SMAPxSMAP
Episode Air Date: 09-03-09
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I really enjoyed this episode! It had a lot in it. Paris Hilton, Mei-chan no Shitsuji cast, Horikita Maki, Kamiji Yusuke, and someone who I assume is some baseball player. Lots of laughs, lots of fun

First we have Takuya Kimura dressed up as a girl. He’s very pretty. He and some friends meet Paris Hilton. She gives Kimura some glasses. In return they give her some presents. Except the presents Kimura gives aren’t very nice presents.

You can tell most of it was set up and that Paris is a really bad actor. She’s good at just smiling. That’s about all…

In the end she went off with Kimura because he promised her she would be introduced to the guy in the photo below at a party.

Next section was SMAP Bistro, with the Mei-chan no Shitsuji cast. I love these guys, they are so cute! Smap all picked on Takeru which was cute, and someone, I forget who, accidently called him “Wataru” or some such, and the other guys jumped in “Wataru?”

Yes, I think Takeru is adorable. What a little cutie.

Katori dressed up as a sheep. Highly amusing.

Of course Katori and Kimura won.

Next was a quiz with Horikita Maki and Kamiji Yusuke. Nakai wouldn’t let Yusuke promote his new special that’s airing, “Kamiji Yusuke Monogatari”, a documentary about himself. Instead he kept allowing Maki talk about her show, “Chance”.

Now, Maki-chan, this is your real smile! Wear it more often!

The guys then threw balls which who I assume is a baseball player. They tried to guess the speed they would throw the ball at, and in the end the base ball guy got it. For some reason, Katori was dressed as a cow.

Lastly they sang some song but I am not sure what it was because I feel asleep and conveniently woke up when it was over…

*yawn*. Lucky the rest was good.

Rate Eikura Nana: Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

Where did I first see her?
I first saw Nana in Proposal Daisakusen. She seemed like a tall beauty, and was surprised at how young she was. She played someone from school to her mid twenties very well.

My Opinion
From hard-to-get beauty to awkward girl with butler, I would really like to see more of Nana! It’s funny, she has short hair in Meichan no Shitsuji yet she looks younger – often I find it is the other way around with short hair.

TV Shows:
Mei-chan no Shitsuji (2009)
Proposal Daisakusen SP (2008)
Proposal Daisakusen (2007)

Movies:
Boku wa Imouto ni Koi wo Suru (2007)

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Proposal Daisakusen
プロポーズ大作戦
Special
Carlie’s Rating:
Rate This Special: Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

In this special of Proposal Daisakusen, it is Eri and Tsuru’s wedding. However, Eri isn’t prepared to go through with it because she isn’t sure if Tsuru is serious about her. Once again, Ken wishes there was something he could do, and thus he is transported back to the past to change the future…

It starts immediately after where the series left off. Many complained about the ending of the series, how they wanted more. I thought the ending was great. I thought that an ending of hugs, kisses and gooey stuff wouldn’t have worked. Here, in the special, I think they have presented “what happened next” more realistically than that, which is great. We get the next scene without too much cliche.

Tsuru and Eri’s wedding takes place in Hawaii… It makes me want to go there soooo bad!! The special has all the comedic parts that I loved in the show… Socrates and the teacher/pottery guy being stupid (with some drag which is always welcome in any show!). Also loved the appearance of the marathon runner in the hostess club!

The show plays on past themes, such as the intro of the wedding (Ken being late and running, always running). It also ties things up nicely with an appearance from all the major and minor players. This time Ken is much wiser with his time spent in the past. There doesn’t seem to be too many, if any at all, moments where I want to hit Ken into action!

I think this special has everything you could want from a special. What makes this not as good as the show, in my opinion, is that the focus is on Eri/Tsuru’s relationship as the main story arch rather than Ken/Rei. However, I do think, like I mentioned in my review of the last episode, I do think that if it had been about them, it would have felt like the “same old”. Conclusion: There was no way to win this one, the special was never going to be as good as the series.

However, not to say this was bad. Far from it! I enjoyed it a lot and think this is better than some shows I’ve seen! Highly recommended.

Tsuru is so funny. Mainly because of his height.

Masami-san needs to learn how to laugh better! And the fake kiss. I mean, yay for kiss, it was more intense (because of length) than others, but we need some kind of movement people!!

A fitting conclusion to this awesome series.

• Proposal Daisakusen Review Index
• Purchase Special DVD from YesAsia

Episodes

• Episode 1 – Ken tries to win a baseball game.
• Episode 2 – Ken tries to find some coffee flavoured milk.
• Episode 3 – The one where Ken switches seats
• Episode 4 – They’ve finished high school and Ken gives Rei his second button
• Episode 5 – Rei’s Grandfather and a kiss or two
• Episode 6 – Ken gets sick and The Letter
• Episode 7 – Tada confesses
• Episode 8 – New Years Eve and Don’t Knock New York
• Episode 9 – Tada’s Proposal
• Episode 10 – Last Hallelujah Chance
• Episode 11 – Final Episode

Special

In this special of Proposal Daisakusen, it is Eri and Tsuru’s wedding. However, Eri isn’t prepared to go through with it because she isn’t sure if Tsuru is serious about her. Once again, Ken wishes there was something he could do, and thus he is transported back to the past to change the future…
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From Yes Asia DVD Special DVD

From Play Asia DVD

This was a fantastic show! It is deep yet comedic and it has gone down as one of my favourite dramas.

Proposal Daisakusen
プロポーズ大作戦
Episode 11
Final Episode

Continuing on from the last episode, Ken drags Rei to their primary school, hoping to capture her heart. They sit in their old seats and play on their old play gym… but Ken fails. Sadly, he returns to Tada’s party and takes a photo of himself, so he returns to the present…

At the party, Tsuru wonders where Ken is while Mikio gulps down some expensive food. I think I would too… Eri comes along and wants to talk seriously to Rei. She gives Rei a ring, Ken’s ring. Rei looks at it as a bright flash comes from a room… Ken’s just flashed himself back to the future.

Back in the “now” Ken is surprised to find himself not in the wedding reception, but outside before it. He has a nice sweet little last talk with the fairy guy, and goes inside ready for his speech. And OK, pretending that he’s not ruining someone’s wedding, Ken FINALLY! confesses his love for Rei. It’s what we’ve been waiting for all season! Just ignoring that it was totally inappropriate, this scene had a lot of *squee* factor. I also think it was great that he confessed in the now rather than in the past, came back and everything was suddenly changed. I think it makes for a better show.

Rei is of course touched… Ken leaves the room to go back to the church to cry while the rest of the wedding party watch the slideshow again. I really love this scene, where it is Rei who realises the mistakes she has made. It is proof that the little changes that Ken made in the past have made a difference. And it is good that everything isn’t just “Ken’s Fault”, but that Rei realises that she has made mistakes as well, and that really she was a difficult person to capture!

Tada notices that there is something wrong with Rei, and makes her deal with the problem. Tada really is a nice guy, I remember saying that in one of the first episodes that I like that the “enemy” was a good guy. Still, I can’t help but think that there is something wrong with Tada – like he knew almost instantly what was wrong with Rei, and I think he should have been a bit pissed off with the speech that Ken gave. I think the real problem here is Tada isn’t a very fleshed out character (not as much as I had hoped he would be) – and so because he is more cardboard than the rest of the cast, it comes across as if he is a little slow or there is something wrong with him in the head. That’s my thoughts anyway.

I also find it interesting that she chooses the hand without the wedding ring, but I may be looking into this too much…

Rei goes running after Ken, and narrowly misses him catching a taxi. She screams pathetically: cue sad music. Man is her dress really beautiful though!

She goes back to the church and wishes she could redo some things and then Poof! Fairy Man appears. For a second I was worried he was going to send her back in time, maybe to Tada’s gala when she discovers the ring, but luckily he doesn’t and Rei decided she can still get Ken in the now…

As for the ending itself… I liked it. Sure, I would have liked some hugs and kisses and promises of loving for ever, but to be honest, this ending was probably much better. We know the hugs and kisses and everything are going to happen. And as far as I’ve seen, kissing scenes in Japanese Dramas are an average affair. (Opposed to Hollywood which often has the over the top cringe factor to them). This was a perfect ending and I’m quite satisfied. Sad that the show’s over, but I think it had the perfect ending.

It was a great episode! Ken finally says he loves her!! Rei admits she was wrong as well!

Not having the hugs and kisses ending – it is a bit of a minus, but I know I probably would have been a little disappointed if it had ended that way as well. I’m sure I’m not making sense here

You know, it would be nice for a special or something because I love the characters, but I don’t think there is anything left to tell. I loved this series and I it is definitely one of my favourite dramas.

p.s. Did a little experimenting with the images and the little watermark on them. I probably wont be doing that again though – a) I couldn’t be arsed, and b) This way you guys can use them in your own images etc. I would like credit because it takes time to save these, resize etc, but I guess I can’t stop you… Eh, I don’t know, I’m still undecided.
p.s.s. (I always use the p.s.s.s.s.s even if it doesn’t make sense, it’s just something you’ll have to get used to…) I am sorry this is posted so late. I wanted it to be done on the day, but you know how life gets in the way when you don’t want it to

Proposal Daisakusen
プロポーズ大作戦
Episode 10

OK, so it’s the real last Hallelujah Chance. Ken goes back and Rei is dressed in a wedding dress saying things to Ken. Of course, then he realises they are trying on wedding dresses/suits. After wards the gang hangs out and has a lot of fun, such as a match of air hockey and some dance dance!

Ken goes with Mikio and Tsuru to film Rei’s parents for a wedding video. Ken then sits down with Rei’s mother and looks through the photo album of he and Rei as kids. One of the photos sparks a memory that may be the key to Rei’s heart.

How was the Tsuru x Eri kiss! It was great. Eri just towers over our chibi Tsuru, lol, so much that I don’t think he could ever kiss her by surprise. It was a totally sweet moment and I loved both Tsuru and Eri’s faces afterwards! (Oh, and Tsuru knows how to get a girl, I’ve said from the start Ken should be taking notes!)

This whole episode felt so sad, even though we get to see the gang hanging out and having fun just like old times. It had this great over-baring shadow, like the wedding between Rei and Tada is inevitable. Like there is nothing Ken can do to stop it. Rei is meeting all these people known to Tada, trying on wedding dresses, shopping for home goods… It’s too late for Ken.

And then Ken’s “eureka!” moment, from the photo. Has it come too late for Ken??

It was good seeing everyone having fun as usual. And the Eri x Tsuru kiss!! Oh, and the ending of this episode!

I can’t think of any minuses which is probably another plus.

The episode ends with Ken pulling Rei along somewhere (and boy did she need a better supporting bra!) and the DKNY sign in the burger shop – still with Ken’s ring on there! Oh my gosh, there is only one episode to go and it’s not coming fast enough! I’m pretty sure, however, that this series is going to go down as one of my favourites!

Proposal Daisakusen
プロポーズ大作戦
Episode 9

It’s Ken’s last chance. This time he has come back to when Tada proposed to Rei. So it’s now or never. But, Ken is such a nice guy he is going around selling blackboards so that his partner can feed his children. (Well, we all have to work, unfortunately). Finally free, Ken goes to confront Rei. It’s the scene from his flashback, the one where Rei says that Ken doesn’t understand anything. Will history repeat itself?

First things first: Eri and Tsuru are finally dating! Woo hoo! Tsuru is too cute for words. He is such a lovable character and I’ve enjoyed him immensely in this series.

And now, on to the scene… It comes. And it plays out much like it did the first time round. And then he pulls her into his arms! So awesome. It’s such a sweet moment… but then Ken doesn’t say anything. I’m sure all he had to say was three little words and he would have most likely been in the (DKNY) bag. If not in the bag, I think it would have at least but some doubt into Rei’s heart.

Instead, he says nothing, and it is like it proves something to Rei. It proves to her that Tada is the right choice.

And Ken, by himself, crying, holding a ring. He bought her a ring! He sticks it onto the DKNY sign. Poor Ken! Poor, stupid Ken!

Something still doesn’t sit right with Rei and Tada though… She still calls him Tada Sensei. That’s not right at all. If they are ready to get married, she shouldn’t be calling him that.

What an emotional roller-coaster ride! I enjoyed this episode so much. But mostly I’m just impatient for the next episode.

Ken can be so frustrating! Why didn’t he say something!!

Next episode promises some dance dance (my affectionate name for DDR), and some Eri x Tsuru kissing!!!

Proposal Daisakusen
プロポーズ大作戦
Episode 8

It’s New Year’s Eve and the gang always spend it together.

Everyone laughs at Ken when he thinks that DKNY stands for “Don’t Knock New York”. Rei jokes that if she had a three million dollars she would buy a Don’t Knock New York bag.

Then, while walking alone, Rei tells Ken that she and Tada are going out. Ken is devastated. He decides that he is going to try and forget Rei so that in the present him’s hurt wont be so great. So, as per tradition, the gang (plus Tada) go to the beach to watch the New Year’s sunrise. However, Ken doesn’t go. Instead he spends his time trying to win a Don’t Knock New York bag and think everything through.

The way Future Ken convinced Past Mikio that he is in a time slip was really funny. I actually understood the Japanese in this part, I was very proud of myself! Not word for word, but I could comprehend what he was saying, and it gave me a warm tingly feeling.

It’s also good to see a bit more Mikio. It has seemed like he’s been on the sidelines up until now. A more active role is nice. Plus, Yuuta rocks my socks.

Another exciting thing was we got to see the Marathon Man. It is definite to conclude there is a “running” theme in this show. Ken is always running.

Ken tries to forget about Rei, but he ends up realising something even more important: He can’t. He can’t forget about her. She is that special to him that he should try everything he can to be with her. It was an awesome scene and I could truly relate to poor Ken. (I wont say if I cried or not )

I may or may not have cried. I love shows that make me feel something.

Not much Rei/Ken developments/moments. However, the DKNY bag incident was sweet.

Things have to hit the bottom before they bounce up and so I’m expecting next week’s episode -where Tada proposes – to be even more depressing. It’s going to be great!

Proposal Daisakusen
プロポーズ大作戦
Episode 7

The gang are cleaning out Tada’s office. Tada seems to have his epiphany moment where he realises he’s like Rei for a long time. So right away he wants to say it. Past Ken, of course, knows that this is when Tada confessed to Rei and does his best to prevent it from happening. And tries his hardest to confess to Rei himself first, but we all know what kind of luck Ken has.

He says it! Ken says he loves her and he always has. Unfortunatly they were talking about a TV show at the time, and so Ken ends up saying he loves the show… Good times.

It seems it is in this episode that Tada realises that he likes/loves Rei. Looking through an album that heavily features her, flash backs to when she was at high school. You know, all through this episode I get the impression that Tada is a bit socially retarded. My view of him has certainly changed since episode 2 when he seemed like a normal person. Now I get the impression not just that Tada is shy, but that he is a little socially inept. He doesn’t seem to have any friends, and the way he looked at Rei when she and Eri found the water balloons – well, it seemed to me like a doofus looking at some candy. So innocent yet… something’s just not right. Or maybe It’s just me looking into things a bit too seriously.

In this episode Ken tries again and again in confessing to Rei. You’d think she’d get the hint by now. He also ruined the moment when Tada initially confessed to Rei! It was awesome, I couldn’t help cheer with delight. And then Ken felt so guilty for doing it, even though the only way for him to “win” is for Tada not to.

And then, when Tada won the King stick, and he confessed to Rei after all, I had a sinking feeling in my heart. Poor Ken, tried so hard! Only to be thwarted once again. At least this confession was public and uncomfortable, not private. (Oh, and it made for a hell of a good episode, I love it when a show makes me feel – anything!)

There were some great moments in this episode too. Like Ken in a white WET tank top.

Since Tada still managed to confess to Rei, Ken feels like this was his last chance to really get Rei. Now that Tada has confessed, it’s all over…

But now that Tsuru and Eri are together in the present…. well he really changed something, more than just a picture. It is possible to change the future. I hope we get to see how they actually got together.

And Mikio knows about Ken traveling back in time! People had suggested that he would figure it out but I didn’t believe them! And now he knows. Ken has a potential ally!

This is a really good story. I love how the secondary story line of Tsuru and Eri mirrors the main story line. Can’t wait for next episode – Karaoke and Ken crying.

Proposal Daisakusen
プロポーズ大作戦
Episode 6

It’s Rei’s 20th birthday which is a big thing in Japan. Basically this episode Rei waits for Ken while Ken waits for Rei and nothing happens which is frustrating for us and poor Ken.

This episode is so frustrating! Ken’s waiting for Rei, Rei waits for Ken. Rei is ready to “confess” her love by giving him a letter she wanted to give him in 9th (I think) grade. Yet, when Ken doesn’t show up (cause he’s waiting for her stubbornly somewhere else!) she throws the letter in the river. What does this symbolise for Rei? Has she given up?

There is, however, many cute Tsuru and Eri moments in this episode. They go on a “date” – where Eri really just wants to run into her old boyfriend – and Eri is so stiff through the whole thing. But Tsuru is really much better at this whole “love” game than Ken. He is small and silly and reminds me of a monkey, but he can be so damn sweet and sincere. It makes me wonder what happened to make them not together today.

I guess over all this was a depressing episode. It was frustrating because it is one of those “they didn’t get together because of a misunderstanding and if only they had communicated!!!!” things that often happen in silly romances (yes, I read silly romances ) Yet sad episodes are good, high tension. I wonder what Ken will try next…