Iryu Sosa Review

Title: Iryu Sosa

AKA: CSI: Crime Scene Talks Season 1 / Iryu Sosa Season 1

Genre: Police, Mystery, Crime

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2011-Apr to 2011-Jun

Cast: Kamikawa Takaya, Kanjiya Shihori, Sano Shiro and Osugi Ren.

Itomura Satoshi (Kamikawa Takaya) is the chief of the Scientific Criminal Investigation Unit, know as the Unit of Personal Effects by other cops. Ridiculed as a “timewaster”, he spends most of his time focusing on the personal effects of the victims, as he believes they can explain the behavior and thoughts, of the victims. Though undervalued, Itomura doesn’t care about the opinions of the others, and isn’t interested in the crimes - his focus is the victims and their families. He spends most time relaying the last moments to the families. Oda Miyuki (Kanjiya Shiori) is the only female detective in the First Investigation Division. Even though she is underestimated and discriminated due to her gender, she refuses to back down. But finds herself working with Itomura - who has been known to be a “promotion stopper” - even though she does not want to.

This drama focuses on the police force, but also on each crime/victim and their story…

This drama is one of those I found by accident while checking out the subtitle index update, and I kind of remember it from some time back, while watching the medical drama Iryu, as they share common name. Compared to other police dramas, this one is very different, as it focuses on the victims, and to be honest it feels incredibly weird. Instead of “rooting” for the capture of the criminals, I was shown the stories of the victims. Its very anti-climactic, but sort of refreshing, as you usually forget that the victims had fuller lives before being a victim. So that I really liked. I gotta say, the guest stars were bad at acting, I didn’t like that they seemed to “feel sad” or cry on cue… It ruins the set-up mood. Besides that, the other characters were to one track minded, which annoyed me a lot. I mean, it makes the Japanese police seem very bad.

Anyways, a decent watch, with good short stories.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Miss Sherlock Review

Title: Miss Sherlock

Genre: Crime, Mystery

Episodes: 8

Broadcast period: 2018-Apr to 2018-Jun

Cast: Takeuchi Yuko, Kanjiya Shihori, Takito Kenichi, Nakamura Tomoya, Otani Ryohei and Ozawa Yukiyoshi.

This is a Japanese version on the classic story of Sherlock Holmes.

After spending time in war-stricken Syria, the empathetic and likeable doctor Tachibana Wato (Kanjiya Shihori) returns home, only to witness the death of her mentor. This leads to her meeting Sherlock (Takeuchi Yuko), a “consultant” to the police. Arrogant, unapologetic and with bad social skills, Sherlock is a master in deduction, and runs her own detective agency - but occasionally helps the police out in cases deemed ‘bizarre’ or ‘weird’.

At first these two completely different people dislike each other, but due to her apartment burning down, Tachibana moves into the same house as Sherlock. And slowly the two begin to form a partnership…

Being a fan of the original works, I had to watch this thing. Not only is the leads female, they actually are FEMALE! Lol! I love how natural and perfect they were for their characters, especially Wato (Watson). I know the main lead is Sherlock, but she was kind of like the “typical Sherlock” you would see. I love how human Wato was, but then again Watson is the one character I like more in the original story as well… Anyways.. The drama is well acted, the screenplay well executed, and storyline is also good. Though I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but that might be because there is so much happening, but oh well.

To sum up: a good drama and an interesting watch.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ 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

Mou Yuukai Nante Shinai SP Review

Title: Mou Yuukai Nante Shinai
Aka: I Don't Want To Kindap Anyone Anymore
Genre: Comedy, mystery
Broadcast date: 2012-Jan-03
Cast: Ohno Satoshi, Aragaki Yui, Sato Ryuta, Kanjiya Shihori and Narimiya Hiroki.

After being fired from his latest job and thrown out by his landlord, Tarui Shoutaro (Ohno Satoshi) still can’t let go of his dream of becoming a superhero. At the age of 29 he still can’t let go of his cartoon-figures and goes crazy when he sees rare items, not to mention the level of seriousness he has when his favorite characters are discussed.

When he meets his senpai Koumoto (Sato Ryuta) he gets a job, so that he can pay rent, as a ‘mobile’ sweet potato seller, driving a van while selling them. On his rute he happens to see a rare poster, and runs to the store to get it, where he stumbles upon a girl (Aragaki Yui) who runs away from ‘bad people’. Shoutaro helps her, only to find out that she is Hanazono Erika, the second daughter of the yakuza clan Hanazono. After a disagreement, Shoutaro involuntary drives her to her desired place, where he almost is arrested. Wanting to give her a piece of his mind, he waits for her only yo hear her reason for being persistent, and being nice as he is, offers to help. Something she decides to take; she asks him to kidnap her.

I liked it, surprisingly. Even though I watched it because of Ohno I have to admit that the storyline most defiantly isn’t my style at all, but watching it, damn it’s pretty good. I guessed the criminal almost immediately, but I had no clue what so ever how. And the comedy part was actually funny, like exactly for this drama, I enjoyed it.  The special appearances of Sakurai Sho and Matsumoto Jun were fun, but only if you watched “Nazetoki wa Dinner no Ato de” and “Lucky Seven”, which I did, hihi..

Anyhow, its actually recommendable, this cast is perfect, and it’s hard not to like it when you know all actors and actresses. I mean they do the acting pretty neatly, sort a wish it was a drama instead of a special…

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts