Mar 14 2008
JDoramas
Since I began watching Beach Boys when I was in my teens (I think), I’ve always enjoyed watching JDoramas. Frankly, I prefer them over the Korean and Taiwanese varieties which tend to be a little weepier than I can handle.
Naturally, with the love of JDoramas comes the love for ikemen so you can imagine how fangirly I tend to become after watching certain doramas.
Favourite JDoramas
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e 『花ざかりの君たちへ』 is quite possibly my favourite JDorama of all time. The story follows the antics of Ashiya Mizuki who disguises herself as a boy and enters the Japanese high school of a high jump athelete she admires. Sano Izumi has given up high jumping for some reason and Mizuki has made it her personal mission to help him jump again. However, Sano is an ornery twit and Mizuki has her job cut out for her. Enter also Nakatsu Shuichi, a dorm-mate who falls in love with her thinking that she’s really a “he”. Fun and laughter ensues.
I’m enamoured with this series due to the slapstick comedy. Nakatsu’s inner soliloquys are the ultimate in hilarity as is his tendency for nosebleeds whenever his imagination goes a little wild. The sheer number of pretty boys in the show is another huge drawing factor. It stars a number of my favourites: Oguri Shun 小栗 旬, Ikuta Toma 生田 斗真 and Mizushima Hiro 水島 ヒロ. I remember buying copies of Junon when this was on air in Japan and they had so much information about the series. Even at this point, when the show has ended its first season, its actors are still being regularly featured. Despite the marked difference between the live dorama and the original manga, I think it worked brilliantly.
Links:
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I wasn’t a real fan of classical music until I watched Nodame Cantabile 『のだめカンタービレ』. Noda Megumi, a.k.a. Nodame, is a hentai (i.e. weird) piano major in college who happens to stumble upon her college’s prince extraordinaire, Chiaki Shinichi, outside her apartment one evening drunk out of his mind. He awakes in her messy room and subsequently ends up caring for her like one would a stray dog that poops wherever it pleases. Chiaki, himself, has a secret that does not allow him to leave Japan even though he wishes to study conducting in Prague under a maestro. Nodame thus helps him in his ordeal and learns more about herself and music in the process.
Another hilarious dorama with anime slapstick effects. I love Ueno Juri 上野 樹里 and Tamaki Hiroshi 玉木 宏 in this. And the music is amazing. I was moved to tears more than once while watching the orchestra play. The dorama has officially ended with Specials 1 and 2, each approximately 2 hours long after the series ended. I’m not sure whether there’ll be any more after this, but it was fun while it lasted. The specials star Wentz Eiji ウエンツ 瑛士 and Becky ベッキー, which made for a really fun cast.
Links:
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If technology ever made it to the point where robots could replace humans as lovers, would you buy one? Apparently, in technologically advanced Japan, you can. But only in the world of Zettai Kareshi 『絶対彼氏』. The story revolves around a serious girl, Izawa Riiko, who after a string of broken relationships, was selected by Kronos Heaven to be the first test user of the Kronos Heaven Nightly-Series #01, lover robot extraordinaire. She enters the characteristics of her ideal mate and is sent Tenjou Night (who she later names). As a result of his internal programming, the ready-to-date Night is an atypical intrusion into her life. Things change, however, when she decides to buy him after a five-day trial period. It gets further complicated when a young handsome man, Asamoto Soushi, who works in her company, begins to like her.
The show stars my favourite Mizushima Hiro 水島 ヒロ as Soushi (KYAAAA!) and, for me, the adorable newbie (like I said countless of times before, I’m a late starter) Hayami Mokomichi 速水 もこみち as Night. It’s a sweet story and quite a sad one. I love this show because it’s really hilarious and does delve into the issue of love that many are struggling with. Catch it if you can.
Links:
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Currently watching:
- Binbou Danshi (temporary hiatus)
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Series watched:
- Bambino!
- Beach Boys
- First Kiss
- Gokusen
- Hachimitsu to Kuroba (Honey and Clover)
- Hana Yori Dango 1
- Hana Yori Dango 2
- Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
- Kimi wa Petto
- Nodame Cantabile
- Sore wa Totsuzen Arashi no You ni
- Stand Up!!
- Yamada Tarou Monogatari
- Zettai Kareshi
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Movies watched:
- Boku wa Imouto ni Koi wo Suru
- Death Note 1
- Death Note 2
- Kiiroi Namida
- NANA
- NANA 2
- Pikanchi
- Pikanchi Double
