Koshonin 2交渉人 2– Release Oct 09

Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
27 hand guns are distributed to public randomly by postal services. These hand guns are stolen from a ship that smuggle weapons. The package with hand guns were sent out by a name called “Summer Claus”. These hand guns create panic among public because some who received the gun uses it to eliminate people they hate. Police has started out full force trying to recover all 27 hand guns but it seems the case is not as simple as it looks like. The person who call himself “Summer Claus” seems to declaring a war with the police, especially Usagi Reiko (Yonekura Ryoko) 米倉涼子.

Feelings and comments:
This drama starts out with a good opening with 27 hand guns send out to public and leave a mysterious sender call “Summer Claus”. The cases are interesting and there are so many police on the scene to make it looks like a big case, but there is one important thing that is missing. The excitement and the danger is just not enough. The best part of this drama will just be the mysterious cases and the person name “Summer Claus”. 
This drama seems to focus too much on the criminal case. The only thing that I can see is the story or details of the cases. There are lots of characters in the drama but the drama did not elaborate more about them. It’s just like they are there for the cases. I just feel these people are just like robots. The drama can be better if there are some stories behind each character which can bring out their personality. I even feel that Usagi Reiko (Yonekura Ryoko) 米倉涼子is just too cool. Yap, they all have just one single emotion, which is a cool face.

Things that caught my eyes:
There are so many police in this drama but most of them are just standing, most of the time it’s just Usagi Reiko (Yonekura Ryoko) 米倉涼子 who is doing all the work. As for the superior officers, they are just talking and elaborating the scene only.

Japan Drama Rating:
Nice to watch. This is a serious drama with all the serious faces as it’s all about negotiation with criminals. The story pace is slow but at least there is a crime happened in each episode.

Purchase:
TV series (season 1),2008 Japanese Tv Series: Koshonin (The Negotiator)

Drama Theme Song: My Style by Denda Mao
click here to watch at Youtube.

Japan Drama Preview:

Real Clothesリアル・クローズ – Release Oct 09

Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
Amano Kinue (Karina) 香里奈 used to work as a sales girl at futon section of a department store. When the department store hired Jinbo Miki (Kuroki Hitomi) 黒木瞳 as section head of the woman’s fashion department, Amano Kinue (Karina) 香里奈 is asked to transfer to woman’s fashion department. No doubt that Amano Kinue (Karina) 香里奈 was highly recommended by her former boss but she seems like not the person that fits in the woman’s fashion department. Still Amano Kinue (Karina) 香里奈 has no choice but to learn and struggle with the new environment and new boss. Despite her lack of sense in fashion, she began to understand her true self as she starting to catch up with the world of fashion.

Feelings and comments:
This drama reminds me of a US movie call The Devils wears Prada. There are some similarities but I think this drama is more focus on Japan fashion. This drama really tells us about the world of fashion in Japan.
    There are lots of quotes in the drama that related to woman, especially working woman. There is one quote that I like most and it goes like “Appearance is everything…”, still I think this quote is debatable. Perhaps it’s all depends on who you are and how you look at yourself in the mirror. Clothes and dresses take up a big part of our life. We can’t just say it doesn’t matter how we dress up because people are not judge just by their clothes. The truth is, it does matter in the reality world. I suppose most of us understand this once we started to work and get a job. By the way, this goes the same to both man and woman.

Things that caught my eyes:
Clothes are the one that makes the spot lights in this drama. The brands, high heels, jeans, dresses and the models make this a Japan fashion introduction drama.

Japan Drama Rating:
Worth watching. This drama is like a modern version of ugly duckling in a world of fashion.

Purchase:
Original Soundtrack, 2009 Japanese Drama : Real Clothes w/ Eng Sub


Drama Theme Song: Kitto Daijobu by Sakazume Misako

Japan Drama Preview:

Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujoこちら葛飾区亀有公園前派出所 – Release Aug 09

Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
This drama is base on a popular manga in Japan. Ryotsu Kankichi (Katori Shingo) 香取慎吾 is an ordinary policeman that station at Katsushika area. There are lots of stories and adventures surrounding Ryotsu Kankichi (Katori Shingo) 香取慎吾 because he always has crazy ideas to earn more money. Even so he never forgets his job to help the neighborhoods and solve their problems.

Feelings and comments:
This drama is base on a popular manga. The anime version of this manga also received a good viewing result. Unfortunately when they make it a real person drama, the viewing rate is not as good as expected. Perhaps it just doesn’t feel right.
    Honestly, I think the production of this drama really puts in a lot of effort to make it big. The main character Ryotsu Kankichi (Katori Shingo) 香取慎吾even appeared in NHK’s 2009 Kohaku Red and White Music Festival. Besides that the drama has special guest stars like Ishihara Satomi (石原さとみ), Mizuki Alisa (観月ありさ) and SPEED member Shimabukuro Hiroko (島袋寛子). Some of the scenes are taken at large crowds or within large area of outdoor scene.
    Honestly I think the drama tries too hard to make it close to the Manga. I can see the effort on trying to make this drama a big success but it just lack the feelings. Perhaps the magic only works when it is in Manga or Anime version.

Things that caught my eyes:
There are lots of scenes which I think the producer really gives it a 100% to make it looks “Wow”. One of the scenes is that they have few minutes of live telecast right before the drama starts. Each time they pick an event and sing the main theme of the drama.

Japan Drama Rating:
Fun to watch. This drama looks more like a kids show. I suppose not all manga story can be brought into TV screen or theater. The feelings are just not right or different.

Purchase:
Original Soundtrack,

Drama Theme Song: Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo by Ryotsu Kankichi

Japan Drama Preview:

Untouchableアンタッチャブル – Release Oct 09

 

Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
Narumi Ryoko (Nakama Yukie) 仲間由紀恵 used to work in Japan top magazine publisher. Due to certain conflict with the head of publisher, Narumi Ryoko (Nakama Yukie) 仲間由紀恵 was fired and ends up working in a third class magazine publisher name “Untouchable”. Still Narumi Ryoko (Nakama Yukie) 仲間由紀恵 thinks that she is a first class reporter working in a third class publisher. Even though Narumi Ryoko (Nakama Yukie) 仲間由紀恵 is assign to go after gossips or celebrity scandals, she is still able to sense a big scoop. When Narumi Ryoko (Nakama Yukie) 仲間由紀恵started to work on the given assignment, she began to notice a big organization that secretly carries out evil plans. As Narumi Ryoko (Nakama Yukie) 仲間由紀恵 heading towards the truth and answer, danger comes closer.

Feelings and comments:
This drama basically is a detective drama with lots of criminal cases. The only difference is that instead of a detective or private investigator that is solving the crime, this drama makes it a reporter or a journalist. Well, solving a crime or a case means having a scoop for a journalist. The intention might be different but either way they all have the same goal. That is finding out the truth. When a detective solve the case and finds the truth, criminal will be brought to court for justice. When a journalist finds the truth or gets the scoop, public will be informed and people will be the judge.
    The influence of media really is enormous. Normally the ones that control the media basically can control the thoughts of public. We have radios, television, newspapers and magazine to tell us what’s happening around. These are the regular media that can be easily control. Lately we have the internet and media spreads faster than before. No doubt media online can be difficult to control, but it also fill with misleading information. Perhaps a certain level of control is necessary to keep things right.

Things that caught my eyes:
Nothing special except the fact that Narumi Ryoko (Nakama Yukie) 仲間由紀恵 is always able to get to the person she wants to interview. Well, that’s part of the script I suppose.

Japan Drama Rating:
Nice to watch. The story of this mystery drama is good as most of the cases are unexpected. Instead of having a private investigator or a police officer, a reporter too can carry out an investigation.

Purchase:
Original Soundtrack

Drama Theme Song: Orion by GIRL NEXT DOOR

Japan Drama Preview:
Click to watch special interview of (Nakama Yukie) 仲間由紀恵 in Untouchable