Crush of The Day (Again!): The Lovely Miss Yuko Araki

 Just wrapped up  the entertaining “Tanshin Hanabi” after a long while (watched the first episode some time back but decided to wait til its completion to continue), and though initially turned off by the drama’s infidelity-filled set-up, I sensed there was something more going on, and, sure enough, the drama soon changed from a story of a married guy hooking up with a childhood crush to a much more intricate tale of lies, deception and seduction!

Once things picked up I was invested in the show, but by FAR the main allure of Tanshin Hanabi was the stellar performance by stunning Yuko Araki as Hana Takeda, the seeming “Femme Fatale” of the show, whom ensnares her men (and women) into falling for her with an entrancing and convincing “Damsel In Distress’ act.

But is it ALL an act? As we see this sultry and slinky women ingratiating herself into the life of her former childhood sweetheart’s life and threatening to destroy it with her whimsical ways, we see all the different facets or her personality that she hides, and begin realizing there may be more truth to her plight of helplessness than we initially think... 

Don’t know how much of a faithful fellow I would be in such a similar situation because OH BOY, Yuko pulls out all the STOPS with this one- presenting herself as both a luscious, tigress of a woman...and yet a fragile, clingy waif at the same time, a combination that would have just about anyone fall for her!

"Angels while they are asleep", a trope you can also apply here....

As you can see, Yuko just dazzled in every scene she was in and I had my hands full trying to screencap it all! Thus here you see the works of my feverish Yuko Araki-fueled mind!

This is the third time Yuko Araki has simply RUN AWAY with my heart- as you may recall, I fell hard for her in the delightful “Motokare Mania” and "Love Love Alien",  and my eyes have never been far off her since! From then I've enjoyed her appearances like the seductress Yuka Kusanagi in the awesome “Roppongi Class" and sweet and naive Nanaka Hiraki in "Million Yen Woman":

...but BOY HOWDY, her role as the vulnerable Hana Takeda is really one of her best!

PS: OOOOOH, poring over her dramawiki stats, looks like Yuko appeared in the recent GALILEO TV Special "Kindan No Majutsu" from 2022, a movie that I have acquired but have not watched yet! WOWOW, now I've GOTTA see it!!!

Kindan no Majutsu is based on a Keigo Higashino novel that unfortunately hasn't been translated into English, so this will be an exciting fresh dive where I know absolutely nothing about the premise! Can't wait to check it out and see just where Yuko Araki's character will fit within the hierarchy of this wonderful ongoing series!