eiji meets Shirato Mio. He owns a flower shop and this particular day, it's raining hard and a pretty woman is standing under the awning trying to stay dry and Shiomi offers her an umbrella. He also offers her to come inside where it's dry. She becomes offended that he would think she was that type of girl...we soon realize she is blind and doesn't realize she's at a flower shop.
The relationship that grows was nice until you realize (by the end of the first episode) what's sort of going on. Later, the reason for what is going on is revealed.
I'm going to put up the last part of Bambino's first episode and then I'll start to put in part of the first episode of Bara no nai Hanaya. Also soon, pics of Shiomi and Shirato and the rest of the cast...
I really should move "Crying out Love" up to the currently watching group...eh...next time...
The story begins when Shiomi Eiji meets Shirato Mio. He owns a flower shop and this particular day, it's raining hard and a pretty woman is standing under the awning trying to stay dry and Shiomi offers her an umbrella. He also offers her to come inside where it's dry. She becomes offended that he would think she was that type of girl...we soon realize she is blind and doesn't realize she's at a flower shop.
The relationship that grows was nice until you realize (by the end of the first episode) what's sort of going on. Later, the reason for what is going on is revealed.
I'm going to put up the last part of Bambino's first episode and then I'll start to put in part of the first episode of Bara no nai Hanaya. Also soon, pics of Shiomi and Shirato and the rest of the cast...
I really should move "Crying out Love" up to the currently watching group...eh...next time...
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Mirai Koshi Meguru - Episode 01
Well, I watched the first episode of MIRAI KOSHI MEGURU. Let me remind you I'm watching this because of Takeda Shinji...so far I'm sorry, but I'm not impressed. It's always a little boring when I start to watch these because I don't know the characters. It helps when I recognize actors that I've seen before in other dramas so, by the end of the episode, I have already decided I like the show. I didn't get that feeling from watching this one yesterday...
The basic story here is about this girl, Yoshida Meguru, who is a teacher at a "cram school". Cram school is like prep classes...each cram school specializes in one subject...you'd attend after school and some cram schools are for extra help with entrance exams...BTW, Takeda Shinji is the principal at that school...
Yoshida has a grandfather who can see 20 years into the future. One day, when they are eating, she sees her grandfather eat only a little and she asks him how come and his reply is that he always eats until he's 80% full...which at the time, means nothing but it's handy knowledge for later.
Yoshida goes out to eat with her boyfriend, Yuki. They eat and I forget why she leaves the table...but when she comes back, there is his chubby guy sitting at the table and Yuki is gone. The guy gets up and tells Yoshida he's going to to pay the bill and will meet her outside..when she goes out, she sees Yuki and tells him they have to leave because there was this weird guy at their table when she got back...and they go away.
She goes into work and they have pastries there...she scarfs down one and goes to her classroom where there is a roomful of adults sitting there. She walks out thinking she's in the wrong room and sees it's the right one. When she re-enters, the kids are sitting there...she realizes that she too can see who the children will be in 20 years because she stuffed herself. She runs to tell her grandfather who tells her that is why he only eats until he's 80% full!
One of Yoshida's students is a boy who is the son of a doctor and pharmacist and his older brother is a med student...it's expected the boy will also become a doctor. The problem is, he wants to quit cram school and become a singer. Yoshida sees the boy will end up being a painter in 20 years and she tries to encourage the boy to stay in cram school so he can master English. The boy decides he will stay until he wins a singing competition that could start his career. Eventually, the boy's parents find out he is quitting cram school and they go to speak to Yoshida. The boy is there during the meeting and he decides to go to the bathroom where he meets up with an American rapper who tells him his English is pretty good for an Asian kid. The boy is so impressed he tells his parents he will stay at cram school to master English after all so he will do better as a singer.
Forgot to mention, Takeda Shinji, as principal, Monden Masaru, spends most of his time trying to figure out a new name for the school...even though he recently changed the name, he wants to change it again.
At some point, Yoshida goes to Yuki's job to see him and on this particular trip, she is full and she sees the chubby guy from the restaurant that was at her table...she soon realizes...that's Yuki in 20 years!
Ok, telling the story makes me realize it's not that bad a drama. It's different...I understand that there is a "comedic boom" now in Japan as they are just starting to discover they can be funny. Used to be American comedies didn't go over so well in Japan but now...there are a few that are pretty popular.
Anyway, I'm going to watch episode 2 this week; not sure when though. I am going to watch the last episode of Bara no nai Hanaya tonight. I'll have to write about the first episode of this one later tonight before I watch the final. I really like this drama...but that's for me to tell on another post.
The basic story here is about this girl, Yoshida Meguru, who is a teacher at a "cram school". Cram school is like prep classes...each cram school specializes in one subject...you'd attend after school and some cram schools are for extra help with entrance exams...BTW, Takeda Shinji is the principal at that school...
Yoshida has a grandfather who can see 20 years into the future. One day, when they are eating, she sees her grandfather eat only a little and she asks him how come and his reply is that he always eats until he's 80% full...which at the time, means nothing but it's handy knowledge for later.
Yoshida goes out to eat with her boyfriend, Yuki. They eat and I forget why she leaves the table...but when she comes back, there is his chubby guy sitting at the table and Yuki is gone. The guy gets up and tells Yoshida he's going to to pay the bill and will meet her outside..when she goes out, she sees Yuki and tells him they have to leave because there was this weird guy at their table when she got back...and they go away.
She goes into work and they have pastries there...she scarfs down one and goes to her classroom where there is a roomful of adults sitting there. She walks out thinking she's in the wrong room and sees it's the right one. When she re-enters, the kids are sitting there...she realizes that she too can see who the children will be in 20 years because she stuffed herself. She runs to tell her grandfather who tells her that is why he only eats until he's 80% full!
One of Yoshida's students is a boy who is the son of a doctor and pharmacist and his older brother is a med student...it's expected the boy will also become a doctor. The problem is, he wants to quit cram school and become a singer. Yoshida sees the boy will end up being a painter in 20 years and she tries to encourage the boy to stay in cram school so he can master English. The boy decides he will stay until he wins a singing competition that could start his career. Eventually, the boy's parents find out he is quitting cram school and they go to speak to Yoshida. The boy is there during the meeting and he decides to go to the bathroom where he meets up with an American rapper who tells him his English is pretty good for an Asian kid. The boy is so impressed he tells his parents he will stay at cram school to master English after all so he will do better as a singer.
Forgot to mention, Takeda Shinji, as principal, Monden Masaru, spends most of his time trying to figure out a new name for the school...even though he recently changed the name, he wants to change it again.
At some point, Yoshida goes to Yuki's job to see him and on this particular trip, she is full and she sees the chubby guy from the restaurant that was at her table...she soon realizes...that's Yuki in 20 years!
Ok, telling the story makes me realize it's not that bad a drama. It's different...I understand that there is a "comedic boom" now in Japan as they are just starting to discover they can be funny. Used to be American comedies didn't go over so well in Japan but now...there are a few that are pretty popular.
Anyway, I'm going to watch episode 2 this week; not sure when though. I am going to watch the last episode of Bara no nai Hanaya tonight. I'll have to write about the first episode of this one later tonight before I watch the final. I really like this drama...but that's for me to tell on another post.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Hotaru no Hikari: The Gals
For the girls, I decided to use their real names instead of the character name. There were only two girls that were really essential to the story...Amemiya, of course, and Yuuka...They both like Teshima Makoto. After the girls, I've included more pics of Ayase Haruka, she's just beautiful...
Ayase Haruka as Amemiya Haotaru
Kuninaka Ryoko as Saegusa Yuuka
And more Ayase Haruka...
Ayase Haruka was also in Crying Out Love, in the Centre of the World. She was excellent in that. Well, I watched most of it but I haven't finished...guess that shouldn't go in the "Already Watched" area...I'll have to move it...later.
I'm going to start watching Mirai Koshi Meguru. This one stars Fukada Kyoko, who is also in Shiawase ni Naritai! and Takada Shinji in a supporting role.
Look for my new mini banner on the left and a review of the first episode!
Ayase Haruka as Amemiya Haotaru
Kuninaka Ryoko as Saegusa Yuuka
And more Ayase Haruka...
Ayase Haruka was also in Crying Out Love, in the Centre of the World. She was excellent in that. Well, I watched most of it but I haven't finished...guess that shouldn't go in the "Already Watched" area...I'll have to move it...later.
I'm going to start watching Mirai Koshi Meguru. This one stars Fukada Kyoko, who is also in Shiawase ni Naritai! and Takada Shinji in a supporting role.
Look for my new mini banner on the left and a review of the first episode!
Hotaru no Hikari - The guys...
Ok Here are the guys from Hotaru no Hikaru...
Fujiki Naohito as "Manager" Takano Seiichi
Kato Kazuki as Teshima Makoto
Takeda Shinji as Jinguuji Kaname
I'll post the gals as soon as I have them...
Fujiki Naohito as "Manager" Takano Seiichi
Kato Kazuki as Teshima Makoto
Takeda Shinji as Jinguuji Kaname
I'll post the gals as soon as I have them...
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Done with "Hotaru no Hikari"
I finally finished watching "Hotaru no Hikari". This is the first time I've been surprised by an ending.
In the beginning, you see Hotaru Amemiya at work, in an office (interior design). She's well dressed and efficient. At the end of the work day, all the women go out to drink to celebrate that their design has been chosen for a project and they talk about how Hotaru has run home. They figure she probably has a guy at home waiting for her. They comment about how they all better get to it bfore they become "himona-onna" (dried out woman). It's becoming a common thing now with women in their 20's. One of the girls asks "What are they"? Women who at work put on a face of a lively office lady but as soon as they get home...they change into jerseys...and their hair in a samurai style top knot...and they might even scratch their butt...snack in one hand; canned beer in the other...the other girls gasp at the thought. On weekends, himono-onnas don't go on blind dates; they go straight home. She never has a guy around her...One of the girls says she's sure there are no women like that at work. Little do they know that they've just describled Hotaru. They go on to describe himono-onnas as women who hug their pillows because they don't have a guy.
Meanwhile...in an empty apartment...a man is packing up his things, with a friend by his side. His wife has left him and he's packed his things and going to go live at his parent's house since the home is vacant. He walks in to see pairs of shoes on the floor. He walks in further to see that it appears someone is living there! In the distance he sees a mountain of newspapers moving...he grabs a plunger and uses the handle end to poke the newspapers. He realizes there's a person underneath and uses the plunger to slowly remove the newspaper to reveal the samurai top knot..he runs away to the other side of the room. The person moves around and stretches to reveal, it's Hotaru. She wakes up and rises from under the newspapers..she stretches again raising her arms in the air and she notices the guy. They stare at each other and she says..."Manager? Manager Takano" Hotaru asks him what he's doing there. He's still stunned so she tells him she's Amemiya Hotau. He starts to remember the girl at the office that he knows...as Hotaru. He's surprised it's the same girl...
He asks her what is with the outfit...why is it so messy?? He wants to know what happened to her and she replies "nothing in particular". He wants to know where the efficient Amemiya is. She tells him that since he's seen her as she is...she confesses she is like that at home, so it's normal.
Manager Takano tells Hotaru that he decided to live in the house...alone..to think about things..ALONE. Hotaru tells him he's going to have to find a place to live since she lives there. He tells her it's his house and she reminds him she's the one living there. She runs to get a piece of paper. Apparently, she was at a bar owned by Manager Takano's father. He had told her he was going abroad and not sure when he would return. She walks away...Takano picks up the "contract" and reads it
"Lend me, please?"
"okay"
Hotaru pops back into the room and says the rental agreement is on the back...Takano turns it over...
"forever, please"
"sure"
Takano says she needs to move out since it won't look good if it's found out he's living with his "junior" (subordinate). Later he decides since she is himono-onna, it's not really like he's living with a woman. He tells her she's himono-onna, dried up...and with a set of rules, they decide to live together. First episode is also where we meet Teshima Makoto. A guy that used to work with them but had gone to London and now is returning. We find out that Yuka, one of the girls in the office, has a thing for him.
This dorama was rather silly at times, which was nice. It was comedic. Oh, and...the reason I picked this one was because I looked up Shinji Takeda's list of doramas he's been in and this was the most recent (if I remember correctly). I was so eager to see him again...eager to see if he still has that "pretty" look about him that I used to like. Though he was in the first office scenes at the beginning of the show, I couldn't be sure if the guy I thought was him really was him...upon closer watching...I could see it was. He was more mature looking. Still "pretty" but not so much anymore...his face looked like he still couldn't grow facial hair...lol. I also noticed, he's kind of short for a guy. When the co-workers go out together, he's the shortest one there; but it's ok, he's still plenty gorgeous. I'm going to have to look at the other doramas he's been in and watch another one. AND...as I was surfing the net for some pics of him, I came upon one from a movie called "Love Death" which he was in. I THINK he stars in it...I have to get my hands on this movie cuz I found this pic...and if he's got a body like this...oh baby...He kind of looks like a guy here so at first I wasn't sure if it was him or not...but yeah, that's my boy...
In the beginning, you see Hotaru Amemiya at work, in an office (interior design). She's well dressed and efficient. At the end of the work day, all the women go out to drink to celebrate that their design has been chosen for a project and they talk about how Hotaru has run home. They figure she probably has a guy at home waiting for her. They comment about how they all better get to it bfore they become "himona-onna" (dried out woman). It's becoming a common thing now with women in their 20's. One of the girls asks "What are they"? Women who at work put on a face of a lively office lady but as soon as they get home...they change into jerseys...and their hair in a samurai style top knot...and they might even scratch their butt...snack in one hand; canned beer in the other...the other girls gasp at the thought. On weekends, himono-onnas don't go on blind dates; they go straight home. She never has a guy around her...One of the girls says she's sure there are no women like that at work. Little do they know that they've just describled Hotaru. They go on to describe himono-onnas as women who hug their pillows because they don't have a guy.
Meanwhile...in an empty apartment...a man is packing up his things, with a friend by his side. His wife has left him and he's packed his things and going to go live at his parent's house since the home is vacant. He walks in to see pairs of shoes on the floor. He walks in further to see that it appears someone is living there! In the distance he sees a mountain of newspapers moving...he grabs a plunger and uses the handle end to poke the newspapers. He realizes there's a person underneath and uses the plunger to slowly remove the newspaper to reveal the samurai top knot..he runs away to the other side of the room. The person moves around and stretches to reveal, it's Hotaru. She wakes up and rises from under the newspapers..she stretches again raising her arms in the air and she notices the guy. They stare at each other and she says..."Manager? Manager Takano" Hotaru asks him what he's doing there. He's still stunned so she tells him she's Amemiya Hotau. He starts to remember the girl at the office that he knows...as Hotaru. He's surprised it's the same girl...
He asks her what is with the outfit...why is it so messy?? He wants to know what happened to her and she replies "nothing in particular". He wants to know where the efficient Amemiya is. She tells him that since he's seen her as she is...she confesses she is like that at home, so it's normal.
Manager Takano tells Hotaru that he decided to live in the house...alone..to think about things..ALONE. Hotaru tells him he's going to have to find a place to live since she lives there. He tells her it's his house and she reminds him she's the one living there. She runs to get a piece of paper. Apparently, she was at a bar owned by Manager Takano's father. He had told her he was going abroad and not sure when he would return. She walks away...Takano picks up the "contract" and reads it
"Lend me, please?"
"okay"
Hotaru pops back into the room and says the rental agreement is on the back...Takano turns it over...
"forever, please"
"sure"
Takano says she needs to move out since it won't look good if it's found out he's living with his "junior" (subordinate). Later he decides since she is himono-onna, it's not really like he's living with a woman. He tells her she's himono-onna, dried up...and with a set of rules, they decide to live together. First episode is also where we meet Teshima Makoto. A guy that used to work with them but had gone to London and now is returning. We find out that Yuka, one of the girls in the office, has a thing for him.
This dorama was rather silly at times, which was nice. It was comedic. Oh, and...the reason I picked this one was because I looked up Shinji Takeda's list of doramas he's been in and this was the most recent (if I remember correctly). I was so eager to see him again...eager to see if he still has that "pretty" look about him that I used to like. Though he was in the first office scenes at the beginning of the show, I couldn't be sure if the guy I thought was him really was him...upon closer watching...I could see it was. He was more mature looking. Still "pretty" but not so much anymore...his face looked like he still couldn't grow facial hair...lol. I also noticed, he's kind of short for a guy. When the co-workers go out together, he's the shortest one there; but it's ok, he's still plenty gorgeous. I'm going to have to look at the other doramas he's been in and watch another one. AND...as I was surfing the net for some pics of him, I came upon one from a movie called "Love Death" which he was in. I THINK he stars in it...I have to get my hands on this movie cuz I found this pic...and if he's got a body like this...oh baby...He kind of looks like a guy here so at first I wasn't sure if it was him or not...but yeah, that's my boy...
UPDATE: (16 JULY 2011)
Had to take this pic out cuz it was no longer available. Will try and find a new one so I can post it again!
And here's a picture of him as he usually looks...
UGH...I can't believe he looks like a guy now. Oh well, I guess it was bound to happen...I first saw him when he was probably about 22 or so...and now he's like 35...
I've got some more pics coming as soon as I get 'em...in the meantime...here's one of Amemiya in her himono-onna attire:
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Bambino!
I have two objectives with this blog. First, I need to keep track of all the dramas I'm watching. I had no idea I had already watched as many as I listed. The second objective, which should really be the first...is to get people to watch them. They're not like soaps as we know them. I mean, to a certain extent yeah, some of them are because the whole point of the plot is the boy/girl meet, they can't be together and in the end they are...but it takes only 10 to 13 episodes to do it. It's not an endless black hole of garbage. AND...they aren't always about getting the couple together. "Bambino!" wasn't about that. It started with a couple but it didn't end that way.
So...I'm going to write a little bit about the shows I'm watching and then I'll try and add some clips. I'm hoping some of the plots will be interesting enough that you'll actually want to watch them.
I'm going to introduce the J-drama "Bambino!". I already finished watching this one though it's not on my list...I still have to create a little thingie for it so I can put it on my list.
After having watched Hana Yori Dango, I was totally crazy for Matsumoto Jun and so of course I had to watch another drama with him in it. I chose "Gokusen". I'm not quite done with that one
actually, I think I have 3 episodes left. Anyway, I liked that one so far but he's pretty much the same type of character in that story. In HYD, he was a bully and so he was in Gokusen. I read somewhere that they liked him in Bambino! because for a change, he played the underdog. So I watched the first episode and I loved it. The theme was about food so THAT was a plus.
This first clip is only about 7 minutes long. I notice that blogger's video screen is kind of small...I'm not sure if you'll be able to read the subtitles...
The third clip starts from his first look at the kitchen up to when he has his first disaster.
So...I'm going to write a little bit about the shows I'm watching and then I'll try and add some clips. I'm hoping some of the plots will be interesting enough that you'll actually want to watch them.
I'm going to introduce the J-drama "Bambino!". I already finished watching this one though it's not on my list...I still have to create a little thingie for it so I can put it on my list.
After having watched Hana Yori Dango, I was totally crazy for Matsumoto Jun and so of course I had to watch another drama with him in it. I chose "Gokusen". I'm not quite done with that one
actually, I think I have 3 episodes left. Anyway, I liked that one so far but he's pretty much the same type of character in that story. In HYD, he was a bully and so he was in Gokusen. I read somewhere that they liked him in Bambino! because for a change, he played the underdog. So I watched the first episode and I loved it. The theme was about food so THAT was a plus.
This first clip is only about 7 minutes long. I notice that blogger's video screen is kind of small...I'm not sure if you'll be able to read the subtitles...
Matsumoto Jun stars as college student Ban Shogo who works at an Italian restaurant with this fiance, Eri. It's up to the part where he steps into the restaurant of his Spring break job in Tokyo. Ban is from the country so having him go to Tokyo is like a culture shock.
The second clip starts once Ban enters Trattoria Baccanale and is greeted by the head waiter. This guy is very good looking, in a gay guy sort of way...He comes off as gay but no real hints as to if he is or not. Either way...really nice to look at. Clip ends when he is introduced to the kitchen...
The third clip starts from his first look at the kitchen up to when he has his first disaster.
I guess I'll leave you with this FOR NOW. I'll post the last of the first episode soon.
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