Sunday, April 25, 2010

オトメンOtomen – Release Aug 09


Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
Masamune Asuka (Okada Masaki) 岡田将生 is the champion of Kendo sport within high school in Japan. Masamune Asuka (Okada Masaki) 岡田将生 is raise by his mother alone after his father left in pursuit of own ambition. The mother wanted to raise Masamune Asuka (Okada Masaki) 岡田将生 to become a true successful manly Japanese. Despite that Masamune Asuka (Okada Masaki) 岡田将生 has a gentle polite personality who also enjoys sweets, sewing, cooking and love to read girl’s comic. Masamune Asuka (Okada Masaki) 岡田将生 is able to keep his hobby and personality secret until he met Miyakozuka Ryo (Kaho) 夏帆 who he falls in love with. Ironically Miyakozuka Ryo (Kaho) 夏帆 personality is just the opposite side of Masamune Asuka (Okada Masaki) 岡田将生.

Feelings and comments:
This drama is full of jokes and laughter. Some of the jokes are related to current issue and Japan culture. So many viewers might not get the jokes. I personally think the jokes are a bit over doing, which creates lots of silent moment when it’s supposed to be laughter all around.
    There are lots of talented actors in this drama but it just seems like everybody are equally good. It’s not a good thing actually because there is no outstanding performance which can lead this drama and creates high emotional scene. I hate to say but I think the best part of this drama is the ending clip.
    I think it’s not just Japan. There are lots of Otomen the whole world. There are simply a lot of men that are able to do sewing, cooking, makeup and likes girl stuff. In other words, they can do almost everything. Honestly, Otomen are very popular among girls. One of my female friends even told me that it’s a relieved because her husband basically covers everything, including cooking, cleaning house, taking care of kids and making a living. Well, I suppose there is no absolute rule that says what man can and cannot do. One thing for sure, we do anything just to survive.

Things that caught my eyes:

The ending clip is nice, something totally different from the drama but it’s an eye appealing. There is one student in this drama that is the victim of jokes and always sacrifices for laughter. I think he shines more than the main cast.

Japan Drama Rating:
Fun to watch. There are lots of crazy jokes and fooling around in the drama. The story is simple. It’s the laughing stuff that makes me finish watching it.

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

Drama Theme Song: lover soul by Shibasaki Kou

Japan Drama Preview:

Japan Drama NG Scene:

Sunday, April 18, 2010

官僚たちの夏 Kanryotachi no Natsu – Release July 09



Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:

Japan economy suffer tremendous loses after losing World War 2. In order to bring Japan back to top develop country which able to compete with US, a group of people in government service are working hard to make this happen. Kazakoshi Shingo (Sato Koichi) 佐藤浩市, also known as “Mr. Ministry of International Trade and Industry”, dedicate himself to make Japan a wealthy country so that Japanese can have a better life. Along with a group of subordinate Kazakoshi Shingo (Sato Koichi) 佐藤浩市 strive to help all industries within import and export negotiation between Japan and US. As this involves making Japan a strong wealthy country, different opinion with same goal ignites a lot of discussion and quarrels within departments. Not to mention every decision involve political beneficial that might be advantage to certain parties. It makes the mission to make Japan a wealthy country a very tough journey.

Feelings and comments:
This is not a drama for everyone. At some point this drama can be very boring unless you’re interested in politics, Japan history, industry development and international trading. I suppose boys will be more interested in watching this drama.
    When things involve politics and when it comes to making decisions, there are no right and wrong. There is only the best choice. I suppose being a politician is about making tough choices. The word “Sacrifice” can always be heard in this drama.
    The story of this drama is base on things that happen 10 years after Japan surrender in World War 2. Basically it’s a story about how and what a county do to become a wealthy county. I suppose we can compare it with the action taken by our own country to drive the nation to a better place to stay. Maybe through this drama we can more a less understand the action and decision done by our government officials. Even so I still think it’s difficult to really understand it as most of the time we did not get to see the whole picture.
    If you happen to watch this drama and able to watch it until the last episode, perhaps you may consider answer the question below. Would it be better to rely on the help of government or just rely on ourselves?

Things that caught my eyes:
The best part of this drama is watching the dramatic changes around the streets of Japan and household. The muddy road replace by highways after the design of local car, the expensive black and white television replace by low price color television, the changes of fashion as fabrication industries evolves and the design of computer which helps to create the first airplane can all be seen in this drama. It’s just like watching a documentary series of the rise of Japan after World War 2.

Japan Drama Rating:
Nice to watch. This is a drama about Japan industries, government, international trade and the rise of Japan economic after World War 2. It’s about money, power and politics where mostly only man participated. This is a story about a group of man that fought to make Japan becomes a strong develop country after World War 2.STAY by

Purchase:
2009 Japanese Drama : Kanryotachi No Natsu w/ Eng Sub

Drama Theme Song: STAY by Kobukuro

Japan Drama Preview:

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Koishite Akuma恋して悪魔 – Release July 09


Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
Kuromiya Luka (Nakayama Yuma) 中山優馬 is a vampire that yet to have his first taste of human blood. In order to become a fully mature vampire and earn eternal life, Kuromiya Luka (Nakayama Yuma) 中山優馬 has to pick a young female human being and draws her blood. In order to complete his task, Kuromiya Luka (Nakayama Yuma) 中山優馬 was place to a family that runs a restaurant and went to school close by. As this is the first time that Kuromiya Luka (Nakayama Yuma) 中山優馬 ever comes close to human being, living and staying with human being troubles him. This is supposed to be a simple task for a vampire as Kuromiya Luka (Nakayama Yuma) 中山優馬 just has to find a young female human being and taste the first bite for blood. Unfortunately things become complicated when he met Natsukawa Makoto (Kato Rosa) 加藤ローサ, the young female English teacher who teaches him in high school.

Feelings and comments:
I have to say the paced of this drama is slow. The first couple of episodes are just watching Kuromiya Luka (Nakayama Yuma) 中山優馬 walking around and sitting around. The story only gets interesting when part of the secrets are reveals.
    No doubt this is a love story. There are some similarities with the popular love story Romeo and Juliet but the romance is not deep enough. There is love and romance but the feelings are just not strong enough to move viewers. Perhaps a love story that risk everything and that normal people won’t do might creates greater impact.
    Perhaps the chemistry between Kuromiya Luka (Nakayama Yuma) 中山優馬 and Natsukawa Makoto (Kato Rosa) 加藤ローサ is not strong enough to convince viewers that they love each other very much. This drama really gives these two actors the opportunity to show their talent but I suppose it did not work well as predicted. The idea of this love story is good. I think the effects will be better if it’s a love story with lots of obstacles and intense desire to be together for the lovers. 

Things that caught my eyes:
He seems to walk around a lot and sitting on high grounds to enjoy the beautiful scene. One thing I’m curious about. All Kuromiya Luka (Nakayama Yuma) 中山優馬 needs is the blood of a young female human being. There are lots of ways to get the blood without even having to take a bit. I suppose he has no idea about blood donation activities and the existence of blood bank.

Japan Drama Rating:

Interesting to watch. It’s a love story with some similarities of Romeo and Juliet. I think this drama can be better if it focus more on the love story instead of the character Kuromiya Luka (Nakayama Yuma) 中山優馬.

Purchase:
2009 Japanese Drama : Koishite Akuma w/ Eng Sub ,Original Soundtrack

Drama Theme Song: Akuma na Koi by Nakayama Yuma with B.I.Shadow

Japan Drama Preview:

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Akahana no Sensei赤鼻のセンセイ – Release July 09

Kumo Japan Drama sneak!!

Japan Drama Story:
Ishihara Santaro (Oizumi Yo) 大泉洋 was a salesman in the electronic department store. He was able to attract lots of people to watch his presentation but was not good in making sales. At the end of the day he was fired. Thanks for his former school teacher he was introduce to become a teacher in a hospital. The job is to teach children who are unable to attend school due to illness. As usual Ishihara Santaro (Oizumi Yo) 大泉洋 started out his teaching with his cold jokes wearing his red nose. He is always talking and making jokes around because he believes laughter is the way to get through life. Even so he did not realize the difference between a normal school and school that built in hospital. After a short period of teaching, Ishihara Santaro (Oizumi Yo) 大泉洋 realize that he has lots to learn about teaching illness children and he is destine to take on this job.

Feelings and comments:
Having teaching session for children in hospital seems to be a good idea. Children are able to catch up with their academic study and at the same time able to distract them from thinking about their illness. Hospital is a boring place. It’s actually good to have something for the children to focus on. Besides I think children are more alive when attending class rather than just lying on bed. These activities really help them to recover fast.
    I suppose teachers play a larger role when teaching in classes within hospital. Academic achievement is not the priority but the health and mental stability of children comes first. The role of a teacher is not just guidance but also as healer too. The responsibility is greater than teaching in a normal school.
    No doubt having class in hospital is a good idea but I think the cost or expenditure is high. In some countries, lots of places still don’t have hospital or school.

Things that caught my eyes:

The self grind coffee seems delicious. It’s nice to be able to enjoy a nice cup of fresh grind coffee after work.

Japan Drama Rating:
Nice to watch. It is normal to have a story about teaching in school. A story about having a small scale of teaching environment in children hospital is rare. I suppose the goal is different between a normal school and school built in hospital.

Purchase:
2009 Japanese Drama : Akahana No Sensei w/ Eng Sub

Drama Theme Song: Yume wo Arigato by Hara Yuko

Japan Drama Preview: