YUKO TAKEUCHI PASSES AWAY AT 40...

 

I think most people will agree that 2020 has really been a trying year. Due to the challenges we have all faced on a global scale, I reflected on what my priorities are in life more than ever. I'm sure most of us have had those moments where we feel like we're not productive or feel like we wish we were doing something more exciting. It's especially difficult when we can't visit family or friends or heal ourselves spiritually/emotionally at our favorite hangout spots. Most of the time, I generally think that celebrities have everything they want, that they've succeeded in life and have it better than most of us. They're beautiful, charming and have this mysterious aura about them, like they're not human but, almost godly in a way that they can't be touched by mere mortals. Recently with the passing of Haruma Miura about 2 months ago and now Yuko Takeuchi among others, I think it's fair to say the obvious; that celebrities are really just like anyone of us. We're all human, trying our best to figure out how to navigate through the challenges of life. Takeuchi-san was truly one of my favorite Japanese actresses of all time. She seemed so down to earth and professional. Her smile could light up the whole universe. My favorite drama is still Pride and hearing about her death just grinded my heart to a halt. Of course I will never know who she really was and when something like this happens, the usual reaction is of shock and confusion. All we can do is attempt to piece together why she decided to end her life at such an early age even though we will never know for sure. I'm trying to focus more on things that I have control over and less on things that I can't control. With that said, it is very hard to not think about this unfortunate event. As I get older, I feel that many things in life seem rather meaningless. Life is already short and I think it's up to each one of us to find some sort of personal meaning, a goal or mission to live life to the best of our ability. I feel saddened that she was going through such despair but, I thank her for leaving us with amazing memories of her work. May she rest in peace. 

NIGERU WA HAJI DA GA YAKU NI TATSU (THE FULL TIME WIFE ESCAPIST)

 

Fall 2016

Yui Aragaki plays Mikuri Moriyama, a tenacious young woman that often immerses herself in delusional thinking that thwarts her good intentions. She loses her job and in her desperation becomes a housekeeper for a young business man named Hiramasa Tsuzaki played by Gen Hoshino. At first, their relationship is strictly work related, but as they find each other useful for their own needs, they somehow end up in a precarious situation as employer and employee and decide to marry to keep the relationship from dissolving. The longer they stay together, the more they realize that maybe there is more to this relationship than strictly work. 

Recommendation: So if you watch Japanese dramas, you most likely know who "Gakky" is. I think playing a cute and awkward young woman suits her. I heard the dance she does during the ending theme song became a bit of a trend. I've never watched a drama with Gen Hoshino, but I can say that I think he played a typical, well mannered, single, 35 year old male quite well. The adjustment of his glasses became his quirky habit. This is a good drama if you want to watch something romantic that is not heavy. It's fast paced and easily binge worthy. The premise is interesting because it starts off with two people marrying in order to maintain an employer/employee relationship which then predictably switches the other way around. Other than that the plot is nothing new in terms of the usual romantic comedy. There is good chemistry between the leads and it showcased good production value and editing. I think the drama promotes marriage, but doesn't stray from the fact that it's not the end all be all of a relationship and there are other types of relationships that exist out there. The story also stresses the fact that marriage is the beginning of something new and that there will be ups and downs no matter what. I'm glad I watched this drama as it was still entertaining despite being predictable.

Story: 0.5

Acting: 1.0

Directing: 1.0

Character Development: 1.0

Emotional Factor: 1.0

4.5 Out Of 5.0 Crowns

ITSUKA KONO KOI WO OMOIDASHITE KITTO NAITE SHIMAU (LOVE THAT MAKES YOU CRY)

 

Winter 2016

Okay guys, so I had to watch another Kasumi Arimura drama because I really liked Chukagusei Nikki. I also added her to my top actresses section. I'm currently watching Biri Gyaru, which is a movie that she is starring in and she is playing a character entirely different from these two dramas that I finished watching. She definitely has range and I hope she keeps acting more into the future. So Kasumi Arimura plays a young girl named Oto Sugihara. At a young age, she lost her mother and was sent to live with her uncle in Hokkaido. She grows up there and lives day to day in a small town without any big dreams or hopes. Ren Soda played by Kengo Kora was raised by his grandfather who was a daikon farmer. Ren wasn't particularly fond of school or hanging out with friends and simply wanted to devote his time supporting his grandfather on his farm. Unfortunately, his grandfather was scammed and he lost his property. Ren decides to leave for Tokyo to raise enough money to one day buy back his grandfather's farmland. Through a twist of fate, both Oto and Ren's lives are interconnected in Hokkaido and their actions open a new and unfamiliar path for both of them.   

Recommendation: So, off the bat I just have to say that this is one of my favorite dramas, HOWEVER, what is up with the title! This is my only real major complaint as I think it would be more memorable if the title was 99% shorter. That said, Arimura and Kora have quite a nice chemistry. Yes, it is another story about star crossed lovers that I've seen countless times, but it works. Now, the drama is far from perfect and some of the acting could have been better, but it definitely lives up to the long name. I really wasn't sure half the time whether the two leads would end up together or not so it was a nail biter for me in that sense. I recommend this drama if you want to watch another love story. It's nothing new, but I think when done well, these types of dramas always work and that's probably why they keep getting made. 

Story: 1.0

Acting: 1.0

Directing: 1.0

Character Development: 1.0

Emotional Factor: 1.0

5.0 Out Of 5.0 Crowns

CHUGAKUSEI NIKKI (MEET ME AFTER SCHOOL)

 

Fall 2018

This drama is about a woman named Hijiri Suenaga played by Kasumi Arimura. She just started her first job as a middle school teacher. She is inexperienced and is not the most confident person in the world, but she is passionate about her work. Unfortunately, she encounters a quirky student in her class, Akira Kuroiwa, played by Kenshi Okada. He seems to be indifferent to her at first, but gradually develops feelings for Hijiri. She dismisses him and his feelings especially since he's only 15 years old and she already plans to marry her fiance, Shotaro. Due to Akira's persistence and Hijiri trying to be a dependable teacher, a bond begins to form, a forbidden bond that goes beyond the relationship between student and teacher.   

Recommendation: So as I stated before, I haven't written on this site for over five years so my mind needs to adjust to the format and my reviews may be more than slightly off. First of all, I would just like to say that I've never seen Kasumi Arimura in any drama, or I just might not have remembered her. That said, I'm really happy that I watched this drama. I believe she is a breath of fresh air even though she's been in the business for awhile. I think she has strong screen presence that draws you into a show. I also liked Kenshi Okada and I'm not totally sure, but I think this was his first main role as an actor. They both had great chemistry and I think the plot of the story is intriguing since it is definitely pushing the edge when dealing with love and minors. Obviously this is fiction, but I think I would have been upset at Hijiri for not being able to handle the situation as a mature adult and basically cut ties with Akira. It's definitely a difficult topic to explore and watching this drama really makes you feel bad for each character involved. From the two lovers who are forbidden to express their affection, to Akira's mother who just wants to protect her only child. I felt terrible for Shotaro the most in a way, but in the end, each character was able to grow and mature in their own way as the years go by. As much as I loved this drama, I just felt the ending was a bit abrupt. I mean I don't know how I would have ended it, but I was craving for a little more. Mostly in the beginning, there were times when the show seemed to switch to lighthearted scenes that threw me off a bit since the theme, in my opinion is quite serious. Alas, I totally recommend this drama if you're looking for something romantic, forbidden, heart wrenching, but satisfying in the end.

Story: 1.0

Acting: 1.0

Directing: 0.5

Character Development: 1.0

Emotional Factor: 1.0

4.5 Out Of 5.0 Crowns

I'M BACK

Wow, it's been a long time. My last drama review was over five years ago. During that time, a few things happened. Mainly, my wife gave birth to my daughter. I don't remember if that was the only reason why I stopped writing, but I also believe it was because I felt a little tired or maybe disillusioned about Japanese dramas. Especially these days it's hard to keep up with all the entertainment that is available at our finger tips. I love movies and TV shows on Netflix and other platforms. It was hard to come back to this space and invest time watching Japanese shows. But alas, I can only say that fate brought me back. Basically out of the blue, I looked up my favorite actor Kimura Takuya and realized that not only is he now 47 years old, but he's continued to dedicate some time in his busy life to act in dramas. So I quickly watched Grand Maison Tokyo, which I will review and now I feel like writing again. Now, life has definitely changed these past five years so I won't be able to post as much as I used to, but I hope to continue this strange passion until I develop arthritis. It's so strange to see actors and actresses like Yamapi, Gakky, Toda Erika, Eikura Nana and Eita etc. in their 30's and see new faces like Arimura Kasumi doing amazing things. Well, I guess she's actually been in the business for quite some time, but I've never seen her work until recently. Like anything, people come and go and as I get older, my tastes have changed as well. I hope to continue here and there and keep this hobby up as long as I can. 

ZETTAI KARESHI (絶対彼氏)

Spring 2008

Zettai Kareshi is about a young, single woman named Riko Izawa (Saki Aibu); a temporary staffer with relationship issues that works for a giant dessert company. One day, an "electrician" named Gaku Namikiri (Kuranosuke Sasaki) from Kronos Heaven offers a free trial to test a new ideal lover robot to Riko. Being a little tipsy and frustrated that night, she doesn't fully comprehend what she was getting herself into, but signed the papers to test the robot out. The next day the robot "01" is delivered to her door with instructions that requires a kiss from a human to activate it. Riko thinks it ridiculous but abides by the rules and leaves for work. Later, a sexy man follows her around embarrassingly stating that he is her ideal boyfriend. Riko calls the robot Tenjo Night and thinks of him as just another expensive appliance, but as Tenjo's unwavering devotion begins to affect her, she realizes that her heart is receiving mixed emotions as she's also drawn to her good looking boss, Soshi Asamoto (Hiro Mizushima). 

Recommendation: I heard about this drama a few years ago and reading the synopsis I wasn't interested in another love triangle romcom that screamed "cliche!" But I found it on YouTube recently and realized Saki Aibu and Hiro Mizushima were in it. Being a fan of both actors and just finishing up "Mei Chan No Shitsuji" that starred Mizushima, I checked out the first episode and got hooked right away. This drama was hard for me to rate for different reasons. First, the story is definitely nothing new (with the possible exception that a robot is part of a love triangle) and the style of directing and witty script have been seen and done. But with the actors all doing an exceptional job, I felt like it was executed very well overall. I really enjoyed every episode. In this case the phrase, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies here. The drama is full of wit, interesting characters, and heart breaking moments (no pun intended). Although I did see the special episode which possibly could be episode 12 that came out the following year, but I think they should have left the ending at episode 11 so I'm not counting episode 12 in my ranking as it was kind of a useless story in my opinion. If you like a good, fun romantic comedy that also includes some thought provoking moments than this drama is one to watch. I'm always rooting for Saki Aibu to get more notoriety in the awards department but she was up against some heavy hitters from dramas like "Change", "Gokusen 3", and "Last Friends" that season and I think she was robbed of a TV drama academy award for her role in "Kaseifu No Mita." 

Story: 1.0

Acting: 1.0

Directing: 1.0

Character Development: 1.0

Emotional Factor: 1.0

5.0 Out Of 5.0 Crowns

    

MEI CHAN NO SHITSUJI (メイちゃんの執事)

Winter 2009

This drama is about a young girl named Mei Shinonome (Nana Eikura) who was living an ordinary life helping her parents run a small udon shop. Her family was poor but she was grateful to have loving parents and friends. Unfortunately one day her parents are killed in a fire that destroys the udon shop and her life is turned upside down. Even more, a strange young man named Rihito Shibata (Hiro Mizushima) suddenly appears and tells her that he has come to serve her as her personal butler. She finds out that she is related to the great Hongo family and that she must attend the exclusive St. Lucia Girl's Academy where all the students have butlers to care for them. Kento Shibata (Takeru Sato), her longtime friend enrolls as an apprentice butler to stay close to her. At the school, she is met with disdain from all the girls and Mei begins to doubt her new position. She then meets the beautiful and mysterious Lucia (Yu Yamada) who is the leader of the highest ranking Sole class. Lucia comforts Mei at first but will she help Mei get acquainted to her new life as a wealthy heiress or is Lucia planning something more sinister behind the scenes? In any case, both Rihito and Kento do there utmost to protect her.

Recommendation: I was interested in the drama because Nana Eikura is one of my favorite actresses. I was also surprised to see some familiar faces such as Hiro Mizushima, Yu Yamada, Osamu Mukai, and even Shiori Kutsuna (although she had a minor role). It was also the first time I saw Takeru Sato and I think he was the best actor in this drama and made it more fun to watch. This drama is based on a popular girl's manga and it is adapted so that it reflects a manga style. Honestly, I wish there were less dramas that try this because I don't think it works well. On the other hand, I'm a guy and this drama is probably geared towards young girls so I might be totally wrong here. In any case, I found the plot to be formulaic as Mei is hated at first, but starts to gain confidants as she helps her fellow classmates one by one to deal with their personal problems. The story is too much of a fantasy for me to swallow and it was difficult to immerse myself in a strange world of super wealthy girls, duels and hard rules against love between butlers and their masters. I did enjoy the acting from the main stars and love triangles that develop between them. If you are into "manga-esque" romantic comedy dramas with an eccentric story-line than this may be one to take a look at.

Story: 0.5
Acting: 1.0
Directing: 0.5
Character Development: 1.0
Emotional Factor: 0.5

3.5 Out Of 5.0 Crowns