[Drama] Jin

Fall 2009

Starring: Osawa Takao, Nakatani Miki, Ayase Haruka, Koide Keisuke, Takeda Tetsuya, Kohinata Fumiyo, Uchino Masaaki, Kiritani Kenta...

Minakata Jin, a doctor (neuro surgeon perhaps?) who has lost confidence in himself after he failed to safely remove a tumor from his fiancee's brain, found himself living in a state of despair since. His fiancee, Tomonaga Miki has been in a vegetative state since the surgery and Jin has avoided surgeries with the slightest bit of risk ever since.

One day, a patient who has been attacked on the face and is currently unrecognizable has been sent to the hospital. Jin performed a surgery on the man and removed what seemed like a fetus from the man's head.

When the mysterious man woke up, he attempted to escape (to an unknown place) with the fetus which was drenched in formalin, and some medical equipments. As the man attempted to jump from the building to return to a different world (his words, not mine) Jin, tried to stop the heavily injured man but fell from the stairs instead.

The next time Jin woke up, he found himself lying in a deserted forest with his medical equipments. Suddenly, a few men, clad in samurai outfit were fighting with their katanas. He thought it was a filming of some period drama until a man was cut in the head. The injured man is Tachibana Kyotaro.

It dawned on Jin that he traveled back in time to ancient Edo (modern day Tokyo). He eventually saved the life of Kyotaro and many others. While doing that, he was taken in by the Tachibana family, earned the trust of Kyotaro's mother Sakae and also the affection of Kyotaro's sister, Saki.

Jin then helped the country overcome the attack of the Cholera disease and was offered a teaching position at the Western Medicine Office. As Jin began to adapt to life in the Edo period, Sakamoto Ryoma, whom he got acquainted earlier on, brought him to Yoshiwara, which was THE red-light district to go to in Edo.

In Yoshiwara, Jin laid his eyes on Nokaze, a high ranking courtesan who looks like a carbon copy of Miki. Struggling with the doubts of the people of that period about his medical methods and his wish to return to modern day Tokyo, Jin attempts to make his way day by day... or something like that.

*****

I cannot stop watching this drama. It is present tense because I am still watching it. It is so good, I sat and watched 6 episodes of it without stopping except to pee and to drink. (I am on a diet... the thighs... the thighs are unsightly.) Anyway, this is the best I've seen in a while.

Firstly, I love period dramas. I love the costumes, I love how much green you get to see in them, I love the way they speak, I love everything about period dramas. Next, I love the cast. There's that annoying guy from "Sekai no Chushin, Ai wo Sakebu" movie! And coincidentally, Ayase Haruka was Aki from the drama version. And they're both in this! There's Takeda Tetsuya! He's that detective dude in "Byakuyakou". He also starred in that legendary drama "101st Marriage Proposal", not to forget, he's Kinpachi-sensei! There's Koide Keisuke! Nakatani Miki too... you get my drift...

I love movies, dramas centralized around the idea of time traveling. Love. This is because you will never know what happens until the end is revealed. This is because of the butterfly effect which was also mentioned in this drama. What happens now might cause repercussions in the future. You'll never know. Say, if I called the ambulance upon seeing a pregnant woman about to deliver, I might be saving... the ancestor of... uh... Darth Vader?

I love the idea that there's a possibility of traveling through time and be there to witness it when big things happened in the past. When Shih Huang Ti unified China, when Marie Antoinette was beheaded by the guillotine, when the Nanking massacre happened. Moments in history which, centuries later, will still be quoted as they are now. In this drama, it was the Bakumatsu. What Tokugawa Ieyasu started was put to an end. And Jin was there to see it. Cool eh?

Why the hell did they show the fetus during the 'opening' of each episode? Seriously, the fetus is scary. The freak factor in dramas and I have a love-hate relationship. Suspense and I, too, have a love-hate relationship. Mostly one-sided, but still...

I have to go finish it before I yakk. And Sakamoto Ryoma in this drama is total love. Hilarious, honorable, loyal. Makes me want to watch Ryomaden. But I really dislike Fukuyama Masaharu. It is something about the mouth. The character Ogata-sensei makes me T_______T. OMG so great and noble. I would have bawled in that scene where Jin was visiting him after finding out how much he did for him. I would have, had I not been thinking about how I have to work tomorrow. Sigh. OMG the end of Episode 07 was a tear jerking moment. OMG why?

It's a drama about humanity, love and sacrifice. You know, all that stuff you've heard before.

Now, there's that ending which I am so unhappy about...

I followed the drama for about 11 hours, take or give. I deserve a definite, clear ending, don't I? What is with that vague shit that they gave me? Seriously, what's with the trend nowadays? I want clear endings, who ends up with whom, who gets rich, how will they die, something definite. This ending is crap. What the fuck? And it isn't even good vague, it is bad vague. So the guy travels back to the future and there's Miki? What about Saki? Huh? I was rooting for her like crazy! Shit. I am unhappy. Screw this, was going to give it a 4.9. I'm giving it a big fat pile of shit now. Damn. Okay, I am cool, it is cool. Cool. Isn't it clear that there's a gap between the previous paragraph and this ending comment? I just finished watching and am so not pleased right now. So unfair, really. What about Saki? I tend to get too involved with dramas. You think? =D

So, like, what is up with the freaky fetus and the man who was injured? Like, seriously, a good drama will explain on those stuff. Or did I miss it? I tend to space off sometimes. So... no explanations? Sigh, the ending, the ending needs some editing. What a crappy ending for such a nice drama.

Reitings: 4.5/5 (Really crappy ending ruined it. No explanations on what seemed earlier on to be the key points to the drama. What will there be a second season? I hate second seasons.)

[Drama] 1 Litre of Tears

Autumn 2005

Episodes: 11

Starring: Sawajiri Erika, Nishikido Ryo, Yakushimaru Hiroko, Jinnai Takanori, Fujiki Naohito, Narumi Riko, Sanada Yuma, Matsuyama Kenichi...

In 1986, a girl named Kito Aya, aged 15, was diagnosed with an incurable diseased called Spinocerebellar Atrophy. As part of her rehabilitation treatment and in order to help the doctor understand more of her situation, she was asked to keep a diary about the details of her disease and how it affects her daily life and also how she feels about practically everything. This diary was later published and inspired many patients to hang on in their battle against various sicknesses. This diary was the basis for this drama.

The drama follows the story of Ikeuchi Aya, 15 years old. The eldest daughter of a tofu shop owner with a caring and warm family. Aya has always been a happy, kind and hardworking girl with an optimistic view in life. The drama opens on the day of Aya's big entrance exam to high school. On the way to school, Aya tripped and knocked down a row of bicycles. By chance, a boy named Asou Haruto was contemplating to not take the entrance exam when Aya's accident happened. Haruto had no choice but to help Aya rearrange the bicycles and then sent Aya to the examination hall. A teacher later permitted the two to take the exams despite being late.

Aya continued to excel in studies and sports, being part of the highschool female basketball team and also the class representative. She also was dating a senior named Kawamoto. The future was seemingly bright for the 15-year-old until her mother noticed that she was tripping and dropping things a lot. When she fell and hit her head on a date with Kawamoto, her mother put her through a medical examination and it was found that she has a disease called Spinocerebellar Atrophy.

The disease will affect Aya's ability to move gradually. Her limbs would soon be difficult to control and speaking and breathing would prove to be a difficult task. Despite such a knowledge that her life would be greatly changed over the coming years, Aya decided that she should just try her best at what she was able to do and graciously accept the help of those around her although she felt bad for troubling them. She later realized that she had to give up a lot of things as Kawamoto decided that dating a sick girl was too much for him to handle and basketball was something that she could no longer do. But then there were those who remained helpful such as Aya's friends Mari and Saki, and also Haruto, who was always there to silently help her and cheer her up. Aya's family was also doing their best to ensure that Aya's life would to change drastically because of the disease.

However, the disease, being incurable, showed no signs of slowing down and soon, highschool seemed too much for Aya to keep up with. She was later transferred to a school for disabled people and had to bid goodbye to the highschool which she loved so much. When Aya felt down because of she could no longer do the things that she could do before the disease, that she was so different from the active self that she was, she would continue to write in her diary words of encouragement to herself. And apart from her family, Haruto was an important support for Aya.

The drama continues to follow Aya's situation and a decade later, when Aya was 25, her body finally gave in to the disease...

*****

^^ I just realized that my crap-talking about this drama was too crappy and was also left in another blog and that didn't do it justice as this was THE drama for me. This drama sparked my drama interest. Though I watched various Japanese dramas on TV, I wasn't particularly into them. I just watched and that was it. And this drama came along. With a brilliant soundtrack and pretty people starring in it. The storyline is great too. What more can one ask for?

It is strange though, when I watch this drama, I cannot see how Sawajiri can be this nice and then be such a bitch in real life. xD But hey, it is because she was in this drama that no matter what she does, I'll still be remembering her as Ikeuchi Aya. The same with Nishikido Ryo. This drama is probably the best thing that happened to them both, as actors. Sure, Ryo was famous as a Johnny's Junior, his group activities were fine too, but it is this drama that introduced Ryo to many non-Johnny's fans and overseas people who watched Japanese dramas. If the two on-screen lovebirds had any chemistry, it wasn't translated through the screen.

However, since then until now, Nishikido hasn't been the leading character in a drama before. I am a bit disappointed with that and am still intently waiting for him to get an opportunity to lead. I knew he wasn't ready yet, even during "Last Friends", but perhaps in a few more drama season's time. I hope he is not going to play second fiddle for the rest of his career. Nishikido Ryo can be a total impudent, rude asshole in real life. I don't care. xD One great character and the actor's image will be stuck to my head as that character. ^^ Hey, it is the first step towards seeing the best in people, though I have yet to do that with the people I know in real life.... xD

Anyways, Narumi Riko was also very impressive in here. To think that she was 13 when she was filming this... even more impressive. I foresee great things from her. She's very pretty too. Though I have problems watching "Hachimitsu to Clover", it isn't her fault though. I just really disliked the movie version with Aoi Yuu playing Hagumi. I like Aoi Yuu, but her portrayal of that character pissed me off to no end. TO NO END.

Sawajiri Erika. Married and has not been involved in a drama OR a movie since 2007. Such a waste! And the man is like... 44 years old. 22 years her senior. I mean, she can do better, richer, hotter. What the hell is she thinking? I don't rule out the possibility of love. I would too marry someone that much older than me. That is, if he looks like McDreamy. Gosh, McDreamy is hot. That hair~ But hey, whatever floats their boat, mmmkay?

But it is a disappointment that she isn't working more. She could have done more. I won't be satisfied if I had to give up a career that has yet to peak just because I am getting married. Such a waste. Anyways, her life, not mine.

The drama is one of the must-watch. It didn't achieve high viewership ratings, but it is warm, moving and inspiring. Keep in mind that there was this girl who was struggling with this disease. The hardships portrayed were not fiction. And she persisted and hung on to life as it slips through her fingers. Regardless of all the pain, she hung on to life. A life that those without any disease would waste away.

And among all that, I was initially pulled in by Asou Haruto. Who is probably a fiction, drama-only character. I can't help it. Fangirl instincts. And Ryo's shy and reserved portrayal of the character makes the character reminds me of him. Only a bit kinder and I cannot ever imagine Nishikido Ryo crying. I have seen it numourous times on TV, but as someone else. As Asou Haruto, as Oikawa Sousuke, as Ariake Taisuke. Not as Nishikido Ryo... I just think he's a dead-inside psychopath. xD What? I have a thing or two to say about his hair in here. Didn't suit him, but it was better than that red/blonde perm he had way back when. Erika looks best here, to me.

And young love. It is when we were young that we would be so reckless to get involved in hairy situations. Falling for a sick girl IS a hairy situation. As we grow older, we are too rational to do things like that. Everything becomes something that one should think about carefully, balance the pros and cons. See if there is a chance of having a good return on your investments. Investments of time, effort, affection and money. But when we were younger, such things didn't matter. What I would give to be able to be reckless and brave like that again. To have the freedom to act without thinking about the consequences. I didn't appreciate or make use of the chances to do that when I had them. T_T Oh well.

The songs "Konayuki" and "3 Gatsu 9 Ka" became frequent visitors to my playlist. Even now. ^^ I have gradually forgotten why I liked them so much apart from the songs being good, but after re-watching the drama, a song that is being tied to a good drama is twice as good.

Reitings: 4.5/5

[Drama] Nemureru Mori

Autumn 1998

Episodes: 12

Starring: Nakayama Miho, Kimura Takuya, Nakamura Tooru, Santa Maria Yusuke, Honjo Manami, Jinnai Takanori...

Oba Minako experienced a traumatic incident as a child - her parents and elder sister were killed on a rainy night. She was the only survivor and 15 years has passed since then. As a 17-year-old woman, she was engaged to Hamazaki Kiichiro - an all-around perfect and professionally successful man. One day, as Minako was sorting out her belongings, she came across a stack of letters written to her by a boy who had observed her actions from afar. In the letters, it was also stated that he would be waiting for her in 'their' forest on a date that is two days from the day the letters were rediscovered.

Out of curiousity about her past which she has few recollections of and about the boy who wrote those letters, Minako went on a nostalgic trip to her hometown and into the forest known as Sleeping Forest. There, she waited for him.

Ito Naoki is a young man with an air of mystery about him. He has a girlfriend whom he appears to not care about. He also keeps a scrapbook of news regarding a murder case that happened 15 years ago and even in the present he tries to collect information about the convicted murderer of the case who was released not long ago. He broke up with his current girlfriend, Yuri, with whom he set a limit on their relationship even as they started dating. Four years ago, Naoki told Yuri that they will break up 4 years later, at the end of the summer of 1998 and so, he held true to his words while Yuri took those words jokingly back then. When Yuri pressed on for the reason for their breakup, Naoki said that there was a woman whom he must meet.

The two met in the Sleeping Forest and Naoki seemed to know everything there is to know about Minako over the past 15 years down to the smallest details. In addition to revealing his stalker-like knowledge of Minako's life, he also revealed that cruel happenings will take place in Minako's life in the future. Confused and intimidated, Minako walked away from the forest and tried to go on in her life. Various happenings took place from that day and changed Minako's life as Naoki appeared constantly in Minako's path. Minako began to doubt the few memories she had of her childhood where her family died in a traffic accident - which we were told early in the drama that that might not be case.

*****


I have a love-hate relationship with stories like these. The suspenseful stories that hints at you the truth but slowly. Painfully slow is the progress of the drama, it makes me want to just watch the last episode but I can't, because it would be a half-assed story as I lose interest in all that happened in between.

In episode 3, I got the feeling that the hidden theme of the whole drama might have something to do with hypnosis and the replacement of memories through hypnosis. xD Then in the last few minutes of the episode... it certainly is what I thought it is. But as the drama progressed, it moves away from the replacement of memories plot to a more suspenseful one. The drama pulled me in like almost every KimuTaku drama that I have watched. Even as I thought that I got it figured out, it still pulls me in. I wonder if it is the KimuTaku effect, I wonder if Kimura made the dramas good or were the dramas written great to begin with. Does KimuTaku really have the Midas Touch? xD

This drama is enjoyable in the sense that it invokes many questions in your head upon its commencement. You will continue to pursue it in hopes of having these questions answered. I dared not fast forward a minute of it for fear of missing a vital scene.

I do find it a bit far-fetched when Naoki's father explained the reasons for Naoki to be so fixated on Minako. It just does not make sense that he wants so desperately to protect her from the murderer that he became a stalker for 15 years. Geez, like when I was ten, I don't think about things like that. I'd probably fight my brother for the bar of chocolates or get hit in the face by a football my brother kicked. Yes, me, when I was ten, being forced into the role of a goalkeeper and got hit numerous times on the head because of slow reflexes. xD So it is a bit unbelieveable for me that a kid at that age would decide on a life-changing matter as such. You don't fall in love at ten. xD You have crushes. Boys will pull your hair... that would be their expression of affection. How juvenile. xDD

It just struck me... how natural KimuTaku makes his characters out to be. It all seem so effortless and natural, his roles. Or is it the KimuTaku reputation that is affecting my opinion? I am not sure, but it is a joy to watch all the small expressions and reactions he makes. They are so natural, like the ones you would see when you look at Darwin, your geek neighbour. xD After episode 5, when the entire situation is explained and the mystery of Naoki was... demystified, you can see him change. From a rather threatening existence to a more protective and fragile young man. His hair here is very... Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall. xD And so... bouncy and flowy. xD I wonder what kind of products he used. xD

Kiichiro. When they said he was too good to be true, you knew something was fishy there. He was suspicious throughout the drama. But you are distracted from the suspicion by various other happenings. Yoshiharu mentioned that he wanted to make 'someone' know what hell feels like... he used the word 'aitsu'. I was wondering, what a vague statement he made. The Japanese should start eliminating non-gender-specific third person references because it is NOT helpful. xD Especially for drama-watching. xD I was thinking earlier in the drama that that 'aitsu' might not refer to Minako because she didn't even testify against Yoshiharu. But then halfway through, I thought, maybe he WAS aiming at Minako. It was a rollercoaster ride, this drama.

The background music is a bit too... 90s. I don't like the tune they used to elevate suspense. I find it ridiculous that these two men were willing to do so much for one woman. I know it is a drama, but I am trying to realistically discuss it. xD That is what I do. And if MY memory is used on some dude, I'd point and go "You fake!" xDDD Nasty, I know. xD

15 years after that fateful night that changed Minako's life, her wedding was set. xD Yeah, statute of limitation runs out on her wedding day. Savvy, yet another crime drama with references to the statute of limitations. Like... seriously, is it that popular a law that all dramas with crimes involved should touch on it? But it was a great drama. I loved it. Keeps you at the edge of your seat and curious about various things. The way the mysteries unfold onscreen is brilliant. Your questions will not be answered all at once but slowly and as one question is answered, another is asked. So many mysteries balled into 11 episodes. Definitely not a waste of time to watch. The big one will fall on you on the last episode. The ending left little to your imagination, though the final bit was a bit... WTF?! Oh well.

Reitings: 4/5 (xD Yes... Reitings. Not how good it is, but how much I like it. xDDD xD ratings made by me. Reitings. xD)

[SP] One Litre of Tears

[Moved from my old blog.]

2 hours and 20 minutes special.

Starring: Sawajiri Erika, Nishikido Ryo, Yakushimaru Hiroko, Jinnai Takanori, Narumi Riko, Fujiki Naohito,...

Made the screencaps myself.

This 2 hour plus special took off where the series left off. Sort of. It picks up the storyline half a year after Ikeuchi Aya's death. Since the drama is based on Kito Aya, who passed away when she was 25 years old. This would have madde Nishikido's character, Asou Haruto 25 and a half years old at the time of the special.

Our beloved Asou-kun has successfully become a doctor in the same hospital that Aya was admitted to. Fujiki Naohito made an appearance in the hospital, as Asou's colleague.

Asou-kun wasn't taking Aya's death that well. He was basically dwelling in the past and in his own sadness.

And then one of his patients was this little girl who was confined to a wheelchair and was pissed off at everyone because of her sickness. She was reading Aya's published diary and went around asking everyone about her.

Oh, FYI, Aya's sister, Ako has become a nurse in the same hospital. She was dealing with her sister's death better as she realizes that her sister's memories and her diaries will help a lot of people. She intends to help others like her sister has always wanted but could never do.

Dr. Asou told Aya's story to his patient, Mizuki.

85% of the special was just scenes from the drama, it was just a summary of what happened. Scene came back to the present once or twice before Asou finishes his story.

The famous scene where the powdery snow was falling and Asou, wishing that he could do more for Aya, wept behind Aya's wheelchair.

Then Remioromen's "Konayuki" kicked in from the background.

It was most touching and heartbreaking to watch, as I believe EVERYONE watching the drama was rooting for Asou-kun to be with his Ikeuchi.


Asou-kun, finally sorted out his feelings and confessed to Aya.Those are all scenes from the drama, actually the SP is just a recap, guided by Asou. Quite a disappointment. I expected some new scenes. Like untold scenes being revealed or something...Mizuki, touched by Aya's bravery, decides to continue rehabilitation. Asou-kun watches his patient being wheeled off, determined to live her life to the fullest.
Nishikido Ryo has a nice smile. A very, very nice smile...Ako heard his words of inspiration, came forward to speak.After Ako went off, Asou-kun took out his cellphone and called a number, which was Aya's number...The dolphin Asou-kun bought during his first date with Aya to the big aquarium. Aya's was red, his is blue. They had matching phone-hanging-thingies. Aww....Unable to contain his sadness further. Asou-kun wept alone.T_TAya's smile flashed into his mind...T_T
ToTThe real Aya, who suffered from Spinocerebellar Degeneresis or something like that. She was the real brave girl. T_T
She died after approximately 10 years after she was diagnosed.

I was depressed for 2 weeks after I watched the drama.

This SP had no subs yet. So basically I was watching will listening to weird sounds from the mouths of the actors.

But it was sad enough. T_T

I think I will be depressed for a while...

Ratings: 4/5

Nishikido>Yama~P, for now.