Bokura no Yuuki - Miman City SP

Title: Bokura no Yuuki – Miman City Special

AKA: Our Courage – Miman City Special

Genre: Sci-fi, Mystery, Suspense

Broadcast date: 21 July 2017

Cast: Domoto Koichi, Domoto Tsuyoshi, Matsumoto Jun, Aiba Masaki, Kohara Yuki and Mukai Osamu.

20 years ago, Shindo Yamato (Domoto Koichi), Takigawa Takeru (Domoto Tsuyoshi), Eguchi Morio (Matsumoto Jun), Inagawa Akira (Aiba Masaki) and Okamoto Kiichi (Kohara Yuki) made a promise to reunite again at Makuhara. 20 years later, they meet again, but only Yamato, Takeru and Akira arrive, and the Makuhara they know, now looks completely different than it used to. The city has been trying to get on its feet after the cover up, and a lot of money has been invested in the rebuild.

One year later both Yamato and Takeru realize that something weird is happening with Akira, and while asking around they find out that he has been asking around for money. Morio had turned Akira down, and wants nothing to do with the past, so the duo decides to find him. Soon enough they realize that Makuhara isn't as safe as it is made out to be, but compared to before they might be too grown up to deal with the threat...

If you haven't watched the 1997 drama this summary might very well confuse you. I remember the drama being one of the first dramas I had watched in my early drama watching days, and I was so hooked due to the 'dark' elements of it. This special took me right back to those days, but it also took it up a notch. I was amazed that I didn't see 20 years of difference in their acting, and the reality of 'becoming a grownup' is so clear even in this special. Of course, I noticed things (such as lacking acting and lousy cover up) that made my eyebrows wrinkle, but it doesn't ruin the overall experience. It made me very nostalgic, and happy.

To sum up: a good special of the continuation story, of the 1997 drama – but I would recommend to watch the drama before the special.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Kizoku Tantei Review

Title: Kizoku Tantei

AKA: Noble Detective

Genre: Detective, Mystery, Comedy

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2017-Apr to 2017-Jun

Theme song: I’ll be there by Arashi

Cast: Aiba Masaki, Takei Emi, Namase Katsuhisa, Kinami Haruka and Okayama Amane.

Takatou Aika (Takei Emi) is a young detective, working at her master Kitami Kirikos (Igawa Haruka) detective agency. She hasn’t had a breakthrough even though she spends most of her time focusing on cases and her work - she rarely gets a deduction right.

Everything changes when she one-day encounters “The Noble Detective” (Aiba Masaki). Nothing is known about his except that he identifies himself as such, and that he is an aristocrat with a lot of money. All his deductions and investigations are carried out by his staff, and he spends most of his time entertaining young women involved in the cases.

Completely befuddled by his way of “being a detective”, Aika decides to prove to him what a real detective is, and competes with his in solving cases. Soon she realizes that The Noble Detective has some past with his master, and she starts to investigate him, but the further she goes, the less she is sure…

When I watched the first episode I wasn’t hooked at all, then when I continued I found the first drama ever that I couldn’t guess the ending off till the very last episode. That not only made me intrigued, but also looking forward to every week to see if the things I had guessed were right.

The acting in this drama was good, and the storyline is weird, though it grows on you quite fast. I must say that I didn’t expect to enjoy it that much, and for the first time ever I hadn’t noticed the small hints that were given throughout the series. When the last episode came out, I was surprised that I hadn’t connected the dots. And this made me realize how nice it must be not to be able to guess the ending. (Ha ha ha)

All in all, a weird yet good drama, with good acting, and they managed to ‘fool’ me, so a “well done detective drama”.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

MIRACLE: Debikurukun no Koi to Mahou Movie Review

Title: Miracle

AKA: Miracle - Debikurukun no Koi to Mahou / Miracle - Devil Claus' Love and Magic

Genre: Romance

Origin: Japan

Release date: November 22, 2014

Cast: Aiba Masaki, Eikura Nana, Han Hyo Joo and Ikuta Toma.

Hikaru (Aiba Masaki) is an unsuccessful manga artist, who not only is unable to get a breakthrough, but is indecisive in everything he has ever done. His best friend Anna (Eikura Nana), a competent and rather successful sculpturing artist, has always been protective over Hikaru. She knows everything about him, and has had a one-sided love for him which Hikaru hasn’t grasped at all.

Though unsuccessful, Hikaru draws ‘Debukuru-kun’; Santa’s evil counterpart, and post flyers all over the town at night. This is his form of stress release, as he is the ‘sorry’-type – apologizing every time something happens.

One night he bumps into Tae Soo Yeon (Han Hyo Joo) whom he falls immediately falls for, and believs he is destined to be with. After explaining the situation and Soo Yeon to Anna, Anna realizes who that woman might be – her project boss. So she promises Hikaru she’ll help him. Will Hikaru meet his destined woman?

Again a movie I picked up from the Japanese variety, though this one has another factor for me watching, and that is mainly because of Aiba Masaki. I think I have almost watched everything available online of Arashi drama/movie and this is no exception. This is the first Aiba romantic drama – in the actual sense of romance being the center of the movie, so I had to watch it.

The overall idea of the movie very Japanese as there has to be a bit of an odd characteristic, in this case the animated Devil Clause who is always in Hikaru’s mind, but that doesn’t weight too much to the movie, not does it annoy you too much. Surprisingly you feel kind of like Devil Clause is Hikaru’s mind, which is also quite interesting. Aiba as Hikaru was okay, I kind of feel all his character’s overlap – they are all quite cowardly to some extent, but I guess that is his image? And Eikura Nana as Anna was quite good at keeping her character real... Maybe she growing on me?

Now to the good part: is the movie recommendable? Well, I half-enjoyed it, as I was half-bored with it. The movie lacks somewhat depth, which is translated in the overall story to be honest. But then again, the acting somewhat has a bit of charm… So I dunno, maybe? Haha..

☆☆½ / 2½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Yokoso, Wagaya e Review

Title: Yokoso, Wagaya e

AKA: Welcome to my home

Genre: Family, Suspense

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2015-Apr to 2015-Jun

Theme song: Aozora no Shita, Kimi no Tonari by Arashi

Cast: Aiba Masaki, Sawajiri Erika, Arimura Kasumi, Minami Kaho and Terao Akira,

Kurata Kenta (Aiba Masaki) is a coward who avoids confrontation and disputes. Due to his upbringing he never bothers other people or does he trouble people, and uses preferably the sentence “I’m sorry” in any given circumstance. His father is the same way, and his mother is a happy person who never stops smiling. The only one in the family with a serious personality is the daughter, who is the complete opposite of everyone else.

The family is happy and loving family, until one day Kenta finds his courage and tells off a man who bothers people at the train platform. Here he also meets Kandori Asuka (Sawariji Erika) a woman that always speaks her mind without holding back.

After the situation the man runs off in embarrassment - but when Kenta takes the bus home that very man appears in the same bus. Creeped out Kenta gets out of the bus only to be followed by the man and it escalates with the man running after Kenta. Kenta runs around the neighborhood, and manages to lose him. The next morning though the flowerbeds in front of their house are ripped out. Unsure whether or not it is that man, Kenta wants to figure out who he is, and by pure luck meets Asuka again, who introduces herself as a journalist willing to help finding out the stalker.

But as it turns out more and more things start to happen to the family, continuously bothering them. Who can it be, and why the Kurata family?

My reason for watching this was mainly Aiba so I did not really read the summary of the plot. But I think that did kind of the good part here, not know what to expect.

The drama is a mellow family story with a psychological twist to it, as it is very disturbing to know that due to a little confrontation you can become a victim of severe stalking and what I call ‘chain-stalking’.  And to be honest, even though it isn’t all horror, it made my mouth dry quite a few times. Just the thought of ‘what-if-it-had-happened-to-me’ made me shiver. As I said: dirsturbing.

As a general it doesn’t isn’r scary, and the family is so adorable and fun to watch, so you don’t get that bored, but to be honest it is a bit too ‘chain-stalkerish’… you’ll get what I mean when/if you see it. And I wasn’t all that excited to find out the ending. Aiba is great as always, and to be honest everyone was good at acting, even Sawariji whom I never really liked before.

All in all: a good and interesting family drama with a hint of suspense.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Last Hope Review

Title: Last Hope

Genre: Hospital, Medical

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2013-Jan to 2013-Mar

Theme song: Calling by Arashi

Cast: Aiba Masaki, Tabe Mikako, Tanabe Seiichi, Koike Eiko and Kitamura Yukiya.

This drama revolves around a group of special doctors, who just recently were hired in one of the up-to-date hospital as a form of special team that help people who are at their last chance of getting cured. Hatano Takumi (Aiba Masaki) is a strange fella who has to eat a snack when the clock hits 3pm. He is different than the rest of the team since he is the only one not having a specialty. He is a “country doctor” meaning he is a doctor from a small village, and has helped his father in the family clinic. Being haunted by images from his past and having a scar on his body he can’t really explain, Takumi one day notices a newspaper with faces of the people he remembers from his childhood. Tachibana Ayumi (Tabe Mikako) is known as “The Machine”, meaning she never gets emotional about any cases, nor does she try to connect with her patients. Due to this she is being sued for malpractice by a family who believe that she is guilty for the state of their family member, this also gets the attention of a journalist who has found out that Ayumi is actually Aitani Kiko, but changed her name due to her father’s mishaps. Besides these two there are Takagi Junji (Tanabe Seiichi) a player ‘look-a-like’, but in fact has a deep emotional scar from losing the love of his life because of an illness. Ogiwara Yukiyo (Koike Eiko) a mother, divorced due to her husband’s infidelity, who wants to find the person who was responsible for her mother’s death. Soejima Masaomi (Kitamura Yukiya) the son of a hospital CEO who has had problems with his marriage, and Komaki Toshiaki (Kohinata Fumiyo)a researcher who lost his son, but refuses to believe so.

Every doctor has a past and dealing with, along with trying to be the last hope for their patients…

This is officially my favorite Aiba Masaki drama, and my favorite Japanese medical drama. I love that the backgrounds of the doctors is shown and every story is taken care of, and I love that there isn’t really a love story, I mean sometimes you just shouldn’t add one. It does have love stories in it, but not as the main story which made it more enjoyable than expected. I love that every character is its own and that they really have this individuality - also that they all somehow connect without crossing paths. I never really imagined Aiba as a doctor, but it really worked for me, also I didn’t expect to like Tabe, but I did.

Without trying to ruin the drama, I’ll just go ahead and recommend t :)  

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri Review

Title: Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri

Genre: Detective, Comedy

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2012-Apr to 2012-Jun

Theme song: Your Eyes by Arashi

Cast: Aiba Masaki, Fujiki Naohito, Okura Tadayoshi, Oomasa Aya and Matsuko Deluxe.

Katayama Yoshitaro (Aiba Masaki) is a detective really unsuitable for the job: he is afraid of heights, blood and women. He loves doing housework, is incredibly naïve, believing everyone, and is very gentle and too nice. Being forced to be a detective by his older brother Katayama Hiroshi (Fujiki Naohito) and younger sister Katayama Harumi (Oomasa Aya), due to the family’s percept “One family, one detective” meaning that there is every generation has to be one detective. Hiroshi dreams and strives to become a novelist, and Harumi is working part-time jobs dreaming of becoming an actress. The two basically don’t let Yoshitaro quit his job so the two can do whatever they want, even when Yoshitaro takes a resignation letter to his boss, the siblings make sure to go to his workplace and take back the letter.

After his 4^th failed resignation, he and his fellow co-worker detective Ishizu (Okura Tadayoshi) are assigned to go to a girl’s school, where Yoshitaro sees a cat. He is warned about the cat having a reputation of scratching and biting people so no one wants it, but when he approaches the cat, nothing happens. The cat is introduced as Holmes, and when he takes it home he is surprised to see the cat transform into a human form (Matsuko Deluxe), but only in front of him/in his eyes. When a murder happens in the same school Holmes helps Yoshitaro, and slowly Yoshitaro becomes better and better at his job.

This is a very family oriented drama, which focuses on making the audience guess who the killer is. Presenting the evidence do that everyone understands, and having a family discuss the issues makes the audience get involved and helping them guess the methods and reasons. The cats as ‘Holmes’ gives it a humorous side to it, and having the lead actor not being interested in being a detective makes it funnier than usual police dramas. This drama suits Aiba the most, and fits his personality almost perfectly.

I did enjoy this mainly because it’s not as annoying as the typical dramas, and it’s very light, meaning a great break from all other dramas. A good Japanese drama.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Yellow Tears Movie Review

Title: Yellow Tears

AKA: Kiiroi namida

Genre: Human

Release Date: April 14, 2007

Origin: Japan

Cast: Sakurai Sho, Aiba Masaki, Ninomiya Kazunari, Ohno Satoshi, Kashii Yu and Matsumoto Jun

This story revolves around 4 friends who stay together in a one bed room apartment in the summer of 1962. All five are artists who just can’t seem to make themselves progress in their work; Muraoka Eisuke (Ninomiya Kazunari) a manga artist, actually talented and the only one who actually earns something with his work, Mukai Ryuzo (Sakurai Sho) a novelist, who isn’t able to write anything, Inoue Shoichi (Aiba Masaki) a musician who failes every audition, and has something going on with Tokie (Kashii Yu) the daughter of the ramen shop owner, and Shimokawa Kei (Ohno Satoshi) a painter, with talent but isn’t able to sell anything.

The four try hard to earn money and live together, but dreams are hard to make come true, and sometimes reality can hit you to the curve…

Okay, I started this at least 5 times before actually got a grip and continued it. This is sooooo Japanese and has all the factors of adulthood in it. Again the subjects about dream, love and future are in this, except it’s not just the focus. I can’t really explain it; you seriously follow four guys (Matsumoto is a special appearance sometimes) who just live through every day, imagining HOW to start to make their dreams come true, and what’s worst, none of them have the money to buy food. So the only one buying the food is also the only one with a job! LOL.. It’s interesting… hahah.. Actually very enjoyable! :)

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts 

Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakara Happy Movie Review

Title: Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakara Happy

Genre:  Friendship, Life

Release Date: March 1, 2004

Origin: Japan

Cast: Ohno Satoshi, Sakurai Sho, Aiba Masaki, Ninomiya Kazunari and Matsumoto Jun

It has been three years since the group had split, and the leader finally returned to Yashio, but things have changed; not only is the housing complex where Takuma (Ninomiya Kazunari) used to live about to get demolished, but the rest have changed drastically. Haru (Ohno Satoshi) and Bon (Matsumoto Jun) got into a disagreement about the demolishing of the complex which they had been fighting hard to keep, so that Takuma could have a place to return, which leads to Bon leaving Yashio, and Haru joining the demonstrants. Shun (Aiba Masaki) almost fell into depression after failing the Aoegaku University entrance for the third time, but found peace at a crochet school. Chu (Sakurai Sho) on the other hand settled down: got married and has a kid, so he started as a sales man in order to feed his family.

All have problems of their own, and they soon realize that life is tougher than they imagined…

Different from the first one, this one is about the gang being ‘grown ups’, and that itself is pretty funny. But the movie is not that great compared to the first one, mainly because the storyline only has one focus, whereas the first one had several. Or that’s how I remember it. Still it’s enjoyable, and the boys are as cute as ever, hehe..

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Pikanchi - Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy Movie Review

Title: Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy

Genre: Friendship, Life

Release Date: October 18, 2002

Origin: Japan

Cast: Ohno Satoshi, Sakurai Sho, Aiba Masaki, Ninomiya Kazunari and Matsumoto Jun

This movie revolves around 5 high school students, who live in the Yashio Housing complex in Shinagawa. What’s special about it is that even though it’s big and has all the necessities, it’s not really part of Shinagawa city, and is linked by only two bridges. The 5 students are friends from different homes, and statuses; Futaba Rentarou ”Bon” (Matsumoto Jun) living in the wealthy part of Yashio and his father is the owner of a restaurant, but does not act superior because of that. He is simple- and open-minded to everyone and everything, and always has a smile on his face. Takada Haruhiko ”Haru” (Ohno Satoshi) is known to be the most unlucky guy in Yashio, also works hard to earn money since he lives in the part of the average houses. But due to his unfortunate and rather spaced out nature, he’s most likely to wind up without any of his earnings. Okano Shun (Aiba Masaki) our narrator lives at the same complex as Haru, and is as average as he could be, except his father is the radio DJ of the surrounding place.  Kamogawa Tadashi “Chu” (Sakurai Sho) is a Yankee living in the bad part of Yashio, where he is the leader of a smaller bike gang. Lastly there is Onda Takuma (Ninomiya Kazunari) living in poor part of Yashio. When he first started school the rest thought of him as a stuck up kid, since he always has the newest of the newest stuff, they soon realize that he was shoplifting, and he ends up becoming their leader.

After the group try to go to Harajuku - the ‘big city’ - they all encounter different situation, which leads them all to start to think about their future…

Hmm, I think you could call this a Japanese answer for American pie? Haha, okay maybe not completely, but it sure is funny. At first I was thinking that it’s pretty ridiculous, but somehow it grows on you and the characters somehow have an effect on you. All four boys are completely mad, and instead of being disgusted, I laughed and went “That’s such a guy thing!”. So I just let go, and became open-minded, and joyed every part of it. It’s not really the most interesting movie, but entertainment wise, good.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Bartender Review

Title: Bartender
Genre: Drama
Episodes: 8
Broadcast period: 2011-Feb to 2011-Apr
Theme song: Lotus by Arashi
Cast: Aiba Masaaki and Kanjita Shihori

As her grandfather is her only family, Kurushima Miwa (Kanjiya Shihori) grew up having a strong bond with him. Since he is a head of a newly opened hotel he has been teacher her divers things, such as how to manage a hotel and how to deal with the bussniss, but the one thing he has had biggest pride in is the main bar. He loves liquor and has told Miwa about ‘The God of Glass’ which is the one glass that can make a person forget all his loneliness and sadness. His wish is to find a bartender able to make such a glass and put him as the main bartender in the main bar. This wish Miwa wants to make come true.

She herself is a journalist who writes about drinking spots, for woman who look for them. As she one da finds a possible bartender, Sasakura Ryu (Aiba Masaaki), maybe able to make The Gods Glass, she finds out he is no longer a bartender. When she by accident bumps into him, and convinces him to return to the bartending world, and his first mission is to make a drink to Miwa’s grandfather, who is not easy to please. The drama follows Sasakura Ryu and the guests who enter the bar he is working at…

It’s a good drama it’s just I have zero interest in liquor.. Like you know, they talk about it, and like share emotions, and I’m like “really?”. But Aiba was great in this, seriously, like he has grown, and it felt real to me, sort of natural watching him. Though it was kind a fun seeing him do the shaking part, you know when they mix the stuff and look away shaking the mixture, yeah, so funny…tihihi,,, Oh yeah, and I wonder what it is, but he kind a looks hot in the apron, or is it just me...

The storyline was not that exciting, but it was sweet and if nothing else, just watch it for Aiba :)

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3out of 5 hearts

My Girl (Asahi) Review

Title: My Girl
Genre: Family
Episodes: 10
Broadcast period: 2009-Oct to 2009-Dec
Theme song: My Girl by Arashi
Cast: Aiba Masaki, Ishii Momoka, Yuka, Murakami Shingo and Hiraiwa Kami.

Kazama Masamune (Aiba Masaku) has lived in past of the memories of his ex-girlfriend Yoko(Yuka), whom he had loved more than anything. Being five years older than him, she left him, hiding the fact that she was pregnant with his child. She gave birth to the child Koharu(Ishii Momoka), raised her, all without Masamunes knowing, of her existance. Six years pass, Masamune is struggeling with a lowpayed job, as a assistant-photografter, not being capable to give his best at his job, and becoming the photgrafer he wants. All year, hes been trying to get a hold of his one and true love,but none of his letters were replied.
One day he finds out that his ex had died, and that he has a daughter, whom he had never heard of. At first Masamune refuses to take her in, as he feels that he isnt ready to take in a small child, but as he gets to know her, he is willing to take the risk. Not getting any support from his mother, his friend, his job and having a pain-in-the-butt nurser, he tries his best to stay with his daughter.

Aaah, another great drama.. They keep piling up :P
Lol, okay, this drama was sweet, fun and totally eye-candy. Eventhough Aiba comes across as a geek and is pretty pathetic throughout the beginning, but ends up, very mature..(which probably is the meaning behind the drama :P)
Aiba is amazing, totally J.E style, just without the "im cool" vibe, which was pretty refreshing to be honest. The little girl, Ishii Momoka, was cute and to cuddle, and really good at acting, eventhough the character ended up being too adult, she kept it real. The interation with the two (so called chemistry - Family chemistry I mean) is superb, very credible, so to sum up, great!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts