If you havent been watching Japanese Drama much, or were only solely captivated by Galileo 2, you should be watching "Kazoku Game" (Family Game/ 家族ゲーム)
I didnt watch it because of Arashi's star.
I watched it because it was plain gripping and good, in a mysterious yet funny way.
The plot is engaging, a quick touch on the current society problems faced by many Japanese families in terms of relationships, school bullying etc. Heavy topics at first glance but well executed in a relatively light way without being preachy or superficial.
Sho Sakurai, I have to concede, portrayed his role well (I have no expectations to begin with) as the private family tutor who has a "past". His unusual tactics and manner is the key to the whole plot. What is his hidden agenda? What demons are he fighting...what is the secret he is hiding
This isnt a new drama, but a reprise of a 1983's version, except they added one new character.
I was told the original version was very well received as well and hit a cord with its audience.
I did not watch the relic but this updated version did good by me, keeping me entertained and gnawing my nails urging for new episodes. Each new episode couldnt come fast enough for me, and if it means I have to stay up to watch at 3am after it gets loaded, I would.
So if u havent jumped onto the wagon for this, I highly recommend that you do.
Started on the series without knowing a thing about it and it was decent enough to keep me glued till the last episode.
Acting wise is still pretty raw and amateurish. It's not that bad but just that you can tell that they are more like delivering the lines than an actual conversation. That said, the drama was shot in a slightly more manga love scene-close up approach than the normal TV manner and I like it, as well the plot was riveting to keep me guessing. What's more, I loved the Matchbox Twenty song they inserted throughout the series. It's such a mood enhancer with the "Parade" playing through...
I havent read the manga, so I do not that know if there are alterations to the actual story but not having known anything, it's a good series to follow and watch.
The video below has more scene highlights from the video which prob goes hand in hand with the spoiler synop.
"Piece" Story Summary (Spoiler)
The whole story revolved around these two protagonists - Narumi and Suga who were classmates back in senior high when they were still 17yo, with the scene starting at a funeral of a common classmate-Origuchi, when everyone is already in uni at 19yo.
Back in high school, Narumi is an "playboy" in school who obviously do not care for anyone's feelings and oblivious to expectations. He did what he liked and always has a cool demeanour. He is known to change girlfriends rapidly as if they were a change of clothes but the girls were strangely all still attracted to him, despite his notoriety.. A girl who got dumped once confronted Narumi in the school corridor about his attitude, but all Narumi offered to her was that he never once said he liked her. He only went out with her because she was willing to sleep with him.
Suga on the other hand is a diligent, and prim and proper gal who is completely opposite in character with Narumi. Suga deliberates about every action of hers, and never stray out of line. However, on a chanced incident where she had forgotten her text, that began her encounter with Narumi and their journey together.
The truth was, Suga was strangely attracted to Narumi and his inexplicable nonchalance. Narumi had a way of seeing through her and it bothered her that he seemed to read her well. So one day during the start of their summer break, she decided not to be a "good girl" and decided to do what she like instead, to head out and eat curry rice instead of eating what her mum had already prepared for her. By chance, Narumi saw her joy of delight and the two of them ended up together for the afternoon after Narumi offered a choice to go on an unplanned trip to nowhere in particular. "To go, or Not to go. Which is it?"
A hesitant Suga gave it 3 secs thought but decided to go along with Narumi, thoroughly enjoying herself and realising in one moment that both she and Narumi, are alike in someways. Their inability to relate to other people. During the bus ride, Suga told Narumi that she loves bus ride when she was a kid because she got lost once and relish the freedom and new unexpected wonders of the ride. When she turned around to look at Narumi, he was sleeping and didnt seem to hear her.
Towards the end of the trip on a beach, a bunch of hooligans approached Narumi but Narumi told them they had mistaken him for someone else. Yet when they started to harasses Suga, Narumi turned violent and punched the guy to the ground and Suga thinking Narumi might actually kill the guy shoved him away to stop the fight. When Narumi kissed a shivering Suga, he looked at her and asked "Why do you always have an expressionless face when I kissed you?"Suga didnt know what to say even though in truth, her heart was leaping when he kissed her.
In reality, Narumi has built a barrier round himself to prevent anyone getting close to him, while Narumi has an intrinsic appearance of being cold and non caring, making her unapproachable to many. Yet, around Narumi, Suga was happy and intrigued by him.
After the summer break, Suga bumped into Narumi at the bustop after school. Narumi at the bus entrance gave Suga another choice "To Board, or Not to Board? Which is it?" Suga recalled the wrong bus ride which she had taken when she was young. She realised there are 4 types of people in this world: 1. The type who never board the bus wrongly. 2. The people who always board the wrong bus. 3. The type who board the wrong bus and got off immediately and turned back to the right direction, 4. The type who boarded the wrong bus but persist on continuing the journey in the wrong direction.
(Note: I believe this is in reference to the choices and mistakes that people make in life)
Suga realised then that she was the 4th type. She boarded the bus, knowing the full implication and held Narumi's hand.
IN Narumi's room, he started to kiss her and proceeded to take off Suga's clothes. However at the last minute, Suga backed out and told him she couldnt go through with it. She offered instead only kisses and hugs and Narumi groaned out loud that wasnt fair. Then Narumi walked out of the room saying he is going to sleep in the living room now.
Suga discovered with shock at the mess the living room was. Apparently Narumi lived alone and a Kaseifu comes in once a week to clean up the mess. Narumi's mum has never lived with him. While enjoying the afternoon with Narumi, Suga made a deal with Narumi to come back again. Narumi said ok but not Fridays. Suga asked why not and Narumi said that was the day the cleaning lady will come. Suga then grinned and told Narumi that in that case, that will be the day she will come.
Came the following Friday, Narumi was waiting for Suga at the busstop near his place. When Suga got off, he asked her why did she have to take the later bus and Suga told him candidly that she didnt want others in school to find out that she was hanging out with Narumi the notorious playboy.
Back at Narumi's house, Suga greeted the Kaseifu but was met with a cold reception, warning her that a girl should treasure her old body and not regret it as her body will "remember" who it has been with. Suga smiled and politely told her that she will not do anything that she will regret, in a way assuring the cleaning lady that she will not be having sex with Narumi.
Instead, every Friday afternoon, Suga goes to Narumi's room and they both just hugged each other to sleep. Apart from the kissing and hugging, Suga was content and happy that nothing further progress. One afternoon, Narumi told Suga "I have gotten use to you sleeping by my side that I cannot sleep soundly without u now."
In school, Narumi continued the act of flirting openly with other girls. However, he drew the line when it comes to requests from girls to going to his place. Suga overheared that he would tell the other girls that his place is under renovation and so it wasnt possible for them to come over.
However over time, Suga started to fall in love with Narumi and it was getting harder for her to let everything stay as it is. So she told Narumi one day she couldnt go to his place anymore. There are too many things she wanted to know about Narumi but his wall was steadfast. It was hard on her to be away from him and so one Friday she decided to head to Narumi place but no one was in. She found the locked room opened and peered inside to find out the secret inside. To her horror, it was rows and rows of report and video on Narumi since he was a child. His mother, a renowned pyshcologist had used Narumi as an experiment and placed him under surveillance and controlled environment to study him, resulting in the weird distrusting character of narumi over time.
Narumi angry with Suga for digging into his secret told her he do not need her anymore. With that, it ended their secret dates.
To present day, Origuchi mum at the furneral requested Suga to find out the truth about her daughter. The mum revealed that Origuchi had an abortion and she wanted to know the father. Suga was reluctant at first but conceded in the end. The journey to discover the truth begins.
In the end, Origuchi wasnt the one who had an abortion, and Suga finally met Narumi's brother Hiro who was also placed under the same controlled monitoring by their mother. Hiro was the guy that Origuchi had fallen for but because of the experiments, Hiro could never be physically intimate with a woman. Narumi delivered the letter from Origuchi before she got sick and died. Hiro cried reading it. It said "I really like you."
After the mystery was solved, Narumi told Suga that their paths will never cross again probably and walked off. Suga however ran after Narumi and hugged him , telling him that she liked him and had loved their times together and she will wait for his return to see her again. With that, they went their separate ways.
I have been like missing in action like forever... It's getting harder to blog because I havent spent much time watching anything until recently!
I have stayed off Korean drama for a long time since Secret Garden. I watched one called Fashion King and it was so utterly stupid & absurd that I was cursing myself for wasting time on that piece of crap drama.
If you havent watch Fashion King, DONT. It's a freaking piece of crap drama. Half the time I was like groaning in disgust at the bunch of nitwits. The initial few epi was ok but then it got overboard and became stupid. I had to fast forward episode just to complete the series so that i can know how bad it is. My friend started watching it and halfway through, I told him it was bad and he was skeptical. When he finished it, his comment was "WHAT THE HELL!!!?! #$%%^" So that sums up our views about that time wasting drama.
Meanwhile, I think recent Japanese drama seemed promising!!! I am watching the current remake of "GTO 2012", "Rich Man Poor woman" and this investigative mystery series. All these 3 drama are keeping me really busy.
To start with GTO 2012.
Okie, initially I was skeptical about the lead. He seemed abit too scrawny and unnatural for the role. However by the 3rd epi, I was slowly getting use to him, not to mention that Shirota (as Ryuji)& Yusuke (as Saejima) as his buddies. Is it me or Shirota looked as if he gained quite a bit of weight in this series? He looked abit round....but still cute of coz.
Hahaha. However, I do missed the original GTO cast with Takashi because everyone are soooooo cute in there, including the students such as Ikeuchi Hiroyuki, Tokuyama Hudenori, Oguri Shun who are all now big stars in their own rights. Need I go on? Not to mention Takashi really NAILED the role down perfectly and left an indestructible image in my young mind back then. This time round, none of the students stood out. Are Japanese suffering from lack of good looking boys and girls now? This batch looked so bland and blah except for the short hair gal.
"Rich Man Poor woman"
Starring my fav Shun Oguri as the eccentric self made IT dude who basically says what he thinks, and his greatest flaw was his inability to rem names and faces. So the story goes that he is looking for his mum who ditched him when he was still a kid. However, he chanced upon this Tokyo uni girl (looking for a job) who claimed to have the same name as his mother during one of the recruitment drive and he rem her, shocking everyone around him. I am up to epi 3 and I am glued. Shun is really funny and cute here. No doubt about it. I will follow this drama till the end!!!!!
The third drama Mystery I am watching, is like watching multiple novels adapted to TV drama.
Each episode is a self standing story about murder cases with the twists and turns. I like it. Each episode has great leads in it and being a sucker for mystery cases, this series had me hooked!
The 4th series that I am backtracking to is "Cleopatra no onnatachi"
I have just started on this and it looked probably interesting. The topic revolves around this male cosmetic surgeon who had posted from the Mainstream hospital to working in a private esthetics's cosmetic makeover surgery salon.
The guy is obviously struggling to cope because he cannot understand nor accept the fact that there are people out there who would go under the knife to so call "beautify" themselves when there is nothing wrong with them. Previously in hospital, his surgery was to only aid those who suffered from accidents and grafting etc that truly required help. Hence, thrown into this new environment, he found it hard to reconcile his disgust and dismay but yet having to stick it out because of the heavy loan he had to pay off (i think coupled with the 300M yen debt his father left behind to him). He was abandoned by his folks when he was a kid and he never forgave his mum, that added his distrust and dislike for woman in general. I think the idea of the drama (not sure yet at this point since I havent finished watching) is about the perception of "beauty" and why some would pursue the idea of beauty relentlessly while some are content with their looks, and why one should not be so judgemental about those who go under the knife.
It was interesting after the first epi when they interviewed common people on the streets about what they like about their face and almost everyone would say there are parts they didnt like etc...It was interesting for me because I had never thought about my face that way, as in altering it to make it better.
Firstly, I think Junpei is quite cute here. The hair or something, he is the cutest ever here in all the drama I have seen him in.
Now that I have got that adoration over Junpei out, I will say the movie sucks. If I thought "Paradise" was sucky, this manga adaption is even worse....
High School Debut (http://www.koigashitai.com/) was one of my favourite manga comic quite a few years back. The characters were cute and adorable, and there was a nice healthy chemistry between the 2 lead for a shoujo manga.
The movie of course was as faithful to the manga plot but somehow it didnt translate very well. Apart from Junpei who is probably the only worthy actor in the show, (not saying that because he is cute here), the rest are like some B or C grade trying to make it actors and actresses who didnt fare very well in this B Grade movie.
The movie in short was badly executed, the girl too "act cute" and "dim witted" and the whole premise about her being clueless in finding a boyfriend is way toooo exaggerated. Ok, i know Shoujo manga is generally never realistic but her stupidity is kinda overboard and her acting too stiff.
This movie fell flat in delivery, entertainment value and honestly, a waste in money in production. Suppose to be comedy but I only find myself groaning in agony and dismay. You dont find me smiling one bit. Only saving grace was Junpei. Nice overhaul in his looks I will give it to them. Maybe its the hair..gotto be the hair.. have I said that already?
My verdict is, watch this only if you are super bored, trying to waste time, or just watching it for Junpei. Watching it to improve your Japanese is also the only other validated reason.
Was also watching another Japanese drama titled "Seinaru Kaibutsutachi" aka 聖なる怪物たち. Not a bad story, better than Hungry drama but also abit draggy. The suspense is kinda predictable and characters a little lack of dimension but still somewhat entertaining amongst all the dismayal unimpressive Japanese drama lot out there these days.
Storyline Summary
Basically the story revolved around this young surgeon who unknowingly got embroiled into this scandalous plot between 2 sisters and the younger sister's husband.
Story started off with Okada playing the part of Shiba Kengo, a pure-hearted chap who was raised by single parent dad, was extremely responsible, compassionate and dedicated to his work. However, his inability to suck up to his professors at the prestigious hospital meant he got transferred to a financially troubled local hospital.
Upon arrival, he got acquainted with the current capable, cool-headed but also remote chief nurse named Kasugai Yuka (Nakatani), who teaches him that the world needs a competent doctor, not a kind one.
The plot developed when the Yuka's sister miscarried on her wedding day and the sister went obsessive about wanting to bear a child after knowing that her womb was removed during the operations due to complication. Ai in desperation approached Yuka to be the surrogate mother for her baby as her fallopian tube was still intact. However Yuka rejected her request as it is both illegal and impossible. Impossible because Yuka had long ago decided to remove her reproductive system. Yet, sensing her sister Keiko's emotional and mental imbalance at the verge of pyschotic breakdown, Yuka decided to help her sister get a baby via surrogate mother overseas as it is prohibited by law in Japan. (Japan does not prevent you to have it done elsewhere, just in Japan it is illegal for medical team to assist with artificial conception of babies) Keiko was married to an influential guy Toshio who is the director of a renowned group that operates schools (looks like nursery schools from the drama). While she was going "crazy" in the head about wanting a baby at all cost, her husband doesnt care as he did not see it as important, especially when he already have an existing heir from his first marriage. The ex wife was still entering the household via her son's position as heir and did not seem to be very nice to Keiko. The sting was harder to bear now that she is unable to bear any children.
In desperation, Keiko decided to approach a friend/ co-worker as nursery teacher, Mie who was also an orphan like her with her selfish request, for her friend Mie appeared to accept the offer after the husband agreed reluctantly to the idea. With his money and power, he robbed in his doctor friend to help prepare for the artificial insemination and to deliver the baby and natal care. Yuka is a certified delivery aiding nurse and so the lot conspire to plan for a baby delivery, to be given to Keiko after birth. Keiko in her excitement want Mie to move in to their house so that she can monitor the progress and care for the "baby"/ mother. Her sister however was more cautious and wary, having warning bells ringing when Mie defiantly refused to sign the "contract" to give the baby to them in repayment for a sum of money. Instead, she threatened to abort if she was being pushed. Keiko panicked but Yuka backed off, laughing that it was only a test to Mie to ensure her true intentions....
Over time however, Mie's reaction and behavior was becoming less of a surrogate mother but more of a mother. Keiko pushed the thought and complaints away. However one day, Mie ran away from home and Keiko panicked. Yuka however calmly traced her whereabouts via the cab company and found her and brought her back. At the same time, she also discovered by tricking Mie that the baby was actually Mie's and Toshio after a one night stand! Not wanting to hurt Keiko, Yuka warned Mie not to say a word to keiko and return home. However Yuka confronted Toshio about it.
Mie pretended to make nice with Keiko but tried to run away from home again. When Keiko tried to chase after Mie, Mie fell down the stairs and started into early labor. Keiko panicked and called the sister who instructed her to secretly drop Mie off the hospital entrance and leave. She will cover up.
This was when Kengo unknowingly became a victim of the secret plot. Even though he was not confident, he was "pushed" into helping the delivery. The baby was born successfully but just when he thought all went well and about to stitch Mie up, she went into complications with non stop bleeding and died. His confidence as a doctor was shaken and he blamed himself for the patient's death, especially more so blaming himself for causing the child to be an orphan not ever knowing his mother like himself. (he felt his own mother died to deliver him was like a cross to bear)
Meanwhile, Yuka worked to cover up her tracks. She convinced the hospital chief not to do autopsy of the death or report it as unnatural death or it will sent the hospital over the brink and shut down. They decided to attribute the death due to the suregon lacking experience making a wrong call.
Unfortunately for Yuka, Kengo could NOT let go of the death and started to poke around for more answers. It was worse when he witness the handing over of the baby to Toshio and recognise him as the famose "educator" . he was more shocked later to find out Toshio was keiko's husband! To stop his nosy porbbing, Yuka had her sister in law Toshio to despatch Kengo suddenly back to the university hospital without a reason. That made it worse because Kengo then found out about Keiko's inability to conceive naturally but he had seen her "pregnant" at the hospital!
Despite to uncover the fishiness of the whole deal, he went on to discover via DNA test that the baby was not Keiko's but Mie! Threatened by his presence at the baby's celebration, Yuka decided to tell kengo the truth that the baby was conceived by keiko and Toshio but Mie was the surrogate mother. Kengo was shocked as it was illegal but eventually he thought he knew the truth and was able to close thecase until Mie's exbf appeared!
From him, he found out about Mie's rare blood type and from another patient who had witnessed Yuka switching the label of the blood bag on the nite of the operation. Also there was no reason for Mie who is loved by a man to volunteer to be surrogate mother for someone else. Realising that the death may not be due to him but Yuka's deliberate attempt to "murder" Mie, he confronted her at the hospital, only to be arrested by police called in by the chief for unauthorised trespassed and operation on one of their patient.
"Hungry" is like taking forever to get interesting. Maybe I am too demanding but the pace is seriously boringly slow.
For those who still have no idea what I am talking about, I am refering to the currently airing Japanese drama starring Mukai Osamu. The Tv station will need a better script to boast its efforts to make him a bigger idol star because whatever they are doing, isnt doing its magic on me.
Storyline Summary
Eisuke (Mukai) is the son of a female chef who excels or known for her French cooking known as Le Petit Chou. While he is talented and has a gift and palette to succeed his mother, yet an unfortunate incident when he was still in primary school set him off in a completely new path towards becoming a rock musician and turned his back on being a chef (despite winning a prestigious French gourmet competition). However, he had promised his mother that if he still achieved nothing in the music industry by the time he turned 30years old, he will go back to his cooking roots. Unknown to him, at the same time, a boss of a chain of fine dining establishments, Tokio ((SMAP's Inagaki) was eyeing on his mum's restaurant and turning it into one of his own.
One day, after learning that his band had failed another scouting audition, Eisuke went to his mum's restaurant desponded and finally thinking that he should make good of his promise since he is turning 30yr soon. After a meal his mum cooked at the end of a working day in the restaurant, he wistfully told his mum perhaps its time for him to give up music his love. Instead of forcing him to live up to his promise, his mum instead told him not to feel pressured and just stick to doing music if that he what his heart truly yearns for. She told him she will always wait for him. Eisuke was touched by his understanding mum but yet as fate has it, his mum suddenly collapsed and passed away. To add salt to the injury, his father not knowing that Eisuke had decided to carry on with his mum;s line of work, had unilaterally sold his mum's restaurant to the very guy who had been eyeing the place before the mum's death. The father, who is an aspiring artist and so called amateur "magician" had no idea that the restaurant businessman Tokio would only retain the "front" and yet completely tear down the old place to rebuilt with a new name Gastera!
Meanwhile, Eisuke’s older girlfriend Maria (by 3 years), who works at a bank was shocked to find out that Mukai has abandoned his music to devote himself to becoming the chef of a new restaurant at the converted warehouse he had started with his bandmates. His long hours and "uncoolness" led to her uncertainty about their relationship since she had always known him to be a musician.
At the same time, Chie, a 20-year-old college student who is the daughter of a small family owned vegetable farm, who had saved up to dine at Eisuke's mum's French restaurant was shocked to find the place with the "same name" was run by Eisuke whom she had a really bad initial impression of. Yet at the very first bite, she fell in love with his cooking and she became a regular diner despite being a "poor" student. Her family also starts to provide the fresh produce for Eisuke's restaurant.
Nothing went smoothly for Eisuke. Firstly, they couldnt make ends meet with very little clients or virtually none at some days. They tried to advertise and their start up got the attention of Gastera resturant owner Tokio. He challenged Eisuke's cooking with intention to shut him down, that he would only allow them to continue using the name Le Peitit Chou if his cooking can satisfy him. Unfortunately, Eisuke "failed" the challenge and Tokio fault his cooking comparing it to bistro food, and also the informal half hearted put together dining setting which resembles nothing like a proper French dining. With that, Eisuke was forced to change the name and despite having some regular, he reckoned Tokio was right and tried to set about new changes. Unfortunately that move led to much unhappiness and disgruntle for his 2 buddies and in the end, they both left him as they felt Eisuke was too influenced and bothered by Tokio's words as they felt nothing needed to be changed.
Despite Tokio's curt and harsh critic, yet he couldnt forget Eisuke's fried rice. He had to admit to himself that Eisuke was an unpolished gem as a talented chef and tried to get him to work under him instead.
Overtime, Chie realised she was falling for Eisuke though she tried to hide it as she knew of Maria's existence. Taku (Miura Shohei), who is also a bandmate and working as the Matire'D started to also fall for Chie unknowingly. As Taku was a "playboy" and flippant usually, his feelings were not known. As a friend, he told Chie he would help her by getting her to work at the restaurant. However, one night when he was listening to Chie talking about Eisuke, he couldnt hold himself back and hugged her, telling her that his heart felt cold just hearing her talk about Eisuke the whole night. Chie was shocked at the move. Knowing how innocent Chie was, Tayu passed it off as a joke and left leaving Chie wondering what was happening.
At the same time, Eisuke had patched back with his teammates after helping one of them cover up his departure from his potential inlaws visiting the "workplace". Also, Eisuke came to realisation that he is where and who he is only because of these friends who had been through up and downs his life since they were youngsters in school with their shared love for music.
Just when they thought things will get better with increased in patrons, to their shock, the landlord of the warehouse returned informing them to wind up as she had intention to tear down the place and convert it to some other commercial building. No pleading will move her and so in the end, after 3 months of hardwork, Eisuke was forced to close shop.
During this time, Eisuke also made his feelings known to Chie that he only viewed her as a sister. While crying and in great sadness, Tayu finally made his move and told her he would protect her. he announced his relationship to everyone in the restaurant. Eisuke appeared in conflicting emotions. Meanwhile, Eisuke was offered a plane ticket from Tokio to France to a proper French cooking school to polish his cooking. After many failed attempts to look for an affordable spot, his friends urged him to accept the 2 years offer while they will work hard to wait for him as Tokio also offered his friends job at Gastera. Eisuke told Tokio he accept after much deliberation."
~TBC (after more new episodes are aired)
I am still waiting for the final episodes to conclude my summary. Cannot believe it takes so long for them to cover such a simple plot.
I really like Shohei as Taku here, he has that cheeky playfulness which is probably partly him in real life to be so convincing. lol! Other than him, the rest were a little boring for me with very little depth in their characters and the script plot is also kinda shallow. It doesnt tug my heart strings, neither does it make me laugh. It's so far, in those "mindlessly watching" category because i am lacking a more interesting drama to watch...sigh.
Having feast my eyes on all the Japanese male actors...I thought it was about time to divert my attention to a new unusual "family centric" J drama ー 家政婦のミタ (Kaseifu no Mita).
I say unusual because this is not one of those "Oh feel so good" everybody-love-each-other-happy-go-lucky drama. Instead, the story revolves around a family whose wife/mother had recently deceased, leaving behind a seemingly at lost dad and a bunch of kids ranging from eldest daughter in senior high, 2 sons, and the youngest daughter in kindergarten. As the house was constantly messy and lack of proper meals, the father decided to engage a house helper to assume the household chores responsibilities. Everything would seem normal except for the eccentric helper who is mysterious, quiet but chillingly knowing in everything.
Starring in this is Matsushima Nanako san, who has "retired" from the TV screen for the past 2 years, making her return with this suspenseful mystery drama. In here, she will assume the role as kaseifu (Japanese term for housekeeping helper). However, departing from her past drama image which had endeared herself to the audience with her cheerful, ladylike persona; this time round Nanako will have to draw in viewers with a completely "emotionless" character who maintains a cold expression at all time. It is a refreshing and bold 360degree change for both the actress and audience. If you ask me, this seemed like a Japanese twist on the famous Nanny Mcphee's character except there seemed to be no "magical" transformation or powers to date (having watched 3 episodes).
Story plot
Mita san is assigned to the Asuda family as their new Kaseifu.
The Ausda family had recently lost their mother who had drown in the nearby river for no reason. The eldest daughter Yui tried to assume the household responsibilities but it was indicative that she was not coping well with a messy home, non-cooked meals and un-replenished items. Yui has 2 other brothers Kakeru and Kaito and youngest sister Kii aged 6.
Mita's arrival into the family will bring about a series of up and downs for the family. While she was perfect in her job, yet her mysterious character and following instructions to a T without any thought or opinion seemed to create unexpected problems, but also seemingly resolving them eventually. Is Mita's presence a blessing or a curse? The audience will soon find out with the story development in each episode!
After watching Ouran High, I actually went backwards to catch an older drama (2010) starring Shunsuke and Yusuke. Titled "Tumbling" and the story theme revolves around the bromance between the 6 guys and the male rhythmic sports.
Frankly before watching this drama, I will confess to my ignorance that I never knew this 6party group sport existed for the male gender, even lesser so that it originated from Japan! So I guess there is something to learn everyday!
Story plot (with some spoiler)
Basically Yusuke (Tamaki from Ouran High) starred as a bad arse 3rd year student Wataru, who is like a "gang leader" in his school. Leading a bunch of followers, he basically was undefeatable and struck fear in all the other gangs from other school (and basically everyone in his school) because of his fearless fighting ability. I dont know if he fought because he was challenged or he was just bored and uninterested in the mundane life.
However, his school life took a turn when his new form teacher (let's call him braidy sensei) timidly informed him that Wataru had to join a club activity to make up for the lack of points in his second year. Wataru, supported by his sidekicks Keiji and Ryosuke, tried all possible "manly" ball games but unfortunately his bad temper and inability for others to "tackle" him in sports game made it impossible for him to last through. Additionally all the other students seemed to fear his presence. Just when both Wataru and Braidy sensei was left helpless, Wataru spotted his crush Mari joining the female rhythmic gym club. Wanting to impress her and be closer to her, Wataru decided to join the male rhythmic club in the spur of the moment, though he was mildly impressed by the individual performance by Hino, considered a star athlete in this field in the school.
However, the male club was depressingly unpopular with only 3 members including the captain Yuta. The group is often mocked by the female team as well as looked down upon by the female team's coach, and hardly get to use the gym and the gears. When Wataru wanted to join the team, Yuta as skeptical but the sensei pleaded with Yuta that it will only be for a month. Yuta relented and everything else was history.
Initially Wataru was impatient and had little regard and respect for the sports itself. He was keen to do everything Hino was doing but Yuta told him it was impossible. Fed up with just stretching and doing exercises, Wataru exploded and "ill treated" Yuta's equipment. Yuta told Wataru to leave since Wataru disregard was like trampling over Yuta's dream.
While Wataru had decided to quit initially, he decided to give it another go but Yuta rejected him. Undeterred, Wataru continued with running and practicing his upside down stunts and eventually convinced the rest of the teammate to help him. Evetually Yuta relented. At the same time, Wataru was getting more and more involved with the sports as he started to feel the sense of achievement which had always eluded him in the past. He suddenly found a purpose in life.
Unfortunately, one of his best friend Ryosuku started to feel neglected and got roped into some nasty business which involved illegal business. When Ryosuke wanted out, the gang denied him and wanted to bash him but Wataru came to the rescue and the episode ended with the real big boss appearing to get Wataru and Ryosuke off the hook. From there the two made up and Ryosuke with his natural athletic ability joined the club and impressed the original members with his agility. Keiji also eventually also join the club.
However, Reiji was angry and pissed and vowed to create more trouble for Wataru from wreaking his club's equipment to stirring up more fights. However that did not steer Wataru from his goal in aiding Yuta to fulfil his childhood dream of participating in the competition with a 6 man team. Despite having failed in their first attempt miserably and being the joke of everyone...yet their persistence eventually paid off with the female team applauding their efforts and converting the female coach's disdain to encouragement and support for the male team (indirectly).
Shunsuke starred as Ryuichiro, who is a loner in school and refused to get involved in any one else business. However, he seemed to be on good terms with Wataru, often watching out for him and his best frends, tipping Wataru off discreetly in possible moments of danger. It was not known why till later the reason for Ryuichio's aloofness to everyone. Reiji had tried to pull Ryu to his side to join his gang so that they can rule the school (and overtake Wataru notoriety) . Howver Ryu declined. In revenge, Reiji spread the rumour that Ryu had killed someone previously in Jr High. Wataru was shocked and tried to comfort Ryu that no matter what, he is his friend. The real truth wasnt that Ryu had killed someone, but rather his best fren had died in his place trying to protect him from a gang who bashed him in the head with a steel rod. Ryu felt responsible and because he was the one who stirred up the fight, he felt he had indeed cause the death of his best friend, and hence explained his unwillingness to associate with anyone else.
Reiji realising that he could not win Ryu to betray Wataru decided to hatch a ploy to trick the two into a remote spot, letting them think each other was in danger. Just when Reiji was about to "kill" Ryu with the steel rod, Ryu froze in the middle of the fight but Wataru protected Ryu from the rod swing and was hit in the head instead and went unconscious. Reiji laughed crazily that he had finally beat Wataru and ran off while Ryu went hysterical thinking history was repeating itself!!
In the hospital, Ryu nearly had an emotional breakdown but Wataru with his steel head turned up alrite with only stitches required. Ryu was relieved. Wataru told Ryu that he need not feel responsible because he would have done the same if Watru had faced the same danger. Which is exactly what Ryu's best fren had done, to protect a fren. Hence Ryu need not be laden with guilt all these years. Wataru asked Ryu he had never visited his best fren tomb and encourage him to go. At the tomb, Ryu met the sister and cried and apologised. Yet the sister said she never once blamed him because she knew how much her brother had adored Ryu who was the only person to befren her brother. With that, Ryu finally made peace with his past and moved on. As such, Ryu also joined the male club with Wataru!
On the other hand Hino was also a loner but for a different reason. He was always behaving and thought negatively about the male rhythmic club because of their lack of performance. However, Wataru through chanced incident of saving Hino from some bad seeds robbing Hino, came to understand that Hino's dad opposed Hino's interest thinking Hino was just escaping from reality after his brother was chosen for Olympic team but he was not. Wataru accidentally witness the cold fight between Hino and his dad, got involved by telling Hino's dad off and encourage him to come witness Hino's hard work and his real passion in the sport for at least once before jumping to conclusion or misjudging Hino. His pleas worked and Hino was grateful to Wataru for helping him resolve the knot between him and his dad, gaining his support and trust.
In each episode, the story focused on the each individual 8 team members, their past and present, their failings and their secrets. It is a rather well constructed and scripted drama with a good healthy dose of "teachings" about handling friendship that is applicable in real life.
Overall, I would recommend this drama. Shunsuke's image is completely different and more "wild" here. I think Yusuke also pulled off Wataru's role very well here, being the rough but loyal fren with a secret soft spot. In fact I actually think this role gave Yusuke more room and chance to deliver his acting skills than in Ouran high which was more restrictive due to the character scripted.
On another note, the other actor Shohei who caught my eye was the actor playing Ryosuke. For some reason, I thought he was rather cute with his blond wavy hair and fringe tied up. Upon further digging, I realise he was the same guy starring in the Hanakimi 2011 ed as Nakatsu! However, i still like him better here...lol!
This drama was so well received in drama that it actually carried on to the stage play last Sept- Oct playing from Tokyo to Osaka.
The show continues off 5 years later after the drama concluded. Ryoichiro Kiyama is now working in another school as a Japanese History teacher and formed a new club with all the boys which are rejected from other clubs. he brought them back to his old school to watch the team performance under the coaching from Kaneko. Meanwhile Wataru was off travelling to spread the good word about his mum's omelette and Ryosuke gave up his skirt chasing ways and ended up with 5 kids! LOL!!!
Hey people, sorry for the silence for the past few days. Been suffering from this nagging annoying and painful stiff neck that is refusing to go away after almost a week. I dont know why and how it happened but it did and no amount of massage or sticking on those plaster thing seem to do anything. Only the painkillers numbed the damn pain.
Anycase, I wanted to do quick review on Ouran High drama.
Thanks to Kerstin's sharing on liking and "persuasive nudging" to watch the drama, I trusted her views and decided to give it a second chance, to stick it out beyond the 1st episode to see if I could possibly like it. While I wont say I am in love with it as much as "HanaKimi" or as per the manga (though I am forgetting chunks of it having been several years now since I last read it), however that said, this series isnt as bad as I had thought based on my first impression.
For those who had not heard of this yet, basically it's a shoujo manga adapted romantic comedy drama, about a poor gal Haruhi on scholarship to attend a premium exclusive Ouran High school, and ending up "working" as a "male host" to pay off her accidental debt for breaking an uber expensive vase. She soon discovered how ridiculously wealthy (not to mention eccentric in some ways) her fellow 6 other peers are, not to mention the "agenda" of the host club was to "please" the ladies in the school.
Quick Story Characters
Each episode of the drama begins like the manga, shows the boys in different "theme" and costume. Each of the guys has their own quirks and character with the seemingly lovable but silly flamboyant verging on narcissistic leader yet childlike Tamaki leading the gang. At times, he seemed to be clueless naive goofball, overemotional yet at times he would sprout something that touches your heart with his honesty and perceptive insight. He is actually a rather comic relief character but also a very kind guy who never bears a grudge. He was raised till 14yrs by his mum in France but was then "exchanged for money"by his mother to live with his father and granny. The condition was that his mum should disappear and never to see Tamaki again. Later in the manga, Kyouya actually found the mum and helped to reunite them. His feelings for Haruhi was "mistaken" as a fatherly love intitally and he roped (unilaterally) Kyouya to be the mother.
Next person in the hierarchy is the cool and super intelligent Kyouya, holding the post as the club's "vice-president" and financial controller. Kyouya is as different from Tamaki as the moon and sun. While Tamaki is outspoken and silly, Kyuoya comes across as secretive, composed, cool type and seemingly cold, scheming and uncaring on the outset. However, as the story develops, we will his that he is rather caring side and plans ahead like a chess player.
However, his kindness is never apparent like how he grabbed Haruhi to bed as he wanted to illustrate the point to Haruhi (that she cannot overpower a man) and why Tamaki was angry at her over the seaside incident.
Next is a set of mischievous twins, Hikaru and kaoru, whose "forbidden brotherly love is a big hit with the gals. The story will evolve later for us to see the twins struggling to overcome their feelinsg for Haruhi and dealing with their widening their social circle
There is also an odd ball set of short and tall senpai, Honey and Mori where the former is cute and adorable while Mori his cousin side kick bodyguard is tall and man of few words. Put together, the group achieved a "all encompassing" dynamic host club members.
Drama Casting Review
In the manga, I personally like the twins quite a bit. Honey was cute and Tamaki was a tad stupid for me sometimes.
In the drama, Yusuke was playing the character for Tamaki. Okie frankly speaking I didnt or wasnt expecting much from Yusuke because I thought him to be an average actor from past drama I had seen. However, in here I thought he pulled off his role rather well and his expressions certainly had me laughing a few good bits. He isnt the most charming or handsome actor in the block but he is rather well suited for such roles. I didnt think anyone could pull off Tamaki's character honestly being so over the top and goofy, princely yet stupid...but I think Yusuke delivered it well. As I type and think of some of his "silly" facial expressions, I'm chuckling to myself. At the same time after this drama, I actually backtrack to catch another older drama he starred in known as Tumbling.
Who would imagine that in the drama, I ended drooling over Kyuoya! The character that I didnt think much of in the manga. Call me shallow, I dont care, but the actor Shunsuke taking on the role of Kyuoya was a piece of yummy meat for me! (lol!)
Crap I was getting all excited in the scene where he was toweling himself when Haruhi came out of the toilet.
Almost pee in my knickers (a phrase I learnt off Chef Ramsay) when he grabbed Haruhi and threw her on the bed and sat on top of her, pretending to want to kiss her and do the "H" stuff (he did it because he wanted Haruhi to understand why tamaki was angry with her for standing up to 2 strangers (men) instead of asking for help where the rest are nearby) till Haruhi called his bluff and said "Senpai will not do anything that is off no benefit to him". Kyouya then gave a "cold" laugh and got of her... Damn Haruhi! you sure know how to "cool off" a man's heat! In the drama, they did not elaborate more but in the manga, Kyuoya was "constantly" teasing Haruhi about her taking food home etc and it was Honey Senpai who pointed out Kyuoya's developed but hidden feeling for Haruhi after Tamaki finally confessed his feelings. However Kyuoya was quick to state that it was better because he have both their friendship and a happy couple.
I will first admit that I didnt think very much of him (Shunsuke) in the first few episodes. Maybe it was the hair.
However the episode where they were doing the Police cosplay and Kyuoya was in the police outfit with the shades, I was going "HOT HOT HOT" x100!!! If my drool could be measured, it will be overflowing from my bathtub now! The next scene that was also scoring perfect 10 to me, was the part where he threw his specs off and jumped off the cliff after Haruhi was pushed down. Man!! How come we dont get good looking hero like that in real life!?!! I kept trying to recall where I had seen him before then I realised he had appeared in Love Shuffle before.
(Left: Daito Shunsuke Right: Seiji Fukushi)
For me, Shunsuke ( on the left) looked a little like the actor Seiji Fukushi (acting as Kuroki kun in Nodame) but Kerstin think otherwise. Am I really seeing things? I dunno..no matter how I looked, they look like silblings to me! hahaha.
As for Chiba Yudai as Honey Senpai. They got a rather cute actor for the role but oh man, he was a tad too girly for me in some scene, esp the epi where they were tailing Haruhi and Honey was dressed in the pink girly maid outfit. That was abit yacky for me esp when he talked in that girly voice. Cute or not, sorry, I am not really into this "man-woman" thingie.
I didnt like the twins quite as much. Not sure if its the casting or the lack of airtime to develop their characters that made them a little uninteresting for me. I guess its not easy to find a real life pair of twins who are Both cute and can act.
As for the actress who starred as Haruhi...honestly, she was neither inspiring nor interesting. Actually she came across rather bland like her emotions was almost fixed and constant or perhaps brooding. She isnt cute, but she isnt non fitting either. In another words, she was forgettable for me and if someone else replaced her, I wont bate an eyelid or scream injustice.
Mori casting was ok but I was somehow expecting someone beefier! hahaha.
Overall, I think the drama only focus on the "manga" highlights and it was little too short to do the manga any justice. The drama was more like an "introductory" miniseries to each character and how they came together without really going into details. In the manga, the main focus was more like Tamaki and Haruhi comin to a "super" slow realisation of their feelings for each other, Haruhi coming to understand why Tamaki was the way he was, his kindness and his family problems that involves a cold grandmother and a "missing" mother and a "cowardly" father. So the drama came across more frivolous than what the actual managa actually represent.
Yet based on entertainment value, Ouran High didnt fare too badly afterall. I prob give it a 6.5 rating. The part for Tamaki that made me laughed the most was actually those moments where he got pinned to the words by Haruhi's harsh names for him. hahaha! So all in all not bad series to watch to get some laughs. I think I am going to replay the episode of kyouya over and over again just for the time being...
Just finished watching Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku (夏の恋は虹色に輝), starring Arashi's Jun. Frankly, canx say I am impressed nor intrigued with the first episode. It's a little weak and boring, with little to captue my imagination.
The story revolves around Jun's character trying to be an actor but failing due to his stiffness before the camera. However, rather than self reflect, he seem to be pushing to blame on his famous actor father who died in ep 1. I suppose it will be the female lead who will help him to find his grounding and find his direction. She told him that his father's love is like the rainbow after the rain, shining on him always. So he should stop being so self absorbed and blamed his failure on his dad's fame.
I wasnt drawn to the female lead, and personally, Jun is still a little weak in acting dramas outside the comedy or manga genre. I will prob get hatemails from fan but I still have to put it out there, Jun still lacks the depth of a serious actor... I dun dislike him but I often find it hard to be drawn into his character. Even in Bambino where he was playing a role of an aspiring chef, while I like him there, it was more like I like his supporting cast more to hold my attention.
So I guess this may be one drama I may or may not tune in regularly, depending on my time. All I can say, I am not hopeful...
Hooo Hoo! One of my old favorite is coming back onscreen with Season 2! Its Hotaru no Hikiri airing 11 July by Ntv (official site). Not sure if it will be as hilariously funny as Season 1 but I sure am looking forward to it nonetheless! And I know I wont be the only one looking forward to it! They have added new cast to season 2, primarily Osamu Mukai as Kazuma Seno.
For those who had seen season 1, you will rem scenes fondly between adorable Amemiyah and her Bu chou (manager)! I just went Ha ha even from thinking about it! LOL
Season 2 Background
Three years ago, the heart of Amemiya Hotaru, the ‘dried up female’, had settled on Takano ‘Buchou’, and the ‘dried up female’ was supposed to have grown up … However, right after that, Hotaru was posted as a project team member to far-away Hong Kong. She is cut off from ‘Buchou’ and devotes herself to work. Then, three years later, Hotaru returns to Japan after finishing the project. She is assigned to the First Planning Department, where ‘Buchou’ belongs, and immediately begins work as one of the team members. However, both the staff as well as the mood in the company have changed a great deal. The planner, Seno Kazuma, who seems to be a frivolous guy, leaves work at precisely 5.00 p.m. because he is on a ’9 to 5 contract’. Another junior colleague, Sakuragi Mika also quickly goes back once she has “finished her own work”. Yamada and Futatsugi Shoji, who are aware of the development between the two of them, whisper to each other, “Once a man and woman are separated for three years, they will no longer be like they used to,” as they watch Takano and Hotaru.
“A person will change after three years. I am different from the person I was at that time. You’re the only one who hasn’t changed. What have you done these 3 years?” ‘Buchou’ leaves Hotaru to chew on his words and goes to meet another mysterious woman....
So what will happen between Buchou and Hotaru?
Gonna watch episode 1 now. Review later! Meanwhile I leave you with a season 1 recap vieo clip!
If you like to read my review for season 1, read here
Finished Moon Lovers last epi and the verdict? CRAPPY like hell!
This has gotto be the WORST ever script Kimura has ever acted in! The ending was almost sloppy and sooooooo halfhearted! Predicatability aside, the ending felt soooo forced that I really had to summon every bit of strength to finish it. It's rotten through and through.
Firstly, they didnt account very well as to why and how the Shumei the model was persuaded to stay behind. And for her to find out that her love one was betrayed by his best employee, she seemed not to display extreme shock or any sign of concern and worried-ness for Kimura! The best she could do was "Do not speak ill of him before me" to her best gay friend. Yah right..
Secondly, the whole relationship between Kimura and his best gf was soooooo forced. It's almost like he was obliged and compelled to be with her, and frankly, I couldnt feel a single bit of love chemistry there.
Thirdly, the whole self awareness journey by Kimura was soooo unnecessary and again pointless to watch. Yeah right, you love the trees, big deal. I didnt sit here an hour for you to tell me you love the trees. I GET it, not go dosomething interesting! The last part which was a competition between him and his previous company was sooooo lame! I wanted to smack my head. You would think he would come out with some spectacular design after he seemed to "discover" an insight to the communication but he ended up with a bland looking moon craved theme wooden chair. Come on! After your client briefed you that this gallery/ hotel will be a featured and dominating space in the commuity? and a creative furniture specialist comes up with rows and rows of wooden chair and just expect people to sit and talk to each other? I nearly died of frustration.
And as for the other model who had a crush on Kimura, suddenly changing her heart to see him as a brother? How cliche!!!! Shoot me already!
The whole thing was soooo unaccountable. It doesnt explain why Kimura was striking off people one by one in the picture. How did he become so sullen and a loner when apparently he was passionate and more outgoing when he started out (judging by the group photo and friends he had) The exlaination was money in the last ep but all the prev ep was never pointed to money, it was always about his passion to spread good furniture to the world, he didnt want to be forgotten/ non existent etc....nothing in the script ties up for Kimura character. It's sooo flawed and rubbish!
So my verdict is, if you have time, dont even bother to watch this. Kimura doesnt even have any expression apart from smiling and sulking. The only one who was interesting is the designer gf, the only one who made any sense from head to toe...
I have never been so let down by a Japanese drama before and this leads the pack.
Counting down to my second last week at work! Yiiiipppppeeee!
Lacking better romantic drama to watch, and still waiting for the latest episode of Coffee House, I started on J-drama :Zettai Reido, which is a Japanese version of CSI & Cold Case combined as one.
There is no major anchor star but having finished the first two episodes, I have to say this investigative drama is much better than Moon Lover. Crime suspense thriller isnt everyone's cup of tea and quite frankly, this isnt the best detective Japanese drama I have seen. However, at least it is not trying to fob its audience using big stars to cover the loust script as Moon Lovers did.
In Zettai Reido, Sakuragi Izumi (Ueto Aya) is a new police sergeant with the Special Investigations Office. The new investigation team uses DNA analysis and the latest in forensics science to investigate cold cases as well as cases suspected to involve missing persons.
Being newbie, Sakura still lacks the necessary experience in profiling and questioning, and appear to at times be clouded by her passions and feelings. However, that doesnt mean she is a clueless cop. So far the epi tries to balance her character with some level of intellect as required for a cop.
The only flaw I would find is that in the whole department of experience cops, how is it that she is the only one who ever thought of retracing/ rewalking the steps of the victims, and as such find clues to solve the cases. It's a little far stretch since you would expect some seniors with vast experience to have thought of that...
However all in all, still an entertaining seriers to kill time and a little less annoying than Moon Lovers, which incidentally is seemingly seeing a premature "death" this coming week.
Look out for the upcoming drama 『月の恋人～Moon Lovers～』 starring 木村拓哉 Takuya Kimura, Shinohara Ryoko, Kitagawa Keiko,Matsuda Shota(Liar Game Lead actor). Even the Taiwanese model "Lin Chi Ling" is gonna be acting in here! This is an interesting combination.... Kimura and Shota....
Another romantic drama but filled with betrayal and conspiracy plot. No doubt, definitely not a lighthearted funny drama.
Kimura never really act in those comedy drama, romantic yes but haa haa hoo hoo drama, no. His drama always has some seriousness , intensity to his character...after a while, its almost like some failsafe "formula" acting and script acceptance. Which is why I never go googoogaga over dramas he star in coz they are always about the same gendre...His variety shows are so funny, just dunno why his drama roles are always the same sort.
In here, Kimura is the president of design company -Regolith. His heart is closed and after meeting Lin Chiling, his closed heart starts to waver... Ryoko works in his company as another capable interior design, his uni schoolmate and a secret admirer of his...Keiko is a wealthy daughter of some top group, and is a model herself, and got romantically involved in Kimura for some reasons.
Oh well...not much details are out yet..but something to lookforward to in Spring.
I have holed up at home the last few days catching up on this drama "Love Shuffle" telecast earlier this year. I just thought it might be something interestin to fill up my time after Buzzer Beat is over. The series turned out to be rather ok really. It's not wow excellent but its kinda entertaining in its own ways with funny bits throughout.
The drama revolves around the "love philosophy" amongst the four lead characters who happened to be neighbors, living on the top most floors of an expensive residential building. One is a male psychologist Yukichi, a successful photographer Ojiro, an IT manager Usami kei, and lastly a female foreign languages translator Aizawa Airu.
The plot starts off simple.
3 Months before their wedding ceremony, Kei was dumped by his gf Mei without a reason. All she did was repeatedly apologising without further elaborations despite Kei's pleas to change. Mei is the daughter and fav child of a wealthy businessman who owns the company that Kei is working. In fact, Kei less than ideal academic records would not have warrant him his current position if it wasnt for the fact his gf is Mei. Thinking that the cancellation of the marriage would also means the lost of his expensive flat and job left Kei totally demoralised in addition to losing to the love of his life Mei.
That night, as Kei stepped dejectedly into the lift with 3 other people, a power breakout suddenly stopped the lift in midway. The 4 started talking after realising they are all neighbors and started self introduction. By chance, they found out about Kei's misfortune in love when his ring box fell out. At the same time, Ai realised she had to pee desperately and the guys all convinced her to pee in the paper cup, while attempting to do so themselves to make it less awkward for her. Just when she was about to relent, the lights and power resumed and saved! From there, they decidedly became friends and often had gatherings at the common corridor area together.
During their conversations, everyone revealed bits and pieces of problems faced in their complex lovelife. In the course of conversation, someone said "Parting ways is easy, but it will only be a matter of time before you fall for someone else, but the feeling will gradually diminish again, hence, it is nothing but a cycle of repetition."
At that point (and on the pretext of helping Kei with Mei), the game "love shuffle" was born. The objective was to exchange their current partners, with the idea of finding out if their current partner is worthy of love, or a new lover will really be better.
The following nite, the 4 lead characters invited their partners to a gathering, after explaining the concept of love shuffle. At the start, Kei was opposed to the idea but he invited Mei anycase since he assumed she would also declined. Airu invited her stalker bf Reiko, Yukichi invited his young patient Kairi who insisted on killing herself by her 20th birthday, and Ojiro invited the older married woman Masato whom he is having an affair with.
This is where the fun begins. To kei's shock, Mei actually agreed to the game. The only person who didnt turn up was the doctor's patient who had once again committed suicide. The doctor persuade her to join the game as he wanted her to gain the will and courage to live from the experience. Oji withheld the info that his partner is a married woman, and the doctor also witheld the fact kairi is his patient and not gf.
Kei was still reluctant about the preposterous idea despite Mei's willingness to be involve. Ai revealed Mei's sharing that Kei has lost his shine over the years after working for her dad, and playfully pretended to throw the ring into the pool. However, the ring was indeed thrown in by accident and kei dived in without hesitation and with that renewed his determination to play the game seriously so as to regain mei's positive view in him.
Hence the game begins based on a shuffle of card (which really was determined by the doctor) and the cross matching begins.
The drama continues showing how the different people remains unaffected or were affected throughout the different combination. Personally, Kei's character really shine through and one begins to understand what Mei had meant about Kei not fulfilling his full potential if he continues to be with her, and thus her decision to end the relationship despite loving him greatly.
The show is not heavy at all, and definitely not preachy about love. It doesnt get messy or entangled but executed in a light hearted manner which can be easily identifiable for all. As the story progress, more mysteries would also starts to unravel affecting their behaviour. Can kairi really see god of death, does the doctor have ulterior motive? Will Kei finally reunite with Mei or will they go speerate ways? Why Ai isnt able to wholeheartly love someone? It's a pretty interesting show. You wont really be roooting for particularly anyone, but you will have your fav However, you will go away feeling satisfied with a smile on your face after the show ends.
i watched otomen...quite crappy [ personal view] for the first 2 episodes...
it was so lame that i didnt even feel like sitting thru every minute of it. quite disappointing really since i liked the manga somewhat. if they have picked a better cast, i'm sure it would have been better but.... apart from the lead male actor, the actress was frankly quite average looking. plus they threw in alot of horizontally challenged folks in to try to gain humour and laughs, which in my opinion is pretty weak, unnecessary, insulting and discriminating. why do lousy producers always try to make non slim people as object of laughters i beyond me. so its prob another pass for me....
[ story plot ; basically revolves this very cute, eligible, popular highschool guy who is all rounder in sports and academic. however he has a deep dark secret, he is an otomen, meaning he like girly stuff like sewing, cooking, baking, dolls, cutesy pink stuff and stuffies etc. however his dad had left home to become a woman so the mum absolutely forbid any remoteness or contact to girly stuff for the son and the son obliged the mum. so the drama goes how he survives in school with his secret, and later on the girl appears as a new transfer, and she is complete opposite from him, hopeless in all girls stuff but good in fighting.
in the manga, there will be anotehr guy in their class who is a shoujo manga writer and he used the lead guy and girl as material for his manga thru their relationship development...i am assuming the drama will follow suit... that's about it. no depth to it. ]
