Hikari Hitotsu Orthros No Inu Theme Song

Orthros No Inu, the Japanese Television drama featured in the blog months ago, is now airing and its theme song is called Hikari Hitotsu sung by Takizawa Hideaki . Yes, he is one of the leads. And no I haven't watched it yet - it has very interesting story line.

Buzzer Beat Opening Song / Yamapi's in the PBA? (Ichibutozenbu By B'z)

Ichibutozenbu (Ichibu To Zenbu) by B'z is the theme / opening song of the new Japanese dorama Buzzer beat. I told you Yamapi is in the PBA...don't believe me? Check out the drama. Yamashita Tomohisa plays in the Professional Basketball Association or PBA.

Basketball sequences don't look realistic. Man, I think they blew it. Good thing it is just a TV show. As long as nobody flies like a bird in Buzzer Beat I think this is fine.

Ichibutozenbu English Translation / Lyrics Not Yet Available

Rei or Asuka? I Will Chose Ms Evangelion / Maki Horikita as Rei / Erika Toda as Asuka

Between Rei or Asuka I chose Rei as Miss Evangelion. She doesn't talk much, obedient but can defend herself when necessary, has great ability to piss people off and besides she just looks good as far as I'm concerned (correctly put she is drawn magnificently - she is a drawing after all). Watching Neon Genesis Evangelion is great esp. for men. Rei Ayanami is like Yuki Nagato of Haruhi Suzumiya. Both happens to be my favorites.

Of all Japanese actress I think Maki Horikita is perfect of Rei. Her role in Japanese dorama Nobuta Wo Produce - a silent, troubled young woman with very weird personality is much like Rei in the anime -- and don't get me started about physical attributes. Maki Horikita looks beautiful even in short hair.

Asuka is spoiled rotten kid but with issues too. I don't know who will play her. The Japanese public wants Erika Toda to play the part. Hmmm...she's a bad girl in Gal Circle. Maybe she can play the role.



Rei Ayanami - Bring Her To Life

Orthros no Inu / Hideaki Takizawa & Ryo Nishikido New Drama

Orthros no Inu is the two-headed dog in Greek mythology but is also the name of a new Japanese dorama starring Hideaki Takizawa and Ryo Nishikido. It is very interesting:

Hideaki Takizawa = bad guy (simply put of course, we will know exactly when the drama airs) but has the ability to heal through contact. "

"Mysterious, ambitious man with a wicked heart" is his character according to Tokyograph

Ryo Nishikido = good guy with the ability to kill, again through contact. He is a teacher "with a gentle heart".

Orthros no Inu will air on Friday nights on TBS every 10:00 pm beginning next month (July).

When it comes to ambitious characters with criminal tendencies, nobody can portray it better than Takizawa or Tackey for short.

When it comes to brooding, hotheaded characters nobody can portray it better than Ryo Nishikido but his role in Orthros no Inu is of a person with "gentle heart". So we'll see how he tackles this.

Can you imagine having an ability that doesn't suit your disposition? How will you handle it? Will that ability change you? Expect a whole lot of emo (just kidding) from Ryo next month.

----

Yep Buzzer Beat and Orthros no Inu are the Japanese doramas I'm looking forward to next month.

Winter Sonata Anime / Tear Fest Anime Style / 2009 Summer Anime Preview

Whew...so it materialized! Winter Sonata Anime...the story is based on the hit Korean drama of the same name. It is about a good girl and bad boy falling in love in high school. Yes, it is in mingling with the girl that the boy's character slowly changed. The boy got into an accident and disappeared. Years later, the girl and boy meet - although the boy has no idea who she is. Welcome to the roller coaster ride of emotions that is Winter Sonata!

Winter sonata drama is very convoluted...with some highly predictable twist I wonder if they'll do the same in the anime. Why was it made into an anime? The drama was a hit in Japan back in 2002 registering 20% ratings consistently and earning billions of yen to NHK. It defeated Japanese doramas who linger on weird stories and very Westernized plots that alienated the Japanese viewers. Well, to earn money and to reach out to much younger fans are the reasons for this anime -- I think. Yes, Winter Sonata was popular in Japan - to elderly folks and bored housewives. The drama was aired 11:55 pm on Saturdays according to my research. So why not target the younger audience too? This is assuming the anime will be aired on kid friendly times. If not, my hypothesis miss its mark.

Winter Sonata started the craze on everything Korean in Asia or what is called now as "Korean wave". Winter Sonata set the standard for Korean dramas and sad to say most of the dramas that came after it can't measure up. The story is cliche but the presentation of the drama is outstanding. The producers put a lot of effort into it and it showed in the drama.

Winter Sonata anime is definitely about romance, and one thing about romantic animes is the general mood of sadness which I don't really like - that's just me. I'm guy and get uncomfortable with mushiness. EEEEEEE!

I'll watch the first episode - out of curiosity. I have a feeling this will be a short one. I'll review the first episode too I hope you look forward to it. I'm hoping the anime measures up to the drama.

Here's the actor of the series Michael Jackson... I mean Bae Yoon Joon promoting the anime.

Winter Sonata Anime Trailer

Buzzer Beat Gakeppuchi No Hero (Dorama) - Yamapi & Keiko Ex-Lovers New Drama

Alleged Ex-lovers Yamashita Tomohisa and Keiko Kitagawa will star in a new drama with working title "Buzzer Beat Gakeppuchi No Hero". It is about a salaryman (Yamapi) who plays for his company's basketball team. He chokes at clutch moments of his life be it romance or work. Keiko Kitagawa plays a cheerful and spirited girl who isn't straightforward.

To act the part properly, Yamapi is undergoing training for two weeks (most likely in basketball).

Other actors include:
Saki Aibu (Yamapi's GF in the series)
Hideaki Ito (simply put the other guy)

Japanese dorama Buzzer Beat will air in July.

Keiko Kitagawa is one of the most beautiful Japanese actress and I first saw her in Tokyo Drift. I don't see her much in Japanese Doramas and I only saw her in Mop Girl and one-time in Sailor Moon. She looks good in Sailor Moon costume.

Buzzer Beat ~Gakkeppuchi No Hero~ - I'm looking forward to this drama. I'm hoping this will be a light drama with many comic scenes. I can't confirm this "ex-lovers" tag but some fans insist that they were a couple. We'll see. Buzzer Beat got my attention as is it about basketball - one of my fave sports - and Keiko. Again, the producers have to ensure that it is still basketball and not some Nickelodeon version like in this drama where the players jump so high they can touch the sky. In short, make it realistic!


More updates will follow...

Buzzer Beat CM

Smile Dorama: Jun Matsumoto is Half-Filipino

Yes, Jun Matsumoto is half-Filipino, at least in the Japanese Dorama - Smile - which will air on April nights at 10:00 pm in Japan. According to reports, Jun Matsumoto - a well-known Japanese actor -will play a half-Filipino man whose father died and his mother has disappeared. Like a real Filipino, the character faces hardship with a smile and has a positive outlook in life. Paired with Matsumoto is Yui Aragaki. Aragaki plays a woman with speaking disability but lives her life positively.

I think Smile Dorama will tackle an issue faced by most half-Filipinos in Japan - racism. Despite being part Japanese, they are still racially discriminated. I've heard horror stories and accounts about this. The Japinoy (Japanese-Filipino) kids are being bullied in school but authorities seem not to care. It gotten so bad some Filipino - Japanese parents are thinking of building schools specifically to their kids to avoid the trauma of being abused. There was one proposal but I don't know whether it actually materialized. I hope the series will put these things to light. Though, it will not guarantee any changes, it is better than being invisible.

I will update this post as soon as the Smile Dorama airs.

Updated 3 - 22 - 09

Smile Dorama Trailer

JUST ONE LOVE

love of my life

Kanzaki Hiroto (Kamenashi Kazuya)is the son of a shipyard owner who took over the family business after his father committed suicide. The shipyard is deteriorating financially and add to his woes are his sickly brother and weird mother. Ever resourceful, Hiroto earns extra money by fishing together with his friends on a nearby dam. In one of their trips, some girl bumped into him dropping all of his catch. The girl (Haruka Ayase) refused to apologize and fretted about her wet clothes instead. After some prodding from the girl's best friend she apologized, however Hiroto left disgusted anyway.

As his friends were cleaning up the mess, they were mistaken as students of a prestigious boys' university and were invited to a social gathering of an all-girls university. Not even attending college, they decided to go anyway and persuaded Hiroto to come.

At the party, Hiroto was busy collecting girls' phone number with the no intention of calling them back - it was his way of getting back at rich girls who (for him) loved to play around.

It was at the party when Hiroto met the girl again. He asked her if it was fate for them to meet again (again not serious - he thought rich girls were playing and so would he). The girl never took it seriously and became concerned when she apparently lost her bag. He found the bag. They find themselves talking by the pool side when a wayward firecracker came unto them. The girl was surprised and lost her balance. Seeing her about to fall into the pool, Hiroto tried to save her. He saved her...not. Both fell into the pool. Their feelings were being awakened. Unfortunately for Hiroto, the girl turns out to be Tsukioka Nao, daughter of a rich jeweler. This is the start of their tragedy.

As a Filipino, poor boy- rich girl vice versa love affair is a staple in local television. Why should we watch this when we are so used to this storytelling formula? You may ask. Yes, I know your concerns after all this kind of story dominates Manila-based networks since TIME IMMEMORIAL. I'm surprised the Japanese tackled the subject (its intrigue appeals worldwide). As usual they made it their way.

I like the drama - the treatment of the story and the characterization of the people around the two "star-crossed" lovers are unbelievably realistic. NO HISTRIONICS. NO EVIL CHARACTER. NO FIVE-MINUTE CRYING FEST BY THE FEMALE LEAD. Just people protecting their loved ones and people loving each other. Is it possible for a series not to have a villain? Yup, in fact if you were in their position you would do what some of the characters did for the sake of their family. The series is remarkably simple but heartwarming.

The drama is known as Tatta Hitotsu No Koi in Japanese and translated as Just One Love or Love of My Life.

UPCOMING DORAMA - CODE BLUE

Code Blue

This Japanese dorama will start today and I'm looking forward to seeing this one. Just look at the cast - Yui Aragaki and Erika Toda. I hope this series will be riveting and interesting. I'll keep you posted on this one. I will write my assessment of the drama after I watch the first episode. Synopsis is available but I prefer to watch it first so I could make my own.

Yamashita stars as a young doctor-in-training, working under the guidance of an experienced "flight doctor" (Toshiro Yanagiba). Some scenes will be filmed with a real helicopter, adding to the show's tension. Source

That's the main idea of the series and it attracted my attention. The two leading ladies boosted my interest too - a lot like 70%. I just have to adopt a wait and see attitude on other Japanese series as sometimes I have to see the show first so I could decide whether to watch it the rest of the way or not.

HALLELUJAH...CHANCE! (PROPOSAL DAISAKUSEN)

“Ask and you shall receive!” the fairy tells Iwase Ken.

“Hallelujah…chance! NOOOOOOO!”

Iwase Ken is back to where he started.

Iwase Ken (Yamashita Tomohisa) looks pitiful. His childhood friend Yoshida Rei (Masami Nagasawara) is getting married not to him but to some other guy. For 14 years, Ken wasted his chance to confess his love to Rei. He regrets it. He regrets it so bad he wished he could go back in time and change it. His grief didn’t go unnoticed. Out of nowhere, a fairy that lives in the church appears to him and gives Ken the chance to change the past. Without hesitation, Iwase Ken takes the opportunity to rewrite his life and win back the girl of his dreams. This is the story of Proposal Daisakusen.

What can I say except to shower praises to the Japanese for producing another classic dorama? Like most doramas I’ve seen it is well-written, touching and funny at the same time. I’m actually hesitant to watch this at first for I don’t like redoing the past type of story line for I find it so unreal and sometimes painful (reminds one of his own regrets which he cannot change). But I got hooked courtesy of my sister again. It wasn’t painful and in fact the series is fun. It has the right blend of comedy and drama. The lead actor played by Yamapi carries the series. He is the right guy for the role – his actions and ad-libbing are hilarious. There are some cultural references that only the Japanese can relate to (like Kosuke Kitajima’s catchphrase - the guy is an Olympic gold medalist in the 2004 Athens Olympics and other fads that came about in Japan). Usually delivered in comic situations its impact is reduced to non-Japanese viewers. Even the explanations provided by fansubbers can’t make up for it though at least we understand what they are talking about. However, when Iwase Ken asked, “What should I do Yon-sama?” (referring to a Korean actor Bae Yoon Jon famous in Japan for his series Winter Sonata) I understood that one.

In Proposal Daisakusen, few tears are shed but the scenes that make the huge emotional impact are scenes that don’t have any crying. One can really be touched by it. When I was young, I was forced to watch Mara Clara and after watching the female lead gush out 1284 gallons of tears I was affected too – to turn the TV off but other members of the family including the maid would be affected too and would put me to sleep. Things like this make me want to go back in time too!

Note: Possible spoiler, please skip if you haven’t seen the drama yet (left-click and drag to view).

The lessons imparted are universal. Human character is very difficult to change or can “capricious gentleness” capture someone’s heart instantly. We can only change today to have a much better future. Those who say they’ll do it tomorrow are fooling themselves when there is something important to say – say it now. I know that very well but why am I not doing it? Regret is a painful thing.

No spoiler here.

All I can say to myself is "Carpe Diem!" for I want to live free and not be held hostage by regrets. Unlike Iwase Ken, there is no “Hallelujah…chance!” in the real world. The moment the day started it is our “Hallelujah…chance!” so make the most out of it.

Hallelujah...Chance

An anthropologist on TV once said ancient Filipinos have a different concept of time unlike the west (I’m not talking about being late) which is once time has passed it is over and one can’t go back to it anymore. Though he didn’t manage to elaborate or maybe I just can’t recall what he said clearly anymore (something about time – it revolves according to our ancestors) but I remember evidently when he said one thing’s for sure ancient Filipinos are optimists – there’s always a second chance to them.

HUMANS AS PETS...Kimi Wa Petto

photo from Wikipedia

A successful career woman Iwaya Sumire (Koyuki - The Last Samurai) is getting tremendously pressured by male colleagues and bosses alike for being tough and not being more womanlike. Female co-workers are wary and envious of her. Despite having a flourishing career, she feels something’s missing. She has become stone-cold and almost incapable of crying. One day going home from work, she finds a guy (Jun Matsumoto) lying unconscious and apparently beaten-up for he was bloodied and bruised all over (just outside her apartment). Failing to get help and a sudden outpour of rain forced her to take him into her home where she nursed the guy back to health. The following day, the young man is ok and she tells him to go home. The guy pleaded to stay for a while. Sumire said she only allow him to stay if he becomes her pet. Surprisingly, the young man agreed and she dubbed him Momo after her beloved dog when she was young. This is the story of the Japanese dorama called Kimi Wa Petto or You are My Pet.

What is there to like about this dorama? Just like in any other dorama it has a very unique story. Kimi wa Petto isn’t simple as it sounds fo the writer fully explains human to human interactions and complications such as love, the need for warmth, unconditional acceptance, ego and real self through one of the characters ( a shrink). So many weird and funny theories on human relationship but they sound rational that I couldn’t help but agree sometimes. There are so truths expounded and it encompasses cultures like what a successful career woman goes is the same here as in Japan (according to my sister and attested by personal observation). Despite the unbelievable premise of the story, the drama itself is realistic in portraying relationships (successful woman to insecure man, successful man and woman interaction etc). Kimi Wa Petto is funny, and intelligent - doesn't take itself too seriously. It has scenes to keep one glued and guess what's going to happen next.

Kimi Wa Petto is an excellent series – it was my sister who first watched the drama and I joined her. I’m glad I did for a pretty girl caught my eyes in this show. I find her more appealing than the female lead.

NOBUTA WO PRODUCE

Nobuta, Akira and Shuji

Kiritani Shuji (Kamenashi Kazuya – Hatanaka-san in One Pound Gospel) is a popular guy in school and can get along with anybody at least that’s the façade he is putting up. He is actually a chameleon, an expert in putting different faces to different groups of people. There’s only one person he couldn’t stand - Kusano Akira (Yamashita Tomohisa – yup the victim of obsessive fangirling). Shuji is annoyed with Akira and doesn’t want anything to do with the latter. Everyday before going to school, Shuji touches a willow tree which gives him the strength to continue. One day, he finds out the tree is gone. Worse, he meets a weird girl, Kotani Nobuko (Maki Horikita, Hana Kimi). She tells him she would’ve hanged herself from the willow tree but it was gone. Stunned, Shuji runs away. The next day a new girl arrives in school – Nobuko – it surprised Shuji but denied he knows her to his friends. Being different, Kotani is picked on and is often lonely. Unable to bear the harassment to Kotani, Shuji teams up with Akira to make her popular in school and they give her the nickname Nobuta. The duo will try to produce a new Nobuta, thus the name. Unknown to them, a hidden enemy lurks seeking to destroy Kotani.

Nobuta Wo Produce is one of the greatest school dramas I’ve ever seen. It touches raw nerves as any student or student-once could relate to the situations our characters are in. This is not your typical American high school drama where some character is going to make a loser popular with simple make over. No, the Japanese are more realistic. The change substantial (not through looks or clothes) and gradual. The challenges our protagonists face are complex. In fact, the decisions they have to make aren’t to gauge their intellectual prowess but to measure what their hearts are made of – between the easy choice and the right one.

Nobuta Wo Produce answered the age-old question “What is friendship?” Other series also explored this question but this one provided an answer – and the answer required a sacrifice. All episodes of Nobuta Wo Produce are coherent but each one tackles a different issue which the characters resolve. I learned from the series that the word friend shouldn’t be taken so lightly. Am I a good friend? Am I being honest with myself? Should I show my real self to people? These are the queries put forward in the series. The series made me reflect on what I am as a friend and as a person.

Nobuta Wo Produce Extras

No. of Episodes: 10

Average ratings: 16.89

BLOGGING UPDATES

I'll be reviewing two Japanese doramas this week. In addition, my thoughts on the NBA Finals which will start tomorrow. My bad for the earlier screw up. I seem to run out of time. I'll make it up tomorrow, ok?

BYE CYCLE & LOOKING FORWARD

I just finished another Japanese dorama called Nobuta Wo Produce and all I can say is SPECTACULAR drama! I'll write my reviews later - a must watch drama. I'm still awed by it - wow.

I'm looking forward to the NBA Finals whichwill start on Thursday - my bad for the earlier mix up I WAS PRETTY EXCITED. Also the Euro 2008 Football Championship this month. Unfortunately, I also expect more brownouts this month - there is a power shortage in the Visayas. Just this morning, there was a long one. Tsk tsk tsk - I hate brownouts on weekend.

CHANGE DORAMA: ELECTIONS IS THE ONLY PERMITTED LEGAL WAR

courtesy of Fuji television

So says Asakura Keita’s (Takuya Kimura – the King of J-dramas according to sources) election manager in Japanese dorama CHANGE. Life has changed a lot to the afro-haired school teacher. The death of his politician father and brother forced him to run for the ruling party in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. However, Keita has no interest in politics preferring to gaze at the stars instead whenever there’s an opportunity. With the by-elections decided, the party boss Kanbayashi Masaichi and his ambitious secretary Miyama Rika (Fukatsu Eri) felt he should succeed his father as the young Asakura is both youthful and good looking, and would appeal to certain block of voters. Besides, the party needed to defend its parliamentary seats. The persistent urging of Rika and Keita’s wish to spare his mother from politics (she was the other choice) made him decide to run (besides he thinks he's not going to win anyway). On the other hand, master election manager Nirasawa arrived vowing a victory --- the short but grueling campaign has begun for the afro-haired school teacher.

I enjoy watching political dramas (e.g. West Wing) and this one is no different. Change dorama is still on-going (third episode as of press time) and it has already exceeded my expectations. I saw how Japanese conduct their campaign (they use a van and travel around the city and candidates wear a sash bearing their name for example) and I expect to learn more about Japanese politics and the workings of their Diet (Parliament) in future episodes.

The Japanese are good in developing cliff hangers toward the end of an episode – that’s why I prefer to watch finished series than on-going ones. Episode two of Change left me and my father hanging – there’s episode three in Veoh but it has no subs yet. Hahaha…I think one of the subbers has an exam so the release of the third episode might be delayed – no problems though. Thanks to the fan subbers I get to see excellent series such as this.

Update:

Excellent series...watch the final episode as the actor does a twenty minute uncut speech! Compelling towards the end...

THINKING OF YOU DRIVES ME CRAZY

Hah…Love! Nothing drives out people’s emotions than love. What else can combine ecstasy, anguish, agony and pleasure at the same time? Speaking of crazy love life, nothing can compare to this two people from the Japanese drama – Nodame Cantabile.What would the world be without love? I wouldn't even dare to contemplate. I don’t care what they say I won’t stay in a world without love – same here Peter & Gordon, same here.

(The song's real video was the first N’sync video I ever saw – it was when the word boy band was written all over JT’s face. In fact, I thought JT looked pitiful in that video. I didn’t know then he was one of the famous members of the group. So much for Emimem hating N’sync, he copied their mental hospital concept in his first hit video “The Real Slim Shady”.)

My Boss My Hero

It is the story of Sakaki Makio (played by Tomoya Nagase) a 27 year-old would be gangster leader. In order to inherit the "family business", he must graduate from high school. Makio's inability to add resulted in a botched business deal which led his father to decide the former is going to school. Worse, he must disguise himself as a 17 year-old teenager and keep his real identity secret. How is the young master going to survive the toughest arena of them all - high school?
Based on the Korean hit movie of the same name, the Japanese made it simple and made it very funny. Most of the issues dealt in the Japanese version are related to growing up and being a teenager but don't get me wrong - the series is not all about fun.
The series is funny save for some melodramatic scenes on the last episode. In fact, self-righteous preaching present in American dramas is almost non-existent here. The characters in J-dramas usually sort their problems out by themselves, realize their fault by themselves, and sometimes they don't change at all - and this dorama is no different. Besides, My Boss My Hero doesn't over glorify gangster life to my surprise! It is a very different treatment of a gangster story.
Two months ago, out of curiousity I took a sneak peek at the dorama with no expectations whatsover. Few seconds into the show, I knew then I have to finish this one. Tomoya Nagase carries the series with his comic antics and exaggerated facial expressions - it is never a dull moment when this guy's on the screen. The humor is so Filipino, we can relate to it. Thanks to this series, I got to know Japanese superstar Yui Aragaki (playing Umemura Hikari - Makio's love interest). I love her character - cute, pretty, smart and gutsy.
It is a great family series.

Dance Drill

the girls of Dance Drill

Dance Drill is a cheer dance dorama. It is about a group of Japanese high school girls who started a cheer dance club in their school from scratch. The young heroine Kaname Aikawa (Nana Eikura), as usual in doramas, is a tough one – never gives up and gutsy. Episode four is very inspiring as the characters made things happen - they don't wait around. They create conditions so they could reach their goal successfully. Kaname is assisted by her best friend and personal cheerer Futaba Sueyoshi (Rosa Kato) and three other friends. The dorama emphasizes relationship between characters and in meeting challenges together they end up overcoming it. This is not "Bring It On" Japanese version as the story was based on a real Japanese cheer dance team which won a tournament in the United States. The Japanese don't use formula characters like the nerds, the jocks and those other things Americans use ad nauseam. There are instances where the series gets boring. Frankly speaking, the series could have been better but overall this series is better than the staples local television is offering nowadays. And yeah if you like girls in skirts too ha ha!

ORE WA HOMO JANAI!!!

Hana Kimi:
Featuring Nakatsu in "ORE WA HOMO JANAI!!!"

Hana Kimi

"What is a girl doing in an all-male high school?” asks the Osaka High doctor to the new student Ashiya Mizuki (played by Horikita Maki). Mizuki is a Japanese girl in the U.S. who has a crush on a high-jump athlete Sano (Oguri Shun) from Japan. She followed him to Japan in the hope of attending the same school with him. However, Sano is enrolled in an all-boys school, Osaka High, so she disguises herself as a boy to be with him.

This is my first completed dorama. I saw this just this February and it is very funny. Although the drama varies slightly from the manga (Japanese term for comic book), it lost none of its humor. The Japanese version is the best one with great acting and well-written episodes. You won't see any over-acting, unnecessary and weird camera spans and melodramatic clips. Those are not the Japanese way of film-making. It also helps that the female lead (is cute) can go with the flow meaning adjust wonderfully to her very funny co-stars esp. Nakatsu (Ikuta Toma) whose monologues and antics carry the series. Hanazakari no Kimitachi e Ikemen Paradise (or For You in Full Blossom - Hottie Paradise) its full title will be shown locally on GMA starting March 24.

Hana Kimi

Ashiya Mizuki - Kawaii!!!