Mop Girl モップガール – Release Oct 07

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Japan Drama Story:

Hasegawa Momoko (Kitagawa Keiko) 北川景子was transferred to a special cleaning department due to the trouble that she causes in her job. She is a hard working employee but is a bit clumsy around things. The special cleaning department that she was transferred to is actually a small department that handles funeral ceremony, dead body and cleaning up blood pool of death crime scene. During her first day work in the new department, the special ability that hidden inside her was awaken. She was able to travel back in time when she came in contact with the evidence or corpse left by the dead people. This enables her to change the future that she knows and save the people around her.

Feelings and Comments:

This drama includes time traveling and crime solving into one. I can see that Kitagawa Keiko 北川景子 works very hard on her plot. You can say that she is treated like a little girl instead of a woman. Each episode has a unique story line that Momoko has to go back in time to save a person. The intro of this drama is quite interesting and attractive but the story line after that is not so impressive. You might get bored once you get to episode 4~5.

Things that caught my eyes:

The long hair of Kitagawa Keiko 北川景子 sure is beautiful. I think it must be hard to act with your long hair. Also Ohtomo Shotaro (Tanihara Shosuke) 谷原章介 gets a different foreign girl friend from Chinese, Italian, French, Russia and other countriesin each episode.

Japan Drama Rating:

Nice to watch. It’s nice to watch Kitagawa Keiko 北川景子 in this drama.

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Dragon Zakura ドラゴン桜 – Release July 05

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Japan Drama Story:
A lawyer Sakuragi Kenji (Abe Hiroshi) 阿部寛 takes up a case to help a private high school from bankruptcy. In order to do that he must first regain the reputation of the school by getting 5 students pass the entry exam of top university Japan– Tokyo University (Todai). He then set up a special class aiming to prepare the entry exam. With the help of the school director and the teacher Ino Mamako (Hasegawa Kyoko) 長谷川京子, he then found 6 students willing to take on the challenge. The lawyer not just work on the students, he also reeducates the whole faculty about the true meaning of becoming an educator. He also met up with the parents of his student to have them support their children to reaching their goals. If Sakuragi Kenji able to get the students into Tokyo University then the school will be famous and parents will send their children to study here. Thus the school will be free from bankruptcy and the lawyer will become famous. That is the main reason that Sakuragi Kenji takes this case.

Feelings and Comments:
The drama has a very strong cast that act as the students. Yajima Yuusuke (Yamashita Tomohisa)山下智久, Mizuno Naomi (Nagasawa Masami) 長澤まさみ, Ogata Hideki (Koike Teppei)小池徹平, Kosaka Yoshino (Aragaki Yui)新垣結衣, Okuno Ichiro (Nakao Akiyoshi)中尾明慶 and Kobayashi Maki (Saeko)サエコare very familiar around Japanese drama. Having to watch all of them acting together in a drama is enough to make me continue watching non-stop.

Education is business. If the school able to prepare their students to enter top university, then the school will get many students and this earns money. Thus we have schools that preparing for exams and schools that for learning. Given the fact that getting a degree from university is a basic ticket to get a better job and have a better life, many students don’t have a choice but to follow the trend of the society. Most of the time students are unable to see that. How many of us really understand that when we graduated from a famous university will help us get a better life? I only know that I reached there just because I’m interested in the subjects. That’s all.

Going through exams in school makes you become a better person. It prepared yourself to overcome the problems that you’ll face after entering the society. There is not much difference between trying to complete a task given by your boss and an exam given by the school. You learned to handle it, solve it, accept it and prepare for it. In the exams, results matter and not the effort that you put into it. That’s goes the same when you’re working or doing business, results is what your boss or customers look for.

Things that caught my eyes:
Lots of study strategy can be found. I think most of it makes sense and are true. You may try it out and see if the strategy works for you.

Japan Drama Rating:
Worth watching it. You’ll never know study is that interesting until you watch this drama.

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My Boss, My Hero マイ★ボス マイ★ヒーロー – Release July 06

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Japan Drama Story:

One of the sons Sakaki Makio (Nagase Tomoya) 長瀬智也 of mafia boss was force to go back to school and graduate in order to inherit his father’s position as the new boss of the mafia group. Sakaki Makio is 27 years old and has to pose as 17 years old. He is very tough when comes to fighting but very dumb in knowledge because he never likes school. His father forces him to graduate from high school to be eligible as the boss of the mafia group. Sakaki Makio was then secretly admitted to a high school where only the principal knows his true identity. He needs to study, get along with the classmates and keep his identity secret for a year in order to graduate. For the first time in his life, this is his toughest and greatest challenge of all.

Feelings and Comments:

This is a very funny school comedy where the main topic is how an uneducated adult mafia survived school. Nagase Tomoya is not bad at all in making this comedy a successful one. Having to see his face through out the drama is enough to make you laugh.

This drama also shows that education is very important even to the mafia. School is a simulation of the society for the youngsters to learn, interact, organize, lead and makes mistakes before truly entering the competitive world. Like Sakaki Makio, many of the students already have a responsibility of preparing themselves to inherit their family business. That’s a very heavy burden only those involved can understand.

Despite that, I think the most enjoyable time of our life is school time. That is the only time for being stupid, no worries and dream wild.

Things that caught my eyes:

The pudding looks delicious.

Japan Drama Rating:

Fun to watch. Good for a laugh, lots of crazy jokes from the main character.

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Yasashii Jikan 優しい時間 – Release Jan 05

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Japan Drama Story:

This drama is a simple story about the relationship between a father Wakui Yukichi (Terao Akiraand) 寺尾聰 and the son Wakui Takuro (Ninomiya Kazunari) 二宮和也 after the death of the mother Wakui Megumi (Ootake Shinobu) 大竹しのぶ during a car accident. The accident happen when Wakui Takuro was driving and his mother sitting beside him. Wakui Yukichi was in New York when the accident happened. The father blames the son for causing the death of his mother and decided not to see his son again. The father Wakui Yukichi then quit his job and moves to Megumi's hometown Furano, Hokkaido. He opened a coffee house named "森の時計" meaning the forest clock. His son Wakui Takuro moves to Hokkaido as well. Feeling guilty and without his father knowing, he stays in a town name Biei close to Furano. There he works and study as a student of a pottery maker. Both father and son did not spoke or see each other. Things started to change when the lovely Minagawa Azusa (Nagasawa Masami) 長澤まさみ the employee of “the Forest Clock” coffee house met Wakui Takuro.

Feeling and Comments:

Having a hot cup of coffee and enjoying the white scenery during winter is just great. Able to open up such a coffee house just like the drama after retirement is one of the best things to do. The story line of this drama is pretty simple and straight forward. The main focus of this drama is to bring out the feelings of the father, the son and some other characters. Every customer that comes to the coffee house has a story to tell. We often assume that we understand the people around us, and that we know what people are thinking. That is just too simple minded. Every word we said and every action we take affected people around us. Sometimes we might just give out wrong signal or sign to others that we absolute have no intention of what so ever. Thus to avoid misunderstanding we must take times to sit down to talk and listen carefully. A few hours of conversation can prevent few years of misunderstanding. Those years are worth lot more then the few hours talk. But then who knows what we might get at the end. Learning to understand each other is a life time process. Even for people that are very close to each other, there is no excuse.

Things that caught my eyes:

The coffee house, the white snow, the yellow leaves of autumn and the hand grind coffee creates a very beautiful scene. The background music creates a very worm and peaceful environment that fits perfectly to the drama.

Japan Drama Rating:

Worth watching it. The scene, the music and the touching story are very satisfactory.

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Deru Toko Demasho! 出るトコ出ましょ！- Release Sept 07 (Single Episode Drama)

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Japan Drama Story:

Kamei Shizuka (Horikita Maki) 堀北真希 becomes an office assistance to Nonaka Hiromu (Tanihara Shosuke) 谷原章介, a lawyer that helps her when debts collector forces Kamei Shizuka to pay up the debt left by her rub away father. In order to earn enough money for a living, Kamei Shizuka starts to work for the money and it seems being a lawyer can really earn a lot of money. For that reason, Kamei Shizuka persuades Nonaka Hiromu for the position as office assistance in his office. Yet, Kamei Shizuka chooses this work for the money and not because she knows the work. There for Nonaka Hiromu hired a trouble maker instead of a helper.

Feelings and Comments:

It’s another drama created base on a comic, being that Horikita Maki is the center of it. She is in different school uniforms as well as in a traditional Chinese dress. Fans of her can see her in different dresses too in this drama. The story line is not much special but still good for a laugh. I think this type of lawyer drama has good potential in expanding into 10 episode series. Lots of good ideas can be tied up to lawyers. This single episode has too many things to squeeze inside.

Things that caught my eyes:

Tanihara Shosuke sure is lucky to be able to drive around such a nice sports car. Not to mention that Horikita Maki able to catch up the sports car on a bicycle that she got from a stranger.

Japan Drama Rating:

Fan of (Horikita Maki) 堀北真希 is a must watch. If not, watch it when you're free.

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Papa to Musume no Nanokakan パパとムスメの７日間 – Release July 07

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Japan Drama Story:

This is another one of the soul and body exchange story. A frequently used idea but never fail to attract the audience. In this drama, daughter Kawahara Koume (Aragaki Yui) 新垣結衣 exchange body with her father Kawahara Kyoichiro(Tachi Hiroshi) 舘ひろしduring an incident when both of them are on the train. Daughter Kawahara Koume traps in father’s body and father Kawahara Kyoichiro traps in daughter’s body. Both of them have no choice but to work together to live as each other while finding a way to change back. Thus father experiencing daughter’s life and daughter experiencing father’s life.

Feelings and Comments:

Talking about understanding each other, sometimes we need to place ourselves in their position to fully understand it. The message from this drama is very clear. Two people need to talk and communicate in order to be close. That’s the first step. Second step will be placing yourself at her/his position and understand how her/his life. It might be difficult but possible. I think most of us understand this, just that a lot of us waiting others to make the first step and having busy as an excuse. If we don’t do it now today, tomorrow will never comes.

Things that caught my eyes:

Aragaki Yui and Tachi Hiroshi really pair up great to produce such an entertaining drama. The acting on the exchange is very convincing.

Japan Drama Rating:

Fun to watch. A very entertaining home comedy.

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Romeo and Juliet ロミオとジュリエット- Release April 07 (Single Episode Drama)

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Japan Drama Story:

This drama is just as what the title said it is, a Romeo and Juliet style of story. Drama begins with love at first sight between Morita Hiromichi (Takizawa Hideaki) 滝沢秀明 and Kihira Juri (Nagasawa Masami) 長澤まさみ. Morita Hiromichi works as a poor recycle items collector which drives around the neighbors. Kihira Juri is a university student with a rich background. Just like the original story of Romeo and Juliet, family background of these couple is the boundary. Morita Hiromichi’s father is a wanted criminal and Kihira Juri’s father is the detective in charge of the pursuit. Faith brought this couple together for a reason, a reason or a story about their parents that they never knew.

Feelings and Comments:

It’s difficult to tell a story that everybody knows about and still able to capture their heart. This drama did a good job of capturing my curiosity in the beginning. It’s not the title that is attractive but its how the story is presented. The original Romeo and Juliet have a sad ending. If you take a moment and think about it, it’s just a bad choice that they made. If Romeo had chosen to stay alive then we will have a happy ending. That goes the same as our normal life. As long as we’re alive and think positive then something good will happened. We can choose to have a romantic relationship and choose not to have a sad ending like Romeo and Juliet. Besides, love is about the choices and sacrifices that we made. One sad ending of Romeo and Juliet is enough, don’t you think.

Things that caught my eyes:

The yellow color of Ginkgo trees on both side of the path with the yellow leafs cover along the road is the best scene of this drama. Just like the famous Korean drama “Winter Sonata”.

Japan Drama Rating:

Nice to watch. Good looking couple and beautiful scene with unpredictable story line.

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Yamada Taro Monogatari 山田太郎ものがたり – Release July 07

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Japan Drama Story:

This is the story of Yamada Taro (Ninomiya Kazunari) 二宮和也 and the people around him. Yamada Taro comes from a poor family with 3 brothers and 3 sisters. Each day Yamada Taro has to work part time to support his family. In school, Yamada Taro is the best student in study and sports with great looks. He is one of the popular guys that girls dream of. Yet, with his appearance and achievement almost everybody thinks that he is from a rich or royal family. He does not attend any after school activities as he has to work. Mimura Takuya (Sakurai Sho) 櫻井翔 in the other had is from a wealthy rich family. They become friends as Mimura Takuya is very interested in the lifestyle of Yamada Taro.

Feelings and Comments:

This is the story of a poor prince that has everything except money. When a person is working hard to earn a living, he/she can be unbelievable attractive. The sense of being alive and energetic spirit can be found within. A simple smile from the family is the best reward for Yamada Taro for working hard. I think most people also doing the same. Money can not buy happiness, it might seem hard but happiness can be simple and easy. A small house with everybody living in can be crowded but still people can find a way to be happy. Rich or poor is not the factor of happiness. Either way, you’ll still have problems to deal with. Happy or sad is just how you tune yourself. It’s all in your mind. Think positive, don’t take things too seriously, bless and forgive will surely put a smiling happy face up.

Things that caught my eyes:

The wooden house that located at the corner of the streets sure looks special. It’s kind of rare as you can enjoy the starts at the roof, BBQ and plant vegetables.

Japan Drama Rating:

Fun to watch. Simple worm comedy suitable for families to watch.

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Hotaru no Hikari ホタルノヒカリ – Release July 07

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Japan Drama Story:

Amemiya Hotaru (Ayase Haruka) 綾瀬はるか is normal nice looking office lady in an interior design company. That is when she’s working. After return home, she is a total different person. She stays alone, not interested in anything, lazy, likes to wear torn sports wear and tied her hair straight up. All she likes to do after work is to go back home, have a can of beer and sleep. Hotaru is very happy with her lifestyle until one day she fell in love with Teshima Makoto (Kato Kazuki) 加藤和樹, an employee in the company. She had never date and loves anybody before and this is the first time she fell in love. At the same time, the landlord and also her boss Takano Seiichi (Fujiki Naohito) 藤木直人 move in to stay and share the house with her because of separation with his wife. Adapting to the changes in the house she rented and at the same time perusing her love, thus start a comedy love story.

Feelings and Comments:

The story line was quite simple. It was just a girl that fall in love for the first time and she did not know what to do. She rely on her friend, her boss, her landlord, her housemate which is the one person to help her. Every detail of the feeling of being in love can be seen from Amemiya Hotaru. The audience was lead nicely from the beginning until the end. Few questions can be found after watching the drama. When you face the person you love, will you show the best of you or the actual you? Showing the best of you will win his/her heart but how long can you maintain? Will this become the pressure of being with him/her? If you present the actual you, then he/she might not like it. We always wanted to do something or make the best for the ones we love. That push us to do things that we normally don’t do and sometimes we end up loosing ourselves. This unnoticeable pressure can change a smiling face to a tension face. If this problem can not be solved then it will end up loving each other but unable to be together.

Things that caught my eyes:

Ayase Haruka acting with Fujiki Naohito really is fun to watch, especially their conversation. The effort and different acting of Ayase Haruka can be seen in this drama.

Japan Drama Rating:

Worth watching it. A simple love story nicely told in a worm and comedy way.

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Hanazakari no Kimitachi e 花ざかりの君たちへ – Release July 07

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Japan Drama Story:

Ashiya Mizuki (Horikita Maki) 堀北真希disguises herself as a boy to enter an all boys school so that she could get close to Sano Izumi (Oguri Shun) 小栗旬. Ashiya Mizuki transfer from US back to Japan and went through the trouble to enter the famous idol boy’s school because of a mission. She wanted to help Sano Izumi get back on the high jump event after the injury, an injury that happened in the US when Sano Izumi tries to rescue Ashiya Mizuki from a group of bullies. Ashiya Mizuki was able to enter the school and share the same room with Sano Izumi but soon find out that it takes a lot more effort to persuade Sano Izumi to jump again. That’s not the only thing that she has to worry about, keeping her female identity safe through out the school activities also tough work.

Feelings and Comments:

It sure is a crazy and entertaining drama. This drama brings back the memories of the college time where we once were as crazy as they are. Most of us only remember the crazy stuff that we did in college. Did anybody remember the study time?

Things that caught my eyes:

The family picture of all the boys and Horikita Maki 堀北真希 (The picture above) is enough to steal most of the viewers heart.

Japan Drama Rating:

Fun to watch. Not just Horikita Maki 堀北真希 but lots of good looking boys too. Very entertaining.

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Yama Onna Kabe Onna 山おんな壁おんな- Release July 07

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Japan Drama Story:

This drama is all around boobs. You can even tell it from the title of this drama, “Wounds Woman, Wall Woman”. Aoyagi Megumi (Itoh Misaki) 伊東美咲 is the head of the handbag sales section of a department store. She is also a top sales person in perusing her dream for higher position at work. She is good at her job, tall, beautiful and single. An almost perfect woman but one thing, her boobs are flat and this bugs her. This thought always troubles her until having nightmares about it. Then one day came Mariya Marie (Fukada Kyoko) 深田恭子 that transfer from another department store. She is also a top sales person and great at one thing. She has large boobs that can knock down almost everybody. Together they work at the handbag section and experience the lifestyle of a working woman.

Feelings and Comments:

A sexy body with large boobs really is a big issue to a woman. Either at work or during daily personal life it can be very helpful or troublesome. No matter what, women still prefer to have large boobs. It’s not just wanted to look good but it’s the confidence that comes with it. This drama shows it all using the comedy way. Of cause big boobs is not everything, without it Aoyagi Megumi still able to find her love and success in her work. Not all man likes big boobs.

Things that caught my eyes:

The acting of Itoh Misaki 伊東美咲 has improved a lot. She is much better then she was in the previous drama - Train Man.

Japan Drama Rating:

Fan of Itoh Misaki 伊東美咲 and Fukada Kyoko 深田恭子 is a must watch. This drama is mainly about both of them.

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Hanayome to Papa 花嫁とパパ – Release April 07

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Japan Drama Story:

It’s about a story between a single father and his loving daughter. Uzaki Kentaro - Tokito Saburo (時任三郎) and Uzaki Aiko - Ishihara Satomi (石原さとみ) live together ever since Aiko mother pass away right after giving birth. Uzaki Kentaro has been looking after his daughter by himself for 20 years. This single father loves his daughter very much until he set some strict rules to prevent her from being harm. As Uzaki Aiko becomes older, this restriction or too much love from his father has become a bit annoying and embarrass to her. This too much love from his father still runs strong even until she has her own job. In order to break through all this, Uzaki Aiko decided to get married in order for her to break free from her father. That’s when she met Miura Seiji - Taguchi Junnosuke (田口淳之介).

Feelings and Comments:

It’s never too much love between parents and their children. Communication and understanding between both parties is very important to prevent things turn bad. The chemistry between Tokito Saburo (時任三郎) and Ishihara Satomi (石原さとみ) brings out the father and daughter relationship pretty well. The story line is light and not much peak emotion to stir you up but the drama did have a good flow of telling the story. It keeps you continue watching it.

Things that caught my eyes:

The height difference between Tokito Saburo (時任三郎) and Ishihara Satomi (石原さとみ) makes it look just nice for a father and daughter relationship.

Japan Drama Rating:

Fun to watch. A comedy drama that is comfortable to watch with.

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Proposal Daisakusen プロポーズ大作戦 – Release April 07

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Japan Drama Story:

The story starts at a wedding ceremony where most of us assume that Iwase Ken (Yamashita Tomohisa) 山下智久 is the bridegroom and Yoshida Rei (Nagasawa Masami) 長澤まさみ is the bride. Turns out that the bridegroom is actually Tada Tetsuya (Fujiki Naohito) 藤木直人, that is their teacher. Iwase Ken and Yoshida Rei knew each other when they are young. They grew up together attending the same school until college. Deep inside their heart they like each other very much. Unfortunately they never did confess and express their feelings to each other. Thus Iwase Ken end up looking at the person he loves married to another person. Iwase Ken feel regret during the wedding. If he would have take things more seriously and act more aggressively then he might be the person standing next to Yoshida Rei. As he prays that he could go back in time to fix it, a fairy appears and granted his wishes. There fore Iwase Ken started his journey of making Yoshida Rei as his bride.

Feelings and Comments:

You might not like the character of Iwase Ken but that’s the main point of this drama. If you love someone, you need to say it out loud so that he/she can hear it. Don’t ever let go any chances you have. Any reasons that you have for not doing so is just excuse that you’ll regret. There is no second chance or redo, there is only now. This drama really cooks up the relationship and feelings between Iwase Ken and Yoshida Rei. Man who is insensitive and rarely say the words “Love you”. Woman who is hoping man understands and afraid of rejection. These feelings are being brought out nicely in this drama.

Things that caught my eyes:

The theme songs and the music push the emotion of the drama up another level. Nagasawa Masami expresses and brought up the feeling of a young girl who is in love nicely. Wedding ceremony is always nice to watch.

Japan Drama Rating:

Worth watching it. A beautiful love story told in a fairy tale style.

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Hotelier ホテリアー – Release April 07

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Japan Drama Story:

As you can see it yourself, it’s about stories that related to Tokyo Ocean Hotel. Odagiri Kyoko (Ueto Aya) 上戸彩 is the assistance manager of the hotel that facing financial crisis and the potential of taking over. During the hotel 30^th anniversary the president of the hotel fell sick and never recovered. In order to save the hotel from the cricis, Odagiri Kyoko went to Korea in search of Ogata Kouhei (Tanabe Seiichi) 田辺誠一 for help. Together they try to bring up the hotel with the help of other stuff. At the other hand a professional in business takeover Mizusawa Keigo (Oikawa Mitsuhiro) 及川光博 was hired to take over the hotel. Part of the reason that Mizusawa Keigo takes this job is because he has a crush on Odagiri Kyoko. The best part is that Mizusawa Keigo stays in Tokyo Ocean Hotel for the job and romance.

Feeling and comments:

The main focus of this drama is Ueto Aya 上戸彩. The story lack of depth seems like everything just glance through very fast. This drama does have the shadow of “Pretty Woman” but did not set up well. Of cause it's also a remake of the famous Korean Drama - Hotelier. Even so it does have a few tricks and surprise in it. The Korean actor (Bae Yong Jun) and some Korean conversation does impress a bit.

Things that caught my eyes:

The conversation between Odagiri Kyoko (Ueto Aya) 上戸彩 and the Korean Actor - Bae Yong Jun in Korean languages leaves a big impression. The theme song that sings by (Ueto Aya) 上戸彩 is not bad at all.

Japan Drama Rating:

Fan of (Ueto Aya) 上戸彩 is a must watch. If not then skip it.

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Bambino! バンビーノ! - Release April 07

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Japan Drama Story:
Simple story line of how a young man wanted to become an Italian chef. The fighting spirit of a young man can be seen. Working hard to full fill his dream. This drama is base on a popular Japanese comic.

Feelings & Comments:
Opening theme song is nice as it is by the famous band "Arashi"嵐. Beautiful restaurant represented by its dinning room and kitchen. It is nice to watch the cast cooking in the clean and beautiful kitchen. The 2 young actress Karina 香里奈 and Komatsu Ayaka 小松彩夏 looks very cute and nice in the drama.

Things that caught my eyes:
The pasta is always seems delicious and so as the desserts.

Japan Drama Rating:
Nice to watch. Not bad at all. The restaurant's dinning, kitchen and the food are very attractive. The whole cooking drama is presented in high class and beautiful way. Plus the strong cast which makes the drama seems natural.

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Teppan Shoujo Akane 鉄板少女アカネ - Release Oct 06

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Japan Drama Story:
Kagura Akane (Horikita Maki) 堀北真希 runs a teppanyaki restaurant in Tokyo. Her father who was the No.1 chef in Japan went on a journey alone after the death of her mother. Akane tries to find her father while battles against a large company from her restaurant. With the help of her friends, she travels around Japan to search for her father and prepare herself to become a good chef like her father.

Feelings & Comments:
Another drama base on a Japan comic. Each episode has a stand alone story. More like a comedy with a lot of funny scene.

Things that caught my eyes:
(Horikita Maki) 堀北真希 is cute as usual, never tired of watching her. Theme song "Sayonara" by the famous Orange Range also brings the drama to the climax when ever play.

Japan Drama Rating:
Fan of (Horikita Maki) 堀北真希 is a must watch. If not, watch it when you're free.

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Tokyo Tower 東京タワー -Release Jan 07

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Japan Drama Story:
A very warm and heart touching drama about the life of a mother and son story. A single mother that works hard to raise her child with all her love. The relationship between mother and son was carefully produce. Nakayama Masaya (Hayami Mokomichi速水もこみち)- Ma kun and his mother Nakayama Chochi (Baisho Mitsuko 倍賞美津子)stay in the country side when he was young. After graduated from high school, he then went to a university in Tokyo. From there he started his life in Tokyo without the gentle care of his mother. Ma kun continues to stay in Tokyo after graduated from the University. He had some trouble at the beginning but still able to find a job to survive in Tokyo. Later on his mother came to Tokyo to stay with him for the rest of her life.

Feelings & Comments:
The feelings of happy and sad are mix together. A very touching and unfamiliar story that all of us know because we too have our own version of "Mother and son/daughter ". A lot of us have almost the same experience. Mom take care of boy when young, then boy leave home to study, after that find a job in a city far away from home. Then one day we realize that our parents have grown old, then we realize all the work that they done for us. It's never too late to realize it but we always regret that we did not realize it earlier. This is the most difficult debt to payback as it is unable to value by money. Another special item is the detail composed music along the whole drama that brings out the emotion within. This drama surely intended to make you cry.

Things that caught my eyes:
Tokyo tower sure is very attractive place. The music and songs never stop through out the whole drama. The mother Nakayama Chochi (Baisho Mitsuko 倍賞美津子) was very good in the Drama.

Japan Drama Rating:
Worth watching it. A very warm and heart touching drama.

Purchase:
TV series

Japan Drama Preview:

Nobuta wo Produce 野ブタ。をプロデュース - Release Oct 05

Kumo Japan Drama Sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
It's about the story of 3 different type of people who become friends in high school. Shuji Kiritani (Kamenashi Kazuya)亀梨和也- the most popular guy in the school, Akira Kusano (Yamashita Tomohisa)山下智久- the unpopular guy that does not get along with anybody and Nobuko Kotani (Horikita Maki)堀北真希- a gloomy shy transfer student get together and created this fun and dramatic story. This drama is as what the title said, "produce a pig". The 2 boys are trying to transform Nobuko (or Nobuta) from a gloomy shy girl into the most popular girl in the school. It is more like the ugly duck which become a beautiful swan at the end.

Feelings & Comments:
A very interesting story line back up with 3 young talented cast. It's a fun and cheerful drama that could make you happy when watching it. Maki Horikita 堀北真希and Toda Erika 戸田恵梨香 are the 2 cute girls in the drama. Plus Yamashita Tomohisa 山下智久 and Kamenashi Kazuya 亀梨和也 which is one of the member of KAT-TUN and that makes is enough to attract a lot of viewers. It is interesting to watch how they transform Nobuta to the most popular girl in school.

Things that caught my eyes:
The most fun and interesting to watch is Nobuko Kotani (Maki Horikita)堀北真希. Especially after she got her hair cut. She won best supporting actress award through this drama.

Japan Drama Rating:
Fun to watch. It's like watch a young girl grew up in high school. Starting from a nobody into a somebody.

Purchase:
TV series, Original Soundtrack

Japan Drama Preview:

Seito Shokun! 生徒諸君! - Release April 07

Kumo Japan Drama Sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
Another story about how a teacher help and touches the heart of the students. Just like the Drama GTO and Gokusen, the teacher helps student with problems and earn their trust and love. One thing different from the other drama is that it is more realistic and close to the actual case that is happen in life. This drama also base on a popular comic.

Feelings & Comments:
Ending Theme song is "My Generation" by a young talented singer YUI. She did a good job in writing this song. This drama is covered in a sad mood from the beginning but still have a happy ending. I think that's because it is close to the reality and most of the time life is like that. We can see how the teacher trying hard to find happiness and trying to cheer up the students. Well, I think that the teacher - Uchiyama Rina 内山理名 act is little bit too aggressive. She looks like a super teacher mentally because no matter how bad the students and others treated her, she still able to put up her smiling face. This drama mainly focus on how the students recover from problems and incident. What ever done is done and the only thing that we can do is get back on our feet and move on.

Things that caught my eyes:
Ending theme song sound better each time I listen to it. Another character that caught my eyes is Horikita Maki 堀北真希. She is indeed cute and a young fast rising star in Japan.

Japan Drama Rating:
Nice to watch. Even if most of the time it is covered with sad atmosphere but still able to make me finish the drama in 2 days. At least the theme song is good and it's a happy ending.

Purchase:
TV series

Japan Drama Preview:

Taiyou no uta タイヨのうた - Release July 06

Kumo Japan Drama Sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
A story about a girl that loves music but have a incurable disease and a boy who loves her very much. Kaoru Amane (Sawajiri Erika)沢尻 エリカ suffer form XP (xeroderma pigmentosum) and has to avoid direct sunlight can only be out in the street at night. She likes to sing in the street after sunset. Her part of the world started when the moon comes out. Kouji Fujishiro (Yamada Takayuki)山田孝之, a boy that has no idea of what to do in his life after he lost his job. He always hangs out with his friends. His life started when the sun rises. Still both of them are able to meet and started a short love story.

Feelings & Comments:
A very passionate story of a girl fight to full fill her dreams of becoming a singer. Even though she knows that she does not live long, she cherish ever single minutes of her life and appreciate what she had. At the other side, the boy she loves have all the time that she wants but was not doing anything right. Unable to move on due to some problems in the pass and running away instead of dealing with it. After he meets the girl, she touches his heart and changing the way he thinks. There are things that people always take granted of, especially life. We always thing that we have all the time we have but we don't. Put yourself in Kaoru Amane (Sawajiri Erika)沢尻 エリカ position and imagine that you only have 1 year time to live on. What will you do?

Things that caught my eyes:
A beautiful love song that spices out the whole drama.

Japan Drama Rating:
Worth watching it. The song itself is enough to keep on watching it.

Purchase:
TV series, Taiyo no Uta Single CD

Japan Drama Preview:

Japan Drama NG Scenes:

Anego アネゴ - Release April 05

Kumo Japan Drama Sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
Noda Naoko (Shinohara Ryoko 篠原涼子) has been working for 10 years in the company and yet still single. Waiting for a man to come to her life everyday while taking care of other younger workers. With the age of 32 and always like a big sister to others, it's unlikely for her to get a boy friend. Especially when she is the big sister of so many cute female workers. For Noda, there are only 2 option for her future. Either find a man and get married or become a single elite business woman. This story tells the feelings and problems face by a single 32 year old woman that almost given up getting married. At her age, the choice she has is either a married man or a man younger then her. That is if that man still wants her.

Feelings & Comments:
It seems to be a romance story of elder woman - Noda Naoko (Shinohara Ryoko 篠原涼子)with a man - Kurozawa Akihiko (Akanishi Jin 赤西仁)that is younger then her but actually not. The drama focus mainly on the life style and feelings of Noda Naoko. (Shinohara Ryoko 篠原涼子) Being a successful business woman now days might looks cool but still it doesn't quite complete without marriage. In fact trying to survive in the business world of today is tougher for a woman. In reality woman are always the one that sacrifice most and this drama shows it all. A lot of social issue and moral issue can be seen in the company she's working.

Things that caught my eyes:
The song "We will rock you" comes when ever Noda is talking to the us - The viewer. Even in the worst condition, she still able to come out form it nicely. Guess there's always a way when there is a will.

Japan Drama Rate:
Worth watching it. Finding your way through the life of 9 to 5 in the city.

Purchase:

TV series, Original Soundtrack

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Japan Drama NG Scenes:

Densha Otoko 電車男 - Release July 05

Japan Drama Story:

This drama is base on a true story of a geek-train man, Yamada Tsuyoshi (Itoh Atsushi 伊藤淳史) who falls in love with a beautiful, young and rich lady -Hermes, Aoyama Saori(Itoh Misaki 伊東美咲). This story actually originated from a discussion board where millions of internet users sending messages to help the train man. Advices and comments were given to help win the heart of the lady he loves. This story also written as one of the best selling novel. Both of them met during an incident in the train. Train man, Yamada Tsuyoshi helped Hermes, Aoyama Saori from being disturb by a drunk man. From the moment train man Yamada Tsuyoshi saw Hermes, Aoyama Saori, he already in love with her. Thus from that day onwards, train man put up all his effort to try to impress Hermes, Aoyama Saori. As his is just a geek that know only computer and anime, he has no idea on how to approach a lady. With no friends to go for, he seeks help from the internet at the discussion board. As millions of people around Japan are interested in the train man's romance, many advices and helps are given. Even so, both train man and Hermes are from a totally different world. A simple date is as almost a mission impossible to him.

Feelings & comments:
A very special story but yet fits a lot of scenario. We are mostly common with beauty and the beast but this version is more like beauty and the donkey. It gives hope to men out there that you don't have to be rich or good looking to have a beautiful wife. The things that win the hearts of the girls are...you might surprise she loves you.

Things that caught my eyes:
Itoh Misaki 伊東美咲 sure is beautiful. Also I like the character Jinkama Misuzu (Shiraishi Miho 白石美帆). The way she talks impress me. She was quote by the Darth Vader ring tone by the train man.

Japan Drama Rating:
Fun to watch. It's just like a fairy tale.

Purchase:

TV series, Original Soundtrack, Special

Japan Drama Preview:

Japan Drama NG Scenes: