A LIFE Review

Title: A Life

AKA: A Life: A Love

Genre: Medical, Romance

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2017-Jan to 2017-Mar

Cast: Kimura Takuya, Takeuchi Yuko, Matsuyama Kenichi and Kimura Fumino.

Okita Kazuaki (Kimura Takuya) is a well-known surgeon working in Seattle. He is called back to Japan to do a surgery on his old mentor and chief, who is the father of his ex-girlfriend Danjo Mifuyu (Takeuchi Yuko). Having left Japan suddenly 10 years ago, he and Mifuyu hadn’t had time to work on their relationship, so she had decided to accept a proposal from Masao (Asano Tadanobu), Kazuaki’s best friend.

After returning and finishing the surgery, Kazuaki can’t wait to go back, but is asked to stay by Masao. He is asked to stay to do a brain surgery on Mifuyu, as Masao himself believes he is unable to do surgery on a loved one. So, he asks Kazuaki to do it, since he doesn’t have feelings for Mifuyu anymore… or does he?

Okay, I had the hardest time writing this summary. After watching 10 episodes I realized that the main plot and storyline really does not look good on the screen. I don’t really understand what the purpose or where supposed growth in Kimuras character went? I thought he was a main character, but he felt like an overrated second lead. I don’t understand what the meaning of this drama is? I get that the acting was good, but I felt no evolving story. They tried to make it “interesting”, but I felt it was rather an unnecessary story to be told. Ive seen movies and dramas that work at a much slower pace, with less story, and yet I am so disappointed in this drama that not even the acting could make me recommend it.

I can’t even explain my ratings. I guess the only thing I can say is watch it, and judge for yourself.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

AGAIN!! Review

Title: Again!

Genre: Time Travel, School, Comedy

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2014-Jul to 2014-Oct

Cast: Fujii Ryusei, Hayami Akari, Kojima Fujiko, Kusumi Koharu and Okano Maya.

Imamura Kinichiro (Fuji Ryuseii) is high school senior with absolutely nothing to aspire to, and full of regrets for not being able to have great memories during his high school life. On the day of his graduation he by accident falls down some stairs together with Fujieda Akira (Okano Maya), and wakes up 3 years in the past, on the day of his freshman year of high school. Believing he can change his past, he decides to look for the one person he had been wanting to ask one question, all through his high school life. But when he finds out that the girl, Usami Yoshiko (Hayami Akari), he had remembered as someone he looked up to, is member of the cheer squad, he decides to find out what had made him look up to her in the past. At the same time, he and Akira try to find out why and how they ended up in the past…

This is one of those Japanese dramas that are lighthearted and funny, yet can bring forth a good message at the end. Even though the drama has many, maybe too many, silly points, the drama as a general is fun to watch is interesting. Though I must say I was at one point bored and annoyed, but that is a personal preference with these dramas, where I prefer the supporting actress with the lead. I know a lot of time I have it the opposite way, but the lead actress in this drama was unlikeable to say the least.

As a fan of time travel I will say this: the idea was quite intriguing. I didn’t understand how it happened but when it did I didn’t mind it. I was quite surprised by the idea of the means. Though if it had continued for more than 10 episodes I would have started questioning how and why, so thankfully it didn’t.

The acting was very b-rated and over the top, but still watchable.

So all in all, a fun and interesting drama, though not one of the great ones out there.

☆☆½ / 2½ out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2½ out of 5 stars

Botchan 2016 SP Review

Title: Botchan

Genre: Period, School

Broadcast date: January 3, 2016

Cast: Ninomiya Kazunari, Matsushita Nao, Furuta Arata, Yashima Norito, Mitsuhiro Oikawa and Yamamoto Koji.

Botchan (Ninomiya Kazunari) is a newly educated teacher who hates injustice and lies. After being offered a job far from his hometown, he is sent to a rural town. Here he meets several different characters, but is put in a pinch when he tells his honest opinion to the school’s vice-principle (Mitsuhiro Oikawa). Unlike every other teacher in the school, Botchan tells the truth, which leads to a fight of power versus honesty…

Sorry for the short summary, but this is one special that would ruin the entire thing if I spoiled too much.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen Ninomiya in a drama – Yowakutemo Katemasu (2014) I think was the last, so having him do a TV SP is quite refreshing. But generally, any drama or movie he does is good, so I never hesitate to watch his dramas or movies.

This special is good as it doesn’t focus on disharmony of an institution but the chaos too much harmony can bring. I love that the setting is in the early 19’s, which gives it and form of discipline yet shows that children will always be children no matter the year. Nino does a great job, and so does the rest of the cast.

To sum up, the special is interesting and fun to watch, so I would recommend it to history and school drama fans.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Library Wars 2 Movie Review

Title: Library Wars: The Last Mission

AKA: Library Wars 2

Genre: Action, Romance, Thriller

Origin: Japanese

Release date: October 10, 2015

Cast: Okada Junichi, Eikura Nana, Tanaka Kei, Fukushi Sota, Matsuzaka Tori and Kuriyama Chiaki.

“Media Betterment announces new controls on media. A bright future for our society a sound upbringing for our children. Eliminate harmful books, media, and thought. Juvenile of fences are down 2.3 percent since the Betterment Act was passed. We must eradicate harmful books and harmful thought. The burning of books is suppression of thought! This country now exists under a reign of terror!” (intro of movie)

The sequel continues after the special. Kasahara Iku (Eikura Nana) has figured out that Dojo Atsushi (Okada Junichi) is the man who saved her favorite book and her first love. Unable to confess her love, she tries not to act different around him; but when one of her coworkers decides to burn some confiscated book she is framed for it, and in order to save Dojos reputation she takes the blame.

On the opposition - the Media Betterment Committee – someone is feeding hate toward the Library Defense Force. While the LDF is out on a mission helping a fellow Library set up a confiscated book drop off, the MBC decides to go all out and remove the task force once and for all…

Compared to the first one I liked this one a bit better, but it was no less to the first one. For some reason when you watch it you don’t think about how absurd the ‘wars’ are, and yet when you have to explain it; you kind of face palm yourself. The movie is so great, and I love that it isn’t a movie about people hating other people, rather it focuses on the issue such a free will and thought. Though there is the usual villain, and the ‘us’ against ‘them’ vibe flowing around. As the climax goes this movie nails it, as even I was pretty shocked when I understood what was happening – so that is quite the achievement.

I absolutely adore the lead couple: the fact that she is taller than him, and that he has to look up to meet her eyes *amazed* And for some reason you don’t really feel the age gap at all… so great acting! To be fair the movie has a lot of thin layer of missing substance, but they actually make up for it by giving the characters such great chemistry and personalities.

So would I recommend this movie? Yes, I would. But I believe people should watch the first one – just to get the entire picture, and be a bit loose on the entire ‘war’ thing.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

99.9 Review

Title: 99.9

AKA: Criminal Lawyers

Genre: Legal, Drama

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2016-Apr to 2016-Jun

Theme song: Daylight by Arashi

Cast: Matsumoto Jun, Kagawa Teruyuki, Eikura Nana and Kishibe Ittoku.

In Japan the conviction rate is 99,9% which means when someone is prosecuted the chance for being exonerated is only 0,1%, so if you are innocent your chances are very low. This drama follows a special team of lawyers and paralegals challenge the system by taking on the cases of 0,1% to find the truth.

Miyamoto Hiroto (Matsumoto Jun) is a lawyer who lives for finding the truths behind cases that includes investigating himself. Though he has zero interest in money, he has a high sense of honesty.

When he offered a job in the special unit he declines at first, but after some time he agrees as his curiosity for cases increases. Partnered with him and also an ambitious man is Sada Atsuhiro (Kagawa Teruyuki) who hates the idea of honesty, and prefers to work FOR the clients so that they can win – different than Miyamoto who refuses to lie no matter the reason. The two are forced to lead the team, but soon find a common goal and try to win the 0,1% cases...

Another Arashi drama! I simply love their dramas since they are probably some of the best Japanese idol actors out there, good enough to lose the 'idol' and just be seen as actors. Matsumoto has had a couple of good ones, and to be honest I was afraid he'd do a romance again (not that he's bad at it, just way too typical), so you can imagine my surprise when I saw him in a drama with no romance. It is also one of the few where the focus is mainly on the sub-stories of the drama, and doesn't really have a main storyline that fills the plot. This makes it easy to follow even if it is quite heavy with the law and legal talk going around.

Besides that, the general drama is not really one of my favorite. It is interesting, but not something you watch to follow every single week, and it doesn't keep you on edge – not that it is necessary for it – but it makes it pretty slow paced while watching.

All in an okay drama to watch, but not a drama that keeps you on edge.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Ando Lloyd Review

Title: Ando Lloyd

Tagline: A.I. knows LOVE?

Genre: Sci-fi, Futuristic, Romance

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2103-Oct to 2013-Dec

Cast: Kimura Takuya, Shibasaki Kou, Oshima Yuko, Kiritani Kenta, Honda Tsubasa and Endo Kenichi.

Matsushima Reiji (Kimura Takuya) is mathematical genius with a bit of an awkward stance. He works as a professor at a college with his younger sister who is equally brilliant as he, as his assistant professor. After meeting his girlfriend Ando Asahi (Shibasaki Kou) while playing Shogi online, the two fall deeply in love and decide to get married. All this changes when Reiji one day notices that a fellow researcher dies in what seems to be an accident, but Reiji firmly tells his sister that he is next in line, as he has found a list circulating online of people who will die: and he is next on the list. Reiji leaves the office in order to save the next one on the list after him: Asahi. He calls Asahi and declares his love for her, which confuses Asahi, especially when someone calls her right after. This makes Asahi suspicious and she leaves to check his office, where Reiji’s sister tells her about the list. Shortly after Reiji’s announced as missing and presumed dead, while in fact he had been murdered.

Unaware of this, Asahi is heartbroken and the next morning is pushed on the train rails by the same murderer that killed Reiji, but is saved by someone looking exactly like Reiji, yet is completely different than him. He introduces himself as an Android from the future with the mission of saving her from the same people, or in this case androids that killed Reiji. Now the questions remain why was Reiji killed, and why do they want to kill Asahi?

Okay I guess I spoilt a bit of the first episode, sorry.

This drama is not what I has expected: I kind of thought it would be a Kimura Takuya version of Absolute Boyfriend which is why it took me 3 years to begin watching, but it kind of reminded me of Terminator.

Anyhow usually a recipe for a good Japanese drama you would need two things to make it good: 1. A good plot, and 2. Kimura Takuya. Occasionally you need a 3. which is a great cast, but most of the time Kimura is enough. So basically you have an all ingredients, including no. 3, BUT then why is not a 5 star you ask? Well, that might have to do with me having quite the standards for sci-fi/time-travel dramas. As a fan of both categories, I have one thing that I mind: love stories between robots and humans. I won’t indulge but those kinds of stories make me uncomfortable. Also the plot kind of felt dumb at the end… I need a decent explanation for it – I really didn’t understand how feelings/emotions can become particles, and not to mention something that connects the future as well as makes people send emails, or whatever… But I guess that is Japan for you, not everything has to make sense.

Other than that, this drama is really thrilling, and I would recommend it to action and sci-fi lovers.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Mop Girl Review

Title: Mop Girl

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2007-Oct to 2007-Dec

Cast: Kitagawa Keiko, Tanihara Shosuke, Asami Rein and Takaoka Sousuke.

“The day someone dies... the moment I touch their things; I go back in time. It's happened ever since I went into the special cleaning service. I have to do something, or else the person in front of me will die. That's the truth. I was able to go into the past and save the people who shouldn't have died. When time goes backwards, I get a ringing in my ears. I think back to the time when that woman died in front of me. Now, I'm always wondering what's happening? Why am I able to go back in time?” (intro of drama)

Hasegawa Momoko (Kitagawa Keiko) is a staff member at a wedding preparation company, but due to a mishap from her side, she is demoted and transferred to sub branch of the company called Little Angels. As it turns out the sub branch is a funeral home which specializes in cleaning. Being the hardworking girl as she is, Momoko decides to give it her all, but when she by accident touches an item that belonged to a deceased, she is sent back in time, a few hours before the incidence of the death. Will she save him?

One of my very favorite themes in ‘drama world’ and the general TV world is time travel. SO when I saw what this drama was about I had to watch it – no matter the age or background story. And now that I have watched it, I really didn’t mind the age nor the fact that rule no in the time-travel stories is: don’t change history. When I think about it, she isn’t really time traveling – only going back a day. So the future she came from never really happened. Which is, I guess why I didn’t mind the altering of the past.

Kitagawa is a favorite actress of mine, I don’t remember from when, but she is one of the few versatile and genuine actresses I know. SO this one was nice to watch as a fan. Even though the drama doesn’t really have a ‘mysterious’ feel as it tried to make it in the beginning, it was not all time of waste. But what happens when you don’t have a story throughout is that the climax just loses at the end. Nonetheless I enjoyed it.

So all in all, a funny and nice drama.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Library Wars SP Review

Title: Library Wars: Book of Memories

Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance

Origin: Japan

Release date: April 27, 2013

Cast: Okada Junichi, Eikura Nana, Tanaka Kei, Fukushi Sota, Kuriyama Chiaki and Suzuki Kazuma.

Continuing from the movie, this special is about managing regular life and that of being a ‘protector of books’.

After being stroked on the head Kasahara Iku (Eikura Nana) is starting to believe that Dojo Atsushi (Okada Junichi) might be her ‘prince’ who saved her favorite book years back. While worrying how she’ll face him, after all she has said to him, she is visited by her parents, who have come to see her job. The only problem is she had told them she was a clerk, and not a solider in the special task unit.  Dojo, because of his personality is at first very upset of her lying about her profession, but decides to help her out. Komaki Mikihase (Tanaka Kei) on the other hand keeps a close relationship with Nakazawa Marie (Tsuchiya Tao) a hearing impaired girl that visits the library every once in a while. After recommending a book to her, about a hearing impaired girl falling in love, Komaki gets arrested – and it’s up to the LDF to save him…

I was trying not to spoil much of the special, as it is a special, but I am not sure that I gave it a good summary. Oh well… The special is a bit different than the movie, as there are way too many restrictions to TV versions compared to the movies, but they still managed to make it both interesting and quite genuine to the movie. I watched the entire thing in one go without any breaks, and I really like the entire relationship with Dojo and Iku, I can’t really put my finger on it. The age gap is pretty apparent as well as the height difference, but they grow on you… or me. All characters are written with finesse, and they are just my cup of tea.

Okay, I won’t spoil anymore. It’s is a good watch, but you’d need to watch the first movie though…

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Tenno no Ryoriban Review

Title: Tenno no Ryouriban

AKA: The Emperor’s Cook

Genre: Period, Romance, Comedy, Family, History

Episodes: 12

Broadcast period: 2015-Apr to 2015-Jun

Cast: Sato Takeru, Kuroki Haru, Kiritani Kenta, Emoto Tasuku, Sugimoto Tetta and Suzuki Ryohei.

In 1904, on the countryside Akiyama Tokuzo (Sato Takeru) was raised as a the third son of the Akiyama family. Completely different than his brothers, Tokuzo is a failure who is unable to keep his interest in anything for more than 3 months. After being kicked out of the monastery, after he had decided to become a monk, his father decides to marry him into a merchant family.

After falling in love with his wife, Tokuzo decides to stay in order to make her happy, but soon his heart begins to waver as he does not enjoy what he is doing, and becomes depressed. That is until he one day while delivering foods, he arrives at an Army Infantry where he meets a Sergeant that cooks for the army. While conversing the Sergant offers Tokuzo a cutlet, which makes Tokuzo completely astonished.

Soon Tokuzo ignores his chors and goes to the Infantry every day - which is eventually noticed by his father-in-law. So, in the middle of the night, Tokuz decides to leave for Tokyo, in order to become a fully fledged chef...

Okay so this is probably my first period Japanese drama, like real period, as in before the world wars, so I was a bit hesitant about watching it. Though I am very unused to this types of genre, I found myself quite enjoying the entire thing. I loved the 'realness' of it, the honesty, the cast, the screenplay and of course the storyline. The only thing I really didn't like as much was the storyline in Paris, which was sort of one of the main stories, but yeah everything else was quite good. I loved Sato Takeru's diversity in the drama: from a spoilt 16 year old kid, to a mature 57 year old father. But to be fair, they ALL were quite awesome, so that is just me being biased. So I actually would recommend this drama, but as an serious watch - not just something for laughs.

☆☆☆☆/ 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Jigoki Sensei Nube Review

Title: Jigoku Sensei Nube

AKA: Hell Teacher Nube

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy,

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2014-Oct to 2014-

Cast: Maruyama Ryuhei, Kiritani Mirei, Hayami Mokomichu, Chinen Yuri, Nakagawa Taishi, Matsui Airi and Takahashi Hideki.

“In this world, there are inhabits of darkness that can't be seen. Sometimes, they show their fangs and attack us. He came in order to protect us an emissary of justice from the bottom of hell... probably.” (Taken from intro of drama)

Nueno Meisuke (Maruyama Ryuhei) is a bit of a dull teacher with no natural skills in being a teacher. On his first day he is looked upon as a weirdo, and the fact that the science teacher Tamamo Kyosuke (Hayami Mokomichu) is more handsome, cooler than he is and has the ability of a teacher, doesn’t make anything easier for Meisuke. His class thinks of him as boring, and when he starts warning them about “Yokai” (like Japanese demons or something like that) they think of him as a complete oddball. But Meisuke is nothing like that. In fact Yokai exist and he, with his left hand stops them from hurting other people. His left hand is a “demon hand” as a demon has taken over it - though reasons why are unknown. Now he has to protect his students from possible danger, without having them know about his hand. Will he manage?

I started this one because I needed a high school drama, and I wanted to watch Chinen, so I got both. The really fun part was that I enjoyed watching Maruyama more than anything else. The drama is really not that great, but somehow it is very Kanjani8 like, plus very Maruyama like: kind of goofy, yet fun. The entire ‘yokai’ part I don’t really understand, as I don’t know the fears or stories of hearing or ‘experiencing’ yokai situations - well of course since they are usually famous in Japan. But they are quite nice at explaining them - like even how to get rid of them: which I didn’t know you could until this drama.

Okay, so how is the drama? It is okay, just kind of remind you of the typical Japanese hero fighting story - but yeah I grew up with power rangers, so I loved it!

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

DOCTORS 2013 SP Review

Title: DOCTORS Special

Genre: Medical, Justice

Broadcast date: 2013-Jul-01

Cast: Sawamura Ikki, Takashima Masanobu, Higa Manami, Kurokawa Tomoka and Takizawa Saori.

It’s been 1½ years since the ‘living liver donor transplant’, and the Dogami General Hospital has gotten a reputation-boost because of it. Patients have been flowing in, and the hospital has been busy. Dr. Moriyama (Takashima Masanobu) returns after being abroad for some time: he’s been practicing laparoscopy surgery, and has become quite good at it. Due to having returned and having done the ‘living liver donor transplant’, Professor Sengoku of Saito University Hospital has black listed Moriyama because he felt offended by it. This also leads to the spread of rumors, and unfortunately decreases of patients.

Some days later, Yukimura Eriko comes to Dogami General Hospital in hopes of curing her cancer. Dr. Sagara (Sawamura Ikki) makes it his top priority to help her, which includes having Dr. Moriyama do the laparoscopy while doing his surgery. But after finding out that she was the former patient of Dr. Sengoku, Moriyama hesitates, because if he helps a patient Dr. Sengoku was unable to treat, he would offend him even more, and that would probably be the end of his career.. What is Dr. Sagara going to do?

As a continuation of the series I was a bit expectant of the special (since the Japanese are really good at these specials), I unfortunately have to announce that this was not as good as the drama. It’s not bad as in acting and screenplay, it’s just that the storyline was a bit boring compared to the drama. I felt there was too much of administration/management and too little medical. Like if you do a medical drama, or special, it is supposed to be medical, not about the fight of who can become the next director or who is on whose side. Of course there can be a bit of it, but this special has about 10% medical - in the end and in the beginning. So you can say I am a bit disappointed. But the thing I liked was how in the special we find out about everyone around Sagara, and get to know them a bit better, rather than just Sagara. All in all, an okay special, though hoping for a better season 2.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Iryu 4 Review

Title: Iryu 4

AKA: Dragon Medical Team 4 / Dragon Team 4

Genre: Medical

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2014-Jan to 2014-Mar

Cast: Sakaguchi Kenji, Inamori Izumi, Mizukawa Asami, Abe Sadao and Koike Teppei.

Several years have passed and the Dragon Team has split in numerous different places and occupations. Dr. Asada (Sakaguchi Kenji) has left to his usual ‘doctors without borders’ and is saving victims of war. Dr. Kato (Inamori Izumi) is working in the lab and has found ways to make surgery easier and has made different kinds of medical equipment and medicine, though she is not recognized for due to jealousy. Dr. Ijyuuin (Koike Teppei) is working as a chief in the transplant section of Meikyuu Hospital, but is still looked down upon because he tries to save people and doesn’t worry about the costs. Dr. Arase (Abe Sadao) has gotten a job in a wealthy hospital where rich people get treated. Dr. Fujiyoshi (Sasaki Kuranosuke) is working at a smaller hospital taking care of a little girl with the same illness as his deceased daughter, and at the same time working on a cure.

When Asada is called back to Japan by his former mentor of Sakurai Hospital, a smaller regional hospital, to help him take over the hospital for the time since many patients are in need of help, but since the newest hospital L&P, a fancy all tech hospital, claims patients the Sakurai Hospital is at its end.  Asada decides to call upon all his friends and make sure Sakurai Hospital stays active, but when a familiar hated face returns with a new ally Okamura Tadashi (Takahasi Katsunori), and they both have plans with the Dragon Team…

I started watching this when it aired, and finished it almost 10 months later. Why? Because of the lack of subs, and yes, I regret starting it so soon. You kind of feel each episode ends short might be because it does end at most exciting part. Though I did feel that I was bored out at the end of it as the fourth season kind of goes on and on, though it was interesting to see the story of the characters and how they grow I felt that they finally should end it. I mean I can’t get excited at the same situations all the time (by the way season 2 is best), and the annoying antagonist simply is bugging you all the way through all the freaking time, so the fact that they keep him as that character annoys me so damn much.

But is a good drama with good episode stories, so it’s not a complete bore.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Kazokugari Review

Title: Kazokugari

AKA: Family hunter

Genre:  Mystery

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2014-Jul to 2014-Sep

Cast: Matsuyuki Yasuko, Ito Atsushi, Endo Kenichi, Kitayama Hiromitsu and Mizuno Miki.

Hizaki Yuko (Matsuyuki Yasuko) is social worker, working in a childcare center. Every day she deals with children with abusive parents, and takes them away as a precaution measure. Sometimes she manages to get the children completely away from the parents, other times she tries to get the parents to ‘clean up their act’ so that the children can return. Either way she never gets thanked or any gratitude for her work, yet she is unable to let go. The situation at home isn’t much easier as her Alzheimer struck father and gambling mother can’t seem to function without her.

Sudo Shunsuke (Ito Atsushi) is high school arts teacher with no interest in his students or their lives, especially when they don’t seem to care for his existence – not that he tries to change that. Being undeceives and quite bad with social situations he after a one-night-stand ends up having a girlfriend who happens to be a coworker whom he doesn’t care for – yet he is unable to break up with her.

These two meet at a police station when a female student claims to have been raped by Sudo, and Hizaki won’t let him defend himself – basically thinks he is a rapist. After the allegation clear up the two get involved in another case where a family is set to have committed ‘family suicide’, but police officer Mamihara Koki (Endo Kenichi) believes they have been murdered – and both Sudo’s and Hizaki’s name come up during the investigation…

Sorry for the long into. I was wondering what to tell and what not to, and to be completely honest, the less you know about the main story the better. This drama has a very ‘dark’ and ‘dramatic’ tune, which kind of gave me the creeps. Not as in noir, but as in the dark side of frustration. Like what people are capable off and why they would either think that way or do it that way. I liked the way it was going and how slow the pace was, it really was not action packed – rather sad with a dim of light. 

I started this because of Ito Atsushi, I don’t know what it is but I like him. The rest of the cast was quite good, though the younger cast overacted just a bit too much for my taste.

All in all: a good drama with a bit of ‘borderline to crazy’ feel.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Time Spiral Review

Title: Time Spiral

Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance, Mystery

Episodes: 8

Broadcast period: 2014-Sept to 2014-Oct

Cast: Kuroki Meisa, Gackt, Hiraoka Yuta, Seika Taketomi and Kayoko Kishimoto.

As a child Aizawa Natsuki (Kuroki Meisa) was kidnapped and held prisoner, which has led her to have PTSD and panic attacks in her older years. She had been saved by an unknown man, whom she refers to as her first love. But has not been able to meet him, or find him. Now an adult she is the assistant physics professor in the same school her mother works and makes research, and has a relationship with her long time childhood friend Yuki Kentaro (Hiraoka Yuta), whom helps her through her panic attacks.

One day her life is turned upside down when she walks into the room of the new architectural professor Tatsumi Shuya (Gackt). Having an instant charisma and same taste in music, she finds him quite attractive, even making Kentaro aware of his presents, and it doesn’t help when he announces to Natsuki that she will fall in love with him and he will show her what love is like. This confuses Natsuki, and when she starts to remember things of the past she is shocked to remember seeing Tatsumi being the one saving her, but he didn’t age a day. How is that possible? Why does he have such an interest in Natsuki?

A very interesting beginning, then a confusing middle, and then just a ‘what-the,,’ ending. I am a huge fan of time traveling stories, which is also the main reason for watching this drama. But it kind of goes against the principles of time travelling, and though I hoped it would be a bit more confusing and twisted, it actually was very simple, and it wasn’t that thought through. It kind of left me with the thought: why did this start anyway.

Meisa and Gackt are a very unique, weird and yet interesting couple, and they kind of have this strange chemistry (might be the way the spoke to each other), but you don’t really realize it is a chemistry until you get to the point of them being next to each other.

It kind of reminds me of a web drama, like it doesn’t have much explanation nor enough screentime or whatever.

Okay so to sum up: a decent yet unsettling feeling of a story.

☆☆½ / 2½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 heart

Detarame Hero Review

Title: Detarame Hero

AKA: Nonsens Hero

Episodes: 13

Genre: Comedy, Family, Sci-fi

Broadcast period: 2013-Apr to 2013-Jun

Cast: Sato Ryuta, Tsukamoto Takashi, Motakariya Yuika, Akimoto Rei and Kohinata Fumiyo.

Kusumi Kenta (Sato Ryuta) is the worst type of adult you could think of: the trash type, meaning he doesn’t have a job and doesn’t want to, yet he gambles his money as if he has a lot. His nickname given by his friend is ‘Kuzu Ken’ which is the short of his last name, but also means ‘Trash Ken’. After only having bad things happen to him, he at one point borrows money from the Yakuza, making his situation even worse, having to run away from them.

Until one day when on his door step, a boy named Daichi (Akimoto Rei), tells him he is the son of his sister. At first Kenta doesn’t believe him, and when Daichi shows Kenta his bank account of 2 million yen, Kenta takes it and gambles it away. Shortly after a lawyer shows up and tells Kenta that his sister has passed away and he is the guardian of Daichi. Both incredibly reluctant to live with each other, the two start bickering over a bottle of drops, which Kenta takes one drop of and leaves the house in annoyance.

When Kenta is surrounded by gangsters once again, almost beat to a pulp, he finds the drop and puts it in his mouth. Suddenly he becomes strong and fast, and manages to save himself.

Surprised himself he goes to his friend Tanba Shunji (Tsukamoto Takashi) who is a police officer, and tells him about the drop and how he’ll make money with it, but as it happens he becomes a hero while saving civilians.

As time goes he and Daichi are confronted by someone who seems to know a little too much about the drops, which makes his sister’s death seem a little too suspicious…

I found this drama by accident and decided to download it because I am a Sato Ryuta fan, but I didn’t read the summary - which was a good idea since I might’ve decided not to watch it. I have to admit I kind of like it. The overall idea and theme is a bit ‘childish’ (and with childish I am thinking of the 90’s power rangers with powers and costumes), but it does have a seriousness to it - like any superhero story. Though this story is about a man starting at the very bottom, slowly moving his way up; all thanks to his nephew who acts more of an adult than him. But that doesn’t make it any boring. It really is an entertaining story and I really liked it.

To sum up, a family story with a hint of superhero.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Ouran High School Host Club Review

Title: Ouran High School Host Club

Genre: School, Comedy

Episodes: 11

Broadcast date: 2011-Jul to 2011-Sep

Cast: Kawaguchi Haruna, Yamamoto Yusuke, Daito Shunsuke, Nakamura Masaya, Chiba Yudai, Takagi Shinpei and Takagi Manpei.

Ouran High School: One of the few schools elite schools in Japan for children of the wealthy.

Fujioka Haruhi (Kawaguchi Haruna) is a bright student being awarded a scholarship for Ouran High School. Even though she only focuses on school and homework, everyone around her is wealthy beyond measure.  One day, while looking for a place to study, she enters the schools Host Club, and due to her clumsiness drops an 800 mil yen vase. This forces her to pay off the host club lead by Suou Tamaki (Yamamoto Yusuke), a bit of an airhead with no worries at all. He offers her a job as a host unaware that she in fact is a girl, but due to her poor status she has no other option but accept, and keep it a secret from the rest of the school…

I really don’t know what I was expecting while watching this. I mean yeah kind of sound silly, but it really is ridiculous, and yes even for  a Japanese drama it goes on to be just absurd. But funny enough, they grow on you. I don’t know if it is because the cast is likeable or just that the story is so innocent, but they really become bearable to watch, if you understand what I mean…

I won’t talk anymore because I have no idea what to say: it’s either going to be critique or blabbering about the similarity to MANGA.  And I think my ratings speak for themselves..

☆☆½ / 2½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

ST: Scientific Taskforce Review

Title: ST Keishichou Kagaku Tokusou-han

Genre: Police

Episodes: 10

Broadcast date: 2014-Jul to 2014-Sep

Cast: Fujiwara Tatsuya, Okada Masaki, Shida Mirai, Kubota Masataka, Miyake Hiroki and Ashima Sei.

Back as a team under the name ST (Scientific Taskforce) where Yurine Tomohisa (Okada Masaki) still is the Captain of the group of ‘outsider’ police officers. When the director of the police force leaves, the only support for the ST team disappears, and a new director arrives and she does not like the team.

Besides the fact that the ST team is rude and arrogant, the team leader Akagi Samon (Fujiwara Tatsuya) takes the cake by being the most ill-mannered and offensive of the bunch, and it’s the Captains job to keep him decent - which Yurine exceeds in more than anyone. And surprisingly the Yurine seems to fit in the group well, which creates a well-functioning duo and a harmony to the team.

But not everyone agrees with the ways of ST, especially the new director…

This is actually the first drama, of the year, in which I couldn’t wait till next week’s release. Not that the drama was THAT exciting, but I really looked forward to every single episode. And about the storyline, it’s great, nothing boring at all. The cast was brilliant on the other hand, might be the real reason for me to watch it, especially the confusing yet bromantic duo: Akagi and Yurine (Fujiwara Tatsuya and Okada Masaki). Talk about great acting! The two really are great actors, and they really are good at acting opposite each other!

I rather not spoil this, because I really think it’s a worthy watch, and recommendable!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Kamji’s Verdict:
Eh? What? Why? Was that the ending? I’m so confused right now. I have been watching this for quite a while now, maybe half an episode everyday, but I managed to finish it. It’s not boring, nor bad, I’m just the stressed out student with all my exams. This drama was good, a typical genius-detective-solving-crimes Japanese drama with a little sprinkle of bromance, very cute! Captain and kurosaki are eye candys, it’s an interesting show to learn about psychology and murder mysteries. Ten episodes only and no romance but great show.

Ps. Just found out there is movie coming up, the grand finale, maybe that’s why it ended like that.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Tobo Bengoshi Review

Title: Tobo Bengoshi

AKA: Fugitive Lawyer

Genre: Suspense, Law, Crime

Episodes: 11

Broadcast date: 2010-Jul to 2010-Sep

Cast: Kamiji Yusuke, Ishihara Satomi and Kitamura Kazuki.

“In Japan criminal trials, the probability of being found innocent is less than 1%”

Narita Makoto (Kamiji Yusuke) is lawyer at the Axle Law office, working under his mentor and idol Ninomiya sensei.  One night while going home, he is called up by Ninomiya who is looking for a file which Narita by accident has taken with him. On the way he meets the secretary whom he chats with, and notices that she seems a bit distant. Arriving at the office he notices that Ninomiya is on the floor covered in blood, where after he is hit on the head and loses consciousness. Waking up he is on the ground outside the office which is now in flames. Shortly after he is in the hospital, and interrogated by prosecutor Mafune Joe (Kitamura Kazzuki). He is accused of murdering his boss, even the secretary says that they didn’t meet up. This leaves Narita no other option than running away and finding the real murderer himself. But for some reason everything seems to circle back to the Axle Office… 

This is a hidden gem amongst the idol dramas out there. Yes it is quite cliché with the framed guy looking for the real murderer theme, but somehow it is pretty adorable. I really like the fact that he helps other people while trying to solve his own case, and that he touches people around him whilst he does so. I like that we aren’t sure who the bad guy is, and the fact that they managed to fool me.

Besides that it kind of makes you tired and you kind of just want the main story to get moving, because they are really bad at that. Yeah, it does move, but with a slow pace - so slow that finding a witness takes around 8 episodes… But yeah, I guess 11 episodes is kind of long for a regular Japanese drama.

All in all quite good…

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Shitsuren Chocolatier Review

Title: Shitsuren Chocolatier

AKA: Heartbroken Chocolatier

Genre: Romance

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2013-Jan to 2013-Mar

Theme song: Bittersweet by Arashi

Cast: Matsumoto Jun, Ishihara Satomi, Mizukawa Asami, Mizuhara Kiko, Mizobata Junpei, Kato Shigeaki, Sato Ryuta and Arimura Kasumi.

Falling in love at first sight, Koyurugi Souta (Matsumoto Jun) spends most of his time around her because it makes him happy and he wants to make her his girlfriend. And after more than three years of courting he finally manages to date her for two months. But after being dumped, Takahashi Saeko (Ishihara Satomi), tells him that she never even thought of him as a boyfriend. When he comes home he spends days in his room, and while continuously thinking about her, he is reminded that she likes a special sort of chocolate which is only made in Paris, France. He then decides to leave Japan in order to work at the store making that very type of chocolate, so he can bring it back and make it for her.

Six years later he returns to Japan, looking forward to seeing her again, opening up his own chocolate store, only to find out that she is engaged to get married. But still he is not able to stop loving her, and when Saeko keeps sending mixed signals, Souta is getting confused. So he decides to change his personality in order to make her fall in love with him: to become a bad boy, which he believes is her type.

But when he meets Elena (Mizuhara Kiko) he is surprised to find out that he isn’t the only one with unrequited feelings, and for some reason he is able to talk to Elena like he never was able to do before.

Will his heart change for Elena, or will he make Saeko fall in love with him?

Another drama like Summer Nude, except this one made me hungry. The concept of being heartbroken was so deep in this drama I still am stunned that they had it go through all 11 episodes. I mean the beginning was kind of funny, but not only did they drag it on, they honestly made me dislike the main couple. I heard people disliked the main actress in the beginning and liked her later on. I did not like her AT ALL. I felt she was a brat from beginning to end. Matsumoto’s character was kind of okay in the first few episodes, but he got on my nerves. Honestly at the end, everyone got on my nerves. The entire drama did. Like a bunch of people not knowing what they want and having weird ideas of how to fix things or make others like them. Oh man. Though I liked the more realistic view of how these couples behave. Like no over protective personalities, or just simple kisses.

To sum up, I wouldn’t watch it again.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

BORDER Review

Title: Border

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Episodes: 9

Broadcast period: 2014-Apr to 2014-Jun

Theme song: evil falls by Man with a mission

Cast: Oguri Shun, Aoiki Munetaka, Haru and Endo Kenichi.

As a passionate and enthusiastic homicide detective, Ishikawa Ango (Oguri Shun) is a lucky guy who once happened to catch the perpetrator in a case and has the idea that he will get lucky often. That is until he in his own arrogance forgets that they are dealing with criminals, and is shot in the head on duty. After miraculously surviving the head wound, the bullet resides in his head, and is the only link to the man shooting him. Not wanting to go under the knife again, Ishikawa decides to leave the bullet, but doesn’t admit that the bullet gives him severe headaches.

Returning to duty he is eager to start, but is shocked to see things: he is seeing the victims and they want to help him solve their murder. At first Ishikawa thinks it is him imagining things, but as he is able to talk to the victims and find important clues, he starts using the ghosts as help for his investigations…

I actually saw this by accident; since I hadn’t followed up on new Japanese dramas I was pleasantly surprised to see Oguri Shun in a new drama. I also started this without any pre knowledge, so I had no idea what it was about, which by the way worked in its favor, because I totally liked the story.

The entire theme with the talking to ghosts is one of my favorite, might be because I am a bit of ‘supernatural person’, but it wasn’t until the very end I understood what the title of the drama actually meant. For a 9 episode drama this was brilliant, I am not sure it would be as great of it were longer, and Oguri is without a doubt the actor for this character.

So all in all: worth every minute.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts