Ryusei no Kizuna流星の絆– Release Oct 08

Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
A murder case that happened 14 years ago took away both parents of Ariake Koichi (Ninomiya Kazunari) 二宮和也, Ariake Taisuke (Nishikido Ryo) 錦戸亮 and Ariake Shizuna (Toda Erika) 戸田恵梨香. The case was unsolved and the murderer still hasn’t been identified. The 3 siblings have grown up but they didn’t forget the day their parents died. They were lucky to be alive because during that time 3 of them sneak out to watch meteor shower. Ever since that day onwards, they vowed to investigate the murder case themselves as police can’t help much. The painful memories haunted the 3 of them for 14 years but still there is not much clue regarding the case. One day a man call Togami Yukinari (Kaname Jun) 要潤 appears and that’s when the mystery and secret starts to revel.

Feelings and comments:
The cast members of this drama definitely are strong, not to mention the drama also has Nakashima Mika (中島美嘉). That makes this drama one of the must see drama even without knowing the story.
I must say, initially I thought this drama is a sad story with 3 siblings trying to figure out who kill their parents. After watching first episode, surprisingly it didn’t feel that way. The script is written in a way that there are lots of humors in it but with a little sadness behind it. In addition with some detective and adventure ingredients, the well mixture combination of all makes this drama a different kind of taste. You might feel a bit strange but it just doesn’t taste bad. Perhaps it tastes just like the Hayashi rice in the drama.
Bloodline might determine brothers and sisters but it doesn’t create the feeling or sense of the relationship. Every relationship can be well preserve even if they are not bloodline related.

Things that caught my eyes:
The Hayashi rice seems delicious. I suppose no matter what kind of dishes you’re selling, as long as you can make it taste delicious, you can build a franchise with it. Another interesting part will be the appearance of Nakashima Mika (中島美嘉) as Sagi, and the best part will be her singing ORION in between the drama.

Japan Drama Rating:
Worth watching. This drama is special in a sense that it includes partly humor, detective, family, romance and thriller.

Purchase:
Original Soundtrack, 2008 Japanese Drama: Ryusei No Kizuna w/ Eng Sub

Drama Theme Song: Beautiful Days by Arashi

Japan Drama Preview:

Japan Drama NG Scenes:
Click to watch it at YouTube

SCANDAL– Release Oct 08

Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
Shiraishi Risako (Toda Naho) 戸田菜穂 is getting married and she invites 4 of her friends Takayanagi Takako (Suzuki Kyouka) 鈴木京香, Kawai Hitomi (Hasegawa Kyoko) 長谷川京子, Samejima Mayuko (Fukiishi Kazue) 吹石一恵 and Shindo Tamaki (Momoi Kaori) 桃井かおり to attend her wedding. Right after the wedding ceremony, 5 of them get together in a bar in the evening to have a girls night. It turns out that the 4 friends did not know each other but the bride. As they started to get to know each other, Shiraishi Risako (Toda Naho) 戸田菜穂 suggested a game where by each of them try to find a partner and bring them back to the bar. At the end of the night some of them successfully find a partner and some did not. Even so, all of them return to the bar except Shiraishi Risako (Toda Naho) 戸田菜穂. The next day onwards, she was reported missing by her husband.

Feelings and comments:
This drama is about woman. It’s about their lifestyle, characteristics, vision, thoughts, love, marriage and family. It’s is also a story of how these women pursuit their own version of happiness. This drama totally reflects the minds of woman. I actually think that this drama is more suitable to view by woman. Of cause man are welcome to watch it. Just that you might find it a bit boring. From a different point of view, you might just learn how woman really thinks.

Things that caught my eyes:
4 different characteristics woman with 4 different style of living standard can be seen in this drama. Perhaps the most interesting part of this drama is the singer Fukuhara Miho who sings the theme song “Love ~winter song~” with her incredible voice.

Japan Drama Rating:
Fan of those actresses should watch it. If not skip it.

Purchase:
Original Soundtrack, 2008 Japanese Drama: Scandal w/ Eng Sub

Drama Theme Song: LOVE ~winter song~ by Fukuhara Miho

Japan Drama Preview:
Not available.

Innocent Loveイノセント・ラヴ – Release Oct 08

Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
After a terrible incident that destroyed her family, Akiyama Kanon (Horikita Maki) 堀北真希 still having difficulties going through life by herself. Even though after 7 years, people are still talking about his brother Akiyama Yoji (Fukushi Seiji) 福士誠治 who killed both parents and burn the house. Akiyama Yoji (Fukushi Seiji) 福士誠治 was then convicted and jailed, leaving her sister Akiyama Kanon (Horikita Maki) 堀北真希alone to face the world. She was unable to find any job because the locals cannot accept her brother’s action. Even so she still believes her brother is innocent. In order to survive, she decided to move to the city and change her name. Still, finding a job and working in the city is not easy. As she was feeling down, she found her love in first sight - Nagasaki Junya (Kitagawa Yujin) 北川悠仁, the person that captures her heart with a warm happy smile.

Feelings and comments:
This drama tries to bring out the feeling of love from different point of view. Different kind of love can be found in this drama but mostly just single sided love. Apparently love is all around, just that only few of them respond to each other. The music and the theme song help a lot in conveying the feelings, which makes this drama a nice romantic story to watch. Of cause the casts did a good job too, especially Horikita Maki (堀北真希).

What is love any way? Is there a guarantee of what we’ll get in return if we put all our heart or love in it? Perhaps this drama might give you the answer. Love is definitely fragile. We can’t smell it, touch it, taste it or see it. We can just feel it. The question is how do we feel it? You might get a lot of feedback explaining the feeling of love but the truth is we need to go through and experience it ourselves to learn it. Ironically some of us take a whole life time to learn it and most of the time we learn it after losing it.

Things that caught my eyes:
The small cubical music box definitely makes a wonderful gift, especial a present for a girl. ( Check out this video to find out a secret to this drama)

Japan Drama Rating:
Worth watching. A drama that well describes what love actually is.

Purchase:
TV series, Original Soundtrack, 2008 Japanese Drama: Innocent Love w/ Eng Sub

Drama Theme Song: Eternally Drama Mix by Utada Hikaru

Japan Drama Preview:

Kaze no Garden風のガーデン– Release Oct 08

Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
Shiratori Sadami (Nakai Kiichi) 中井貴一 is a talented and well respect doctor that works in Tokyo. Despite the success in his career, his personal life is a disaster. His playboy life style causes his wife to commit suicide. Right after the incident, his father (Shiratori Teizo ) 緒形拳kicked him out of house and forbids his two children Shiratori Rui (Kuroki Meisa) 黒木メイサ and Shiratori Gaku (Kamiki Ryunosuke) 神木隆之介 from staying with him. After 7 years of dedicated working life, Shiratori Sadami (Nakai Kiichi) 中井貴一 found out that he has cancer and was too late for any treatment. All he can do is try to reduce the pain before the end of his time. With the remaining of his time he went back to his hometown for a glance of his children but dare not return home. The only thing that he can do is staying close to the garden that his wife left behind, a flower garden call “Garden of Wind” which he once live happily together with his family.

Feelings and comments:
Flower is one of the characters in this drama, a character that represent the emotion and characteristic of human being. The most common flower that we known might just be red roses as it represents the love towards another person. It’s a flower that we seen in many places as well as in movies and dramas. As for this drama, it shows you different variety of flowers that are as beautiful as red roses but with different style and characteristic.
No doubt that we all make mistakes. Perhaps if we know how serious the damages will be, we might be more careful but sadly we learned that after things happened. Forgiveness is what we always look for. Either praying for it or talking about it with friends, the only one that we always seek for forgiveness is ourselves. That’s the first important step. From this first step then we seek for forgiveness from others.

Things that caught my eyes:
The flower garden is the main spot light. Wonderful story about family, songs with sweet vocal and touching music makes this garden heaven on earth. The theme song by Hirahara Ayaka (平原綾香), also known as Himuro Akane in this drama definitely brings out the best of this drama with her extraordinaire vocal.

Japan Drama Rating:
Worth watching. Especially for those that love flowers.

Purchase:
Original Soundtrack, Kaze No Garden

Drama Theme Song: Nocturne by Hirahara Ayaka

Japan Drama Preview: