Jyuui-san Jiken Desuyo Review

Title: Jyuui-san Jiken Desuyo

AKA: Is there a Vet in the House?

Genre: Family, Comedy

Episodes: 12

Broadcast period: 2014-Jul to 2014-Sept

Cast: Jinnai Takanori, Yoshimoto Miyu, Nogiwa Yoko and Makita Tetsuya.

In the Shiba family there are 3 members: Shiba Hanae (Nogiwa Yoko), Shiba Kentaro (Jinnai Takanori) and Shiba Hinako (Yoshimoto Miyu). Even though all of them share the same surname, none of them are related to blood. Kentaro was adopted by Hanaes husband, and after her husband had passed, he stayed her son. Hinako was adopted by Kentaro, when a friend of his had abandoned Hinako, and at her 15^th birthday, he told her that she was adopted, but could decide on her own whether she wanted to annul it or stay as a Shiba, which she wanted. The family runs a vet clinic, where Hanae is the nurse and Kentaro is the vet. One day a bulldog is left abandoned in front of the clinic and they decide to keep it, increasing the family number.

They help people who have family trouble, and usually, if the lady-in-need is pretty, Kentaro falls head over heels - and decides to help with all his ability. This gives the rest of the family a headache, but nonetheless they help too.

When I read about this drama years ago, I thought I would’ve been a nice family drama. The idea of a vet and a family running it sounded interesting, and I felt as if it had potential. That it did, the potential part. I don’t even know where to start… The whole drama was just a miss. It wasn’t emotional, funny, or even interesting. The family didn’t seem close, the running jokes weren’t funny at all, and the storyline with the father/family helping random customers was so boring, I didn’t feel anything while watching. The only reason for my 2 stars rating is because of the quality, of screenplay. And some of the side stories where good to be honest.

All in all, I would not recommend, unless the humor (reminds me of Unubore Deka) is your type.

☆☆ / 2 out of 5 stars

♥ / 1 out of 5 hearts

Omotesando Koukou Gasshoubu! Review

Title: Ometesando Koukou Gasshoubu!

AKA: Omotesando High School Choir!

Genre: School, Choir, Romance, Family

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2015-Jul to 2015-Sept

Cast: Shirota Yuu, Yoshine Kyoko, Shison Jun, Yoshimoto Miyu, Mirokawa Aoi and Takahata Atsuko.

After her parents’ separation Kagawa Makoto (Yoshine Kyoko) decides to live with her mother in Tokyo. Her father and younger sister stay in Seto Island. As a huge fan of choir singing and growing up with parents who always did choir signing, Makoto decides to join Omotesando High Shcool - the place where her parents first started singing choir and also where they fell in love. Her goal is to reunite her parents by finding the famous 'love song' which makes you reminiscent of your past love. But the only problem is that the current choir club on the school only has 4 members and has 0 motivation in singing. Since the club lacks member, they must have at least 8, it is on the verge of closure, and the club advisor Suzuki Ariake (Shirota Yu), whom Makoto knew from when she was younger and whom she admires, is no help either as he is too busy with hostesses.

So Makoto decides to rebuild the choir and save it from abolishment, as well as save her parents' crumbling marriage. Can she do it?

I decided to watch this drama out of one reason only: Shirota Yuu. I didn’t really know any of the actors, so it was kind of random when I saw the poster, and noticed him. Also I really have not heard about choirs in school, so I was full with prejudice honestly – as choir singing is pretty ‘geeky’ from where I am. But I must admit I really enjoyed it. It was sweet, and really nice to listen to. They are sort of grow on you, not matter how geeky they are. And about Shirota Yuu… really… chameleon. I was quite shocked when I saw him. I didn’t expect him to look and act that way, but it was nice to see a different side of him. *thumps up*

I was quite glad that it wasn’t just about her saving the choir club nor it only being about her fixing her parents’ ruined marriage – kind of nice mixing both and getting a bit from both.

So all in all, I enjoyed this typical yet refreshing Japanese school drama.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

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