Iryu Sosa 4 Review

Title: Iryu Sosa Season 4

AKA: CSI: Crime Scene Talks Season 4

Genre: Police, Mystery, Crime

Episodes: 9

Broadcast period: 2017-Jul to 2017-Sep

Cast: Kamikawa Takaya, Kuriyama Chiaki, Toda Keiko, Nagai Masaru and Miyazaki Karen.

This is the fourth season of the drama series.

During a cruise trip in Kyoto, Itomura Satoshi (Kamikawa Takaya) is, together with the passengers and crew of the ship, hijacked by gunmen, right leaving the harbour. While threatening to blow up the ship, the gunmen blow up one of them, leaving small burnt pieces of paper behind. Using his smarts, he tries to alert the police, who have occupied the harbor, of possible on-shore accomplices. His signal is spotted by Kanzaki Rio (Kuriyama Chiaki), a detective of the Special Crime Management and Control Office (Tokutai), a team that specializes in crimes that are seen as either too wired or hard to solve. Soon enough the cruise is saved, but the hijackers are nowhere to be found. But Itomura believes otherwise, and the Tokutai are introduced to the unique man, only interested in the burnt pieces of paper, left by the hijackers….

Sorry about the summary - it’s been a while.

After four seasons, you kind of get used to the flow and storylines of this drama. It is a nice break from serious and heavy dramas, and you can enjoy it without much prior knowledge. Though I haven’t watched the special that is in between season 3 and season 4, I felt that I didn’t need it. I could follow the story, and I again, didn’t need any backstory. Season 4 is also different, in the sense that we are in a different city and with different characters (except Itomura of course), so it is very refreshing. I also feel like this season has turned up the storytelling - the individual episode stories are really well-written and good.

All in all, a good drama with good acting - and good storytelling.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Kagi no Kakatta Heya 2014 SP Review

Title: Kagi no Kakatta Heya Special

AKA: The Locked Room Murders

Genre: Mystery, Detective

Broadcast date: 2014-Jan-03

Theme song: Face Down by Arashi

Cast: Ohno Satoshi, Toda Erika, Sato Koichi and Fujiki Naohito.

The story continues after Enomoto (Ohno Satoshi) leaves Japan, after the case of the missing diamonds. Serizawa (Sato Koichi) has been successful in many of his cases due to the extra time he has got with not following around Enomoto, and Aoto (Toda Erika) has become more familiar with her work after having become a real lawyer on her own. Even though they have not heard of Enomoto for a long time, the two secretly miss the “Team Enomoto” and the mystery cases.

When Serizawa arrives early at a client’s home, he sleeps in his car after spotting a man looking at him, and is woken by the client’s niece. The two enter the locked room only to find him murders. At the same time Aoto is looking for a man who has saved a man’s life, but had no way of entering the room except with a key. There she meets Enomoto again, who solves the case in matter of minutes, and decides to help Serizawa in finding the locked door murderer…

This drama has a certain ‘feel’ to it, which I had forgotten about. But when watching the special all the emotions and the ‘feel’ I had watching the serial, I remembered when watching the special. The comedy was great and awesome as always, and the crime was amazing due to the point it being actually reasonable and not theatrical. I was actually very interested in seeing how the killer did it, which I couldn’t do in any way even if it was possible to guess. I love these actors, Ohno of course, Erika as always, but I really enjoyed Koichis comedic role. I love that Erikas character has become smarter in guessing the murders, and also I love Ohnos character becoming more interesting, with that I mean his past and most definatly his way of dealing with his knowledge..

So recommendable? Yes, but you should watch the drama, just for the sake of the amazing cast.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 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

DOG x Police Movie Review

Title: Dog x Police
AKA: The K-9 Force
Genre: Action, Police
Origin: Japan
Release date: October 01, 2011
Cast: Ichihara Hayato, Toda Erika, Murakami Jun, Takeyama Takanori, Abe Shinnosuke and Tokito Saburo.

Hayakawa Yusaku (Ichihara Hayato) is an aspiring police officer with the dream of becoming a detective. When a serial bomber racks the streets of Tokyo, he is dreaming of becoming like one of those detectives that solve cases, and actually happens to spot a suspicious man. While running after him and catching him, a man is involved needing to help birth somewhere. Doing his duty, he helps the man, only to find out he is a veterinarian, and delivers puppies. Yusaku witnesses the delivery, and when the last puppy comes out, he is surprised to see it is an albino - and not breathing. The veterinarian says that it is a lost case, but shocked by that Yusaku tries desperately to revive it, and succeeds.
Several months later Yusaku is transferred to a different unit, but is disappointed to find out that it isn’t the detective unit but the K-9 Force. That unit is a dog patrol unit, which teaches dogs to search and to attack criminals. There he meets his instructor Mizuno Natsuki (Toda Erika), a harsh woman, with love for her job. Yusaku on the other hand is annoyed and disappointed in his transfer, so his chief decides to get him a ‘buddy’, a dog. By coincidence he gets buddied up with Shiro, a white dog who happens to be the albino he saved. Slowly he starts to get close to the dog, and they form a bond, but the when the bomber strikes again, it becomes the K-9 Force’s job to help…

Two plusses, Hayato and Erika, and one for the dog Shiro, being super cute, but that’s it. The story is good, but just a bit to newbie’sh for me. I feel good acting, but weak storyline, and screenplay. It almost feels halfhearted, but trying sometimes though, actually getting me teary at the end. So should you watch it? Hmm, it’s not bad, nor is it boring, just yeah, healfhearted…

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Kagi no Kakatta Heya Review

Title (romaji): Kagi no Kakatta Heya
AKA: The Locked Room Murders
Genre: Mystery, Detective
Episodes: 11
Broadcast period: 2012-Apr to 2012-Jun
Theme song: Face Down by Arashi
Cast: Ohno Satoshi, Toda Erika and Sato Koichi.

When Aoto Junko (Toda Erika) officially starts working at a law firm, she somehow manages to mess up on the first day. Her boss Serizawa Gou (Sato Koichi) is sort of a dominant man, but is easily persuaded. The two go to a bank in order to deal with a financial case; the bank director and Serizawa go inside a high tech vault, only to be locked inside by Aoto. When she finds out that the only way to open the vault is the bank director, all hope seems lost. That is until a funny character arrives: Enomoto Kei (Ohno Satoshi) a weird and expressionless person with an incredible mind. He works at a security firm and manages to open the ‘impossible’ vault in matter of minutes. This leads Aoto to ask Enomoto for help, solving a ‘Locked-room-case’ they had been entrusted in earlier that day, which Enomoto doesn’t refuse; because he believes that “There is no room that can’t be unlocked”.

Defiantly one of the best Japanese dramas of the year; not that I have watched that many this year, but so far the best. Ohno Satoshi doesn’t fail to empress me, and Toda Erika is surprisingly good at being bubbly. I really like the theme of the drama, and to be honest, I would never had thought that I would need so much time to figure out who the killer is to the point where I had no clue, and I’m usually decently good at it.

Anyways, the drama is recommendable, so if you missed interesting Japanese dramas you should watch this : )

☆☆☆☆/ 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Liar Game Review

Title: Liar Game
Genre: Psychological thriller
Episode: 11
Broadcast period: 2007-Apr-14 to 2007-Jun-23
Cast: Toda Erika, Matsuda Shota, Kitamura Soichiro, Wada Soko, Iwasa Mayuko, Sakamoto Makoto, Morishita Yoshiyuki, Ippongi Shingo aso..

Kanzaki Nao is an extraordinary girl. She is extremely honest and kind and wouldnt want to hurt anyone, she just wants everyone to be happy and does whatever she can - or cant - just to please them. But then... one day.. she receives a package. Of course she doesnt suspect anything so she just opens it, and inside there is one hundred million yen and a card that says if she opened the package she has to participate in Liar Game. She now has to either trick the hundred million yen out of her opponent who turns out to be her former teacher. How is she gonna manage? will she succeed or is she gonna end up with a hundred million debt ?

I am soooo late on this drama i know, lol, but i guess if i am there must be some others as well so here's an review anyway :P The games they play are like extreme, its extreme how they trick one another and im just sitting there like "whaaa...". So if you're into those mind game dramas this is definitely one you gotta watch. But i still somehow had a hard time watching it. I mean, it wasnt boring, but it wasnt exciting either, yeah it was interesting, but not the interesting that makes you excited. Lol, but it all depends on what you like watching. Maybe because its a bit old. I just wasnt satisfied it wasnt good enough like some other mystery dramas/movies.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥/ 3 out of 5 hearts

Bunji's verdict
This was one of the first Japanese dramas I’ve watched, and I loved it. I loved the psychological part, Toda Erika and Matsuda Shota, heck I even remembered his characters name long after I finished it, but didn’t remember the leads…
It’s one of the few great ones out there; with a brilliant cast, brilliant storyline and not to mention crazy twists. It’s recommendable for people with the likes for messed up confusing dramas - like seriously messed up and confusing…

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

BOSS 2 Review

Title: BOSS Season 2
Genre: Crime, Detective, Comedy
Episodes: 11
Broadcast period: 2011- to 2011-
Cast: Amami Yuki, Toda Erika, Takenouchi Yukata, Hasegawa Kyoko, Mizobata Junpei and Tamayama Tetsuji.

This season continues two years after a terrorist situation, where the team got split up because of an incident that happened shortly after. Osawa Eriko (Amami Yuki) is back, older, louder and much bossier, putting the team back after her friend and boss Nodate Shinjiro (Takenouchi Yutaka) becomes director. As Kimoto Mami (Toda Erika) is blamed for the mishap that happened in their last incident, she is transferred and new members join the team. But the team has trust issues towards Osawa, believing she is the one that threw Kimoto out, making them lag in action.

I love this series. Watched season one and thought it was different; funny and somewhat realistic. To be honest I watched season one because of Toda Erika, but ended up being a big fan of Amami Yuki (the one that plays boss), now waiting eagerly for subs on one of her newer dramas. Different than season 1, season 2 is a bit loose at the beginning, with random cases, but ends up pretty thrilling, was very excited at the last episode. On the other hand, the last scene(s) are a bit disappointing. Was at least expecting a big POW, or something... To sum up, good/great watch, but not too wowing: P

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3,5 out of 5 hearts

Jenji's verdict
Waaah, I really missed this drama, I love how japanese dramas (not saying tht other dont but mostly japanese) make you really excited and looking forward to watching the drama. This one did too, a lot of things happen and its actually a really good drama when talking about quality. It did start out a bit weird, it was confusing because you dont really get to know anything from the end of season 1, but I guess that was because of the ending. Still really great, but I missed a bit that.. they are always successful, you know that at the end of every episode its gonna end good. But again not necessarily a con, just me maybe got a bit tired of it, some times its really complicated and you feel like an idiot watching it but thats mostly typical japanese dramas lol. But if you have watched season one definitely watch this one too, its great.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3,5 out of 5 hearts

Liar Game: The Final Stage Movie Review

Title: Liar Game: The Final Stage
AKA: Liar Game The Movie
Genre: Psychological thriller
Origin: Japan
Release date: 6 March 2010
Cast: Toda Erika, Matsuda Shota, Watanabe Ikkei and Kichise Michiko.

After finally being able to leave the horrible game, LIAR GAME, the naive Kanzaki Nao (Toda Erika) tries to get her life back on track. One day, when she returns home, she receives a letter from the ‘game’, saying that she has been elected to be part of the final stage of the game. In order to get her to join, Tanimura Mitsuo (Watanabe Ikkei) tells her that she is the only one to save Akiyama Shinchi (Matsuda Shota), he friend and helper through the entire game, and the only one he trusts.
As naive as she is, she accepts, and leaves for the finals, were she is shocked to see that the gamers and game have become more horrible than before.

Wohoo!! The best way to end this series, and the best game EVER!! (I mean of all, the “Garden of Eden” game was the best). I liked the fact that Nao became cooler, even though she still is so naive her mind has become smarter. She really makes the twists in this series.
Toda Erika and Matsuo Shota as a couple are beyond amazing! They have this weird chemistry, were you go “is he flirting?” and “did she just say that because she likes him?”. But that is also the one thing I didn’t like; you wonder whether they like each other all the time.
I’m not going to spoil no more.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4,5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Engine Review

Title: Engine
Genre: Family, Comedy, Romance
Episodes: 11
Broadcast period: 2005-Apr to 2005-Jun
Theme song: I Can See Clearly Now by Jimmy Cliff
Insert song: Angel by Aerosmith
Cast: Kimura Takuya, Koyuki, Toda Erika, Ueno Juri, Nakajima Yuto and Arioka Daiki.

After being kicked out of the Italian race team, Kanzaki Jiro (Kimura Takuya) returns to Japan, to re-join the japanese race team. As he returns home, he finds out that his father has made the house where he had grown up in, to a orphanage, and the fact that he hates children doesnt help him with the fact that he is to live with them. Being a orphan himself, before he was adopted by his father, he feels with the children and accepts living there. Taking care of the children are a teacher, Mizukoshi Tomomi (Koyuki), a male nurse, a cook, his father and his older sister.
As he is rejected by the coach of the japanese race team, and he tries to solve the issues of his dream, he gets tangled up with Tomomi-sensei, and the 12 children; he learns from them, and they learn from him..

Hmm, looooove this one!! Instead of a high-school teacher being the one helping the students, it's a racer helping orphans or children that aren't being helped. I loved it, all of it. Loved Kimuras acting, him pairing up with Koyuki, who by the way looks stunning with him, the oldest and wisest of the children Ueno Juri, the over the top loud girl Toda Erika, the smart ass Nakajima Yuto, the overprotecting brother Arioka Daiki, the deliquent Ishida Hoshi and all the ADORABLE children! Gossh, I watched it several times. Thuss the ending was to sudden and we didnt really see how the ending happend (trying not to spoil), and the "what-happend-in-the-future-speech" was unnessesary. But I still loved it, and made me wanna start a orphanage myself, hehe.. *dreams of a japanese orphanage*

☆☆☆☆½ / 4,5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Jenji's verdict
Okay. Kimura Takuya is... AMAZING. I cant believe it. He is sooooo guuuuuuuuud !!!! Ive had the drama on my pc for a while now and thn i watched it and im like "WHT HAVE I BEEN WAITING FOR" . Seriously there arent many of these kind of dramas. Those that give u such strong,, feelings. Like its a really nice story and i love that its an orphanage thats so cool, i mean its sad. But i think orphan kids are cool. Not that its cool to be orphan. I mean. Orphans are special and should be treated right. They should get all the support possible from people around them. And i loved the way Jiro handled them. Like anyone else he would. Like he so straightforward and i think that is why the kids love him. Seriously that guy he so cool. And the drama is okay realistic.. sometimes in dramas they kinda overdo it so you think "yeaa right as if tht would ever happen" but here they are okay. 


☆☆☆☆½/ 4.5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥/5 hearts 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