Majo no Jouken

Rate: 8.0
Broadcasted in Japan: TBS April-June 1999
Duration: 11 episodes
Scriptwriter: Kazuhiro Yukawa
Themesong: First Love by Hikaru Utada

Synopsis: Michi, a 26 year old high school math teacher, tentatively accepts her boyfriend's proposal of marriage, uncertain of her love for him but feeling pressure from her father and society to do what is expected of her. Hikaru, a 17 year old boy frustrated by his home life with his single mother and having been expelled from many high schools for bad behavior, enters Michi's class as a new transfer student. As their relationship grows they realize that they both feel that they have lost themselves to the pressures of those around them, and it is this common bond that draws them dangerously close. What follows is a heart-wrenching story of forbidden love where Michi must face society's judgement for corrupting a minor, abandoning her fiance, and disappointing her parents and co-workers.

Acting performances:

Nanako Matsushima as Michi
Matsushima, as usual, acted her role brilliantly^^ I really enjoyed her acting as Michi who is a little childish, sometimes, not mature enough. Actually, I don't really like Michi's character, because she's a little indesicive...and looks confuse most of the time. But, I like Matsushima's acting!!!^^
 

Hideaki Takizawa as Hikaru Kurosawa
Not actually far from his other roles ^_^ Cool and quiet. But, he looks more mature here, obviously because Hikaru's character himself is suppose to be more mature than Michi. And, that is what interesting. Tackey acted the expressions pretty good!^^
 
 
The interesting part is actually, how Michi is 7 years older than Hikaru, but we can see clearly that Hikaru's soul is more mature than Michi's!^^ So, Tackey and Matsushima really have acted very well!

First sight: It was my brother, who was interested with this dorama^^ He said love relationship like this is VERY interesting!!^_~

Comments: It's good! Very good, actually...if only melancholic drama is my taste^^ I do like how they make Michi and Hikaru's love grow. Sometimes, I feel why can't they just BE together?!? Poor Michi!
I, especially, love the dialogues here! The depth of the words and everything! Just great!! It really has drawn the viewers to think that we shouldn't against this kind of love relationship!!^_^
However, after I finish watching this drama...I realize it's an unhealthy drama =P No matter how pure Michi and Hikaru's love is, if I know my friend is going out with my female teacher...it'd feel VERY awkward >_<
But, overall!! This drama is great! The ending is beautifully awkward, though ^_^ But, I think, since Hikaru's reaction seeing Michi wake up not surprise or anything, then it must be a dream. But, my brother want it to be a happy ending, so he believes that Michi does wake up =P Oh, well...

Watched: once(all eps), bought the VCD

Likes: Themesong, background music, Matsushima as Michi, the dialogues

Dislikes: The dark atmosphere

Manatsu no Merii Kurisumasu (Merry X'Mas in Summer)   

Rate: 7.5
Broadcasted in Japan: TBS Oct-Dec 2000
Duration: 10 episodes
Themesong: Angel Song by The Brilliant Green

Synopsis: Ryo(Takenouchi), looking a little on the scruffy side for this role, plays a former professional boxer who has drifted into the world of the chinpira (petty criminals). He is a collector for a loan shark, but being our hero, he is still a nice guy at heart. He hasn't stepped over the thin danger line into the full-fledged gangster life yet, although a former boxing opponent, now turned yakuza, is trying to reel him in. A detective, who knows the secrets of Ryo's past, serves as a father figure who tries to foil the bad guys.
Ryo grew up in an orphanage in Okinawa Prefecture with the leading lady, Haru (Miki Nakatani), Natsumi (Ai Kato), an aspiring actress, and two others. One of them is now a lawyer who has had to bail Ryo out and the other a lucky young woman adopted by a rich family.
Haru, too, was adopted and has never once left the island where she grew up. When her adopted mother dies, she decides to go to Tokyo to find the old group.

Acting performances:

Yutaka Takenouchi as Ryo
 
 
 
 
 

Miki Nakatani as Haru
 
 
 
 
 

Ai Kato as Natsumi
 
 
 
 
 

First sight: A lot of people not satisfied with this drama...but, I just want to check it out....afterall, it's a Takenouchi drama!^_~

Comments: Hmm.....quite slow at some parts....but, nonetheless, its still exciting and interesting to follow in some parts of the story! Ryo and Haru is just a sweet couple!! And it really hurts so much, when we find out that they're actually siblings! They act like siblings after they know the truth, but they can't hide their true feelings...since its been that way, since they were little kids...really painful =(
If I haven't read the spoiler for this drama...I might just give up on the couple!! But, since I already knew....its still exciting to follow!!^^ It's a nice drama!

Watched: once, borrowed the VCD from a friend

Likes: the story, Ryo and Haru's scenes

Dislikes: sometimes slow-paced

Miseinen (Under Age)   

Rate: 7.0
Broadcasted in Japan: TBS Oct-Dec 1995
Duration: 11 episodes
Scriptwriter: Shinji Nojima
Themesong: "Top of The World" by The Carpenters

Synopsis: Hiro (Ishida), Tanabe (Kitahara), and Kamiya (Kai) are high school seniors but friends since childhood. Hiro is the rebel of the family. Hiro's father played rugby in college and his older brother is currently the star rugby player in college. Because Hiro can't fulfill his father's dreams, he rebels. Tanabe plays on the school baseball team but is mostly relegated to the bench. Kamiya goes to a presitigious high school and has dreams of entering a high level university. Deku (Katori) is mentally challenged but has a heart of gold. He befriends Hiro at a amusement center and after that, is always with Hiro. Hiro likes Niimura (Sakurai), a sophomore in college but she is engaged to his older brother. Niimura teaches home economics to Hiro because he is not doing well in that subject at school. The boys meet Goro (Sorimachi) while they were fighting with some punks in an alley. Turns out that Goro and Hiro were friends in Junior High school. Goro quit school after having a physical disagreement with a teacher at JHS. He has been associated with gangs and yakuza.

Acting performances:

Issei Ishida as Hiro
Nice performance!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Shingo Katori as Deku
Wow!! He really amazed me with his acting skill! He's still so young, yet he can acted the retarded boy perfectly-well!!
 
 
 
 
 

First sight: Haa....wouldn't be interested if Shingo's not in it...it's a dark dorama x)

Comments: It's dark, indeed!! I felt like I'm dying watching the first 6 episodes! So boring! The story starts to pick up in episode 7!! From then on, the story went soooo exciting and full of surprises!!!
The ending of episode 10 was PERFECTLY done!!!! I give that scene a perfect 10!! I cried buckets watching it, even thou I've watched it for the 2nd time!!! Really touching and I got goosebumps, evrytime I watched it!!! Sugooooi!!
I give a 6 for the first 6 eps and a 9 for the last eps....so, overall...yeahh...7 ^_~

Watched: once, borrowed the VCD from a friend

Likes: Shingo as Deku, the last eps, the ending themesong

Dislikes: the slow-paced plot in the first 6 eps!

Mukodono

Rate: 8.0
Broadcasted in Japan: FujiTV April-June 2001
Duration: 12 episodes
Scriptwriter: Izumi Yoshimura
Themesong: Seven Truths Seven Lies

Synopsis: The story is about Yuichiro (Nagase) who is a cool singer-songwriter who is in kahoots with Sakura. Sakura lives a traditional Japanese life who wants to be a Japanese wife and take care of the family. Her current family is her father and three other sisters who are all complete opposites. One is the older sister, one is a businesswoman who is a mother and has a problem with men, the other is a radio station director who struggles with herself is she wants to live with her family or not. Although of different worlds, Yuichiro and Sakura are in love but the sisters don't want their younger sister to be with a man and get married. How will Yuichiro get the older sisters to accept him.

Acting performances:

Tomoya Nagase as Yuuichiro Sakuraba
Superb! This is the first dorama I ever watched him in, and yet he really impressed me!!! Playing two characters at once is pretty tough, but he has done the job wonderfully!! He really cracks me whenever the annoying Yuu-chan remotely turns to the ultra-cool Yuuichiro Sakuraba!! I also think he's soooo kakkoiii as Yuuichiro Sakuraba!!!^^

Yuko Takeuchi as Sakura Arai/Sakuraba
I noticed she has only played a few dramas since 1999, a newcomer, I guess^^ But, she indeed put on an excellent performance!! It's hard not to like her character...sometimes looks polite & sweet, sometimes looks cute, sometimes looks ridiculous, sometimes looks stubborn ^_^ Oh, and her face is somehow similar to...between Nanako Matsushima and Takako Matsu =P

First sight: I was torn between Mukodono and Risou no Kekkon(Takenouchi & Tokiwa)! But then people in the forum suggest me to buy Mukodono first, and turns out...yes! I do not regret it! It's a great show!

Comments: Great mixture between laugh and tears!! And indeed a story with a great and intenseful climax! Yuu-chan and Sakura is such a cute couple!! They have a great chemistry! I also love Yuuichiro's relationship with the Arai family and how he tried so hard to fit in ^_^ He also tried hard in getting used of having two different lives(or is it two personalities?? =P). The ending is kind of heavy-handed, though >_< Too bad...

Watched: once(all eps), bought the VCD boxset

Likes: the story, Yuuichiro's double personalities, Yuuichiro and Sakura as a couple, Yuuichiro's relationship with the family(esp. with Ryo, Tsutomu, and Satsuki), the themesongs

Dislikes: the atmosphere, the ending, and Kaede's(Sakura's eldest sister) character >_<

NAOMI

Rate: 8.0
Broadcasted in Japan: FujiTV April-June 1999
Duration: 12 episodes
Scriptwriter : unknown(but I suspect the one who wrote GTO's script, too =P)
Themesong: Hearts by Tohko

Synopsis: An extraordinary teacher Toudou Naomi (Fujiwara) is hired by a school undergoing reforms to be the teacher-in-charge of a problematic class. With her very unusual way of teaching, she changed her students and influenced her colleagues, including the other 2 Naomis: Kai Naomi (Ryo) and Yashiro Naomi (Sato).

Acting performances:

Norika Fujiwara as Naomi Toudou
After she amazed me in Star no Koi, she also amazed me in this drama!!^^ She can really act as a sexy, bad yet silly and funny teacher!! Love her character here!

First sight: My friend likes this better than GTO, so I'm curious...

Comments: No wonder it always labeled as 'the female version of GTO'. Lots of things are EXACTLY the same! Naomi use GTO's layout, mix up the contents, and add new interesting things. But, I guess the producer is pretty smart, instead of making something new and the viewers might dislike, the producer made something similar with GTO, so most of GTO's fans will like this one!!^^
I like it!! But, since everything is so similar with GTO, it left less impression on me...feels not original. But, fortunately, the student's cases are not similar with GTO...so I can still enjoy that!^^ Another thing I enjoy...Naomi do not have an obvious love interest here, but she does have an (well, looks like) enemy! It's the director(or is he the owner?) of the school, the handsome boss, Osaki(played by Masaya Kato), who trailed by his assistant everywhere he goes. Wow!! This guy is soooo kakkoi!! So handsome and cool attitudes!!! I love him!!^_^ Reminds me of Takashi Kashiwabara in Itazura =P
I, especially, love his chemistry with Naomi as an enemy(or is it really more than that? =P). It often shows, whenever they gaze at each other and everytime they pass each other in the corridor, the moment stops for a sec^^ My favorite scene, would be the one where Naomi and Osaki dance together!! That is so interesting!^___^
I really, really love most of the backgrounds songs! Love the opening tunes and the ending song! Music is the only factor of Naomi that tops GTO, IMHO^^

Watched: once, borrowed from a friend

Likes: Norika as Naomi Toudou, Masaya Kato as Osaki, Shunsuke Nakamura as Kubo-sensei, Naomi & Osaki's chemistry, the ridiculous scenes, the background musics, the opening & ending song

Dislikes: The similarities with GTO ^_^

Narita Rikon(Narita Divorce)

Rate: 9.0
Broadcasted in Japan: FujiTV October-December 1997
Duration: 10 episodes
Scriptwriter: Noriko Yoshida
Themesong: Sunny Day Holiday by Yumi Matsutoya

Synopsis: Ichiro[Tsuyoshi Kusanagi] and Yuko[Asaka Seto] got married after only several dates. It was too rushed cause they had not yet known each others well enough. Ichiro was sick on the day of the marriage. He got better the day later. But Yuko was sick instead during their honeymoon in Rome, Italy. Ichiro, who was always responsible for all the washing when he was with his mother, washed Yuko's cloth including her pants. Yuko was angry. During the trip, Ichiro could not speak either Italian or English. He had to leant on Yuko on almost everything. Yuko was angry and annoyed. They had the quarrel and divorced at Narita airport when they got back from Rome..... Still, they had to stay under the same roof for sometimes, the time that they really started to learn more about each other...

Acting performances:

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi as Ichiro
Hillarious!! Tsuyoshi in a really comical role! Love his funny and ridiculous expressions!!! I always laughed uncontrollably, on Tsuyoshi's sudden-fall to the floor scenes!!! Soooo comical!*LOL*
Ichiro is my another favorite character Tsuyoshi ever acted(besides Suzuki in Messengers). Love him here best and much better than his characters in Star no Koi or TEAM^^
 

Asaka Seto as Yuko
Hmmm...PS Genki desu, Saimin and her Hongkong movie with Leon Lai....yappari, I love her character here DA BEST!!!! It's so fun to see Seto in a comedic role! Yuko is a spoiled girl and kinda selfish, she can be sweet sometimes, but when she's angry, she looked so fierce!>_<
I don't quite like her when I watch her for the first time in PS Genki, although her character there is cheerful...I dunno...she just irritates me. My opinion on her definitely change after I watch her in this hillarious dorama!^^

First sight: Oh, my...this might be the longest history!! Okay...a year and a half ago, when I was just started being a J-dorama maniac, I went to Singapore for a vacation. There, the TV caught TV3 Malaysia channel, and coincidentally Narita Rikon episode 5 is on! I'm very interested from the first scene I watched!! I find this dorama is very funny!! So, I tried to look for it the next day, in Poh Kim video store(Tanglin Mall), but to no avail! So I went back to Jakarta without Narita Rikon on my hand(but with lots of J-stuff^^). In Jakarta, I can't seem to find this dorama at all, not even the chinese-subbed!
Later, I get to watch this on my CableTV from a Taiwanese channel, Phoenix. Unfortunately, it is dubbed in chinese!!!>_< First, it's uncomfortable for me to watch J-doramas in any other language. Second, I don't understand a word of chinese!! So, I watched it half-heartedly, once in a while and find it....it seems a little boring, coz it rarely have romantic scenes!
At last, my nice friend got me Narita Rikon vcd!!! Ureshiiiii!! Have been craving this dorama for a year and now I got it on my hand!!^O^

Comments: My doubts are all gone!!! Narita Rikon is NOT boring at all! Every episode have it's own great story and great scenes! Suki, suki, suki!!
The story is actually a simple one, but somehow they can develop the simple story to a great one! I love how Ichiro and Yuko tried to make up and being all nice to each other, on one episode, but in the end of the episode...there MUST be something that will break them off again!! Haha...this happens 3 times(ep. 3, 4, and 5)!!
I read reviews that this dorama have too many quarelling and bickering scenes....NOT for me!!! I think there are no unnecessary quarelling scenes, every quarelling scenes have good reasons and plus, Ichiro and Yuko bicker in a very funny way!! So, I enjoyed their bickering scenes! Makes me laugh!^^ And, it's not like all they do is bicker in the house...they have their calm moments too, and they talk just like friends would talk to each other. I also love the fact that they actually care for each other and still love each other, but too proud to admit it!^^ Love the way Ichiro calls Yuko, "Yu-chan". And, the way Yuko calls Ichiro, "Ichiro-kun" ^_^

I think the most touching scene is the end of episode 4!! When the obstetrician tells Yuko that she's pregnant. Ichiro is doing lots and lots of thinking, until later he decided to reconcile with Yuko for their baby's sake. So, he bought a pair of little shoes(which Yuko once looking on the window store) and goes home. But then he finds Yuko is laughing out loud on the phone telling her friend, that she's not pregnant! The obstetrician made a mistake! The way Yuko laugh and smiles widely while telling about this to Ichiro really hurts his feelings, and to Yuko's surprise, suddenly Ichiro breaks and yells at her, told her why is she toying with his feelings, and he immediately take the divorce application form to the divorce lawyer's office. He said, "It would've been better if we just get divorce immediately!". Yuko feels so guilty, esp. after she finds the little shoes Ichiro bought, so she after him...but it's too late, the form already got accepted.

Remember I said, Seto have an excellent chemistry with Goro in Saimin(Hypnosis)?! Well...she is unbelievably have an equally excellent chemistry too with Tsuyoshi!!! Sugoi! I really love seeing them together! Sometimes Tsuyoshi looks shorter than Seto, that goes the same case with Koichi Dohmoto being shorter than Seto in PS Genki desu, and I really dislike this couple!! But, although Tsuyoshi sometimes looks shorter than Seto(I guess it's only the high heels factor, they originally have the same height)...they still looked great together!!! Wow...I can just kick myself, if there's a dorama starring Seto, Goro and Tsuyoshi and tells the story of a love triangle of these 3!!!^_~

Overall, this is one of my favorite dorama! Some people might find it boring b'coz it's simplicity, same case goes with Omiai Kekkon and Dekichatta Kekkon! So, if you love these 2 series, pls make sure you watch this one!!!^O^ This is definitely a great divorce story! I've seen another drama with divorce as the theme, it's a Hongkong(TVB) production entitled 'Til When Do Us Part. But, it can't be compared with Narita Rikon!!! It's 20 episodes length, and it mostly has boring moments and such a drag....drag...drag, although this one is also a comedy. Narita Rikon is soooo-recommended!!^O^

Watched: once(twice), ep. 5(thrice^^), the VCD is a gift from a friend! Sankyuu, u know who u are!^^

Likes: Tsuyoshi as Ichiro, Seto as Yuko, the story, the hillarious scenes and story!!!

Dislikes: .....can't.....find...any...yet....

Nemureru Mori(A Sleeping Forest)

Rate: 9.0
Broadcasted in Japan: FujiTV October-December 1998
Duration: 12 episodes
Scriptwriter: Hisashi Nozawa
Themesong: Camouflage by Mariya Takeuchi

Synopsis: Minako Oba(Miho Nakayama) is a soon-to-wed woman who cannot remember her past due to a traffic accident that killed the rest of her family. However, lately, she has flashback that she has never seen before. As a child, she is standing with pool of blood surrounding her, and her bloodied parents lay in front of her. How come? Wasn't her family killed because of the trafic accident?
One day, she finds a letter that directs her to a forest where she meets a man named Naoki Ito(Takuya Kimura) who knows everything about her. Naoki said, "You are a part of me...". Who is he?!

Acting performances:

Miho Nakayama as Minako Oba
I love Miho as Minako!! In my opinion, Minako is such a hard character to play, but Nakayama Miho succeed in portraying Minako, those expressions are magnificent! One thing that still hang around my head, her true feelings about ...
 
 

Takuya Kimura as Naoki Ito
Brilliant performance!! I L-O-V-E Naoki!!! Waa...sugooooiii!!! He's such a mysterious person in the beginning of the drama(last for 5 eps or so), and that what makes his character interesting and fun!! And, seriously Kimura give one of his best performance in this dorama!! Hontou sugoi!!
 

Toru Nakamura as Kiichiro Hamazaki
Portrayed Minako's fiancee, he's pretty cool! Sometimes, I really think that he suits Minako very much^^ But, anyway, in this dorama, Nakamura is not as cool as he is in Koori no Sekai =P
 
 

First sight: Very interested after I watched Koori no Sekai, coz I know this one written by the same scriptwriter! Then, a friend bought me the VCD as a gift ^_^

Comments: Great, great, great suspense dorama!!! I love this one as much as I love Koori! The first 5 episodes are just magnificent! They are intenseful and exciting, and my favorite scenes are whenever Naoki keep disturbing Minako, they have a great chemistry. And I just love Naoki, beyond cool!!!^^
Starting episode 6, when it becomes a little more clearer who Naoki really is, the intense atmosphere loosened, but it was replaced with many, many beautiful and touching scenes which left such deep impression!! I admit, there are some boring scenes, but the impressive scenes over-shadowed it!! One of the most impressive scene is where Naoki & Minako talks about Sleeping Beauty in the forest, they talk alright, but they didn't move a lip! Their expressions showed like they're talking. So, it feels that they speak with their mind, sugooooi!!! Great creativity from the director!!^^
The climax didn't really go as exciting as Koori's climax, but it's enough to make me feel goosebumps^^ And the murderer is not very hard to guess like in Koori, I can already guess the murderer around episode 6-7^^
I love the themesong Camouflage by Mariya Takeuchi, and the sub-themesong, With or Without You by U2!!!^O^ I have always love this song, and I was hyped when I know this song used as a themesong in this dorama!! Wai!!^_^
Few dissapointments, the VCD set I have, didn't show the opening credits and the very ending credits, while I read somewhere the description of the scenes during those credits, are beautifully made!! Argh! I feel like sueing the factory who released my VCD set!!>_< Another dissapointment, in the book/novel, it was decribed, that in the very end of the dorama, Minako & Naoki have the same dream: as a child, little Minako wakes up on the hammock and little Naoki gives her orchid...awww, unfortunately, this scene was not shown in the dorama!!! =(
Overall, although I still love Koori slightly better, but this dorama really deserves a 9!! Such a magnificent drama, if you're a suspense thriller fan or Koori no Sekai fan, you have to watch Nemureru Mori!! For KimuTaku fans, this one is A MUST!! I'm not kidding!^O^

Watched: once, the VCD is a gift from a friend(domo arigatou, F-chan!!)

Likes: The story of Naoki & Minako, the beautiful-touching-impressive scenes, the background music(esp. that intense instrumental violin music), the themesongs

Dislikes: Some boring scenes...

News no Onna

Rate: 8.0
Broadcasted in Japan: FujiTV Jan-March 1998
Duration: 11 episodes
Themesong: Sanpo Michi by Judy & Mary

Synopsis: Honami plays a newscaster, a tough pro who is capable of stonily reporting even her own husband's death in an traffic accident on air. The plot revolves around Honami's relationship with her late husband's teenage son who she is forced to take in. The show stars popular Kyozo Nagatsuka as the boy's lawyer and her romantic interest. The series also includes a lot of behind-the-scenes newsroom action and depicts the rivalry between the show's director and producer, who are locked in a constant debate over whether new and variety are, or should be, one and the same.

Acting performances:

Honami Suzuki as Tamaki Aso
As always, a great actress! She played the independent, professional and stubborn career woman(reporter), perfectly!!^^

Hideaki Takizawa as Ryu Kitahara
This is Takky's first drama I ever watched! And, my impression is....kakkoooiiii!!! Hontou kakkoooii!!^_^ But, I really haven't seen his best performance, though...since he played a cool kinda boy that I find not hard to act since he suppose to be expressionless(just like Naoki's Itazura =P)^_^

First sight: Interested from the beginning, since my local TV station never broadcast J-dramas anymore since 2-3 years ago, and suddenly January 2001 ago, they broadcast News no Onna(which continued with BeachBoys and LongV)! So, I was interested from the beginning...and turns out the drama is not dissapointing at all!!^_~

Comments: Just like GTO, doesn't need a romantic type story to attract viewers!^^ Lots of funny scenes occur, and the story of a reporter is just interesting! That's what have drawn me watching this drama!!!^_^

Watched: once(all eps), on local TV(Indosiar)

Likes: Ryu^^, the story, the funny scenes, the themesong!

Dislikes: Norika Fujiwara's character!!>_<

Oishii Kankei   

Rate: 6.0
Broadcasted in Japan: FujiTV Oct-Dec 1996
Duration: 10 episodes
Themesong: "Mirai e no Present" by Miho Nakayama with Mayo

Synopsis: Under the influence of her father, Momoe attains a good knowledge and strong liking towards food. After his death, she happens to drop by a small restaurant which prepares very tasty dishes. Unknowingly, her destiny is also tied with it. She finds a job there after a series of events and continues her pursuit of interest.

Acting performances:

Toshiaki Karasawa as Oda
Great performance!
 
 
 

Miho Nakayama as Momoe
Another great performance!
 
 
 
 

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi as Kimura
Tsuyoshi is very, very cute here!! Seriously, I'm quite shocked to see how cute Tsuyoshi is here!! Rare sights! Haha! He IS still very young here^^ And I feel 'kawaii sou' to his character here, as the broken-hearted guy...=( Reminds me of Toride in Asunaro Hakusho =P
 
 

First sight: I thought Karasawa and Nakayama would make a great pair and a great love story!! Also, young Tsuyoshi also included....so, why not?^_~

Comments: I was wrong! Gosh, its sooooooooo boring! The same feeling when I watched Shota no Sushi, coz its all about foods >_< There is the romance story....but its also boring, not that good, either. Karasawa and Nakayama lacks chemistry.
I wouldn't finish this, if Tsuyoshi not looking that cute! Hehe...actually, I was rooting for him with Nakayama to be together...I feel 'kawaii sou' to his character, coz he loves her very much. They go to the restaurant and going home together, coz they're neighbours. They even go to the public bath together!! But, Momoe only sees him as a bestfriend....poor Tsuyoshi x)

Watched: once, borrowed the VCD from a friend

Likes: Tsuyoshi as Kimura

Dislikes: the slow-paced plot and...well, most of them =P

Omiai Kekkon(Arranged Marriage)

Rate: 8.5
Broadcasted in Japan: FujiTV January-March 2000
Duration: 11 episodes
Scriptwriter: Noriko Yoshida
Themesong: Sakura no Ame, Itsuka by Takako Matsu

Synopsis: Nakatani Setsuko(Matsu Takako) quit her job as a stewardess in order to marry her boyfriend, Hiroshi. But things didn't work out well, and her parents finally came up to the decision to introduce Setsu to someone to get married. That someone turned out to be Hirose Kohtaro(Yusuke Santamaria), who was forced by his boss to marry Setsuko. The two clearly weren't interested in each other, but gradually, they begin to respect each other.

Acting performances:

Takako Matsu as Setsuko Nakatani
Matsu is sooo adorably funny & cute here!! She makes me laugh most of the time, for the way she talks or her attitudes! So funny! Setsuko may look like a princess in the outside, sweet & polite, but her hobbies are actually smoking, drinking can beer, and pachinko^^ She sometimes acted like a little girl too, which made her looks cute!^^
I just love her so much whenever she gets panicked!! She really cracks me whenever she do that!! It's just hillarious! Actually, her character here kinda reminds of Amamiya in HERO, remember when she lose her necklace? Well, Setsuko panicking is pretty much like that, but we get to see her panick scenes more in this drama!^^ The scene where Setsuko showing off her engagement ring on the streets is hillarious too!! Haha!

Yusuke Santamaria as Kotaro Hirose
Actually, his acting is just so-so. But, his not so good-looking which dissapointed me the most!! Not just that, he just don't have the CHARM to play the role as the MALE LEAD! He's better off as one of the supporting roles! Sometimes, when the atmosphere starts to get romantic, seeing his face, it just blew the atmosphere, I don't feel it's romantic anymore! Felt like sticking Takuya Kimura or Yutaka Takenouchi's picture on his face!!>_<
But, nonetheless he actually has his hillarious moments too^^ His expressions sometimes can be funny, too. Like, when Setsuko's mother suggest him to buy the 700.000 yen ring, but then his boss' wife suggested the 1.000.000 yen ring instead, and looking at both rings, his shocked expression is very funny^^ Also the one where he sees Setsuko looks like in very friendly terms with a handsome guy, then he mentioned all Setsuko's ex-boyfriends' names, wondering if that guy is one of them...I laugh hard at this scene!^^

First sight: I was interested when I know Takako Matsu's in it, because she's my #1 fave actress^^ But, I hesitated to buy this coz she's paired with Yusuke Santamaria, a not-so good looking guy and I think they're a total mis-matched! But, a friend really recommended this to me as I'm a Matsu fan^^

Comments: It's an EXCELLENT drama!!^O^ I really enjoyed it! I love it! The story is just soooooo funny!! And, surprisingly lots of romantic scenes, too! Takako Matsu is just ADORABLE & SUPERB!! She portrayed Setsuko soooooo funny! This drama made me adore her even more!!^____^ The other casts are funny, too! I didn't expect Yousuke Kubozuka can be quite ridiculous too in this drama! Haha!
I LOVE the background musics! Just by hearing it, makes me want to just grab the OST CD on the store!! It suits the scenes perfectly! The most memorable one is this instrumental orchestra music usually played for romantic scenes in the end of every episode, such a GREAT music!! I also love the ending song, Sakura no Ame, Itsuka by Takako Matsu herself.
The only TWO minus points are Yusuke Santamaria as Kotaro & Yusuke and Matsu's lack of chemistry!
Storywise, I would REALLY give this a 9! But, Yusuke made it worth only 8.5 >_< I dunno what's on the producers mind casting him as the main lead...don't have any screen presence at all!

Watched: twice, bought the VCD boxset

Likes: the funny and hillarious scenes, ending themesong, Matsu as Setsuko

Dislikes: opening themesong, Yusuke as Kotaro, Yusuke & Matsu's BAD chemistry

Otousan   

Rate: 7.0
Broadcasted in Japan: TBS Oct-Dec 2002
Duration: 11 episodes

Synopsis: Tamura Masakazu is in another family drama in which he is the single father of four daughters (Iijima Naoko, Nakatani Miki, Hirosue Ryoko and Fukada Kyoko).
Tamura's character, Shiro, is the widower father of four beautiful daughters, whom he has raised entirely on his own. He owns and operates a respected soba restaurant and is famous for belittling customers who can't properly appreciate the subtle wonders of his creations. The oldest and only married daughter is played by Iijima Naoko. The second daughter, who works in the restaurant with her father, is played by Nakatani Miki. Hirosue Ryoko is the third daughter, a nurse. And the baby of the bunch, a college student, is played by Kyoko Fukada. In the first episode, the oldest daughter moves back home and Shiro announces that he wants to marry again.

Acting performances:

Tamura Masakazu
Great, of course!^^
 

Naoko Iijima, Miki Nakatani, Ryoko Hirosue, Kyoko Fukada
They all act great!! Esp. Hirosue!! After she shocked me in Wasabi acted as a naughty type of girl....she shocked me again here, acted as the quiet, soft, gentle, innocent and very much the introvert-type of girl!!!^^
 

First sight: Would really like to know what happened if Hirosue and Fukada acted in one drama!!!^^

Comments: Overall, the story is just so-so.....typical family drama. And the daughters' romantic problem. And I think Fukada's story is the most interesting!!^^ Where she met this nice guy, 2 days later, the guy asked her to marry him, and she accepted the proposal!! Very funny to see the father's reaction to this!!^_^

Watched: once, collected the VCD

Likes: the funny scenes

Dislikes: Hmm...I'm not sure....it's really just so-so to me x)

Over Time   

Rate: 7.0
Broadcasted in Japan: FujiTV Jan-March 1999
Duration: 12 episodes
Scriptwriter: Eriko Kitagawa
Themesong: "Sono Speed de" by The Brilliant Green

Synopsis: An Eriko Kitagawa script--about a man named Kaede Soichiro (Sorimachi) and Kasahara Natsuki (Esumi) who seem to keep meeting up with each other. Could it be destiny? Do these two belong with each other? Is it fate? Well, the problem is that he appears to be her friend's younger brother and thus decides to keep the relationship like brother and sister...or can they?

Acting performances:

Takashi Sorimachi as Soichiro Kaede
Wow!! He's really charming here! Jyoudan jannai! Haha...I always thought Sorimachi is one of those actor, that dont really have the looks but he definitely has that charming aura!! But, seriously...I think he's handsome here! Is it just my eyes or..?? Hehe, well anyway, great performance!
 

Makiko Esumi as Natsuki Kasahara
Her usual funny woman roles just like in Love Revolution. Yeah, just so-so....^^
 
 
 
 
 

First sight: A lot of good reviews on this!! I'm interested....and it's a Kitagawa script, too!

Comments: I really dont understand the appeal of this drama! Why does so many people seems really enjoyed this? I didn't enjoyed it as much.....there are even quite numerous of boring scenes for me!
One of the reason, perhaps, Sorimachi and Esumi lacks chemistry....oh, but I looooove their first met!! Haha....very funny and unthinkable!!^^ I also love the themesong!!^^

Watched: once, borrowed the VCD from a friend

Likes: Sorimachi as Soichiro, the themesong

Dislikes: the slow-paced plot, the boring scenes....

Go to... Main Page The Perfect Onscreen Couple Takuya's Biography Takako's Biography Videos Archive Dorama Reviews Long Vacation Love Generation Boku ga Boku de Aru Tame Ni Konya wa Eigyochu HERO Dekichatta Kekkon The Guestbook