血液型別オンナが結婚する方法, or “How to get your fairytale marriage as a woman of blood-type (~)”

Over the past couple of years, Japan has gone crazy over a set of books by Jamais Jamais, which have become somewhat of a bible for the understanding people by their bloodtypes. The books have been on hold at the library every since I first spotted them, so I chose simply to buy my own set…though now I have no time in which to read them.

Well…I do, if I make the time, but that’s besides the point.

Anyway, I recently learned of this 4-part drama special from April of this year. Each episode depicts a woman representing one bloodtype, who is trying to attract (or find) the guy of her dreams. The four women are all named Sachie (幸恵) (which means “happy/fortunate blessings”), and their best friends are all played by Kondo Haruna. The stories are otherwise unconnected in any way. The stories were sometimes cheesy, and will probably rankle feminists, but Ketsuekigata betsu onna was, for me, a somewhat entertaining four nights.

Personally, it was difficult to watch the first Sat-chan try to make herself over into a flashy, flirty woman, because, though I will never go as far as she did, I certainly recognised some of her A-blood-type traits (such as keeping a log of accounts) in myself. However, I don’t always wait for the green light – a throwback from spending most of my childhood in the city of jaywalkers perhaps. (^_^;)

The others were, however, quite fun to watch. I especially liked O-Sachie, who went from geing a blur, pouty young woman to a classy and responsible one, whilst retaining the open, heck-care for etiquette traits that can brighten up a stuffy situation where appropriate. (Hm…something like Yoon Eun Hye’s characters in certain Korean dramas I’ve seen.) I also liked AB-Sachie, especially her “cool beauty” trait, but B-Sachie is someone I probably wouldn’t be able to have good relations with. They’re all stereotypes, perhaps, but for the most part, I could certainly sympathise with some of the situations they faced.

On a more serious side, the love interest in each episode was always someone Sachie met or knew from work, never a random meeting at a bar (although B-Sachie’s came close). This trend is certainly reflected in the Okinawan teaching community, where most teachers are married to someone they’ve met at work or through parties they’ve attended because of work relations. Even if you meet at university or through friends, networking here means that most people only know those of a similar cut to themselves. When some of my teachers found out that a fellow teacher was married to a nurse, they also started wondering where in the world they’d met! This is also one of the reasons I’m not willing to stay as an ALT for another year – having seen how they have to live, there’s no way in hell that I’m marrying a teacher!

Back to the point, Ketsuekigata betsu onna is a fun watch (more for girls, perhaps), and I expect that I’ll enjoy revisiting it after…well, a certain point in my life. 7/10

her doughter is…..x3

I started watching this drama and OMG it’s really excitting.

it’s my first time to see Tackey as an actor although I’m used to see him at the stage…he is great!!

I though it would be really scary to see this pretty face as a bad guy and it really is, and Ryo actting the good poor guy made him kawaii ^O^

this girl is Freaking me out >__>

Asami-san ga daisuki ^O^

Black hair + White clothes + White skin + Named Ryuzaki + Cold character

he tottaly reminds me “ L “ from death note ^&^

Gods’ hands X Devils’ hands

這齣日劇真的了不起
它把格局拉大到一個很可怕的地步

衝著這麼有勇氣
我就會給它不錯的評價

雖然看似簡單的「搖搖欲墜小報社vs.強大黑暗集團」題材
但它牽涉到的層面之廣，每次case必須動用的時間/人力/金錢，
每集故事錯綜複雜的劇情轉折，其實不輸給國外驚悚電影耶。

像這集的「美人姐妹花授賞疑雲」，
可以從觀眾疑似作假，一路到與大賞評審有染，
然後360度變成姐妹各自代表執政/在野兩黨參選，
最後一夕再爆出所有醜聞，中間之曲折
宛如七月半在開九拐十八彎。

我非常喜歡兩黨議員紛紛墜樓那段，
仲間與助手vs.兩姐妹趕赴現場，
發現所有住戶全都戴著七色手環，
然後帶到連一路幫忙他們的管理員都是，
著實有伊藤潤二的畫面感。

為了佈一個醜化兩大政黨的局，
居然可以花兩年時間慢慢鋪梗，
還安插一整棟大樓住戶，
以及一票假催眠粉絲的暗樁，
灰熊厲害～灰熊厲害～

其實我有猜到編輯長是好人這個雷，
沒想到才第六集就買單了，
接下來一定還有內鬼(編輯長被襲那段有暗示)，
但現在矛頭都指向要潤(他爸爸確定是基金會的人了)，
越想明示觀眾是，就一定越不是，
所以到底會是誰呢…..
拜託千萬不要給我是佐藤智仁，
那也太爛尾了。

                     
期待越深，就會越害怕收場
基本上那個基金會已經強大到
可能除了超人或蜘蛛人才能打倒了
實在不知道兩個小小記者要如何扳倒一頭鯨魚

拜託橋本裕志給我好好寫!!!

-
Ps. 最近對田中哲司的好感度與日俱增呀!!! XD
-

Stumbled upon this j-drama when searching for another.

Two reasons why I would want to watch this series – Nakama Yukie (of Gokusen fame) and the series’ plotline that has investigative element (which I’m fond of these days) in it.

Fresh from being fired from her last job as a journalist at a first-rate publisher, Narumi Ryoko (Nakama Yukie) now finds herself working for a third-rate trashy tabloid going after scandals and juicy gossips involving celebrities and well-known public figures. Still, her righteousness and integrity as a journalist is intact but ironically, it was her righteousness and integrity as a journalist that got her fired from her last job. To Narumi, what matters most in her job is truth and she’ll stop at nothing in obtaining them even if it means putting her life at risk though she does not realise it herself. Occasionally, her brother who works in the police department assists her by providing inputs from the case that he’s working on.

As for her personal life, it is quite obvious that she has none. Currently, she’s living at her brother’s place (both parents have passed on) and has no boyfriend nor that she has many friends. She did had a boyfriend (Kaname Jun) when she was still working on her last job but have since broken up due to her untrusting nature and paranoia – she actually engaged a private investigator to snoop around to check if he is cheating on her and the result returned negative. Her then boyfriend found out about it and needless to say, he dumped her. Due to work, she often runs into her ex-boyfriend (the one she hired PI to snoop on) who is currently working at the first-rate publisher that she was working at before she got fired.

Judging from the first and second episode, one can tell that Narumi is on to something much bigger than your average gossips and scandals; and it involves a dangerous cult. The further she delve into the matter, the more truth she uncovered but at the expense of her life. Even her boss discourage her from digging any deeper but she still stands firmly by her principle. To her annoyance, part of her articles is edited and omitted by her boss without her knowledge. The reason given to her is that the publisher’s main sponsor said so. At this point, it is safe to say that the sponsor is probably related to the secret cult that she’s investigating on.

***

Image and info from Drama Wiki.

PARA ASSISTIR NA NET: MYSOUJI

PARA BAIXAR VIA TORRENT, VISTE d-addicts

Acabei de assistir o j-drama Mr Brain, com Kimura Takuya. É sobre um cara (o kimura) que sofreu um acidente na cabeca e seu cerebro acabou ficando super inteligente. Ele comeca a trabalhar no departamento de pesquisa, tipo o CSI, ajudando a desvendar crimes. O ator é muito bom, o elenco é excelente, com a participacao de uma pá de gente famosa, como o Gackt, a Koyuki ( a japonesa do Ultimo Samurai), o Kamenashi daquele grupo de moleques que dancam e rebolam..(ai, meu deus, as fas vao me matar !)..News? , a Nakama Yukie que apresentou os ultimos Kohakus…. enfim, um monte de gente famosa e talentosa para alavancar a audiencia.

A comparacao com o seriado americano CSI é quase inevitavel . Americano sabe fazer filme, os japoneses ate tentam..melhor mesmo é eles ficarem com aqueles melodramas de fazer chorar o quarteirao, ou com os filmes de terror. Nesses dois , sim, eles sao imbativeis !

Kimura Takuya ate tenta, mas ele nao se encaixa muito em personagens anti-herois, como o deste drama. Ele é do tipo que precisa fazer o papel de galante, de heroi porque seu jeito já é todo de um galante sedutor!

Um ponto interessante da novela é o fato de falar bastante do cerebro . O lado esquerdo do cerebro rege a fala, o raciocinio logico, o lado direito do cerebro rege a intuicao, a imaginacao, a criatividade. O cerebro tambem reage primeiro a cor, depois ao que esta escrito. Por isso se vc ensinar que o vermelho represente PARE e o verde, SIGA, mesmo que troque o vermelho para SIGA, a pessoa instintivamente vai parar .

Outra coisa interessante é que quando voce ve uma pessoa conhecida, o lado direito do cerebro reconhece o rosto, e o lado esquerdo do cerebro é que lembra o nome dela. Por isso que eu acho que meu lado esquerdo é meio atrofiado, porque sou pessima com nomes!

Tsutaya online has released another poll, “What 2009 drama theme song are you looking forward to?“

Here are the results:

10 Lecca – My measure (Gine Sanfujinka no onnatachi)
09 MISIA – Aitakuteima (JIN)
08 Misako Sakazume – Kitto Daijobu (Real Crows)
07 UVERworld – Kanashimi wa kitto (Shokoshijo Sarah)
06 TOKIO – Asa ga mata kuru (ROMES Kuukou bougyou system)
05 Arashi – Tokei jikake no umbrella (0 goushi no kyaku)
04 GIRL NEXT DOOR – Orion (Untouchables)
03 Arashi – My Girl (My Girl)
02 EXILE – Futasu no kuchibiru (Tokyo DOGS)

and #1 goes to….

BIG BANG with “Koe wo kikasete” (Let me hear your voice) for the new drama “Ohitorisama” starring Koike Teppei and Arisa Mizuki.

source: tsutaya

• Episodes: 12 + Special
• Original Broadcast: 2007-Jul-03 to 2007-Sep-18

Hana Kimi is a drama based on a manga by Nakajo Hisaya

It tells the story of a girl, Ashiya Mizuki, played by Horikita Maki, who disguises herself as a boy to enroll in an all boy boarding school, and all of the misadventures that happen. Her main reason to travel to Japan all the way from California where she was raised was because of the guilt she feels over Sano Izumi’s accident that caused him to leave the high jump.

She pretends to be a boy as she shares a room with Sano, and mixed feelings come out as she is befriended by everyone there and treated as one of the boys. Some start to question their sexuality as feeling for her grow, as they believe she is a guy.

The different dorms are hilarious. One is filled by students who love the arts, running around in capes, the other is for the buff karate kids, and the last one, with Sano and Ayisha, is the sports loving dorm. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at some of the antics and contests between the dorms and how they react to one another.

To me, who stole the show were Nakatsu Shuichi, played by Ikuta Toma, as Sano’s best friend and who falls in love with Ashiya while thinking she’s a boy, and Kayashima Taiki, played by Yamamoto Yusuke, just for being the strange aura seeing student.

Okay. Before I start another one of my ramblings, I’ll start with the blog update. I have a new friend blog in the blogroll! Adri-chan of adriatastic.net! Thanks for adding me!

To be an actor is VERY HARD unless you are a pro. But even the pros find it difficult. To be able to produce tears, to look real on-screen, and to be convincing – these are very hard to do, right? In Jun-kun’s award-winning drama, Smile, we see A LOT of crying scenes. Have you very wondered how he does it? He was really good and had to show very powerful emotions. What I will share are just bits of the articles from Ore-sama. It was an interview of Matsujun in Hibi Mousou, a television and film magazine in Japan. Without further delay…

Matsumoto Jun’s Thoughts Behind Every Crying Scene in Smile! (just bits)

 > Loneliness – I channeled what it would feel like to be completely alone.

> And what it’s like to lose people you love, if all your friends stopped calling. And you have no one to eat yakiniku with. Or drink with. And how I always have to eat over the sink because there’s no one else to eat with.

> Growing up, people always made fun of my features and how I looked. (Yui: Aww…poor Jun-kun!)

> For my fifth birthday I asked for a pony and I got a firetruck instead.

> All I wanted was a pony! A PONY!

> And no one understands how hard it is to be me. The other day Aiba stole my prettiest pair of socks-

> And I get terrible backaches all the time-

> Michael Jackson’s dead?

> One time I got this fanletter in the mail and it was about how I was such an inspiration to people all over the world and how I was really cool and awesome and everyone wanted to be me and how I light up everyone’s life and make it worth living and how they think Japan sucked before I was born because it wasn’t nearly as awesome and cool and even though there were sad things in the world, my talent and work and smile made everything okay and happy again and how people will work hard and try their best and smile because of me.
And then I realized it was addressed to Sho.

YUI: Jun-kun has very many sad events in his life and these have helped him to be sensitive and emotional. Thinking of events in your life that made you feel sad and lonely helps in giving you emotions especially in producing tears. But there’s also another tip in acting: put yourself in the place of your character. This is one of the best ways to be able to show correct facial expressions and body movements. Crying isn’t just about producing tears – it’s also about showing the emotions of your character. You don’t really have to shed tears if you as your character does not need to.

I shared this because I’ve always liked acting although I don’t get the chance to act at school (always director, narrator, scriptwriter). Sigh. I want a change of roles… Anyway, crying is REALLY HARD. As I have said above, you have to get the right emotions and be your character. And to be able to produce tears, like Matsujun, you can think of sad things. This should get you cleansed and relieved from the bad feelings. Crying releases the negative emotions!

Going back to Jun-kun – He is a really great actor. He really worked out every scene in Smile very well. Well, that’s Matsujun, a hardworking person.

I hope this post helped those who are into acting and are needing tips in acting. Matsujun must be a really good help to you! He was to me! I have many sad events in my life too. Well, that’s all for today.

Current Mood: sad -_-

Current agenda: finish notebooks

Current Music: STEP AND GO – Arashi

如果不是為了林遣都
我早就放棄看這部了orz

到也不是特別喜歡他
不過因為這個人又是可愛的小狗臉:p
而且有一種奇妙的混血fu(但又不是混血兒)
所以會有莫名的親切感XD

Stardust profile
http://www.stardust.co.jp/profile/hayashikento.html#profileBox

Official site
http://official.stardust.co.jp/kento/

找不到身高資料，
好好奇他有多高唷～

                      
這齣戲最討厭的地方在於
壞人實在很不壞人，壞人失格！！！

欺負的手段有夠簡單
也沒有什麼陰險的實力，就可以支配全班
這樣當初Life的愛海這麼辛苦是為了什麼>”<

像這集故意找Sarah做幕後，
但其實對這麼熱衷這部戲的她來說，
能參與到就是一件很開心的事情了，強過什麼都沒有，
真里亞連這麼簡單的道理都不懂。orz

可能是童書的關係吧，
還是保留了真實世界該有的恐怖黑暗，
但因此製造不出成人的戲劇張力，
就會害我看的很無感 =.=

再來就是老天爺實在很幫Sarah忙，
每次最後局勢都會轉到對她有利的身上，
沒想到童書作者真的都隱隱潛藏著「報應」之理。

真里亞看起來就是個失敗的惡役，
導致使壞的行徑都變的很小丑。

或許「愛」與「感化」才是這個故事的主題，
但對我們這種成人世界待太久的人，
實在很難回到那種純粹的童心呀… (茶)

每集期待的是陷害，最後卻轉化成溫馨，
讓我忍不住都會唱起『真善美』來～

-

Finally, the new season of Liar Game is on! Toda Erika and Matsuda Shota is back as the antagonists Kanzaki Nao and Akiyama Shinichi. And what a pair! The ever naive, innocent Nao, and the intelligent, mysterious Shinichi haven’t heard anything from the Liar Game people for the last two years. Finally, they’re free of this evil scheme, right? Or..?

Hah! Not by a long shot! Liar Game’s Eri, portrayed by the wonderful Kichise Michiko has still got some black envelopes to deliver. And, if you think you’ve gotten rid of the insanely hilarious Fukunaga (Suzuki Kosuke), think again!

The first episode is, in true Liar Game style; nothing short of a masterpiece. The suspence is…well. Electric! So, don’t go missing the second season of this incredibly cool drama!

Go watch!

Tegnap éjjel elképedve konstatáltam, hogy a LIAR GAME 2- ben a főhősök nagy ellenfele egy goth loli beütésű nő lesz. Gyorsan be is csuktam az MPC- t.
Lehet ezt még egyáltalán fokozni…? X_X
Jobban mondva… kérlek, ne tegyétek…

01

我不會笑小直笨，
基本上整個遊戲我還是看不懂，
這一定要數理觀念很強的人才能進行判斷耶，
我連聽秋山講解都還是霧煞煞了，
所以我比小直還笨。

而且我也找不出陷阱是什麼。Orz

為什麼這類型的比賽，
都不考人文史地呢？
連賭博式競賽都歧視文組。>”<

               
扣掉看不懂，
這戲的製作真的很精良，
就是個攝影/美術/配樂雀巢三合一的完美組合。

我好喜歡這套戲的流動感。

菊地凜子的腳色非常吸引人。
結果我錯了，原來她也28了…

             
                        
[雷]

維基大爆雷耶
把嗯嗯是月之國的幕後推手說出來了><

第二季開始的四回目戰，
採3-3對戰方式，分成日之國與月之國，
每國的三個人分為：先鋒、中堅，與大將，
競賽的項目為：

先鋒戰「24連装ロシアンルーレット」
中堅戰「17ポーカー」
大將戰「回らないルーレット」

前兩集演的應該都是先鋒戰之
24連裝俄羅斯輪盤(順便幫Rihanna打歌耶XD)

解釋一下這個比賽。

每隊的先鋒，
都必須在特別改裝過的24連發手槍中，
裝入三枚子彈，也就是共六枚，
然後開始輪流對自己腦門發射，
射中的就必須把獎金給對手。

*射中只是槍聲而已
(特殊設計並不會讓子彈跑出來致命)

如果這輪你不想射，可以pass，
不過你得付出1枚籌碼，
下一個人也可以再pass，不過籌碼得加倍，
依序往上加倍，如果大家都pass，
最後就由主辦方發射掉。

比賽要比到六發子彈都打完才結束，
最終的贏家自然可以得到所有的錢。

規則雖然是這樣，
但秋山所謂能作弊的的方法，
我看似懂亦不懂，
最重要的，我覺得所有的陷阱與作弊，
都會有漏洞的地方，
怎麼樣你還是有要靠運氣賭的成分。

按照小香菇所說，
如果他已經確認過六枚子彈肯定會在附近，
因為比重關係所以都落在下方，
但他絕對安全範圍外還是多了7號/8號兩處比較微妙，
如果對手死不開槍，你還是得冒險先開誘拐他啊。

                   
總而言之我看的很複雜，
每次都覺得好看歸好看，
但看的好累，當需要拿腦出來時，
就會想說「啊，算了給它放空好了。」

-

I’ve been a fan of the series since I watched the anime back in 2007. Then I picked up the manga. The anime’s quality was less than satisfactory, I’d say. The artwork is less pretty, and sometimes it makes me wonder if the animators were lazy when I see heads drawn as round shapes without faces and then there were complains about the opening and ending sequence that lack creativity since all it takes were scenes from the anime itself. Come to think of it, I don’t usually watch mediocre-quality animes but still, Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge (or The Wallflower) has a certain charm about it.

So anyways, according to ANN, it was announced recently that a TV drama adaptation is in works for January premiere. I wonder who will play Sunako and the rest of the boys. Any thoughts? Is there gonna be a chibi (mini or small) version of Sunako as portrayed in the anime and manga? For those who don’t follow the series, Sunako is often pictured as short and small as her normal mode and only when she’s in serious mode that she turns into her original self.

Anime and manga aside, I sure hope that the J-Drama adaptation turns out well. I’ve seen and heard of J-drama adaptations of popular manga series turn awry. Thank goodness Nodame Cantabile and Otomen turned out fine and hopefully the same can be said about The Wallflower come January.

                         
老實說這集還蠻好看!!!

從偶像演員/播報員之三角戀情獨家偷撮
演變成英雄主義自毀份子的人質挾持直播放送
這齣戲真的很有本事把劇情寫的百轉千折
然後最終目的都可以歸到同一個點上

不過日劇有他必須簡單化的原罪
否則挾持事件裡人心的醜陋面可以發揮的很精采
但「剪刀石頭布」與「那請你出去」這兩點都還蠻有梗的XD

現在永倉社長與背後的基金會
縱橫黑白兩界，用各種勢力獨裁
平衡偽樣的美好社會這點已確定不假
這集運用直播放送來干擾原定節目進行
看的出這背後的組織除了動武力
也還是很有頭腦的

期待方向變成看遼子
揪～竟～要怎麼把整個恐怖陰謀給揪出來了。:D

PS.
鳴海遼子的詛咒簿終於成功
但並不是她想要的那麼極端><
美鈴被殺害了，不過這也是不意外的發展
要潤要不是男主角的話
我也會猜他最後會被殺死:p

PS2.
內田朝陽長得也太像張睿家。

-

I had my whole weekend cleared so that I could concentrate and catch up on my embarrassingly low word count for my Nano novel for Nanowrimo and what did I do? I spent most of my waking moments watching some fine Japanese tv drama, more popularly known as J-drama or J-dorama, on my favourite website Kimamaniyoutube. I’ve only realised the site is in Japanese, but the drama has English subtitles.

This time I got hooked on Gokusen, a tv drama adaptation of the manga by Morimoto Kozueko. The beauty about the internet (and DVDs) is that you don’t have to wait a week for your next fix, you can watch it straight away. The downside is that eight hours can pass and you don’t notice. The shock, the horror, the shame… Of course I told everyone that I was busy writing…but still, eight hours?? And what was even more scary was I ended up with a serious crush on an 18 year old high school tearaway, waaaay too young for me. I love you, Matsumoto Jun!

Anyway, this is making me sound like a crazy person, but J-dramas are very big business in Japan and Asia. My sister and I were obsessed with them when we were living in Japan and would sit in front of the tv come rain or shine once a week waiting with bated breath for the next episode of the drama we were then watching. When we left Japan, we would treasure the videos my mum and friends would make like the precious gems they were and watch them again and again, crying, laughing and discussing them all throughout the holidays.

Now, I watch them with a sense of nostalgia. I can smell the chill crisp of autumn, the hazy heat of summer, the delicious steam of a proper ramen, and it brings back memories of growing up in Japan. What can I say, I am seriously missing Japan!

Gokusen follows the trials, tribulations, tears and laughter of Yamaguchi Kumiko aka Yankumi, a rookie teacher who is put in charge of final year class 3-D of Horikin High School. The students in 3-D are the worst delinquents in the school: rough, violent and troubled. What they, and the rest of the teachers, don’t know is that Yankumi is no ordinary teacher. She lost her parents when she was seven and was taken to live with her grandfather, the head of the Oeda yakuza clan, and is the fourth generation heir to the family business, although she has decided to leave the path of the yakuza to pursue a career in teaching, a decision which leaves some of her clan members unhappy. Naturally she needs to keep her family connections a secret or she’d lose her job. We follow Yankumi as she gains the trust of her students, slowly bringing them out of their shells and teaches them the value of friendship, family and the difference between fighting for something you value and violence. Her aim is to get them to graduate together. Will she do it? And will they let her?

The casting in Gokusen is inspired. Nakama Yukie as Yankumi is seriously funny and touching at the same time, her trademark tracksuit and glasses covering her ethereal beauty. Her students are a group of misfits who are blamed for everything that goes wrong in and out of school and she is the only who believes in them, and their acting is superb. But my favourite scenes were those of Yankumi’s home life where she is the treasured daughter of the house. The way she scares all the big, strong yakuza men is hysterical.

Gokusen is short for gokudo no sensei or yakuza teacher, and Yankumi’s name, Yamaguchi Kumiko is a nod to the Yamaguchi Gumi (Kumi means clan), the largest underworld clan in Japan.

As you can probably tell, I loved this series which had me in stitches and in tears. If you have a chance to watch it, please do! Of course, I have a soft spot for Japanese high school delinquents, such as in the movie Crows Zero, but Gokusen is not that violent and focuses more on change and the important things in life such as family and friends, rather than becoming the strongest dude in the school.

Me gusta enfrentarme a los libros, series o películas intentando saber lo menos posible sobre ellos antes de empezar con ellos, eso hace que al principio disfrute mas las historias y también provoca que me lleve grandes alegrías y porque no decirlo algún que otro chasco.

Pero no ha sido decepción lo que he sufrido al ver esta serie japonesa, los primeros minutos inducen a pensar que es un tipo de historia, pero a mitad de dicho capítulo la historia gira y es totalmente diferente de lo que te puedes esperar en principio.

La presentación de las protagonistas, cuatro mujeres y de sus circunstancias familiares hace pensar al principio que es un drama acerca de la relación de esas mujeres con sus maridos y familias, vamos que la cosa parece ir de relaciones humanas, pero la historia gira y se transforma en un thriller al estilo de “La sombra del viento”, una historia en la que nada es lo que parece y que a medida que se va desvelando y se van descubriendo mas detalles se va haciendo mas interesante.

Eso si, muy al final para mi gusto pierde algo de chispa ya que se desvía de la línea de suspense para entrar en como quedan las relaciones entre los personajes implicados en la trama y no termina de ser tan redonda como la otra, pero aún así tampoco desmerece del todo.

Bueno, para mi ha tenido otro aliciente y es ver a Kyoko Hasegawa a la que recordaba de los anuncios de Canon, aunque como aquí sale en plan de ama de casa corriente no se la ve tan monísima como en esos anuncios, aunque mejor así porque cada vez que veía uno de esos se me escapaba un suspiro al final que me sacaba todo el aire del cuerpo, y eso no es bueno para la salud.

La moza en uno de esos anuncios

Podría decirse que tiene un aire a lo “Mujeres desesperadas” pero al contrario que la serie americana, y como es habitual en las japonesas, dura lo justo.

• Enlace en Jdorama.
• Enlace oficial.

Yes, I’m flunking my HSC. But hey, might as well enjoy it. Again, a break from what I planned to blog about.

So today, I watched Last Friends, a J-drama that came out in 2008.

I wasn’t going to watch the whole thing, so I decided to start midway (because the fist eps weren’t up where I watch) and stop. But.. dang, it grabbed me.

Don’t Wikipedia it! The DramaWiki should do. But I don’t think it really sums it up.

I kind of regret watching it out of order.. but hey, I’ll watch it properly after exams. Basically… it’s about.. hmmm…. Well, a lot. Mainly friendships/relationships.. and domestic violence. There’s more, but I don’t want to ruin it.

The theme song is Utada’s ‘Prisoner of Love’, which pretty much sums it up. I quite liked the opening – all the shattering objects seemed to fit.

I don’t know how accurate its portrayal of DV (as they call it) is – maybe cliché, but I think it worked. I was honestly scared of Sousuke – even when he wasn’t in the scene. The clip below is the only one I could find without major spoilers – the first 50 seconds or so is him ‘teaching Michiru a lesson’ after his freaking out because Michiru was cutting guys’ hair at her hairdresser place and talking to her friends etc. Everything after 0:50 shows snippets of how crazy he gets in just the early eps, without spoiling the drama.

I guess the drama really worked for me because the characters aren’t 2D. Sousuke (Nishikido Ryo) was easily my favourite. Wait, that’s not quite right. Most interesting character, more like it – he freaked me out. I’m not good with breaking cutlery, let along actual violence -_-’

I think the creepiest bit was how everything went between ‘fine’ and creepy. And how Michiru walked back in the next morning and the lamp was all fixed again. The symbolism in the drama rocked.

Psychotic, violent, creepy… but somehow, I couldn’t hate Sousuke at the end. Even when he asked why Michiru was crying (well no sh*t, why wouldn’t she be?)… it was still hard to hate him. He’s described in the opening as ‘contradictory’, and that pretty much sums him up. Watch up to 1:30 (or start at 0:41 if you’re lazy). The whole video doesn’t have any major spoilers, really – pretty good at showing how impossible it is to categorise the characters.

It honestly seems like he loves her the whole time, and it’s impossible to just write him off as the evil son of a b*tch that he is. It’s tempting to just let him be a character ‘with a problem’ or ‘multiple personalities’ or someone who ‘loves someone too much’ (Othello, much?). And I did find myself hoping that he’d somehow change.

But if you really loved someone, you wouldn’t hit them. I guess the drama shows how difficult it is to actually live by that. It’s too easy to see why Michiru believes that ‘it hurts him too’. Gargh.

I’d highly recommend watching it. It’s also pretty awesome to watch Nishikido Ryo in a role that’s completely different to his loveable-angsty-awesome-Asou Haruto; I think the casting was perfect. Definitely deserved his ‘best supporting actor’. Ueno Juri’s acting was also pretty good. Probably better than Ryo’s, but hey, I’m a fangirl. And I loved Takeru (Eita). Someone get me a Takeru <3 Hey, a make-up artist sounds perfect, seeing that formal is coming up. I still haven't worked out how girls learn to put on their own makeup – I can only make myself look like an emo because I fail so badly with eyeliner.

The ending was pretty good. I think Sousuke was a chicken, but hated/loved him in the end anyway. And it kept all the shippers happy – well, if not happy, at least not disappointed.

I think the worst part of the drama is the way it messes with your head. I expected that I'd be thinking 'what the heck. Just leave him already and get an AVO' when Michiru calls him again/goes over/defends him. But I admit that I sat there and thought, 'yeah, I'd definitely go back to him'. Yeah. I think I proved that I'm pretty weak this year. I'd easily be the person who rationalises and justifies it all out.

This probably sounds like a very superficial post. Sorry. It was just a great series. Maybe it felt like there was too much packed in sometimes, but I think it pulled it off. I like dramas that mess with my mind.

Watch the first episode, if you have nothing to do in your post-HSC time. It's subbed up at Veoh, but you'll need to get their player thingy. The first 20mins or so is just introducing each character, but it gets quite creepy towards the end *shudder*

On a related note, White Ribbon Day is coming up – 25th November. Anyone up for volunteering?

EDIT: Wait, this might be the right link for just selling ribbons.

It’s time to present some screencaps from mendol – ikemen idol! episode 2. So, let’s just post’ away shall we?

Nami and Hinata, ugh sorry, I mean Kai and Kuu, checking out the newly introduced Katsuyuki-san, aka Music Producer and Eye-candy. The oh-so-down-to-earth Asahi/Riku is thankfully, there to keep them in their places. From now on, btw, I’ll refer to the girls as Riku, Kai and Kuu when they’re in their persona outfit, and Asahi, Nami and Hinata when they are in their regular clothes.

Later on that day, the president and Maririn takes them down to Monkey Pro Studios, where Sarukawa president has a special surprise for them! Enter: The super charismatic songstress: Ray!

…Who turns out to be QUITE the bitch. Have no fear, Kai, defender of justice is here!

Asahi meets an old friend…or shall we say…flame? Jiro, the photographer who wants to win a pulitzer, but who’s currently working as a paparazzi.

Katsuyuki takes them to a party that very same evening, and being minors, they’ll miss out on all the drikin’ fun! Or…?

It’s not as fun the morning after, mind you. Oh and there’s some romance going on between Riku and Katsuyuki on the rooftop, while Kai and Kuu are chuggling down units of alcohol. While the girls are busy with their hangover, the scary snake-man has come across some pictures to help him in his search for the cell-phone Puri-puri thingy.

Kai seems to be needin’ some fresh air, and so she heads out on the rooftop of the studio. Ah, what’s with the rooftops in this show? Well, guess what? Ray is back, and she wants to talk to Kai about what she said to her earlier…(Man, this is confusing! the whole she, her, the girls/guys etc.)  Episode 2 is a very good episode, and as you’ll see, the ending of this ep is rather interesting. Shoujo-ai, anyone?

By the way. These two post have been quite Kai-centric. For that, I apologize. I will even it out a bit more, I promise! But, haha, this is hilarious, poor, homophobic Nami finds herself pulled into the world of L’s, as she so nicely puts it herself. Hah! Hah I tell ya, hah!

Év: 1999

Epizódok száma: 12

Típus: dráma, romantikus

Opening: Des’ ree – Life

Ending: KinKi Kids – to Heart

Miura Touko (Fukada Kyoko) kedves, nyílt, optimista lány, aki munkaidőben egy áruház tetején lévő kis kávézóban palacsintát süt és a főnökével veszekszik, fennmaradó idejében pedig egy nagyon fontos tevékenységnek szenteli magát: a ‘Nagy Ő’- re vár. Eközben társasági élete lényegében kimerül abban, hogy a telefonon lóg egyik barátnőjével (akit sosem látunk), esténként pedig lemegy kikölcsönözni pár kazettát a videokölcsönzőből… Erre mondják, várja, hogy a sült galamb a szájába repüljön.
Egy alkalommal a megható régi animék helyett pornófilmet talál a csomagjában- ja igen, véletlenül összecserélték a táskákat azzal a kőbunkó sráccal, akivel összeütköztek a kölcsönzőben. Elsimítják a nézeteltérést és Touko nem is tulajdonítana nagy jelentőséget a dolognak, ám egyik reggel újfent egymásba botlanak egy parkban. És bizony- bizony, a fiú edzés iránti elhivatottságát és kitartását látva Touko azonnal szerelembe esik. Kideríti, hogy a fiút Tokieda Yuuji- nak (Domoto Tsuyoshi) hívják, boxoló és éppen a bemutatkozó meccsére készül. Főhösnőnk villámgyorsan akcióba lendül, ám minden támogatás, szurkolás és közeledési kísérlet hiábavalóvá válik, mikor kiderül, hogy Yuuji másba szerelmes…

Biztosan lesznek majd olyanok, akiknek első látásra fárasztónak és banálisnak fog tűnni ez a dorama. Valahol van is benne igazság, lévén a főszereplő hölgyemény, Touko picit tenyérbemászó személyiség. Vagy mondjuk inkább azt, hogy keményfejű, ugyanis bármi történik, ő nem inog meg. Hiába értesül a vetélytársról, hiába igyekeznek külső elemek tönkretenni a kemény munkával elért eredményeit Yuuji- nál és hiába küldi el maga a srác is nem százszor, hanem ezerszer… Ő egyszerűen szerelmes. Először szerelmes Nyilvánvaló, hogy nem létezik ennyire magasztos érzelem (vagy nagyon ritka és akkor sem ilyen körülmények között alakul ki), pláne nem az ő korában, de akkor is ez az, ami számomra annyira üdítően hat az egészben. Fanatizmusnak tűnik például, mikor bemegy Yuuji lakásába és annak távollétében kipakol és megnéz mindent, kipróbálgatja a dolgait, dehát Istenem, nem túl bonyolult lélek a kisasszony, a maga módján reagál a dolgokra
A sok önfeláldozás és mértéktelen rajongás természetesen Yuuji- hoz is eljut, és gondolom nem árulok el nagy titkot azzal, ha elmondom, hogy kisebb- nagyobb kitérők és érzelmi állapot- tisztázások után idővel aktívan is venni fogja az adást. Hiszen nem mindegy, hogy ki áll mellette akkor, mikor fordulóponthoz ér a boxkarrierje és döntenie kell, hogyan tovább.

A szimpatikus főhősök miatt eléggé addiktívvá vált, úgyhogy 3 nap alatt végig is pörgettem az egészet. Őszintén, nem egy nagy valami, de néha jólesik bepillantani az idealizmus világába

3, 5/ 5

P.S. Csak közvetetten kapcsolódik ide, de ‘Domoto Kyodai’, Domoto Koichi & Tsuyoshi rlz!!!

I finished watching 1 Litre Of Tears a few days ago, and I wasn’t expecting how wonderfully sentimental it would be. I don’t cry over anything, but by the end of the drama, I was near dehydration.

I was introduced to this drama by a friend who said she cried on every episode, and I wasn’t really interested because I’m not into sad, romantic shows, but once she sent me a link, it was inevitable, and I fell in love with the storyline and the characters.

The drama is based on a book written by a girl named Aya who had Spinocerebellar Ataxia, a degenerative disease that makes the patient gradually lose control of movement until they’re unable to walk and talk, and eventually, live. The drama isn’t blindly based on the book, it’s more of an adaptation, because both Ayas (the one from the book and the one from the drama) are pretty different.

The real Aya’s diary sold over 18,000,000 copies after it was published, close to her death.

The theme song for the drama, Only Human by K, is one of the most beautiful, saddest songs I’ve ever listened to and also adds a very special touch to every scene.

K – Only Human

[Spoilers]

The span of the drama is around 5 years, since Aya discovers the disease when she’s 15 and dies when she’s 20. In the way, she inspired many other characters, who helped her in very difficult, sudden transitions, and it’s impossible not to feel for all the characters.

• Aya Ikeuchi: Young girl diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Ataxia, but who never loses hope of her dreams. Her diagnosis stopped her from graduating high school and keeping up with her friends, who mostly gave up on her.
• Shioka Ikeuchi: Aya’s mother, and one of her main sources of hope. She’s constantly fighting her tears to smile to her daughter and give her security through her hard times. She’s a great mother and a fighter, and just wants to see her daughter smiling for as long as she can.
• Mizuo Ikeuchi: Aya’s dramatic father. He’s a very funny character, but who’s also very deep. He cares for his family a lot and is always pushing himself harder to be able to make them happy and have Aya have proper care for her condition. He’s very sentimental, and it’s always heart-touching when he breaks down.
• Haruto Asou: Haruto is Aya’s love interest, even though he seemed very closed and arrogant in the beginning of the drama. He takes care of her and becomes a family friend for always wanting the best for Aya. Aya’s last words are for him.
• Ako Ikeuchi: Aya’s younger sister and a very talented artist. After seeing how many dreams Aya couldn’t accomplish, Ako tries to complete them for her, and graduates the same high school as her sister. At first she’s very unfeeling and cold, but becomes very in touch with her family through Aya’s disease.
• Hiroki Ikeuchi: Aya’s younger brother and a really big fan of soccer. He struggles with his sister’s disorder a lot because his friends mock her and her ways, making Hiroki ashamed of her at first, but he gets over it later on to support her with whatever she needs.
• Rika Ikeuchi: Rika is very young when the drama begins and when the drama ends, so she’s always seen as the cute youngest sister who always brings brightness to the house.

I think the main reasons why the show is so sad is because we start off observing Aya so young getting the disease, and in 5 years it becomes something completely different. At first, she tripped a lot and got hurt with the impact, but later on, she couldn’t even walk or move properly, and yet, it’s the same hopeful girl all the time. It’s a very moving aspect of the drama.

The Saddest Moments Of 1 Litre Of Tears

• Aya’s date turning her down without warning her because of her disease, and left her at the zoo under the rain.
• When Aya’s brother is ashamed of her disease and tries to hide her from his friends.
• When Aya’s classmates and friends turn down on her behind her back.
• Aya’s speech to her class.
• When Aya’s classmates sing her the song they were practicing together.
• When Aya breaks up with Haruto because she doesn’t want to keep him with her in these moments, when he should be living his youth.
• When Aya receives a bouquet from the bride at a wedding ceremony even though she’s on a wheelchair.
• When Aya asks her parents if she’ll ever get married.
• Aya’s Christmas presents for her siblings.
  • A new outfit for Ako because Aya only wore pajamas because of her disease and Ako couldn’t use pajamas the whole day.
  • A new sports bag for Hiroki because he couldn’t have a fancy one because of the money that was being spent on care for Aya.
  • A new set of markers for Rika because Rika was struggling to color with the old ones because they were running out and she was unable to buy more because of Aya’s treatments.
• Aya’s death (+ the whole episode 11).

[Spoilers End Here]

I think the show is so beautiful and heart-touching, and everyone should give it a shot, because it’s certainly something special and very inspiring. There’s a reason why the drama is called 1 Litre Of Tears, and it’s not only because Aya’s diary has the same title.

It’s amazing, and I couldn’t help but cry like two liters of tears on the last couple of episodes. I recommend it to everyone!

Download [Kioku Fansubs]

This will be my first little review for Yui no Jukkou. With that the blog will serve its purpose. I hope people will appreciate my review and gain insights through this. I know Smile was aired months ago for me to review, but its worth it, ne? When I first heard of Matsujun playing the role of a half-Filipino, I was overwhelmed with abundant excitement! I was saying to myself, “Of all nationalities, why Filipinos?” This is great! This is really quite unordinary and a must-watch for me! Also, just after Ihave heard of the title, I already sensed and knew that it was called “Smile” because we, Filipinos, are known for our bright and optimistic smile. And the first words of the drama, “I have a dream,” sums up the movie with the title, too. Proud to say, Filipinos are dreamers; we have goals in life that strengthens us.

Smile is a fresh new drama of our dear Matsujun. In the 11 – episode drama he portrays Hayakawa Vito, a half-Filipino half-Japanese who has dreamt of owning a restaurant of his own. He experiences many difficulties in his life- the discrimination of others on his being half, a false accusation, and not having both of his parents anymore. He meets Mishima Hana, played by Aragaki Yui, a mute beautiful girl who likes him and helps him in whatever way she can.Actually I haven’t really finished the drama, but the first episode was too touching already! Why? It was because Vito suffered from discrimination. Moreover, tears were building in my eyes because Smile praised the Filipino virtue of smiling even when problems come.

A character also said that we have beautiful eyes! But when a yakuza-like man shouted, “Filipino yarou wa you,” which means “Filipino bastard” to Vito, it made me sad. In spite of this unacceptable remark on Filipinos, and rather than discontinue Smile, I am still eager to watch it. I understood that every hardship that Vito, which represents Filipinos, has, is reality. Smile has a social message and it shows what is really happening – the discrimination, the gangs, etc.

   
Smile, by Matsumoto Jun and Aragaki Yui, is not your ordinary J-Drama. Definitely not! Matsujun acted so well in Smile you can’t help crying when he suffers. He deserves an award for this. And he was so cute with his shining smile! I think he was tanned for this role because he was so dark. Gakky (short for Aragaki) had interpreted her character well, too, and complemented Jun’s character. The plot and the title was great too. It provided a paradox (hardships + “smile”) to the problems in the story. Lastly, the theme song was very touching. It’s nice seeing Jun-kun smile and trying to be Filipino-like. Thank you for accepting this role Jun-kun! It really will have a great impact if it was aired in GMA.

But more importantly, SMILE teaches us good values, shows us the truths of our time, and has even complimented our Filipino race. It teaches us true friendship  that disregards any nationality, reaching for our dreams, and believing with hope. I won’t summarize and tell everything. I leave the rest to your watching it. I hope that after watching it we will be more proud of being Filipino and ’smile’ always. Jaa, mata ne.

screencaps credits to dramacrazy.net

My Current Music: Crazy Moon – Kimi wa Muteki – Arashi

從古至今有數不清的醫療劇，
無論是在展現高超醫術或團體合作，
還是從不同的辨證與鬥爭中還原醫療本心，
但都沒有一部片像仁醫這麼成功，
以回到最原始的條件重新去面對醫療這件事，
在最困苦的環境下與病毒細菌做對抗。

「我從來沒有這麼想要救一個人過。」

南方仁在本集裡說了這麼真誠的一言，
你沒有回到這個時代，行醫這麼久，
可能真的會忘了一個初衷，
而那是現代醫療體系下皆已遺忘很久的東西了。

最早的醫療存在，不就是單純的為了救人，
那是在一個沒有其他條件可以操縱下最無私的「施」。

                      
第二集好感人唷>///<
不愧是本季最佳日劇。

喜市對仁說的那段「那你就虧大了」，
害我哭的好慘，我就是在這邊看到最純粹的施與受，
無論是醫生或是病人兩方皆然。

最後坂本龍馬再度成功的引爆了本集的催淚彈，
這種天然的尚好！無心機的莽漢，卻有著最凜然的正義。
「我不知道連病人都不敢碰的醫生，是要怎麼治療虎狼疾。」

                          
仁開始發現他與龍馬之間有著非常奇妙的緣分牽引，
如果他在被刺之際超越時空來到現在，
那被迫回到過去的自己是要取代他嗎，似也不然。

我們還看不出這兩個人間的關係，或者對時代會產生什麼影響，
但我們已經可以知道有種影響著實作用在這兩個人身上了，
他們會從彼此的待人處事上看到什麼、學到什麼，
這兩個來自不同時空的人重疊在一個時間點上，發揮了最大的默契。

仁擔心著微妙的蝴蝶效應，是否會讓他在這裡救了一個人，
卻得導致另一個無干的人犧牲喪命，開始變得不敢救人，
但終究destiny calls，作為醫生的本能與使命還是讓他必須違抗天意，
而這就是本劇最精采的部份，儘管我們還看不到蝴蝶效應的另一端會發生什麼事。
 

綾瀨遙的橘咲實在是無敵滿分，
她也確立起U25女星中演技第一人；
中谷美紀的野風到目前還在亮相狀態中。

MISIA的『現在想見你』還是適如其所的感動人心啊。

-

萌松先生，萌え～～～～～

                                         
哦哦哦，
市川好可愛，
好久沒見到她了，
沒想到已經來到裝可愛必須隱瞞年齡的時候了。><

但她還是好可愛，
就算是裝的也沒關係，
如果有這樣的老師我也要瘋狂。:p

班上男生叫夢子老師站一邊去，
然後開始開聯訪記者會這裡好賤。XD

Class 1: 家政

我再度被涼的落魄武士娃娃笑死。
那娃娃真的比巫毒娃娃還恐怖耶。Orz

萌松老師還真的就嚇到昏倒了。

Class 2: 體育

都塚涼趕快給我加入WTA!!!

Class 3: 地理

話說這地理老師教法很古錐，
我還沒遇過會自製分區地圖的老師，
而且還可以把日本各城市拿來與F4做比喻形容。XD

磯野真是個很好利用的傢伙，
跟大家搶到萌松老師的愛心檸檬，
趴在地上跟狗一樣吃還真是さびしい～

這樣還敢說自己不是Hachi ><

從底妝開始就突顯通透感，
總計花了”三個小時以上”才弄好的”自然妝”，
清爽可人的必殺白色連身裙，
鎖定男生目光，那高雅露出的鎖骨….

要讓你們見識一下，
那過去曾被稱做『聯誼的羅馬帝國姬』的真正實力～

好殺～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

這集出現了一個聯誼法則(女用版)XD

1.要確保坐在右撇子的男生的左邊

2.要不時表現出與對方意見一致

3.第二句話要善用『あるかも』連呼～

第三點好白痴XDDDD

                        
結果羅馬帝國四大將軍全都慘遭滑鐵盧，
一個個被乙男F4俘虜走，萌松老師挫敗的樣子好驚愕。

這集很不錯的利用一個「校園肅清乙男事件」，
重申了這套漫畫想要帶給大家的背後主旨：

不管什麼外表、男子氣概、女人味，
只要愛上了，這些又有什麼關係呢。

萌松老師其實也很可憐，
看她被前男友竹財輝之助飾演的流氣哥，
給逼得無所適從的樣子，會讓人忍不住心疼。

不過一方面想到她害忠狗小八磯野在本劇又死了一次，
忍不住又覺得她很過分。XDDDD

 *磯野這段有個很經典的梗，不過大家可能不知道，
   就是那段背後的插曲是青山黛瑪的「忘れないよ」，
   那正是現在日本上映中Richard Gere演的那部「忠狗小八」的主題曲。

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