5-ji Kara 9-ji Made Review

Title: 5-ji Kara 9-ji Made

AKA: 5→9 From Five to Nine

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Episodes: 10

Broadcast Period: Oct-2015 to Dec-2016

Cast: Ishihara Satomi, Yamashita Tomohisa, Tanaka Kei, Furukawa Yuki, Takanashi Rin, Saeko, Yoshimoto Miyu,

Sakuraba Junko (Ishihara Satomi) is a part-time teacher at an English conversation school who dreams of one day working in New York. Junko strives hard to achieve her dreams, but New York seems a far distant reality. She hasn't had much luck with romance for a while either. Things suddenly start to change when one day, Junko encounters a handsome Tokyo University graduate monk Hoshikawa Takane (Yamashita Tomohisa) at a funeral service. Due to numbness of her legs after sitting for a long time, Junko accidentally knocks over the bowl of ashes, which falls right onto the head of Takene. After such embarrassing mishap, Junko figures she would never see him again. However, the two end up meeting again in a matchmaking session that was set up by Junko's mother.

I don’t know what I expected, but I was definitely surprised by the plot. It’s not one of those typical japanese dramas, where you quickly figure out what’s going to happen. It keeps surprising you with all kind of plot twists. It really has a nice feeling overall. As usual, Yamashita Tomohisa nails the character on point. I loved all the small details he brought to it, and the way he interacted with “the outside world”, since he’s only used to the temple. The chemistry between the leads were so adorable, I liked how they developed feelings for each other quite naturally. All in all a successful drama, I read somewhere they were going to make a SP, (or maybe it was fan-wishing), but I hope they do it soon, because I can’t get enough of those two. 

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Summer Nude Review

Title: Summer Nude

Genre: Romance

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2013-Jul to 2013-Sept

Theme song: Summer Nude’13 by Yamashita Tomohisa

Cast: Yamashita Tomohisa, Toda Erika, Karina and Nagasawa Masami.

This is a story about three people changing their lives over a summer.

Chiyohara Natsuki (Karina) is getting married in a small town close to the beach. Prior to the wedding she was chef what she had always dreamed of becoming, but she gladly left it behind so she could be with her fiancé. On her wedding say though, her fiancé decides to run away, leaving her devastated and without anything. Capturing the worst moment of her life is Mikuriya Asahi (Yamashita Tomohisa), a wedding photographer who lives near the beach. After the eventful day, Asahi reluctantly sends the bill for the wedding photos. With the bill he attaches a note saying that he wishes her happiness and hopes that she will find her smile back again. This message makes Natsuki call Asahi, to thank him, but as friend’s restaurant is without cook, Asahi asks for Natsuki’s help. Thinking it’s only a day, Natsuki agrees, only to be met by expectations to stay an entire summer. After meeting the people of the town, and being persuaded by Taniyama Hanae (Toda Erika) Asahi’s best friend, and who has a 10 year one-sided-love for Asahi, but was always disregarded because Asahi can’t get over his first love Ichikura Kasumi (Nagasawa Masami).

Asahi had waited 3 years for Kasumi to return but in vain, so Natsuki decides to help Hanae out and get them two together, only to start something she wasn’t expecting..

I don’t know, I really don’t. I mean what the hell was it about, no idea, who was I rooting for, no idea. The drama has heart - I think - but it somehow ends up being too ‘celebrity preoccupied’, I mean no one in their real mind would shift this fast to another love story, if they cared for their characters. It’s like a game of ping pong, seriously hitting the characters back and forth as if they are really nothing more than puppets. It really loses all form of reality, and everything in that sense. There is no way people bounce that fast, and there is no way they can be THAT easy to fall in love with. I don’t know. Maybe I was expecting a bit much. I was hoping for a good Yamapi love story :( but got some bad ping pong game instead…

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 4 hearts

MONSTERS Review

Title: MONSTERS
Genre: Mystery, comedy
Episodes: 8
Broadcast period:  2012-Oct-21 to 2012-Dec-09
Cast: Katori Shingo, Yamashita Tomohisa, Yanagihara Kanako, Warabino Tomoya, Kikuta Daisuke, Hino Tatsuya, Shiroishi Tomoya, Hinaka Yasukage, Otake Makoto, Endo Kenichi . . .

Saionji Kousuke (Yamashita Tomohisa) is a young man who has fighting his was up to become a detective. On his first day as a rookie detective of Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigative Division, he is supposed to meet the Chief, and that is what he does.. he believes. But he is tricked by Hiratsuka Heihachi (Katori Shingo), the odd detective nobody really wants to work with. Hiratsuka makes Saionji do all sorts of weird things making him believe it is all right, since he is the chief, but then when the real cheif walks into his office, Saionji has a hard time explaining himself. The cheif then gives Saionji his mission, which is to watch Hiratsuka and report back any wrongdoing of his, so they can bust Hiratsuka. Hiratsuka is a quite odd person, he is rude yet manner-ly. However compared to the investigation department he seems to be the most capable of solving the mysteries that occur. The rest of the investigation team misses a lot of details and thinks traditionally while Hiratsuka and Saionji manage to catch the small things, using which decide the outcome of most cases. We follow the two solving mystery after mystery.

I must say, this is one of those ridiculous, serious dramas. The humour is ridiculous and it makes you laugh. Bunji recommended this drama, she said she watched 20 minutes and she was still laughing, and I thought well, why not. And it really is those small ridiculous things, like the syncronisation of the police officers, the way they bow, the ridiculous way they handle the cases and such.. but yet it is still serious, when it comes to solving the mysteries, it is quite interesting. But I felt as if it wasn't one of those mystery dramas where you could be a part of solving it. Since it was solved by them being at the scene and seeing things we couldn't see, they had to walk around and look at the crime scene finding things and such. Which made me a bit.. sad? But I was compensated by the laughs lol. It is the kind of detective drama that doesn't make you all tense and completely absorbed, trying to figure it out, it's more laid back, leads you, with fun. Not that it isn't interesting, just not tense. I did enjoy it, it was fun and short. Recommend ;)

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict

Well, the beginning was funny, and the same humor goes on throughout the entire drama. But the murders were just too obvious, especially after episode 2, like I knew who the killer was before the evidence came out. Of course it was interesting to find out HOW, but still when you know the killer, 45min seem long. I liked the last episode story, though again, obvious.
I was happy to see Yamapi in a comedy. And generally an okay drama, just the actors were as the drama, a bit silly (with silly I mean funny yet interesting).

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Saikou no Jinsei no Owarikata~Ending Planner~ Review

Title: Saikou no Jinsei no Owarikata
AKA: Ending Planner
Genre: Family
Episodes: 10
Broadcast period: 2012-Jan-12 to 2012-Mar-15
Cast: Yamashita Tomohisa, Eikura Nana, Maeda Atsuko, Chinen Yuri, Ono Ito, Mikami Kensei, Hashimoto Mami, Okamoto Rei, Otomo Kohei, Isono Kiriko, Kikawada Masaya, Shiomo Sansei, Kanie Keizo, Sorimachi Takashi, Yamazaki Tsutomu, Tamamori Yuta, Anne ...

Ihara Masato has never really liked his family, or his family's business. He is the older brother of two girls and a boy, and has a stepbrother. His father own a funeral service shop which has always caused trouble for Masato. He moved out, started to work on his own, and cut off all connection to his family. One day his father dies and the business is left to him. His father told him to close down the business but as he takes on one case he starts seeing the business in a new perspective. He decides to continue with the business and tries his best to support his family while his older step-brother is away.

It is the very typical kind of drama. And I dont mean the story but just the way it is. It wasnt amazingly interesting to watch it was just okay. Not bad but not that interesting theme either. I mean, yeah it has a great message and all but I wasnt laughing nor crying or anything at all throughout the drama, maybe it's just me though. Of course I just watched because "hey yamapi made a new drama" . Yamapi was okay, there was one scene which made me think he's a bad actor but the other scenes I was probably fan-blinded hah. So, good drama if you're up for funerals and yamapi.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Code Blue Season 2

Title: Code Blue
Genre: Medical
Episodes: 11
Broadcast period: 2010-Jan-11 to 2010-Mar-22
Theme song: HANABI by Mr. Children
Cast: Yamashita Tomohisa, Aragaki Yui, Toda Erika, Higa Manami, Asari Yosuke aso.

In the second season we continue to follow the four interns while they face even bigger challenges. This time we get closer to each person as they struggle to become doctors. We follow them as they get to know a lot more about their themselves and some even their backgrounds. As in Aizawa Kosaku(Yamashita Tomohisa)'s case, he discovers some things about his past, his father left him and his mother died at a very young age so he was raised by his obae-chan whom he cares very much for. As his obae-chan falls ill and she is admitted in the hospital where he is an intern they get much closer. At the same time his father visits his obae-chan and so some secrets are revealed. As for the other interns they too have to face some problems themselves. Shiraishi Megumi(Aragaki Yui) gets some personal problems, she keeps arguing with her father though she doesn't know he is very sick. Hiyama Mihoko(Toda Erika) has to face her illness and even gets into some trouble when she doesnt get some DNR-order signed so she actually "kills" a kid, so she almost gets sued and stuff. The nurse, Saejima Haruka(Higa Manami).. now this is really sad.. her friend/lover .. well.. he aint okay. I mean like he's sick.. not mentally.. Well he gets admitted to the hospital where she works, and she tries to visit him as much as possible and all. And in the meantime the guy Fujikawa Kazuo(Asari Yosuke) falls in love with the nurse but cant tell her because,, well her friend/lover.. just.. something happened to him. So a lot stuff happens but as always,, things will b just ok.
I watched this drama mainly because of YamaP-chan. Yup big P-chan FAN:D I watched the first drama and totally loved it,, well cuz of P-chan. But he just made the whole thang even betta.. And it was exciting watching him with this kinda role.. like this really cool guy, knowing how to do things and doesnt even get distracted or anything by the situation. I mean in situations where most people would either faint, puke, or freeze he kept focused (i know its just acting and all but still..). But for some reason,, this wasnt that kind of drama which would keep u on the tip of the chair., like when u finish an ep. u would stay up all night(bit exaggerating) wondering what would happen next. Its more one u watch just because its fun/exciting to watch the whole medical procedure.. Thats why its not a super-top-must-watch-drama. Its more like a.. well,, watch-if-u-feel-for-cool-p-chan-acting-+-got-medical-interest. And what might have ruined it for me is that it got subbed reeeaally slow. So i got busy with other stuff and well. yeah.
Anyway. Great drama but not the best..

☆☆☆3/4 /3.75 out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2,5 hearts out of 5 hearts

Bunjis Verdict:
Okay, can you say boring? Yeah, the drama had its moments, and yeah Yamapi is hot, but the storyline was waaaay more boring than the first season, and seriously, nothing really happend in this season! Acting was on the other hand better from all four actors. They are all young actors, so that was a great surprise. I also liked the new boss, and his love story, but seriously? Why does Aizawa have to be mr. perfect? Silly. EXPECIALLY if he's a doctor, they allways have flaws... Guess you can't blame Yamapi, but the director.. Stupid director.. Ruining my likning in Pi.. (darn you!) Lols.. Okay, back to bussniss.. I cant say it was crap, because it isn't. Every actor is cool, and their characters are stronger this season, except Aizawa (who seems to be the best of the best... boring) lol.. SORRY! :P
But its a good watch, has good elements sometimes. Like there was one with some soccer players, and their bonding.. That story I liked the most :)

☆☆☆½ / 3,5 out of 5 stars

♥♥ / 2 out of 5 hearts