[Drama] Lunch no Joou

Summer 2002

Episodes: 12

Starring: Takeuchi Yuko, Eguchi Yosuke, Tsumabuki Satoshi, Ito Misaki, Yamashita Tomohisa, Yamada Takayuki, Eita, Morita Go, Tsutsumi Shinichi...

Mugita Natsumi is a pretty young waitress who loves lunch time and the Omurice at a restaurant named Kitchen Macaroni. To her, lunch is like hope for the working class. (a bit of an exaggeration but her words, not mine.) She came to work at Kitchen Macaroni after a strange series involving the eldest son of the owner of the restaurant who tricks Natsumi into tricking his family with him. Posing as the fiancee of Kenichiro, Natsumi meets his family but was left behind when Kenichiro escaped with the family's hard-earned money.

Natsumi later convinced the stern second son of the family and head chef of the restaurant Yujiro to let her stay and work with them while waiting for the return of Kenichiro. She did so with the help of Junzaburo, the third son.

During her stint there, she achieved rapport with the family who takes to her very soon. The three brothers Yujiro, Junzaburo and Koshiro also developed a strange fixation on Natsumi but refrained from taking actions as they thought she was actually the fiancee of their eldest brother.

Well, actually, some of them did try to get it on, namely Koshiro, the playboy, flirty, straightforward youngest son who is still a highschool student. Junzaburo on the other hand was shy but probably was the most attached to Natsumi and he helped her throughout the way. Junzaburo is also the most passionate about his job as a chef. Yujiro took to her the slowest, his hard outlook was probably used to intimidate but actually he is a real softy inside. Well... or something like that.

Oh yeah, Junzaburo, really cute.

*****

I heart Tsumabuki Satoshi in this. Heart heart heart. What? Bite me for fangirling. Geez. He is seriously adorable in this. So young and... adorable. I first watched this when I was in my Pi-phase. Yes, I had a Pi phase, it happened a long list of phases ago, but hey, I remember that it was there. I probably have another entry for this drama stashed somewhere in this blog or another blog or somewhere else. But it was a long time ago. So I thought I'd do this again just for the heck of it.

It is a fun family drama. Sorta like a gyaku-harem. We love gyaku-harem. Love, love, love. Not to mention the brothers (minus the eldest, I couldn't stand the eldest) are all so... diverse and have their own strengths. xD Underneath all the snippets of humour, there's a heartfelt bond within the family (minus the eldest, again) and their passion for their restaurant is admirable. And for them to take Natsumi into the family just like that. xD Well, it is a drama. Without Natsumi, there wouldn't be a drama to start with.

When the patriarchal figure, their dad, passed on after playing catchball with Koshiro for the first ime. And it was Koshiro who walked away from the game to go on a date, it kinda hit me a bit. The next time you meet with anyone might be the last time and that we shouldn't take anything for granted. But that is really difficult because there are too many things, too many people to spend time with. But it was so sudden and sad. T_T

How could Natsumi be so oblivious about the brothers' feelings, that, I don't get. She's one of those girls that seduce men in a not-so-obvious way and then act innocent when the men are hurt because of her refusal. xD But I heart Takeuchi Yuko + Tsumabuki Satoshi althought Tsumabuki is actually with Shibasaki Kou in real life. Takeuchi looks adorable in here too. xD So does Pi. They all look so young and... young. Well, Yamada Takayuki needed a haircut badly though.

I found it HILARIOUS when Koshiro used the line made famous by KimuTaku's Osamu in "Asunaro Hakusho". Koshiro went "Ore jya dame na no?" on Natsumi. I LOLLED. I am not sure if it was meant to remind viewers of "Asunaro Hakusho" but it sure did remind me of it. And the fact that Pi's like a skeletal figure here~ xD and that blonde hair. Ah~ the days when I liked Pi~ What nostalgia~

xD And it just occured to me that Yamada, Pi and Tsumabuki all appeared in "Long Love Letter" as well eh? xD

One more thing. Morita Go's appearance in this drama as a badass. I have never seen a role more suitable for him than this. Really. I had a thing for Morita Go too. xD

Reitings: 4/5

[Movie] Haru no Yuki

2005

Starring: Takeuchi Yuko, Tsumabuki Satoshi, Takaoka Sousuke...

Set in the 1910s, this movie tells a story of (cliched, I know) forbidden love. Ayakura Satoko and Matsugae Kiyoaki were childhood friends. When they grew into young adulthood, Satoko harboured feelings for Kiyoaki whose friend Honda has the hots for Satoko. Love at first sight, baby. xD

Anyways, in order to rid Satoko of the feelings she has for himself, Kiyoaki wrote a letter about his late night rendezvous with hookers and geishas. At a party, Kiyoaki was made to entertain princes from Thailand. And my that accent and that fluency. xD Tsumabuki Satoshi, you got it boy! xD Sorry. Am I supposed to describe the story again? Screw this. (FYI, he pronounced Satoko as Satoukou. xDDD I almost died lol-ing)

Somewhere along the line, Kiyoaki decided that he wants a girlfriend, so... yeah, that mind-changing bastard. And so they fell in love and shit happens. Something about the chick's betrothal to some bigwig royal dude. Then shit happens again, like premarital sex and stuff. (Which is basically what A LOT of Japanese movies are about.)

*****

T_T

Okay, firstly, Kiyoaki was being stubborn and such a love tragedy will NOT happen in the first place had Kiyoaki not been the spoiled, proud little brat that he is. Satoko knew what she wanted since forever, and at least she had been honest about her feelings.

So I blame it on the man. Its always the man. Even though in this case, Kiyoaki was still a kid when shit started to happen. Tsumabuki Satoshi... did he really do the English-speaking lines by himself? How long did he study to get that accent thingie going on? xD

Takeuchi Yuko is pretty and sweet-looking as usual. One question... who the hell is that hot dude playing Honda? xD He's way hot and way taller than Tsumabuki. Nevermind. xD I thought I have seen him somewhere. Lemme check. Oh Yukio from Aoi Haru and Sugimura from Battle Royale! xD

Two sad romance-centred movies in less than 24 hours.

Well, I have to admit that I didn't have a lot of patience in watching movies centralized on love and nothing else. Movies that planned its plot around love are just.. kinda boring, really.

They fall in love. Shit happens. Ending. It seems that Asians like sad endings to their movies eh.

Oh well, I guess they feel good in knowing that people with love can still have a sucky life. So its good that they don't have it. xD Or something.

I make no sense, nevermind.

I think the movie left out something important that the novel included. Yeah... something yaoi.

I need to watch more Tsumabuki Satoshi. xD Not that I am not watching enough of him. He has this charm... I can't describe. Lets not...

Ratings:
3.5/5

I knew what was going to happen.

Yeah, I read spoilers.

So it wasn't as good.

My fault, not the movie's.

[Movie] Closed Note

Starring: Sawajiri Erika, Takeuchi Yuko, Iseya Yusuke, Saeko...

2007



Sawajiri Erika stars as Kae in this movie, a normal young woman who moved into a new apartment, plays the mandolin and works in a pen shop. The day she moved into the new apartment, she discovered a mirrored cabinet at the corner of her house. She opened it to reveal several belongings of the previous occupier of the apartment.



The first thing she reached for was a diary. She later read the diary and found that the previous owner of the house was a beautiful elementary school teacher named Ibuki. Reading Ibuki's diary sort of changed Kae's life not only in terms of ambition but also love. She began to grow devoted to the book and also to Ibuki. Ibuki's dedication to her job, Ibuki's stories of love with a man named Takashi were explored by Kae.



At the same time, a man named Ishitobi Ryuu appeared in Kae's life. Kae fell for him. What ensues is a rather expected but heart warming and also abrupt revelation of the connection between Kae, Ibuki, Ryuu and Takashi.

*****

Spoilers alert.

Err yeah, SawaEri should take up more diverse roles. Always the pretty girl in love. I mean, look at Ueno Juri, she's been a caterpillar-brows pretty girlfriend, then she was this saxophone school girl, then she was Nodame, then now she's trying to be a lesbian. Ueno Juri rocks. Not that SawaEri doesn't, but if she isn't dying, she's heartbroken or in love or trying to solve some mystery of disappearing people.

She's lucky her breakout role is such a good, memorable, likable one.

I knew the ending the moment Ryuu was spotted outside the apartment and then Takashi was mentioned in the notebook written by Ibuki.

Overall, I won't say its a waste of time. Its your typical Japanese Love Story, only very predictable and very slow paced. I like Takeuchi Yuko.

Everytime SawaEri flashes on the screen with a sweet smile, I only see her being a bitch at the press conference of this very movie. But her portrayal of Ikeuchi Aya was THAT full of impact (not good, just full of impact) that I would watch a lot of her stuff, upcoming stuff.

But, I rather think this movie is not bad. The intertwining, invisible connection between the two women, one lived in the apartment, one living in it. Their love interests, their ambition mirrored each other's. Though Kae might be unconsciously trailing Ibuki purposely.... Anyways, it isn't a waste of time.

Rating:
2/5

[Drama] Mukodono

2000

Starring: Nagase Tomoya, Takeuchi Yuko, Aiba Masaki, Shinohara Ryoko...

Sakuraba Yuichiro is the most famous singing artist in Japan. His on-camera charisma makes fangirls weak in their knees. But off camera, he becomes Yu-chan, the loving boyfriend of Arai Sakura. Yearning for the warmth of a family, since he grew up without one, Yuichiro accepted the many conditions of Sakura's family and also his manager.

Sakura's family consists of a father who teaches calligraphy, three elder sisters who are a handful, two nephews. One a HOT HOT HOT (bias alert) high schooler who excels in Kendo, and a younger one who grew up without a father. Let's talk about the hot high schooler who excels in Kendo and is played by Aiba... *gets smacked on the head* fine... moving on.

However, Yuichiro soon found that winning Sakura's family over is easier said than done, with his status as the most wanted man in Japan, the couple soon found themselves unable to maintain their secret relationship... then... the story goes on.

*****

You know how I stopped giving out spoilers... truth is, I am too effing lazy to think of a way to put the story into words. xD

Anyways, Aiba is in here. That was why we are watching it. I was sorta curious about the drama before I knew Aiba has a part in here because Nagase sang the theme song at the previous Johnny's Countdown. Said song is "Hitoribocchi no Haburashi". Its a good song, and then I found out that Aiba plays a role, a recurring role, in fact, his name is credited right after Takeuchi Yuko's.

So yeah, we are happily watching it away and then found that Nagase plays the same character as the one in "My Boss My Hero". Okay, not the same, but they had the same personality. Basically, Nagase is good at playing affectionate airheads. I am kinda pissed at him for breaking up with Ayu. Cos when there's a breakup, its the man's fault. I don't care about the details. But yeah, Ayu is partially hearing impaired, he should be the romantic guy he played in dramas and stay by her side. T_T

Okay, its really none of my business. But awww, this is such a sweet drama, light and happy. Its family-ish. I like it. And Aiba's character is an angry teenager, you know, those boys that seem to be constipated 24/7. And its so different from how Aiba carries himself on camera when he is playing Aiba Masaki and not someone else. But then god knows how he is like off camera.

I have enough common sense to know that these people are all playing a role on camera. No, I didn't learn that from this drama. Lol. They are all playing a role, a role that they think would be popular among their fans. They have to eat, you know? xD

And because I am biased...

[Drama] Lunch no Joou

[Moved from my old blog.]

This drama dates back to about 2002/2003. It stars some familiar looking chick, a tall big guy, Yamada Takayuki, Yamashita Tomohisa, Tsumabuki Satoshi, Ito Misaki and others.

12 episodes.

My rating: 2/5

Frankly, I hate this drama. It is so ridiculous. How can all four brothers (including Yama~P) and Morita Go all fall for that girl?! Even Morita Go who appeared as her ex who was wanted by the police. I hate to say it, but Morita Go sure does look like a criminal, drug dealer... sorta person.

But I like Yama~P's character a lot.

I have nothing to say about it, just that Yama~P is really freaking skinny to the bone in here. Dark and skinny. So skinny when pushed, you fear that he would fall over. His cheeks were hollow and sunken.

Yah, I removed this drama from my drive, so I guess... that's all. No screencaps.