I’m Liking The Sound Of…

• Atashinchi no Danshi

Horikita Maki‘s character marries a man who offers to pay off her debts that her father made, and moves into an eccentric family. I think (hope) this will be quirky and fun, and there are lots of well know guys in it: Kaname Jun, Okada Yoshinori, Mukai Osamu, and Yamamoto Yusuke have been announced so far.

• Hyoryu Net Cafe

Toki Koichi leads a pretty dull life. Until he meets his first love again in an internet cafe. Suddenly something happens with the electricity and he and everyone else get stuck in the cafe which has become a strange universe… or something. Perhaps it’ll be something like Long Love Letter, the drifting classroom drama. Stars Ito Atsushi who I hope wont be doing another Densha Otoko take with his character.
Also staring Asami Reina, and KIKI

Hmmmm? Dunno…

• Ghost Friends

Fukuda Saki plays a girl who can see ghosts after a car accident. Then she falls inlove with one of the ghosts. Nishijima Takahiro plays the love interest. Sounds OK, I like ghosts, but also doesn’t really sound that exciting at the moment… I think this one is aimed at a young audience, but I could be wrong.

• Smile

Staring Matsumoto Jun as a half-Filipino with no family and Aragaki Yui who can’t speak…. something about always smiling. Yeah, the story line sounds a bit twee but I’ll watch the first couple of eps for the cast!

• Majo Saiban

Ikuta Toma is chosen as a Juror on the trial of a suspected woman’s murderer trial. Yeah, from that name alone you know I’ll be watching, but at the moment this one feels like it is just going to educate us on the juror (jurial? I’m not sure) system. Hope it proves me wrong.
Also staring Kato Ai and Higa Manami

• Boku no Imoto

Staring Odagiri Joe and Nagasawa Masami, this is another “maybe” because of cast. The two are siblings with a close bond because of the death of their parents. However, Masami’s character isn’t the brightest and makes bad choices, testing the strength of the sibling’s relationship. Could be OK maybe…

Noteables

• Konkatsu!

About a single salary man in his mid 30s. Everyone around him talks about marriage so he begins to think about it as well. Noteable because Nakai Masahiro is staring in this! From Smap, for the past couple of Star Bowling eps that I’ve been watching he’s been wishing to be in another drama. His wish has come true!
- also stars Ueto Aya, Sato Ryuta, and Matsukata Hiroki

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

Last Friends
ラスト・フレンズ
Episode Four
First Aired: 1st May 2008
Carlie’s Rating:
Rate This Episode: Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

Michiru stays at the share house while Sousuke stalks Ruka to find out where Michiru is. Meanwhile, Orugin and Eri go pair cup shopping.

They cut the opening sequence! Poo! I really enjoy the opening, I just feel it is so powerful, and they cut it! I don’t mind so much, it means an extra 30 seconds or so of action. But Poo!

It is refreshing to see Nishihara Aki acting like such a bitch after only seeing her in “good girl” roles such as Hana Yori Dango’s Yuki. I can’t help wonder if there is something going on with her bullying though…

I also feel sorry for Ruka. Why can’t we all be treated as equals? It’s stuff like that that pisses me off.

Ogurin is cute in a wall-paper kind of way. Yeah, his character is very bland. I like Eri, but her voice is so irritating! I can see her staring in a Japanese version of The Nanny.

In this episode we learn more about Sousuke from Michiru’s point of view. I feel so bad for Ruka that Michiru doesn’t even see her pain or how she worries for her. Michiru is blind to it all.

Is waiting all night in the rain for someone sweet or sinister (or stupid!). I can understand what they were trying to do at the end of this episode. Someone standing in the rain, waiting for me… that is a stupid yet sweet action. We see this kind of thing in Hana Yori Dango. However, because we know Sousuke’s history, we see it as a sinister action. I can see how Michiru could interpret it as an action of someone who cares for her very much.

BillyWest alerted me to this Mainichi news article (not currently accessible) where the author can’t understand why Michiru went back to Sousuke at this point. I think that the author of this article doesn’t fully understand what women can go through when they are in this situation. In fact, I can’t either, but I do know someone who has gone through this situation. In this show I see all the “classic” or “cliche” things that people in a domestic violent situation go through. I have seen someone go back to a violent man two times, something that I only understand on the surface. This news article thinks that this show isn’t an accurate portrayal of DV, but in my limited experience I think it is.

Another episode that I really enjoyed.

Um… Perhaps the whole Sousuke drama is getting a bit too melodramatic. A bit repetitive?

I am still enjoying this show a lot.

Ruka and Takeru see Sousuke about to abuse Michiru – so her secret is out. Takeru gets an unwanted phone call, and becomes the newest member of the share house. And the cups become a pair…

During the first scene, where Ruka and Takeru see the Sousuke and Michiru incident no.34, the music felt really upbeat somehow. It was a bit distracting in some parts. Music should compliment, not be distracting! How ever, it was good to see some of the same moments of last week’s episode from a different perspective.

A bit more is revealed about Takeru’s past – not much, but enough to wet our lips.

Ruka and Michiru have a girl talk, where Michiru reveals that she has never felt loved before by anyone, until now with Sousuke. Which explains a lot of her behaviour, how ever she completely disregards everything Ruka has felt and done for her. It must have also been painful for Ruka to hear her defending him.

Takeru joins the house and he and Ruka have “pair cupts”. Very cute. We know that the cups are important, as they are featured in the opening sequence, they are a what everyone was shopping for in the first episode when the three main characters “came together” – even if they didn’t know it themselves at the time – and well, Michiru and Sousuke also have pair cups. I could go on and on. In fact, we have at the d-addicts forum.

Michiru asks for help from Ruka which is a fantastic step. She calls Ruka and says she wants to see her. Having to sneak behind your boyfriend’s back should be a warning sign, but nothing is ever clear when you are living it.

Michiru realises that she needs both Sousuke and Ruka in her life. And so she stands up for herself when Sousuke tries to forbid her to see Ruka. Yay! This was, in my opinion, a very powerful scene. It crossed between the verbal fight between Michiru and Sousuke, and a card game between the share house. Watch carefully from when Ruka gets a good card or a bad one.

In the end, you could say, Ruka wins both fights. It felt like a very powerful ending for the episode. I cried. I don’t know how anyone could not be affected by this episode. It felt like Michiru made some “progress”, some how.

Very powerful episode.

Pass…

OK, you already know I liked this one.

Last Friends
ラスト・フレンズ
Episode Two
First Aired: 17th April 2008
Carlie’s Rating:
Rate This Episode: Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

Michiru is bullied at work on top of being harassed by her boyfriend. Eri meets up with a workmate whose wife is having an afair and he’s too chicken to do anything. There is something wrong with Ruka – perhaps she wants a sex change, perhaps she has a bladder infection. And we learn a bit more about Takeru. But not much.

Having known people who were in a similar situation to Michiru, I can really sympathise with her situation. At the same time, I’m screaming at the TV that she doesn’t need to apologise! And that she should realise that if she is feeling creeped out knowing he’s watching her from her work window then something isn’t right!!! Nothing in life is ever simple…

However, I have to say that this feels like one of the most realistic portrayals of domestic violence. The camera angles are excellent in this, really making the scene more threatening. If you don’t feel awkward watching it, I think there is something strange about you!

The Australian movie! I haven’t seen it, but I’m pretty sure they are watching Candy. It is here we see Takeru squirm a little, but we still aren’t sure what’s up with that. I can’t wait to discover more about Takeru. Awesome to see some Australia culture there, never the less.

Nothing I can think of…

I really like this show. One thing I really love is the opening sequence, I feel like it is really powerful and full of symbolism. Anyway, I rate this:

Last Friends
ラスト・フレンズ
Episode One
First Aired: 10th April 2008
Carlie’s Rating:
Rate This Episode: Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

It starts at the end. Michiru is pregnant and someone has died. She is writing a letter to Ruka, but ends up throwing it into the bin. We then travel back before everything took place. Michiru’s life seems to be looking up. She’s going well at her job as an apprentice hair dresser, and her boyfriend Sousuke, who works in child welfare, has just asked her to move in with her. As she is shopping for homewares, she runs into her best friend since junior high, who she hasn’t seen in four years, Ruka.

What follows is a bit of an emotional roller-coaster ride. No one’s life is ever simple and everyone has problems. However, the five main characters are all tied together in some ways, as the opening sequence shows us. This is the kind of drama that comes along every so often that makes watching Japanese dramas worth it. In a word, this show is brilliant.

Sorry, I may gush about this show. But I knew from the moment of the powerful opening sequence of this show that I would probably love this. And I did. This isn’t your average drama. So far, in this first episode, it deals with domestic abuse, homosexuality, friendship and love. Who knows what else it will bring.

I really loved the characters, and found their responses to situations realistic. I haven’t dealt with domestic abuse myself, but I know people who have, and I know how people can manipulate you into thinking you are at fault for them hitting you. In Michiru’s case, I can see strongly that she is searching for someone who loves her, some one who pays attention to her in the way that her mother doesn’t. At the very beginning of the episode we see Sousuke waiting for her from her work window, an action we interpret to mean that he is a great guy for waiting for her when she is late to an appointment. As the show moves on we know that it is possibly a darker motivation for him being there.

Ueno Juri as Ruka is awesome. I love this character ten times better than her Nodame character. Sexual harassment and gender discrimination still happens people! I like a character who isn’t afraid to be different, especially in a culture where being different isn’t so favourably looked upon (well, who am I kidding, my own culture is somewhat the same).

Takeru, I felt, we didn’t get to see much of this character, but I have to comment that Eita’s hair is as crazy as ever.

I don’t know what it is about this show, but it has really grabbed my attention and I can’t look away.

I’m not sure what to fault this episode on. There was nothing I didn’t like.

I’m really looking forward to the rest of this series and I hope that it keeps the standard it has set in this first episode!

LAST FRIENDS
Airing: Thursdays from the 10th of April
Staring: Nagasawa Masami, Ueno Juri, Eita

Last Friends tackles issues that afflict the current generation. Michiru’s mother has brought a man back to their home and she is bullied at her workplace where she works as a beauty parlour assistant. She starts cohabiting with her boyfriend, a good young man who works at the Child Welfare Division and the only person who can give her emotional support, but ends up the victim of domestic violence and becomes fearful of love. The boyishly charming Ruka was a classmate of Michiru’s in junior high school. She has performed brilliantly as a motocross racer and aims to win the national championship, but as the story progresses, a deep worry that she can neither confide in her parents or close friends grows evident. Takeru is a hair and makeup artist acquainted with Ruka. He is a good confidant to females due to his kindness and perceptiveness, and finds himself attracted to Ruka but has a phobia of sex as a result of a past trauma. The three of them become house mates and through their associations with others, gain the capacity to be positive about life. – from dramawiki

This will be Hard Subbed by Kioku Fansubs.

PUZZLE
Airing: Fridays from the 18th of April
Staring: Ishihara Satomi, Yamamoto Yusuke, Kimura Ryo

Misako Ayukawa, a woman in her 30s, is an English teacher with ironically poor English skills. She values herself over her students, and money over love. She displays arrogance in front of her students, but acts pleasantly around her peers and family. However, Ayukawa possesses a brilliant mind for solving puzzles. She ends up tackling various cases around the school along with 3 of her top students. – from dramawiki

Puzzle is being both Hard and Soft Subbed by Querbeet.

TOKYO GHOST TRIP
Airing: Saturdays from the 12th of April
Staring: Juri, Kotani Yoshikazu, Yagami Ren

The comedy series currently runs in Tosuisha’s yaoi-focused Ichiraci magazine. Setsu (Juri) and Souwa (Yagami) are members of the Inui family, descended from itako (traditionally, blind female shamans from northern Japan). Their high school graduation is coming up, but the head of the Inui family suddenly runs away. Their older brother Kai (Renn Kiriyama), a priest who studied exorcism abroad, becomes their guardian, and Setsu and Souwa are forced to take over the family business of dealing with spirits. Yoshikazu Kotani and Yukihiro Takiguchi play two other members of the Inui family, while Ryoma Baba plays a ghost named Isuzu Kitano – from dramawiki

This is being Hard Subbed by DoReMii.

Part Three will conclude Who’s Subbing What: Spring 2008 Edition, unless some other dramas are announced to be subbed, or if some SP Dramas are announced.

Hanaikusa

Inoue Mao plays the role of Mineko, a young maiko (apprentice geisha) in the Gion district of Kyoto. The story is loosely based on the autobiography of the famous retired geisha Mineko Iwasaki (who was one of the sources for Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha). Iwasaki is also involved in the drama by personally coaching Inoue in the ways of the geisha, and training the cast to speak the unique Gion dialect.

Stars: Inoue Mao (Hana Yori Dango 1&2, First Kiss), Nakamura Toru, Hazuki Riona
Thoughts: Oooh, this sounds really interesting, and stars the cutie Mao. I love all things history, and so this really appeals to me.

Ten to Sen

Based on Matsumoto Seicho’s classic mystery novel of the same name, the story centers on a senior detective who is determined to find the truth behind an apparent double suicide.

Stars: Beat Takeshi, Uchiyama Rina, Takahashi Katsunori
Thoughts: I’m not a huge mystery fan, so this one doesn’t grab me.

Ganges Gawa de Butterfly

Teruko, a third year university student, comes across as a forthright and sunny girl but is in truth a rather timid person. She’s also the sort who easily gets carried away and does things impetuously only to regret her actions later. Influenced by her older brother who has taken to wandering the world, Teruko too hopes to make her own journey one day but she lacks the courage, content to live the life of a normal university student … However, she’s also plagued with the insecurity of having done nothing she can be proud of in her lifetime, and mustering all her courage embarks on a solo trip to India … While in India, she meets a fellow backpacker, Shingo. Teruko first regards Shingo as a frivolous person but as his encouraging words clear her hesitation and touches her, she falls in love with him. Then, Teruko plans to head to Bodh Gaya to see India’s biggest festival but Shingo…

Stars: Nagasawa Masami (Proposal Daisakusen, Dragon Zakura, Touch), Tsukamoto Takashi (Gokusen, Stand Up!), Ishibashi Renji
Thoughts: For some reason this grabs me. I’ll probably watch this one.
Airs: 2007-Oct-05 and 2007-Oct-06

Glass no Kiba

Based on a true story of a probation officer dealing with reforming youngsters.

Stars: Takahata Atsuko, Renbutsu Misako, Hiraizumi Sei (Ushi ni Negai wo: Love & Farm).
Thoughts: Not my cup of tea.
Airs: 2007-Oct-6

Kaikyo

Hasegawa Kyoko stars in the international love story, involving a Japanese woman and a Korean man who meet in Busan at the end of World War II. They fall in love, but circumstances force them to live in their respective countries. Though separated by distance, they choose not to give up on their love.

Stars: Hasegawa Kyoko (Dragon Zakura), Mashima Hidekazu, Kamikawa Takaya (Hana Kimi)
Thoughts: I’m a bit of a sucker for a good love story, and history, but I don’t think I’ll be waiting by the tv for this one. It’s a maybe.

Kodoku no Utagoe

Uchiyama plays a female detective seeking a serial killer committing a string of bizarre murders. At the same time, she has to confront her own traumatic past.

Stars: Uchiyama Rina, Fukushi Seiji (Nodame Cantabile), Yamamoto Taro
Thoughts: Again, not really my cup of tea, although “traumatic past” does sound interesting.
Airs: 2007-Nov-11

Watch out for part two of the tanpatsus coming out this summer! All information is from Drama Wiki!

Dream Again

Shunsuke is a former pro baseball player who dreams of returning to the sport. An unfortunate accident gets him killed, but God lends him someone else’s body so that he can realize his dream of playing baseball again.

Stars: Sorimachi Takashi, Kato Ai, Shida Mirai
Thoughts: Sports is boring but being in another person’s body is interesting. I may check this one out but I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll wait for this one to be finished and then check it out depending on what others think.
Starts: 13th October

Judge

Misawa Kyosuke is a young judge who gets transferred to work on a small southern island. On the island he tackles many cases; from divorce, juvenile delinquency, traffic incidents, and a murder case. Through his experiences with the people of the island, Kyosuke learns to grow.

Stars: Nishijima Hidetoshi (Yama Onna Kabe Onna), Toda Naho, Ono Takehiko (LIFE)
Thoughts: OK, this sounds a bit like a great Aussie TV show called Seachange – except that was quirky and hilarious. This sounds a bit boring an dry.
Starts: 6th October

SP

Okada plays Kaoru Inoue, a member of a police escort division. Ever since losing his parents at a young age, he has possessed heightened senses and a photographic memory. He also has other skills, such as analyzing footprints. His boss is being played by Shinichi Tsutsumi.

Stars:Okada Junichi (Kisarazu Cat’s Eye), Tsutsumi Shinichi (Lunch no Joou), Maki Yoko.
Thoughts: The hightened senses sounds interesting, but the fact that this is another police/detective story turns me off.
Starts: 3rd November

Hatachi no Koibito

The story is described as a romantic comedy between the middle-aged Akashiya and the 20-year-old Nagasawa.

Stars: Akashiya Sanma, Nagasawa Masami (Proposal Daisakusen, Dragon Zakura, Touch), Tsukamoto Takashi (Gokusen, Stand Up!)
Thoughts: Another older man-younger woman romance. This one doesn’t do it for me either.
Starts: 14th October

Next up, all the specials coming up next season.

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…
Read the Review

Get

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.