Ukiwa~Tomodachi Ijou Furin Miman 終わり

 Absolutely wonderful drama about two married couples who live side to side in an apartment complex, and the friendship and support that grows between the wife of one couple and the husband of the other when they find out their respective spouses may be cheating on them.
A fully rounded story where you see the sides from both the wronged people as well as those in affairs, seeing how the circumstances in their relationships have led each of them to this point in their lives.

Wonderful acting all around but the real accolades must go to Mugi Kadowaki who absolutely wrung my heart with her sincere portrayal of the sweet and kind Maiko, the shy wife whose life gets turned upside down until she is saved by the support of her neighbor (Naotaro Moriyama).
At 8 episodes it was was a short one but one that easily ranks as one of my Big faves this year!

PS: I also downloaded the Ukiwa spin-off show "Ukiwa - Tanin Ijou, Tomodachi Miman", featuring Sakurako Konishi’s scene-stealing Risa Atago, but who knows if anyone will ever pick up this one to translate… for now guess I’ll just have to watch it raw!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

Favorite J-Pop Singles: Princess Princess: "Diamonds"

 Though princess Princess have long officially disbanded (with a few wonderful reunion concerts sporadically since then), Lead Singer Kaori Kishitani (nee Okui) has kept busy, with her own youtube channel and a smaller band of musicians backing her up to keep the music alive!
We recently got a treat full of warmth and nostalgia when Kaori uploaded a wonderful performance of their classic song “Diamonds” with nothing but her piano and that still commanding and vibrant voice of hers!

Ah, Diamonds!!! I got into Princess Princess just as they were announcing their breakup, and though that may have been bad timing, it did give me a whole slew of live performances and appearances to enjoy as the band made their final circuit on all the music shows, culminating in their final concert. On one such show, the legendary MUSIC STATION, the band announced their retirement once more, and as their send-off song, they chose their 1989 single to close the show. This was the first time I had ever heard Diamonds, but I was IMMEDIATELY won over by it, and after seeing perform a few more songs on other shows, wasted no time grabbing up their CDs! I was to soon fall in love with practically their entire catalog, but then and now, Diamonds has ALWAYS been up there in the top!! 

Watching Kaori at the piano playing up the song, as SOON as she went into that old familiar melody, I was brought back to those days of pure Pri Pri fascination and have to marvel at how doggone great this band really was/is!!!

So great to see Kaori still doing her thing and bringing the MAGIC to us fans as ALWAYS!!!

Liar x Liar: A Gyaru Romance, With a Side of Step-Siblings

 An entirely preposterous and yet highly entertaining movie, Liar x Liar tells the story of a girl named Minato (Nana Mori) whose life gets turned upside down when her stepbrother Toru (Hokuto Matsumura) falls for her when she’s masquerading in gyaru outfit/makeup. 

An improbable tale buoyed by the adorable acting of actress Nana Mori, wonderfully transforming herself from the reserved and bookish girl into a vibrant and outgoing juvie gal, taking what should be an icky situation into something inspired!

Minato is a college student who has the unfortunate luck of being the stepsister to the most popular guy in school, being picked on by jealous girls who see her as a threat, as well as having to deal with his aloof behavior at home.

But things take a turn one day when she is out helping her Photographer friend Maki (Mayu Hotta) as a model for a photo shoot, dressing in a yankee style outfit complete with clothing, makeup and wig!

She accidentally bumps into her stepbrother and, mortified at being caught in such an outfit, pretends to be someone else! Not only does the ruse work, but the womanizing brother even offers to take her out and gives her his number!!!

Later that day Maki and Minato have a good laugh over the clueless stepbrother, and after another aggravating evening dealing with her brother’s arrogant attitude, Minato decides to use his ignorance to teach him a lesson!

Minato’s plan is this: to actually go on dates with her brother incognito, make him fall for her, and then, when he has fallen for her completely, dump him like a hot potato! And at first, it seems like her scheming may actually be working!

Bt of course things don’t work out the way she plans. besides having to deal with her real budding romance with a childhood cram-school friend (Yuta Koseki), the confused Minato may actually be falling in love with her brother herself!!!

With wig in tow, Liar x Liar reminded me not just a little of the fun drama “Himitsu No Ai-Chan”, showing that just a little makeup and wig can disguise anyone beyond recognition more than the old glasses/no-glasses trope of old!

Tellin' ya, with every show I see her in, Nana Mori is becoming more and more a BIG favorite of mine!!! Such a cutie and always so believable in her roles- however IMPOSSIBLE they may be!!! LOL!

PS: In another reminder that we are all getting on, Minato’s mother is played by Shoko Aida of iconic 90's pop duo Wink, showing us that even the adorable idols of yesteryear eventually grow up!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

Hakozume 終わり

 Wrapped up the Erika Toda/Mei Nagano Buddy Cop drama “Hakozume~Tatakau Koban Joshi” today and it was sent off in fine fashion! usually not a fan when these detective dramas feel obligated to add an overarching backstory/mystery to the character’s story, but this one worked out fine, wrapping things up with a spirited finale to an entertaining little show!

Such great characters in this drama- Mei Nagano and Erika Toda have great chemistry together but even the other players like Shohei Miura, Yuki Yamada and Muro Tsuyoshi  helped make it into a fully developed show!

Another one I’ll miss now that it’s over!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com