Gakkou no Kaiden Review

Title: Gakkou no Kaiden

AKA: School’s Steps / The Steps of School

Genre: School, Human Drama

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2015-Jan to 2015-Mar

Cast: Hirose Suzu, Kamiki Ryunosuke, Ishibashi Anna, Sugisaki Hana and Suga Kenta.

“If you have friends there, school is fun. For the strong, school is a paradise. But for the weak...it's a mine-ridden battlefield. There are no passionate teachers who will help you, and you can't rely on your parents. All you can do is try to avoid the mines and wait for graduation. That's right... You should keep your breath hushed, and not move. If you move even a little, you'll become a target. When that happens... I've lost? Fight back and break it all! This is the story of the world's biggest weakling... And her rebellion.” (Intro of the drama)

Haruna Tsubame (Hirose Suzu) is a student at a prestige school, where rich kids are enrolling. She, with numerous of other students, is part of a program where children from ‘not-so-rich’ families are enrolled. Due to the money given by 8 riches students, called Platinum 8, or rather their families, the 8 are allowed to do anything without being put responsible.  As a joke the Platinum 8 put Tsubame as the president of the school’s council, knowing that Tsubame has a fear of big crowds. This leads to Tsubame encountering Shizukui Kei (Kamiki Ryunosuke), who tells her that she need to fight and that he will help her.

At first she refuses him, but when her best friend is at the verge of being expelled, she seeks the help of Kei…

As a fan of Kamiki’s I have to say, one great drama! I didn’t really know what to expect since I didn’t read the summary of the drama, but I really enjoyed watching it. You would think that 10 episodes with speeches would make you bored, but somehow the monologues where nice to hear. I call them monologues, but when talking you really felt like she was talking to you. So it wasn’t boring to be honest.

Kamiki was great; I am officially going to watch all his dramas/movies. Besides him, the rest was good too. I kind of thought they were all good actors.

All in all: a great drama with great acting.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

GTO 2 Review

Title: GTO 2

AKA: Great Teacher Onizuka Season 2

Genre: School, Human drama

Episodes: 11

Broadcast date: 2014-Apr to 2014-Sep

Cast: AKIRA, Yamamoto Yusuke, Shirota Yu, Sano Reno, Higa Manami, Katayose Ryota and Tayama Ryosei.

After losing his house Onizuka Eikichi (AKIRA) is forced to move, and is invited to move to the high school he graduated from in Shonan, to act as a temporary teacher. The homeroom teacher of the class 2.A is Fujikawa Honami (Higa Manami) who is a good teacher, but believes in befriending the students rather than disciplining them, and thinks that every class has a certain ‘feel’: if bothered it would make everyone feel awkward, even the teachers. Moving with him to Shonan is his two best friends Danma Ryuji (Shirota Yu) and Saejima Toshiyuki (Yamamoto Yusuke).

Even though there aren’t any delinquents at the school, Onizuka meets different kinds of students with normal problems, but also students who try to solves their problems or hide them, making matters worse for everyone involved. So the great teacher decides to take matters in his own hands, and make the kids his students - by teaching him life the Onizuka way.

Compared to season one this season is much scarier and realistic. It is not as funny as season one, and it kind of gives you the chills of a real life situation. I know I like school dramas, but these kinds of realistic stories are making everything sad. Even though the GTO stories are dramatized, a bit too situational and too much of a happy ending, these stories could without a problem be real life situations. I like it, but it makes me sad… does that make sense?

The cast was fantastic - I mean the young actors are beyond good, and superb at their acting (comparing them with idols), of course there a bit of small things they should change, but that they are going to do great in the future.

All in all: a great drama and really interesting.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

GTO Graduation SP Review

Title: GTO - Graduation Special

AKA: Great Teacher Onizuka  - Graduation Special

Genre: School, Human drama

Broadcast date: 2013-Apr-02

Cast: AKIRA, Takimoto Miori, Yamamoto Yusuke,Shirota Yu, Yano Masato, Fujisawa Ayano, Nagasawa Nao and Kabayashi Yumi.

Graduation is around the corner, and the exam preparations are stressing out the students in year 3: Onizuka’s (AKIRA) 3.B is no exception. Even though some are going to college, a few of them have already got jobs, and others are in training. Feeling the pressure, the students end up fighting and even turning their backs on Onizuka , believing he simply does not understand them. On the other hand Onizuka is being told to let the students deal with their own problems as he won’t be there for them ones they leave the school, and their teacher-student relationship will end once they graduate.
Not knowing what to think of it Onizuka decides to stay low, but when the students are starting to hit walls, Onizuka feelings begins to have mixed and confused feelings. What is he going to do, and will 3.B be able to graduate?

Compared to the other special I liked this one more, just because the story is much more fitting for Onizuka’s class and general personality. It has the entire ‘feel’ of students having to deal with the concept of growing up and how Onizuka is able to help: it sort of feels like another episode from the serial, which makes it all better.  
Honestly when I thought this was the last time I’d see the class I was a bit upset, mainly because I liked them. Okay yes, they are fictional, but somehow you grow with them. And not to mention how great the relationships are.
I’m really trying not to spoil anything, so I am going to end here and say that it is really good!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 4 hearts

GTO 2013 New Year SP Review

Title: GTO - New Year Special

AKA: Great Teacher Onizuka - New Year Special

Genre: School, Human drama

Broadcast date: 2013-Jan-02

Cast: AKIRA, Takimoto Miori, Yamamoto Yusuke, Yano Masato, Fujisawa Ayano, Nagasawa Nao and Kabayashi Yumi.

It’s Chritsmas and Onizuka (AKIRA) and his class are having fun as always.
As time passes Saejima (Yamamoto Yusuke) is feeling down since he hasn’t got any girlfriend, but everything changes when he meets a damsel in distress. Naïve as he is, he falls for her and asks her to marry him, which she surprisingly agrees to do. But little does he know, she has small triplets whom she dumps on Saejima, and leaves to find the father of the three.
At the same time on of Onizukas students is having an issue at home ever since her father decided to re-marry. And due to Saejima’s issue, Onizuka hasn’t been able to really talk to her, which ends up her talking to another teacher about the issue. But somehow she ends up in something way bigger then she had expected. How will Onizuka deal with these issues? And how will he save Saejima?

Lol, I was really missing this guy and his class. This special is funny, crazy, ridiculous and touching all at the same time, completely like another GTO episode. I really love that his two friends also are involved in the class as much as he is, and that they are all together in everything.
As a New Year special I think the theme is good and most of it is really enjoyable. Though somehow kind of silly, it really does its job and delivers for all GTO fans everything they want.

☆☆☆½/ 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Shinigami-kun Review

Title: Shinigami-kun

AKA: The Reaper

Genre: Human drama

Episodes: 9

Broadcast period: 2014-Apr to 2014-Jun

Theme song: Dare mo Shiranai by Arashi

Cast: Ohno Satoshi, Suda Masaki, Kiritani Mirei and Matsushige Yukata.

When people die they are guided by a Shinigami to guide along to the afterlife, carrying a book with a list of names and informing them when they are going to die. One of those is Shinigami no. 413 (Ohno Satoshi) a rather new shinigami and a pretty clumsy one at that, has a bit of a soft spot for his travelers. He had been taught that humans become happy when they are told that they are to die, but finds out the contrary. He informs the humans he is to collect, about them dying, and to have them finish unfinished business, so they won’t worry when they leave for the afterlife, which is against the law and pretty unusual.

Due to his clumsiness he loses his book with the written names, and while retrieving it a demon manages to get loose at steal the souls of the people supposed to die. Will Shinigami no. 413 manage to stop him?

I was positively surprised when I saw Ohno doing another drama, but I did not expect him to a fiction character. Not that it is bad, but I’d like him to do more like Maou and Kagi no Kakatta Heya. I guess he likes diversity, compared to his fellow Arashi members.

The drama has a b-class feel to it, and seeing it airs midnight I guess it’s for those who cannot sleep. But it is a fun drama, and has touchy stories to it. Like some made me very teary.

That said, I don’t think it’s one of the must watch, but defiantly not time wasted.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Hajimari no Uta SP Review

Title: Hajimari no Uta

AKA: Song of the beginning

Genre: Human drama, School

Broadcast date: 2013-Sept-23

Cast: Matsumoto Jun, Eikura Nana, Toda Naho and Kunimura Jun.

Nakahara Wateru (Matsumoto Jun) is a rookie photographer living in Tokyo. He is offered an opportunity for a career, to go to Hagi and make a pictorial of the small town. Sounds like an easy job, but for Watery Hagi is not just any town, it is his hometown, which he had left in order to follow his dreams. When he arrives in Hagi he meets up with his family but also visits his old school, where he encounters his high school girlfriend Imachi Natsuki (Eikura Nana) working at that very school as a teacher, and also as the teacher in charge of the choir club. Natsu and Wateru had made the promise to become teachers together once they finish college, but Wateru had broken the promise, and Natsu takes advantage of that by making him be the pianist in the choir club.

While working both as a photographer and a pianist Wateru notices the beauties he had forgotten, and starts to find himself loving what he is doing…

This being a Matsumoto Jun drama I have to admit, I am a bit surprised. This is not exactly his genre, but somehow he manages to make it his own. The thing about this and this is also the biggest part for the rating, is that the special is way short. Yes 1½ hour is not a lot to begin with, but seriously I didn’t get much of it. The “growth” part should have gotton more screening time, else was just short. Maybe it is because it’s because of the huge amount of stories in it that makes it so long. With that I mean we get the main story, the love story, the friend story, the school story and the family story. Making that in 1½ hours is a bit tight, and they don’t really manage to ‘fill’ me… On the other hand acting is great, and the scenery is amazingly beautiful.

Is it recommendable? Yeah, but don’t expect the big thing here…

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Gu Family Book Review

Title: Gu Family Book
AKA: Ancient Medical Book / The Writings of Nine Houses / Book of the House of Gu / Kang Chi , the Beginning
Genre: Fantasy, human, melodrama, historical, romance
Episodes: 24
Broadcast period: 2013-Apr-08 to 2013-Jun-25
Cast: Lee Seung Ki, Bae Suzy, Lee Sung Jae, Jo Sung Ha, Yoo Yun Suk, Lee Yoo Bi, Sung Joon, Choi Jin Hyuk, Yoon Se Ah, Lee Yeon Hee . . .

In the deep forest there are some mythical devine creatures that protect and take care of nature. They have special powers such as making nature bloom, but if they are treathened they might turn into a dangerous animal, a beast. To the people these creatures are known as monsters or gumihos. This is the story of the creature Wol Ryung (Choi Jin Hyuk) who falls in love with Yoon Seo Hwa (Lee Yeon Hee & Yoon Se Ah) and decides to turn into a human, a process which takes 100 days. 20 years later, it is the story of Kang Chi (Lee Seung Gi) now half beast half human, the son of Seo Hwa and Wol Ryung. Kang Chi has been taken in by the a great nobleman and raised as human, but will soon have to face his true self, and even experience being an outcast.

What is really nice about the drama is the continues presense of Wol Ryung and Seo Hwa, otherwise it would have just been a repeat of history, quite boring. I really liked that couple and that they appeared again, and not just stayed as the couple that failed in the past. For a fantasy drama I think it did really fine. It touches the story of mystical creatures in the fores which is quite famous in asia, mainly china and korea. But it is not quite about Gumiho's which could be a bit confusing. The people in the drama call the beast a gumiho but it isn't the story of gumiho.. The actors did a great job, I did see some awkward acting from Sung Joon.. But overall it was good. In my opinion Suzy did well as well, also the character fits her good. Seungi did good althought I just couldnt see him as a 20 year old. Anyhow, nice drama, it was very alright but not the one you burn for watching. But close to it. I recommend it, a nice historical drama.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict

To start of I don’t think there is a drama like this one out there, in the positive way. But the storyline is seriously typical. You know the entire ‘monster-wanting-to-be-human-falls-in-love-with-a-human-who-loves-him-for-whatever-he-is” kind of drama. Though the beginning was fresh, even sad, and the drama continued in the same tragedy kind of feel, I was a bit annoyed by the general story of ‘history’ being repeated. Even though I can say I was excited at the ending by the thought there might be a season 2, I remembered how the first season started, and how they would just continue to repeat the story.

I love Lee Seung Gi and his characters, also the way he is portraying them, which is always a treat. Though this is my third time seeing Suzy in a different role, I can’t seem to enjoy her acting. She seriously needs a better character to portray. Generally the entire cast was good, so not much to say there.

Now, should you watch it? I think it is a good story about the Gumiho’s and a decent love story, so yeah go ahead!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Kuruma isu de Boku wa Sora wo Tobu SP Review

Title: Kuruma Isu de Boku wa Sora wo Tobu

AKA: I Will Soar to the Skies in my Wheelchair

Genre: Human drama

Broadcast date: 2012-Aug-25

Cast: Ninomiya Kazunari, Ueto Aya, Ikematsu Sosuke, Suzuki Fuku  and Yakushimaru Hiroko

Haseba Yasuyuki (Ninomiya Kazunari) is a delinquent who lived life with no seriousness. One day he gets into trouble with a gang, and in the mist of running away he jumps from a building, only to wake up in a hospital being told that he will never walk on his own feet ever again, matter of the fact his entire lower body is paralyzed. He loses any wish to live, until he meets Ishii Daisuke (Suzuki Fuku) a little kid suffering from cancer and Kato Kumi (Ueto Aya) a store staff, to whom he slowly confides to. But when Daisuke gets transferred and Kumi suddenly quits her job, and is released from the hospital, he starts to grasp the reality of his disability. He starts feeling that he is “a bother” to other people…

Wow. That’s what I can come up with: wow. This TV SP is amazing, like from the story to the acting all the way to the screenplay. And omg, I love the messages conveyed... Completely different from other dramas this one touches your heart directly, and the characters grow on you with the speed of light. Ninomiya is amazing completely believable, and everyone make it just more realistic. There are some parts that don’t seem to work, like happening to sudden, or you don’t get it completely, but it grows on you. Though I can’t say that everyone will love it, I can say that most will like it :)

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Gloomy Salad Days Review

Title: Gloomy Salad Days
Tagline: Dear death, please take away my misfortune, even if the price is for me to turn into a stone...
AKA: Death Girl
Genre: Human drama, supernatural
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: 2010-Oct to 2010-Dec
Cast: Aaron Yan and Serena Fang (and many many others...)

This story revolves around several students’ lives and how they come across Du He also known as Death Girl (Serena Fang) guardian of the ‘Bridge of Helplessness’. Every student has something part of their lives that they hate to the point of helplessness: that is where Death Girl comes in.

They can only see her with the black stone, and with that they are also able to summon her. They can request something from her, but if they still don’t overcome their helplessness they will become a part of her bridge as a rock.

Shen Qi (Aaron Yan) has the ability so see Death Girl even without the black rock, and tries to warn every student he sees talking to her, but the matter of the fact is that everyone thinks him as weird because of it. He eventually starts to fall in love with her, and beings to understand the meaning of life and death…

This is a very different kind of drama, with the entire dark setup, and it isn’t really my type of drama. I watched the first two episodes and really didn’t like it, but suddenly this grew on me, and I guess my mind became wicked as well. It deals with crazy stories, not those weak ones like Romeo and Juliet, but hardcore ones if you ask me, the ones that our society doesn’t agree on. Anyhow, all scenarios are unpredictable which is nice, also the endings of every story, as well as the last story. 
One thing was bothering me though: the students really don't give any f*** for their classmate, like he said that he has a braintumor, they laugh at him.. what's with that!?
So: good drama, but not really a happy one.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

1 litre of tears Review

Title: 1 litre of tears
AKA: 1 litre no namida / Ichi Rittoru no Namida / A Diary with Tears
Genre: Human, family, romance, school
Episodes:11
Broadcast period: 2005-Oct-11 to 2005-Dec-20
Cast: Sawajiri Erika, Yakushimaru Hiroko, Nishikido Ryo, Jinnai Takanori, Narumi Riko, Fujiki Naohito, Koide Saori, Sanada Yuma, Miyoshi Ai, Matsuyama Kenichi ...

The 15-year-old Ikeuchi Aya (Sawajiri Erika) has just been accepted to High School and is living her life fully, always being positive and having an active life. But then destiny strikes. She notices that her body slowly doesnt function right. Her body often doesnt register the moves she wants to make. She finds out that she has a disease called spinocerebellar degeneration. A disease that has no cure. She will slowly not be able to walk, speak, write and even eat. But Ikeuchi stays positive and is determined to never give up and fight till the last breath. And so she continues to go to school but will face a lot of difficulties as even her friends at some point cannot offer more of themselves in order to help her. But she has one great support. Which is her friend Asou Haruto (Nishikido Ryo), he is there for her and makes her forget that she has a disease.

I watched the movie a long time ago and i got one thing to say : Watch the drama! , haha the drama was so much better than the movie. You cannot not cry while watching it. I definitely recommend it. I like the whole story, the plot and also the actor i think were suited for it. Nishikido Ryo, at start it was kinda awkward, weird. But he is actually quiet good. The whole drama is really like inspiration for other people and kicks ur conscience hahah. Okay its really short. I dont know what to say. But its just a great drama with a great message !

☆☆☆☆½ / 4.5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict
This drama is one of my first. I got it recommended, so I gave it a shot, and I have to admit it was worth my time. It's well written, emotional and somewhat relatable. The actors are perfect for their roles and their chemistry is great, though it's a little to sudden(I think if they knew each other earlier on, it would have been more interesting), but heck. There isn't much negative here, so there isn't much to say about it :)
All in all, great watch ^^

☆☆☆☆½ / 4.5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide Review

Title: Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide
AKA: Dont forget about Niini
Genre: Family, human drama
Broadcast date: 2009-Aug-29
Cast: Nishikido Ryo, Tanaka Rena, Yamada Ryosuke, Shirakawa Yumi, Kuroki Hitomi and Jinnai Takanori.

Kawai Keisuke, Niini (Nishikido Ryo) has just been accepted to a high school and is celebrating with his family, his mother, father, younger brother and grandmother. They are sitting by the table and talking about Niini's future. After high school he wants to study at Tokyo University. He is a young boy who absolutely loves to study and is always aiming high when it comes to school. But that night as he is sitting by his table and is studying for school, suddenly he isnt seeing clearly, his head hurts, he cant hold his pencil and he starts shaking. Then he falls down on the floor. His mother hears some noise so she checks upon him cause she noticed earlier that he had a headache. When she comes into his room she sees him lying on the ground and shaking. Niini wakes up at the hospital. He notices that his parents are hiding something from him. He later on finds out, he got a brain tumor. So now his life is turned upside down. He is forced to skip first year of high school to get treatment. After a year the tumor has disappeared and Niini starts at the high school. But there is still a possibility that the tumor might return. And it sure does. 3 years later. Just as he is about to go to Tokyo Uni. He again has to fight against the tumor,, again and again. And he gets frustrated. So one day he run back home from the hospital. He goes into his room and the first thing he does is take a huge book and smash the window. He totally freaks out on the room. Ruins everything. And his mother comes in tries to stop him and he (freaking) punches his mother in the face!!!! . But then he decides to go to the hospital and fight against the disease.

*Sob, sob* . It actually made me cry!!. And think .. A lot.. Like what do u tell a person who is dying when they say "u dont knw how i feel!" and when they ask "why did this happen to me? why me when i have dreams. why not some other guy who's got no purpose in life?" and "i dont knw who i am anymore. what am i supposed to do".. aayyaaaaaa.. Seriously there is like nothing u can say that is going to make that person feel any better. Its the same question they ask and people are never able to give an answer. So i was actually surprised by this movie/sp drama. it made me thnk about stuff like that. and it must be hard to work at the hospital when people start thinking like that. like why exactly did it happen to them, u cant really answer that. In this drama Niini kept saying "U just keep telling me those empty words: Do ur best aso" but what can u else do. Sit down start crying with them. That wouldnt help much too. But anyway this drama is like mostly about not giving up on helping even though the one that needs help doesnt want it. And the best help is probably just being by their side and making them smile, that way it will be a little less hard for them to get through the day. And omo not to mention the time where the mother says "Hit me! i dont care! i will keep on saying "do ur best!"" and he freaking punches her!! in the face!!! his mother!!! But the reason i watched this was of course because of Ryo-Chan ! I thnk i got a crush on him >.<

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥/ 5 out of 5 hearts